This season’s newest vegan/animal-friendly offering from Emerica for spring of 2013 is finally here.

The new shoe is called “The Tempster,” and is designed by legendary vegan skateboarder, Ed Templeton. Ed has always been a driving force in skateboarding – a true individual and artist. He is also the vegan skater’s skater. Never quitting and never selling out his vegan beliefs for a higher-paying/selling leather pro-model shoe. For this alone, we should always support him, his shoes, and Emerica for putting them out. Emerica is in my own personal opinion, the last real core skate shoe brand we have left.

I got to skate these new shoes a few short times on the streets and for a full 3-hour session at the park. Here are my personal thoughts as a long-time skater and vegan shoe wearer. . . .

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Following up on our last post, the good people at Emerica are so gracious as to hook us up for Vegan Kicks’ second shoe contest!  Our blogging is erratic right now, but we’re trying to make every one count!  We are psyched to be giving away one pair of Emerica Tempster (green or black), featured above and below.  This is one out of a bunch of Emerica’s vegan shoes (see our previous post on their newest offerings), and we all thought it was appropriate that this be the one, considering Ed’s longstanding vegan lifestyle.  I know that these shoes won’t be for everyone, but I know all the skaters out there will be chomping at the bits to get a pair.  So, onto the contest!

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We’re back!  Sorry for the hiatus.  Wish we could bring you all the news, but what can we say, we’ve been slacking.  Keep checking back for updates and goodies.  You won’t be disappointed.  And if you can, please help!  If you see something interesting, or have something fresh to report, please post on our Facebook wall or Tweet at us.

Today we are happy to bring to you another string of vegan shoes brought to you buy our friends at Emerica as part of their new spring collection 2013.  Kudos to them as they are one of the few skateboard shoe companies actively touting their vegan credentials.

As you can see above and below, these are some old standbys.  The Hsu is back in canvas, though I’m not crazy about this olive/black colorway (how about the plain black?).  Ed Templeton is back with the Tempster in black/grey and green.  Controversial pick with the lime green, but I’m sure some of you will appreciate it.  Too bad there is no printed graphic outside on the black model, but you are treated to some artwork from Ed on inside panels.

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A few days back someone from the most awesome vegan food truck the Cinnamon Snail tweeted me for a skateboard shoe recommendation.  I love these guys.  If you are anywhere near Manhattan, Jersey City, or Red Bank, New Jersey, you gotta hit them up.  Best vegan food I’ve ever had hands down.  The best way to keep track of them is to follow them @VeganLunchTruck on Twitter.

Anyway back to the shoes.  While there are actually a good number of great vegan skate shoes out there, my current pick would have to be the Emerica Westgate.  You can’t beat it if you’re looking for a classic comfy skate shoe that sticks to a tried and true design while not having too many bells and whistles.

This vegan shoe – grey canvas only – is designed by pro Brandon Westgate, and judging from his balls to the wall style of skating (see video below), you know they have to be built to last.  It features a padded foam footbed and EVA foam heel cup to withstand impact from hard landings.  The sole is “double wrapped vulcanized construction” for added board feel.  Depending on how you like your shoes, this one has a thinly padded tongue and collar.  While it’s not as cushy as fully padded, the thin tongue seems to be the preference these days.  Overall it’s just a classic mid skate shoe in a versatile, can’t go wrong colorway.

Available (on sale!) at Zappos.

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Emerica has been on top of the vegan shoe game for a while, reliably putting out a list of their non-animal foot products every season for the past few years.  I’m too lazy to even plagiarize the work they’ve already done, but I like to pick favorites.  I’m a sucker for mid shoes as of late, and I’ve always liked the Hsu.  The Emerica Hsu 2 is updated; it retains the same silhouette as its predecessor, streamlined down some.

With this shoe, you know what you’re getting: a solid, grippy, skate shoe.  For those who need the extra cushioning, it comes with an “STI PU Foam Lite™ Level 3 footbed cushioning system.”  Also keep in mind that the only vegan option is this colorway.

Available at Zappos.  Photos from Emerica.

Emerica Francis Lo

Emerica Hsu Black White

available at Zappos

Emerica Jinx All Black

Available at Zappos

Emerica continues to keeping it nice with a slew of vegan models for this coming fall.  Unlike last time, I will actually post all of the pictures, but if you don’t believe me, go to the Emerica site and see for yourself.  I personally am feeling the Hsu shoe, this time offered in a more accessible black (as opposed to green), and the ultra clean Romero in white.  They even have tie-dye for you hair farmers!  Something for everyone!  Keep it up Emerica.

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Sup y’all.  So after my Etnies post, my man Mike hit me up with a very similar blog post by Emerica outlining their vegan shoes new for Spring 2010, and I thought I’d share them with you here.  Looks like a very fine selection of skate shoes, from the low low Spanky to the more padded green Hsu shoe .  There should be something here for everyone, and I hope you like them.  Click down for more pics!

B. Herman 2 (pictured above) available at Zappos

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Fellow vegans Ed Templeton and experimental rock band No Age have er, collaborated to design this sweet skate shoe the Collaboration, which dropped in October.   This hi-top is a subtle grey, with the band tag on the tongue, inner lining, and outsole sporting some green, yellow, and red highlights.  Of course, it wouldn’t be on this blog if it weren’t made out of all synthetic (plu organic)  materials!

I know that Ed Templeton has been a longtime outspoken vegan, and probably has had multiple signature models that were vegan.  But an indie band coming out with a shoe?  The only musicians I know in the sneaker game have been the likes of 50 Cent and G-Unit (and various other entrepreneurial rappers).  Is this a good thing?  Absolutely.  Any time a non-leather shoe drops is definitely a great thing for those of us looking for compassionate alternatives.

Also, check out the Laced (pictured below), which is another vegan low top (which looks just like the Vans Old Skool) but rocks a crazy green spray painted outsole design, and a paint splattered sole.  Not really my bag, but that’s just me.  Check it…

Both sneakers are available at Millenium Shoes.

For more pictures of both, check out Sneakerfiles.

For more info about No Age’s veganism, check out this article.