Stance | Review
Fashion / Skate
New socks can make old shoes feel new, put the spring back in an old deck and make any salty dog smile and move his feet. They are one of the small things that make the world nice. Over the years many shoe, deck, wheel companies and even a couple magazines have put their name on many quality and less than quality feet coverings. For years, I-Path had some of the best. Fourstar, Emerica, Lakai as well put their names on some quality tubage. For the most part, socks aren't money makers for companies. More than one person in the position to know has told me that the money side of things don't add up to much profit. Not to mention that just about every rider, employee and janitor somehow ends up with a few pair. They are a truly loved item.
Ryan Kingman, formerly of Element skateboards was hit in the head by a bolt of brilliant lightning created by Zeus rubbing his stockinged feet across the carpeted floor on Mt. Olympus. That bolt, while giving him a permanent smile also left him with the impression that skaters needed to have socks made with them in mind. Cut to some months later and many pints of blood sold - Stance was born. Already stacking up an impressive team of skaters, artists and "punks & poets", they recently added Chris Cole. Rumors also have Ishod Ware, Steve Caballero and others of various generations wearing the socks in praise of their comfort and style.
Don Pendleton.
Jason Jesse
The socks themselves are quality through and through. An elastic band in the middle of the foot provides a snug fit and breathable panels on the top of the foot help keep your feet cool; coined "Coolmax technology".
Although don't expect too much that from the wool socks. They are perfect for cold sessions when you want that warmth.
Where the wool is warm and thick, the performance socks are on the thin side but "gripper cush" pads that provide a modicum of padding but a nice grip inside the shoe. They prevent much movement and eliminate most sliding that your foot would normally do.
"Gripper cush" toe pad.
One of the most notable hings about Stance socks is the little details that permeate throughout the product. From the left and right letters on the toes of the performance socks to the universal placement of the size on the inside collar of each sock.
As part of their line up, they have a multitude of colors and patterns of traditional and non-traditional pairings.
I skated in a couple pair of the performance socks (not in above photo) and liked how they felt. The fact that my foot wasn't moving as much as it had been gave me a sense that the shoe was more connect to my foot. The only downside was that after a couple sessions some of the "cush" pads started to peal up. The batch of socks I was sent was early in their run, so by now the problem may have already been corrected.
