Experiencing pleasant surprises and the surpassing of expectations is one of the great joys of this job. Though it is somewhere between difficult and impossible to go into things with zero prejudice, when those prejudices are vanquished by a product that is downright awesome, instead of merely sufficient, it is a finding that must be shared. The Marana from Etnies is one such product.
I cannot explain why I thought the Maranas might be mediocre, I just did, but they’re not. With the Marana, Etnies is obviously serious about standing out in the very crowded market of shoes aimed at the young, active, and adventurous. You need not be any of those, however, to wear these shoes. All you need is feet.
The Marana is a treat for the feet. These shoes are both handsome and understated. The soft, matte grey suede of the upper is supple, flawless, and willing to break in without ever being uncomfortable. The outsole is tough as nails, very grippy under all conditions and it provides enough tactile information so you have an idea of what happens to be under foot while still providing excellent cushioning and protection against serious impacts.
As a skateboard shoe, it is hard to imagine doing any better than the Marana. The injection-molded rubber toe cap and dual lace pattern make this shoe as strong a contender for vert skating as it is for skating street, and the padded collar and tongue combined with the polyurethane ensure a comfortable fit whether you’re doing either or neither. The Marana is simply that good.
Whether you’re looking to catch air, blast down a hill, or merely mozey to the market, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better overall shoe with which to do any of these things. If you want a truly versatile shoe that is designed to be incredibly tough and comfortable you should click on through to the Etnies site. Of course, you can always head to one of the following shoe stores if you happen to be one of those people who just refuses to buy shoes online.
The Sports Authority
1690 Folsom Street
SF CA
Shoe Biz II
3810 24th Street
SF CA
Nordstrom
865 Market Street
SF CA
**Full disclosure: These shoes were provided at no cost for the purpose of testing/reviewing, to think otherwise would be misguided.
