Our verdict

The Nike SB family is back to introduce us to its newest sibling: the Vertebrae. During our wear tests, we noticed its great traction as soon as we grabbed our board and started rolling. But that's not it, as its snug structure hugged our feet tightly, giving us some extra confidence and surefootedness to try some tricks. Even though its clean and stylish design made us want to wear it all day long, this pair is kind of flat, so it might lack cushioning for some people who want to use it for long hours.

Pros

  • Fantastic board feel
  • Great foothold and containment
  • Really flexible to skate
  • Super durable toebox to withstand abrasion
  • Quite grippy in general
  • Clean and trendy aesthetics
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Break-in period needed
  • Might not be the best for all-day wear
  • Strong SB competitors

Audience verdict

98
Superb!

Who should buy

We believe the Vertebrae would be a wonderful addition to your collection if:

  • You want an affordable pair of shoes with a solid and durable upper that won't break easily.
  • You're looking for a skating pal with a grippy outsole and wonderful board feel.
  • You love feeling surefooted but you don't want to give up flexibility in order to get foot containment.

Nike SB Vertebrae_outdoor_02

Who should NOT buy

The sibling rivalry is strong in this family. After thoroughly testing not only the Vertebrae, but also the Force 58 (both of them from the Nike SB collection) inside and outside of our lab, we've come to the conclusion that you might not need to go for this newest pair. Apart from being slightly cheaper, the Force 58 also has a more durable and breathable upper overall, as well as an outsole that withstands abrasion better. The cherry on top is that it's also more flexible than the Vertebrae so, if you're looking for a new pair to enjoy every skating session with you, checking the Force 58 out might be worth it.

Also, if you're looking for a new pair of shoes to explore a new city or to stay by your side on an endless shift where you need to be standing or walking, we believe there are better options. The Vertebrae doesn't have a midsole, so it's absolutely not a cushioned shoe. As an alternative, you might want to have a look at the walking shoes we have analyzed, or at some of the most comfortable sneakers that have joined our lab team.

Nike SB Vertebrae-pieces

Cushioning

Heel stack

As soon as we took this shoe out of the box, we could see its cool skater vibe all over its design. After cutting it in half (please, don't cry) we had access to many other parts that also proved this pair would love Tony Hawk.

Nike SB Vertebrae Heel stack-1

Our caliper returned 17.4 mm when we measured the Vertebrae's heel stack. This makes it a whole 42% lower than average, but far from being bad news, this just means we could feel the board better underfoot!

Test results
SB Vertebrae 17.4 mm
Average 29.7 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

The forefoot follows the same logic.

Nike SB Vertebrae Forefoot stack-1

At 9.7 mm, our caliper knew our toes would feel every pebble, but it was our feet the ones that verified it! During our wear tests, this came in handy when we grabbed our skate and tried some tricks (even though sometimes the hardest challenge is not to fall!).

Test results
SB Vertebrae 9.7 mm
Average 18.8 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
28.3 mm

Drop

When we walked around town in this shoe, we felt the rearfoot was slightly higher than the forefoot.

Nike SB Vertebrae Drop-1

And when we took it to our lab and cut it in half, we could see it more clearly. With a drop of 7.7 mm, this pair didn't feel totally flat underfoot.

As you know, the drop is something that depends on your personal preferences, so there's no "good" or "bad" drop! But if you look at the picture of the cut-up Vertebrae, you'll most likely be able to notice it does not have a midsole. Once again, this is not necessarily something bad, as it depends on the intended use this pair has for you!

So, even though it might not be the very best to run errands from sunrise to sunset, your skating sessions will most likely make its full potential bloom.

Nike SB Vertebrae_outdoor_014

Test results
SB Vertebrae 7.7 mm
Average 10.9 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.5 mm
Drop
17.2 mm

Insole thickness

In order to preserve the Vertebrae's wonderful ground feel, we believe the brand went for a thinner insole, as our caliper marked only 3.6 mm.

Nike SB Vertebrae Insole thickness-1

Test results
SB Vertebrae 3.6 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

Nike SB Vertebrae is half size small (22 votes).

With a 2.2 on our sizing 1 to 5 scale, we can confidently tell you that most users believe this Nike SB pair runs small!

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 97 sneakers
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

Apart from running small (according to our voting system), during our wear tests, our standard-sized feet also felt that the Vertebrae has a snug fit.

Nike SB Vertebrae Toebox width - widest part-1

Our caliper confirmed it when it returned 99.5 mm after measuring its toebox width at the widest part. Even though it's not narrower than average, it's definitely not on the spacious side either!

Nike SB Vertebrae_outdoor_016

Test results
SB Vertebrae 99.5 mm
Average 98.9 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
91.3 mm
Toebox width - widest part
105.3 mm

Toebox width - big toe

Because of its pointy design, we thought this Nike SB would taper like crazy, but it wasn't so bad!

Nike SB Vertebrae Toebox width - big toe-1

At 74.5 mm, this shoe's toebox width at the big toe is pretty much average. We didn't really have space to splay our toes and stuff, but with the overall foot-hugging design of this pair, we didn't expect it either.

Nike SB Vertebrae_outdoor_017

Oh, also! It doesn't really have a lot of vertical space. In fact, the snug fit of the shoe makes the volume rather limited, and the materials don't really give in much.

Test results
SB Vertebrae 75.4 mm
Average 75.0 mm
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
65.7 mm
Toebox width - big toe
83.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

The Vertebrae didn't disappoint when we tested its lateral stability.

You know, when you skate, it's crucial that your feet feel safe and supported, as you're going to be jumping, going full speed, trying tricks and, above all that, most likely falling down! So, in order to avoid potential injuries, this Nike pair hugged our feet tightly.

Nike SB Vertebrae_outdoor_09

Torsional rigidity

As expected, the Vertebrae put up a good fight when we tried to twist it.

Its massive lateral walls didn't let our fingers play much with it, so we decided it deserved a solid 4/5 on our torsional rigidity test.

Nike SB Vertebrae_outdoor_013

This translated into a bit of a break-in period to us. Even though it might not be everyone's experience, we want to let you know. Just in case!

Test results
SB Vertebrae 4
Average 3.5
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

We're really happy to announce that this shoe's heel counter is not as stiff.

It bowed down to us more easily, but not by far! So we've given it an average 3/5 on our stiffness test. In other words, it's not crazy pliable, but it definitely doesn't feel like a brick.

Nike SB Vertebrae_outdoor_07

Test results
SB Vertebrae 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Our caliper returned 108.4 mm when we measured this shoe's midsole width in the forefoot. It's pretty much an average result, so nothing wide. It just goes hand in hand with the sleek aesthetics of this Nike SB!

Nike SB Vertebrae Midsole width - forefoot-1

Test results
SB Vertebrae 108.4 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

Midsole width - heel

Things get even narrower at the heel, as our caliper returned 78.7 mm. This doesn't mean we felt unstable, as a wider landing base translates into some extra stability on the ride. The Vertebrae just has a slim build overall, midsole included!

Nike SB Vertebrae Midsole width - heel-1

Test results
SB Vertebrae 78.7 mm
Average 83.2 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
67.7 mm
Midsole width - heel
103.1 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

If you're familiar with the skating world (either trying the sport yourself or just watching), you'll most likely know that there are a lot of tricks you can try. That's why it's crucial that the shoe you're wearing bends alongside your feet, even if it requires a break-in period! And we're not talking about some crazy 360 or stuff like that, just something as beginner-friendly as an Ollie is a great example!

During our wear tests, the Vertebrae felt just right once we had warmed up. Our force gauge confirmed it when we took this shoe to our lab, as only 14.3N of force were needed to bend it all the way up to 90 degrees. This is wonderful news, as it means the Vertebrae is more flexible than average, which really helped us with our tricks!

Nike SB Vertebrae_outdoor_01

Test results
SB Vertebrae 14.3N
Average 22.9N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
5.8N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
51.8N

Weight

During our wear tests, we felt this pair was on the lighter side for skate sneakers. Maybe it was its slim build tricking our eyes, but to us, it balances protection and weight just right.

Nike SB Vertebrae Weight-1

Our scale marked 13.9 oz/394.0g, which is just average. But it seems like our intuition was right, as the Vertebrae is slightly lighter than other models with a minimalistic design, such as the Vans Slip-on (14.11 oz/400g). But it was not enough to win the weight battle against its sibling, the SB Force 58! Which stands victorious at 11.7 oz/332.0g.

Test results
SB Vertebrae 13.90 oz (394g)
Average 13.86 oz (393g)
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

From the very first moment we saw this shoe, we knew it would put durability first and breathability second. Our light didn't find a single spot to shine through, as expected!

But the upper of the Vertebrae showed us that not all hope was lost. As you can see in the video below, it let some smoke out. It wasn't much, though, but at least it was consistent! So we decided to give it a 2/5 on our breathability test, which sounds like a lot if we compare it to the poor Reebok Phase Court. Oh, gosh... now that's 0% of ventilation and 100% of sweaty feet!

Our microscope let us see the pattern of this Nike's solid upper, and we realized there's clearly no way it favors airflow. Like, at all!

Nike SB Vertebrae Breathability-3

We couldn't find a single ventilation hole.

Nike SB Vertebrae Breathability-4

Test results
SB Vertebrae 2
Average 3
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

We didn't expect this shoe to feature real suede, especially after checking its affordable price tag! But Nike decided otherwise and, honestly, we couldn't be happier.

Test results
SB Vertebrae Real suede

Toebox durability

We sure expected the low breathability = high durability formula to come true here. At 5K RPM and with 3.2N of force, our Dremel started its battle.

And we were really happy with the results! The Vertebrae put up a good fight, so it earned a well-deserved 5/5 on our toebox durability test.

Nike SB Vertebrae Toebox durability-2

Test results
SB Vertebrae 5
Average 3.8
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Sadly, the heel is not that much of a fighter. Our Dremel destroyed it as soon as they both touched!

The results were so bad, we really couldn't give it anything higher than a sad 1/5. Just look at that!

Nike SB Vertebrae Heel padding durability-2

Test results
SB Vertebrae 1
Average 3.2
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

To measure the hardness of an outsole we need to pressure our durometer against it. In this case, it returned 86.3 HC, which is pretty much average. This means that the Vertebrae focuses on neither grip nor durability, offering a little bit of both.

Nike SB Vertebrae Outsole hardness-1

Test results
SB Vertebrae 86.3 HC
Average 85.4 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
91.3 HC

Outsole durability

This time at 10K RPM but with the same 3.2N of force, we put this Nike upside down and started drilling its outsole.

For a skate model, we did expect a better result, to be honest. When we measured the damages using our tread gauge, it returned 1.6 mm, which is a whole 38% higher than average. So, yeah, bad news regarding wear resistance!

Nike SB Vertebrae Outsole durability-2

Test results
SB Vertebrae 1.6 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Even though Nike didn't go for a very durable rubber, it decided to give the Vertebrae a thinner-than-average outsole, as our caliper returned 4.8 mm. We believe the reason behind this was most likely saving some oz and prioritizing ground feel, which is crucial on skateboarding shoes.

Nike SB Vertebrae Outsole thickness-1

Test results
SB Vertebrae 4.8 mm
Average 5.4 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

Overall, we were pretty happy with this SB's traction.

Nike SB Vertebrae_outdoor_04

As you can see, it features some kind of circular pattern with a big Swoosh in between that improves flexibility. We felt it bit the board easily, just like the urban surfaces of our town, so we really can't complain about this shoe's grip. It does its job properly, and that's all that matters when you skate: confidence is key!

Price

We believe the Vertebrae's price is pretty fair: who doesn't love a budget shoe! Also, this one features authentic suede, which caught us totally by surprise. Nevertheless, if we had to compare it... its sibling, the Nike SB Force 58, is slightly cheaper yet more durable, lighter, and more flexible.

Nike SB Vertebrae_outdoor_015+

So... yeah, we don't want to say it ourselves, but... take all that into account if you want to take home with you an SB pair.

Test results
SB Vertebrae $85
Average $119
Compared to 108 sneakers
Number of shoes
$50
Price
$220

Reflective elements

No reflective elements here! Just be careful if you stay skating until late at night.

Nike SB Vertebrae Reflective elements-1

Test results
SB Vertebrae No

Tongue padding

Our insteps loved the extra thick tongue padding of this pair, as it offered protection and comfort not only during our tricks (yep, when you accidentally hurt yourself with the board it just hurts a lot) but also when we were simply walking around town.

Nike SB Vertebrae Tongue padding-1

Our caliper returned some crazy 17.4 mm, which is a whole 47% higher than average. We know the Vans Knu Skool still holds the record with the pillowest of tongues (at a senseless 38.4 mm), but we ain't complaining. In fact, the Vertebrae's tongue seemed to absorb all the inner padding of the shoe, just leaving some for the heel support. Look!

Test results
SB Vertebrae 17.4 mm
Average 9.1 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

Tongue: gusset type

Despite its thicker nature, Nike decided to add a semi-gusseted tongue to this SB pair.

Nike SB Vertebrae Tongue: gusset type-1

Out of the non-gusseted, semi-gusseted or fully-gusseted options, we believe the brand made the right choice. Why? Well, because a non-gusseted tongue, despite saving up some weight, would not offer any extra foothold. And then, on the other hand, even though a fully-gusseted piece would increase support and surefootedness, it would most likely add unwanted weight.

Test results
SB Vertebrae Both sides (semi)

Heel tab

Even though this Nike has a snug fit and a semi-gusseted tongue, the brand decided to omit the heel tab. We can understand why, as it's a budget model and every detail counts when we're talking about reducing the overall weight of the shoe. But we would have loved the help of a finger loop to put the shoe on, honestly!

Nike SB Vertebrae Heel tab-1

Test results
SB Vertebrae None

Removable insole

This shoe is not very spacious, so even though it features a removable insole, changing it might not be the best idea.

Nike SB Vertebrae Removable insole-1

We're really happy about the Vertebrae giving us the option to use our own orthotics if we need or want to, but keep it mind that going for a very thick insole might reduce the inner space too much, and even lead to discomfort.

Test results
SB Vertebrae Yes