It’s common for brands to tweak new models after releasing, making subtle adjustments and using new materials to enhance the shoe as time passes on. Earlier last year, New Balance Numeric introduced Franky Villani’s pro model, the 417, in a mid-top silhouette. We put this sleek shoe to the test and were impressed by the technical features that enhance board feel, grip, and foot security.
Now with the release of the NB# 417 Franky in a low-top silhouette, we wanted to compare the silhouettes and see if the updated design had a noticeable difference in performance or if it was just a marketing tactic. It’s been quite the timing as well. Although Franky hasn’t put out much footage in the past year, besides street clips in his 417 low promo and IG/Youtube clips, it’s safe to say he’s been hard at work in the streets filming with Joe Monteleone for the upcoming Dickies “Honeymoon” video that just premiered recently. No matter what clips we do get of Franky, his creative approach to skating is timeless and always a treat; read on below to see how Franky’s newest low-top silhouette performed in our weartest.
The shoe fits true to size.
To start, we evaluated the durability of Franky’s 417 by examining the sole and upper. The sole’s foxing tape is quite thick in the forefoot area, which not only enhances the flick but also proves to be extremely durable. The thickness of the sole on the side also helps protect the upper from wear and tear, particularly in the forefoot (kickflip) area, which held up well during our 10-hour wear test.
Looking at the upper as a whole, it features several panels made from different materials. NB# selected these materials for specific functionalities: suede for the forefoot panel to enhance flick, canvas in the forefoot for flexibility, and leather for the rest of the upper for durability. Aside from some light visible wear on a few of the panels, the upper’s durability is solid.
It’s challenging to achieve maximum board feel while maintaining a high level of performance cushioning in vulcanized shoes. In the 417, the sole is quite thin, making the insole the primary cushioning element, featuring NB#’s Abzorb technology. The insole has a noticeable wedge shape, which enhances board feel in the forefoot while improving cushioning in the heel area. Overall, Franky’s shoe offers a comfortable step-in feel, and the cushioning performance is adequate for small to medium-sized impacts.
The shape of the 417 is quite slim from the forefoot to the heel. In the midfoot area, it remains nearly parallel towards the toe, ending in a rather pointed tip.
As with most vulcanized models, board feel and grip are the highlights of the shoe, and this was definitely true for Franky’s 417. The grip is well-balanced and has just the right amount—not overly grippy, as some vulcanized models can be. This made it much easier to readjust foot placement for tricks. The grip also remained consistent throughout the 10-hour wear test and showed plenty of life left for future sessions.
The key to boardfeel lies in the shoe’s construction and sole tread pattern. The board feel was excellent because the insole flattens out significantly in the first third of the shoe, and the outsole is fairly thin, providing a responsive feel underfoot. Additionally, the tread pattern increases flexibility, which helps the shoe sink into the concave, creating close contact with the board and enhancing both board feel and grip.
The NB# 417 offers solid comfort and excellent stability for a vulcanized shoe. With its slim silhouette and locked-in tongue straps, the foot feels snug against the upper, minimizing any slipping. The shoe’s great stability is due to its sole, the choice of materials, and the heel lock. The foxing tape on the sole is quite high, which helps the feet feel securely nestled and well-protected. The upper is constructed from suede, canvas, and leather panels, all of which maintained their shape and form well during our 10-hour wear test. While the overall weight is slightly heavier, this is understandable given the vulcanized design and the multiple material overlays, including leather, on the upper.
Overall, Franky Villani’s newest NB# shoe was a testament to NB#’s ethos of constantly updating their product line with quality skate shoes. The shoe’s boardfeel was great, had well balanced grip and stability with a secure sink-in foot feeling similar to the 417 high. Durability was also improved with this release. However, the the cushioning of the shoe could use some extra support.
