Although Tony Hawk is probably the closest thing skateboarding has to a Michael Jordan-like figure, there’s no arguing that Paul Rodriguez has quite a bit in common with His Airness. Aside from those FTLOTG P-Rod IVs in Carolina blue, the connections include dominating a sport from an early age, both directly and with regard to marketing. And while P-Rod’s signature line isn’t the full-blown subsidiary Jordan Brand represents, Rodriguez’ kicks and gear have indeed grown beyond the Nike SB division that birthed them. Accordingly, this new Nike P-Rod 6 GS comes without ‘SB’ branding and will be available at a bunch more stores, including Burner, who’ll have this Elephant print-Swooshed pair in stock come July.
Nike P-Rod 6 GS
525024-001
| Tweet |  | Comments (7)  |
The ‘Tiffany’ colorway first issued in collaboration with Diamond Supply Co. in 2005 and has become a staple for all Nike SB designs, especially as they’ve openly embraced color-swapping in the past few years. It’s a striking yet surprisingly versatile palette that’s also shown up in a variety of other places including outside Beaverton altogether, but it will still take some getting used to seeing the Nike P-Rod V Mid without the ‘SB’ branding that appeared on this pair’s tongue tag and heel in earlier sample images. Something else that’s easier to ascertain in these new shots is the tumbled effect on the black nubuck that covers this shoe’s upper, which you can see in greater detail by clicking the jump below. Photos: Kasina
Nike P-Rod 5 Mid
Black/Mint-White-Matte Silver
472300-031
| Tweet | |
Most of the models that’ve received vulc sole/LunarLon footbed updates had previously utilized Zoom Air in a cupsole, but the Nike SB P-Rod 5 (notice the absence of ‘SB’ branding on the tongue and heel) became the first to switch from Lunar to Lunar when its LR’d version dropped a short while back. It’s a fitting array of tech for a silhouette whose series was the first to switch from cup to autoclaved soles back on the P-Rod 2.5, and even this new Swan and Action Red colorway can be seen as a follow-up to the white/black/Sport Red P-Rod IVs (not to mention the connection to an upcoming ‘Cinco de Mayo’ Mid). In short, this is a model with plenty of ties to the past but with the advantages of cutting edge technology, and they’ll be available at US retailers soon, so stick with Sneaker News for updates. Photos: Kasina
Nike P-Rod 5
Swan/Metallic Platinum-Atomic Red-Black
484057-106
| Tweet | |
Paul Rodriguez was way ahead of the curve when it came to seeing his Nike SB signatures released at mall retailers, and if you think back to 2010, you’ll remember his P-Rod II as the first Swoosh Skateboarding sneaker to be remixed with a vulcanized sole. Paul’s latest drop was let out the gate with LunarLon instead of the Zoom Air that’d cushioned earlier P-Rods, but instead of switching entirely, the Nike SB P-Rod V LR simply applies a LunarLon footbed within the vulcanized sole setup. The result is the best of both worlds when it comes to both comfort and boardfeel, as well as the simple black and white palette with a pop from the Tiffany blue tongue tag. Check out more angles after the jump and look for yours in-store at Nike SB shops like Premier.
| Tweet | |
Major changes are in plans for Nike Skateboarding’s pro-model product lines, but already making that transition is the P-Rod, which already shed the ‘SB’ tag some time ago. Moving on from ‘Skate’ to the ‘Overall Comfort’ sector is the Nike Lunar Rod, currently slated for a Holiday 2012 release at wider chain retailers. It features a P-Rod 6 upper with a re-designed outsole that combines the LunarLon from the P-Rod 6 skate shoe with the boots ole of the Nike snowboarding boots. These will definitely be a comfortable casual shoe at the very least, but how will it far on the skate-deck? And whatever happened to the SB P-Rod V Lunar? Check out the extra angles below and stick with Sneaker News for more updates. via n-sb
| Tweet | |
No matter what happens here on out with Nike Skateboarding, Paul Rodriguez, arguably the most widely known Nike team rider, will continue to represent the Swoosh brand regardless of any ‘SB’ designation. His pro model line was the first to branch into the unlabeled Action Sports umbrella, and news of other pro models following that trend has us wondering what really is in store for the SB label that has been credited for growing the immense sneaker-collector constituent of the last decade. Here we have a first look at a Melon/Volt/Red colorway of the upcoming Nike P-Rod 6; it features a low-pro skate-shoe design with a huarache-esque heel-clip, perforated uppers, and minimalist stitches on the toe-box for an simple touch of aesthetic prowess. More angles below, so take a look and stay tuned to Sneaker News for more Nike ‘SB’ news. via n-sb
| Tweet | |
The last Nike SB Vulc Rod we gave an individual spotlight here on Sneaker News was the Deep Burgundy edition whose brown suede forefoot and golden branding resulted in a perfectly timed fall release. This latest drop just goes to prove how important color selection really is, because all this pair did was opt for the more aggressive Team Red and black instead of brown, and now we’re looking at an entirely different product. These have all the intensity of an Air Jordan Legacy favorite, but a low-cut silhouette and Zoom-cushioned vulcanized sole means these are more perfectly engineered for skateboarding than the AJ1s OG riders used to wear. Click through to inspect a few additional angles and be on the lookout for this March 2012 release at Nike SB retailers like Flatspot.
| Tweet | |
Paul Rodriguez was among the world-class athletes providing testimonials for the #KobeSystem, but the Kobe VII is so specifically tuned for basketball performance that P-Rod’s going to have to stick to his guns when it comes time for grinding and griptape. The Nike SB P-Rod V will fit that bill perfectly, a simple no-nonsense Matte Silver and Anthracite design that becomes the latest in a long line of sneakers cast in the white/grey/black spectrum for maximum matchability. These are coming up as part of the Nike SB March 2012 collection, but it’s worth checking your local retailer as Flatspot has already started selling their stock.
| Tweet | |
