Created with the needs of one of the world’s best skaters in mind, the Nike SB Zoom Paul Rodriguez 4 fuses a pure skateboarding aesthetic with state-of-the-art innovation. Available in High and Low variations, the fourth Paul Rodriguez model reflects a new chapter in his life.
Lightweight, resilient and cleaner than previous designs, the Zoom Paul Rodriguez 4 is totally accessible, but a fresh approach to skateboarding footwear entirely. As the first Nike SB rider to get a signature shoe, Paul’s got a reputation for excellence, and this design continues that perfectionist streak, connecting with the new P-Rod apparel line effortlessly.
Built to take the constant impact that skateboarding dishes out, cushioning is a priority. That’s where the need to retain boardfeel but protect the wearer—skate footwear’s constant quest—fits in. “I just wanted to cut off any of the excess fat. Strictly a performance skateboarding shoe,” says Paul, “I’m trying to reach the perfect compromise where you have cushioning, but not too much so you still have plenty of board feel, so it’s kind of a challenge.”
Incredibly reactive Zoom Air technology—Nike’s ever-evolving slimline air bag that’s been in each Paul Rodriguez design to date—takes the weight, but the diamond-flex technology allows the fully cushioned sole unit to flex like never before. Slitting the rubber with tactically placed grooves creates a subtle takedown of established Nike Free performance, offering maximum movement without compromising the cleanliness of either silhouette.
The Zoom Paul Rodriguez 4 High expands on the hi-top variant of the Paul Rodriguez 2, but with an entirely new, uniquely angular look that mirrors the precise, pared-down paneling and outsole patterning. It’s more than just a tricked-out variation of the Low—additions like the heel counter complement the sleeker approach but give it its own personality, while the unique toe piece unifies both shoes.
As Paul enters a new phase in his life and career, he feels he’s grown up. The shoes capture that, “It reflects this time in my life. I’m past all the flashiness and all the fanciness. Now it’s back to the roots and being a pure skater.”
Simplicity doesn’t necessarily jettison detail, and Paul’s personality is projected across the shoe. More audacious elements are a thing of the past, but the leather swoosh embedded in the outsole is a low-key luxury touch. An interest in ancient Egypt and the Aztecs is reflected in the lines across the shoe, and present on the sockliner.
“Attention to detail is what Nike does best. At first glance I thought it was a simple shoe, but there’s a story to be told,” Paul explains. “With this one, it’s from scratch. There’s nothing out there really like it, and I’m proud of it.”
P-ROD SIGNATURE 5-POCKET JEAN
All athletes have uniforms. Some are just a little more casual. Skateboarding’s emphasis on personality and constant innovation means the approach is a little more freeform. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make something that is both casual and performance. Nike SB’s P-Rod signature collection channels Paul Rodriguez’s day-to-day wear, a style that he carries on and off the board for an authentic lifestyle look. As the line implements Dri-FIT moisture management, stretch fabric and hidden pockets, this is easy-to-wear basics with real performance capabilities.
Paul professes to be open-minded and each piece reflects that: “I basically like nice-fitting pants, nice fitting shirts. I’m open to all kinds of ideas, whether it be nice graphics or collared button-ups with embroidery. I just like having options.”
Performance denim design is a new development from Nike SB, exclusively for P-Rod. The Signature 5-Pocket Jean mirrors the new Zoom Paul Rodriguez 4 model’s deceptive simplicity by adding several low-key technologies to an easy-to-wear design, steeped in hardwearing classicism. On a choice of two washes, Dark Stone or Indigo, a familiar zip-fly jean is bolstered by beneficial detailing for skating, designed in line with Paul’s needs and preferences.
Comfort is paramount, and a regular fit allows movement without constriction. A Dri-FIT application wicks sweat away, and added stretch offers extra freedom. Alongside standard loops, a waist drawcord system ensures extra support, with or without a belt.
In the knowledge that denim is prone to destruction, the P-Rod Signature 5-Pocket Jean is extra resilient too. Triple needle construction will stand up to the strains and scuffs of skating, while the back heel reinforcement is added to minimize fraying, and increase the lifespan of each design.
Unique branding, from the griptape effect leather patch to the logo rivets, buttons and embroidery brings a distinctly P-Rod and SB aesthetic to a jean that’s as uncompromising as any other piece in the P-Rod line— Nike SB’s denim debut improves on an age-old standard. Available Spring 2011.
NIKE SB V-ROD
Continuing the Nike SB Paul Rodriguez collection’s focus on simple styling with an athletic focus, the V-Rod is a fresh interpretation of a staple silhouette to complement Paul’s more technical introductions. The debut of the P-Rod collection in 2010 offered a full line of newly designed and redefined apparel and accessories, coinciding with Paul’s matured outlook on life, jettisoning audacious elements in favor of easy-to-wear design that can take the blows of regular skating.
The V-Rod encapsulates this vision by stripping down P Rod design language to the absolute limit without compromise.
Basic can be better, and this low profile silhouette with minimized materials and padding channels a timeless look steeped in skate shoe history and increased levels of board feel. Basic doesn’t have to mean disposable either—the hardwearing suede upper with smaller swoosh branding offers one-piece vamp construction for unrivaled durability. A Flex-Wrap sole with texture on the wrapping allows for extra grip and resilience. The clean, one-piece toe means a superior surface for performance and a smoother look, while the die-cut sockliner and IP midsole ensure a comfortable ride.
