Wharf speed

One of the best things about having feet somewhere between size 8.5 and 9 is that I can wear sample shoes. Sometimes, I get hooked up by friends in the business, like I did with these Fall 2008 Wharf shoes from IPATH. The company emphasizes sustainable materials, and I even have a couple pairs made of hemp.


Not this one, though. As in previous editions of the model, there are a ton of nice features like exposed stitching, inside-out seams, and tabs. But instead of looking tech, I think the look is classic. The snaps in the back remind me of old, nice luggage that you might find at an estate sale.


Of course, all that stuff means nothing if you can't skate in it. The soles are vulcanized. There isn't a ton of cushion and padding, but this probably isn't the shoe for gnar-gnar sessioning. It's more like the shoe that will allow you to skate to an event or allow you to mix some riding into a schedule where you want to dress up a little.



The image below is not my tribute to Georgia O'Keeffe but a close-up of the little stash pockets hidden under the tongue. All IPATH shoes and pants have this feature, which might be useful for those who partake in irie-promoting, concert-enhancing, hunger inducers.


Me? I've got the straight edge, but I definitely appreciate reggae. I matched the shoes with a T-shirt from Pressure Sounds--my favorite source of rare roots, rocksteady, and dub.


Fans might also check out this book from Roger Steffens, an old friend of GR and curator of the Bob Marley Museum. He's signing the book with co-author Peter Simons at Babylon Falling in S.F. on Sunday, May 10. Check out some amazing pics here.