If you were born in the 90s, sorry to break it to you—you’re officially old. The good news? On the “old” spectrum, you’re still on the younger side. Even better, trends from your youth have come full circle. That means your JNCO jeans, jorts, and flex-fit hats are back in style, and you can rock them again like a trendsetter. Brands are also reissuing classic designs, catering to skaters who’ve aged, made some money, and are chasing nostalgia, while also appealing to a younger crowd who view these styles with fresh eyes.
Need proof? Just look at the shoe industry: DVS, IPath, and Osiris are making a small comeback. Legacy skate shoe brands that never faded, like Etnies, éS, and Emerica, are constantly re-releasing iconic 90s silhouettes. Classics like the Etnies Sal 23, éS Muska, and Emerica OG-1 are back in action, feeding our nostalgia.
If you’re still reading, it’s because you’re probably interested in the Etnies Snake, originally released in 1996 and now reissued with updated STI technology. The Snake’s clean, iconic design has influenced countless others in the industry. We got our hands on the latest release, showcased by Nick Garcia, and tested them out to see how they perform. Spoiler: they’re just as timeless as ever.
The Etnies Snake fits true to size.
Overall, the Etnies Snake performed well in our 10-hour test. The toebox features a double-stitched panel, which serves as the main defense for ollies and flicks. The stitching remained intact, but the suede developed a hole by the end of the review. This revealed a second layer of reinforcement beneath the suede, adding durability. The toe area, which takes the brunt of trick impacts, showed the most wear, while the rest of the upper remained relatively clean. The sole held up impressively with no blowouts, and the sidewalls showed only minor abrasion.
The shoe’s cushioning consists of a simple two-part system: a thin foam insole atop a tapered midsole. The elevated heel, combined with a honeycomb structure, provided decent shock absorption. You can see from the cross-section picture that the honeycomb pattern is the primary cushioning for impacts, while the foam insole just helps to add comfort. While the shoe handles low to medium impacts well, skating anything bigger than an 8-stair may strain your feet.
The Etnies Snake features a slim silhouette from above, with solid volume from the side. The heel and midfoot areas are parallel, and the layered toe design creates a pointed appearance, enhancing flick performance.
The Etnies Snake offered great boardfeel with minimal break-in time. As a cupsole shoe, the midsole initially felt stiff in the back two-thirds, but flexibility grooves allowed the sole to mold to the griptape for maximum board contact. After a few sessions, the sole construction broke in, significantly improving boardfeel in the toe area. The outsole’s tread pattern varies in size, with a finer pattern at the toe and coarser in the midfoot. Throughout the 10-hour test, the sole remained grippy and showed no blowouts, proving durable.
In terms of comfort, the shoe shines with its well-crafted inner construction and just the right amount of tongue padding. The upper strikes a good balance between flexibility and comfort thanks to its mix of suede, mesh, and leather. However, the stiffer leather over the soft mesh in the toe area created a pressure point.
The Etnies Snake offers good stability. The mix of materials from heel to toe, including suede and leather, helped the shoe retain its shape over the 10-hour test. The slim, high-cut heel provides a snug, secure fit without touching the ankle, while the toe area feels similarly secure. The midfoot, however, is looser and offers less support.
The Etnies Snake offers excellent durability and stability, with solid materials that held up well during our 10-hour test. It provides superb boardfeel and flick performance thanks to its shape, while its cushioning handles medium impacts effectively, making it an all-around great skate shoe.
