Nike SB Janoski Flyleather RM Review

Sustainable and durable are two words seldom used in the same sentence. But that all changed once I got a pair of the Nike SB Janoski Flyleather RM. The upper of the shoe is composed of recycled leather fibers and therefore I had my doubts about durability. However, it seems to hold up just about as good as suede which says a lot about the strength of it. Check out the full video review and continue reading to discover my full opinion of this model.

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Janoski Flyleather RM Features

Vulcanized Construction - The Janoski pro model is favored by many skateboarders for the board feel. I think that is where this shoe rules because the vulcanized outsole gives you great contact with your board. I skated this shoe for a week straight before writing this review and it did not start to flatten out or go into 'slipper mode' at all. One other point to note is the RM or a remastered version of the Janoski has an updated midsole for a quicker break in period and an even better board feel than the original.

Zoom Air Unit - The insoles feature Nike's proprietary Zoom Air units in the heels for extra padding a impact protection. This felt great in combination with the vulcanized sole. However, if you are skating big sets and need more protection you may want to find alternate insoles.

Versatile Styling - The longer toe box on this shoe transcends the style giving it more of a lifestyle appeal. And this has undoubtedly been the major reason for its success with the masses. They also added a star pattern tread on the double taping around the toe on the RM version which provided a top-notch flick.

Sticky Gum Rubber Outsole - I am a huge fan of gum sole shoes. They feel grippier to me and this model did not disappoint. This particular colorway incorporates 3% Nike Grind material into the sole which is what gives it that speckled appearance.

Tongue and Collar - The minimalistic design delivers fewer materials altogether but that is not always a bad thing. The tongue is super thin but incredibly comfortable and stays in place perfectly. And the thin construction in the heel cup was actually quite comfortable. Plus, it made the shoes more lightweight.

Flyleather Upper - Finally, getting into the nitty-gritty aspects of this shoe, Flyleather. Yes, I had my doubts but I was pleasantly surprised. Flyleather is composed of 50% leather fibers. This material is 40% lighter than traditional full-grain leather and I found it to be just about as durable as suede after a week of skating. Now you can feel good about making a more sustainable option without losing out on skate performance!

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I hope you got the information you were looking for in this review! If you have a pair of used skate shoes don't forget to check out Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe Program. Also, here is a complete skate shop list where you can find this shoe or other Nike SB models. Be sure to support your local shop if you can!