Gabe Morford Eras and Half Cabs

"Have we gushed about how strong Vans' Syndicate line is looking for this and forthcoming seasons? No? We like it a lot. For the purposes of saving e-space from our excess waffle, we'll be upping an editorial about the minds behind the collection soon. After we've pulled our finger out and published our first Vans-related one, which will hopefully be well worth the wait. Gabe Morford is a renaissance man with enviable skills across the board, from skating (hunt down 'Chomp On This' for the video evidence) and photography within the industry, to the extent that DVS gave Gabe a shoe as part of '06's 'Photographer Series' and of course, his role as a MASH honcho, with the Bay Area fixed-gear community showing many a scenester exactly how things should be done.

So his inclusion in a lineup that takes in Cardiel, Grime, Olsen Sr. and Schaaf makes a ton of sense, and these Eras and Half Cabs (there's a Slip-On too that wasn't available for photography - we didn't nab the accompanying belt pack either) are black and white and matter-of-fact in appearance, with some functional alterations that don't impede on the scope for everyday wear. Harking back to an older, similarly bag-assisted Syndicate favourite - the ballistic nylon Sk8 Hi, the Ceraprene paneling is hardwearing to minimise the disposable nature of these wardrobe staples, the suede keeps things premium for a nice mix of matt textures, bolstered by a triple stitch and extra flex on the sole (finished with a Mr Cartoon 'S' triangle detail), with pedals in mind, and a longer life ahead of them.

Far from tenuous in its associations with brake-free biking, getting the right man in, and evidently working tightly beside him, it's refreshing to see a more considered approach that pedals skillfully away from the horror of merely padding things out for the illusion of resilience, or getting too damed experimental, while offering extra value and a longer lifespan. Factor in the foam lining with extra wicking properties that allows the possibility of going sockless without succumbing to trench foot, and even beyond the visible tweaks, this is a very, very strong set of shoes."

Via: crookedtongues.com