Back in March, Emerica and Kevin ‘Spanky’ Long unveiled their revamped KSL shoe, a contemporary G6 reworking of Spanky’s original KSL pro model from the mid 2000s. Over the course of the last 15 or so years, trends in the footwear game have naturally come and gone, but by applying something of a modern day twist to Spanky’s original design, the KSL G6 comes out swinging, looking ready to tackle Spring 2022.
As with many shoes released around the mid 2000s, the original KSL shoe was a wider affair, owing largely to the essential cushioning that the silhouette had to accommodate. Fast-forward 15 years and - thanks to advances in footwear technology development - the KSL G6 is able to offer the same (maybe even an improved) level of protection with a much slimmer design, whilst still retaining many of the aesthetic details that have been carried over from the KSLs original incarnation, such as the curved and coloured stripes and the stitched ‘E’ on the outer side panels.
The KSL G6 is a full cupsole shoe that - as the name suggests - includes Sole Tech’s Pour-in G6 polyurethane midsoles, which is exactly what it sounds like: the polyurethane foam is poured directly into the cupsole, which allows the foam to mould perfectly with the sole, enabling improved board feel (always a plus when working with cupsole designs) and maximising impact cushioning. On top of the revolutionary midsole sits a perforated Eva insole that brings additional comfort to the design whilst offering much needed support for the arches of your feet.
The underside of the KSL G6 features Emerica’s tried and tested fine sole tread pattern, which is designed to withstand and respond to the abrasiveness of griptape.
Moving on to the outer part of the KSL G6, the material combination of suede and action leather provides durability whilst whilst ticking those all important aesthetic boxes. The most important point about the outer is that - besides carrying over the previously mentioned detailed nods to the original KSL shoe - the toe cap has been reenforced, ensuring that the KSL G6 is able to tolerate as many flip tricks as you choose to throw at it. The separate panels of the shoe have all been bonded together using a thermal welding technique, ensuring that the KSL G6 retains its form even as the obvious areas of stitching inevitably start to wear.
With all of that mind, the KSL G6 naturally sounds great, but how does it fare out in the real world? We decided to head to Nottingham for a day with UK Emerica riders Marcus Palmer and James Woodley to put the shoe through its paces, straight out of the box. Have a watch of the edit below to see for yourself just how the latest Spanky pro model performed…