Our verdict

This incredibly stylish skating pal is ready to help you conquer the board and the streets! The SB Force 58's wonderful traction helped us feel safe and supported, just like its padded interiors and snug structure. Its durable materials superpose each other to help the areas that are especially vulnerable when you skate, but the whole structure is still really flexible, bending alongside our feet movements easily. The best part is that all this comes in a lightweight and fashionable design that inevitably reminded us of the Nike Air Force 1. But way cheaper!

Pros

  • Amazingly grippy outsole
  • Wonderful ground feel
  • Padded and snug structure
  • Flexible yet durable materials
  • Feels lightweight on foot
  • Clean and stylish design
  • Protective layers on high-wear areas
  • Incredibly cheap

Cons

  • Requires a break-in period
  • Not the most breathable
  • Not a cushy shoe underfoot

Audience verdict

92
Great!

Who should buy

Don't sleep on the Nike SB Force 58 if you're looking for:

  • An affordable yet high-quality copycat of the Air Force 1.
  • A skating pal with a durable structure and a grippy outsole.
  • A light and flexible pair of trainers with a killing style to show off around town.

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_01

Who should NOT buy

If what you need is a cushioned shoe to be on your feet for hours, there are definitely better pairs than the SB Force 58. You know, these Nikes don't have a midsole after all! You could have a look at our walking shoes catalogue, or maybe just give in to the old reliable Pegasus collection, which is incredibly versatile and never goes out of style.

But if what you want to do is skate, among our skate-inspired trainers, the Vans Knu Skool is an icon with an incredibly padded tongue that will offer you as much comfort on your instep as the SB Force 58. We've got many others, so don't hesitate to have a look!

Nike SB Force 58_pieces

Breathability

After performing loads and loads of breathability tests, we didn't trust the SB Force 58's toebox holes until we verified they were not a trap in our lab. If you're wondering why, you can ask the Nike Dunk Low, for example!

So we started with our light test, and wow, we couldn't see it shine through anything! Nope, not even those suspicious toebox holes...

But our smoke test showed us the other side of the coin! This is why it's crucial to make more than one breathability test. Even though some uppers might not have big gaps or ventilation holes, their materials might as well be breathable. In this case, even though we can't compare the Nike pair's performance with the Adidas Astir and its perfect 5/5 on our breathability test, we gotta say it did fairly well! Just look at all the smoke surprisingly coming out of the toebox!

Nike SB Force 58 Breathability_3

We grabbed our microscope to know a little bit more about this area and its air-flowing features.

Nike SB Force 58 Breathability_4

Despite looking clogged, the toebox holes did their job pretty well! Even though this might not be the best shoe to wear on the hottest days, we enjoyed walking around town with it even in the summer.

We've decided to give it an average 3/5 on our breathability test. A well-deserved grade!

Test results
SB Force 58 3
Average 3.1
Compared to 69 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

In order to check the quality of the suede and leather materials, we need to grab our butane torch and scratching awl.

The Swoosh was our first victim, and wow! It just burnt away! Consequently, this material is definitely synthetic.

On the other hand, the suede is authentic! It resisted the flames like a champ, which is wonderful news if we take into account how cheap these trainers are.

Toebox durability

Alright, Dremel time! We attacked the SB Force 58's toebox during 12 seconds at 5K RPM and with 3.2N of force.

We saw green dust fly away, which made us think the tool would just mercilessly open a hole in this shoe's upper. Nevertheless, when we put it aside, our fears were gone!

Nike SB Force 58 Toebox durability_2

The material showed great durability, and it got just a little bit messed up, but nothing that would negatively affect the shoe's integrity! That's why we have decided to give it a solid 4/5 on our toebox durability test.

Nike SB Force 58 Toebox durability_3

This comparison illustrates how wonderful a 4/5 on this test looks like. On the left, we have the SB Force 58; and on the right, the poor New Balance 530. The latter could only get a 1/5 on our toebox durability test, as that white thing you see in the hole is just a piece of material we put there to show that it was completely obliterated!

Test results
SB Force 58 4
Average 3.9
Compared to 69 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

After the great score of the toebox on our durability test, we wanted the SB Force 58 to keep up the good work! So we moved the Dremel all the way back to the heel and got the party started.

Honestly, it didn't look bad at all! We put the tool aside and checked the final results with high expectations.

Nike SB Force 58 Heel padding durability_2

And they were met! The material looked a little bit messed up, but nothing too bad. We've decided to give this shoe another 4/5 on our heel padding durability test.

Nike SB Force 58 Heel padding durability_3

If you want to see what a real heel disaster looks like, check the New Balance 237 after this same heel padding durability test. Yep, that's a hole!

Test results
SB Force 58 4
Average 3.4
Compared to 69 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

When our durometer returned 90.0 HC, we concluded we were definitely reviewing a toughie.

Nike SB Force 58 Outsole hardness_1

Even though we'll talk about this later on, this score promises great durability. But we'll have to ask our Dremel about that!

Just to clarify: as the outsole is harder than average, this shoe does not feel soft at all! But that doesn't mean that it's uncomfortable either.

Test results
SB Force 58 90.0 HC
Average 85.2 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 69 trainers
Number of shoes
72.9 HC
Outsole hardness
90.5 HC

Outsole durability

Alright, the moment of truth has arrived! It was easy to ask our Dremel about the SB Force 58's durability, as all we had to do was turn it on and start drilling.

During the 22 seconds of the test, we saw a white rubber storm in the lab. The material flew away but our Dremel didn't stop, rolling at 10K RPM and with 3.2N of force.

Once the time was over, we put the tool aside and measured the depth of the dent with a tread gauge.

Nike SB Force 58 Outsole durability_2

And wow! It was just 0.8 mm! This is a wonderful score, as being lower than average means this outsole should be pretty durable.

In other words, it won't leave your side any time soon!

Test results
SB Force 58 0.8 mm
Average 1.0 mm
Compared to 69 trainers
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Once we cut the shoe in half, we have access to its hidden parts, pieces, and materials. In this case, we could use our calliper to check the exact thickness of the SB Force 58's outsole.

Nike SB Force 58 Outsole thickness_1

The 5.5 mm it returned showed us that the brand decided not to go for a thicker or thinner than average outsole. We believe the reason is pretty simple: the material is durable enough, so this Nike doesn't need a big piece of rubber to protect its bottom side. Otherwise, it would add unnecessary weight or reduce the wonderful ground feel this pair provides (which skaters love, by the way!).

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_010

Test results
SB Force 58 5.5 mm
Average 5.5 mm
Compared to 70 trainers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Outsole thickness
12.5 mm

Weight

In our wear tests, we try casual shoes walking around town, going out with friends, running errands... just going on with our daily lives. And the SB Force 58 felt incredibly lightweight on foot!

Nike SB Force 58 Weight_1

When we took it to our lab, our scale marked 11.7 oz/332.0g, which is way less than average. As it's a whole 15% lighter than other trainers, we didn't get tired any time soon! We could enjoy this shoe for hours, and we found its feathery yet resistant structure amazing for skating.

Test results
SB Force 58 11.71 oz (332g)
Average 13.83 oz (392g)
Compared to 70 trainers
Number of shoes
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
22.61 oz (641g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

This shoe's 17.6 mm heel stack let us feel the ground under our feet fairly well. And not only the ground, also the skate!

Nike SB Force 58 Heel stack_1

Clearly, this structure doesn't focus on impact protection, as the SB Force 58 doesn't have a midsole. It's minimalistic and thin, reducing the weight and helping us control your board even better.

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_012

Test results
SB Force 58 17.6 mm
Average 29.6 mm
Compared to 70 trainers
Number of shoes
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

And things get even closer to the ground at the forefoot! The 10.6 mm our calliper returned when we measured this area gave it away instantly.

Nike SB Force 58 Forefoot stack_1

Once again, this is very typical for the shoes designed with skate in mind. Even though Nike's official webpage states the SB Force 58 has a look "infused with heritage basketball DNA", this pair couldn't be any further from actual hoopers.

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_013

In fact, if you're looking for a new pal to play ball, please check our basketball shoes catalogue out. Don't play in this! Think about your poor feet!

Test results
SB Force 58 10.6 mm
Average 18.6 mm
Compared to 70 trainers
Number of shoes
10.6 mm
Forefoot stack
28.3 mm

Drop

There's not a big difference between the heel and the forefoot stacks, so the drop of this shoe is not very high. After all, both areas are pretty close to the ground, so there couldn't be much of a difference.

Nike SB Force 58 Drop_1

At 7.0 mm, it's a bit lower than average, but that doesn't mean our feet were not used to it. It feels flat, and that's something we're already familiar with! You can ask our Vans or the Killshot 2 and the Court Vision Low (which look like siblings, by the way!).

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_09

All in all, this is something we've seen and felt countless times in skating trainers. And don't worry, unless you only use extra plushy shoes, your feet will definitely find this familiar too!

Test results
SB Force 58 7.0 mm
Average 10.9 mm
Compared to 70 trainers
Number of shoes
4.6 mm
Drop
22.6 mm

Insole thickness

Our calliper marked 4.6 mm when we measured this shoe's insole thickness.

Nike SB Force 58 Insole thickness_1

As expected, it's also lower than average. If the brand went for a super plushy insole, we wouldn't feel the ground under our feet that much! Still, if you want some extra support, you can always change it.

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_08

Despite being simple and thin, we didn't find it uncomfortable, as the Nike SB Force 58 has inner padding in the right areas. A little bit of a break-in period is needed, though. Its materials are tough after all!

Test results
SB Force 58 4.6 mm
Average 5.2 mm
Compared to 70 trainers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
14.2 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

In order to skate properly, this shoe needs a minimum level of stability!

All the inner padding we mentioned before paid off, giving some support to our ankles. These Nikes fit true to size, and their structure hugged our feet comfortably.

We really appreciated that, as it's very important for us to feel safe every time we grab the board and go have some fun!

Torsional rigidity

Despite its protective side-wall rubber and overlayers, the SB Force 58 bent alongside our fingers in the lab and our feet in the streets easily.

As you can see, it didn't take us much to make it dance! This translates into great flexibility overall, which not only makes skate moves easier, but also helped us walk comfortably.

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_07

All in all, our wear tests were just SuperB! (Are we getting extra points for that pun?).

Test results
SB Force 58 2
Average 3.4
Compared to 69 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The sides of the SB Force 58's heel collar bent naturally when we pressed them with our fingers. Nevertheless, the Achilles area was a little bit less agreeable.

All the padding helped our feet stay in place, and even though this shoe doesn't feature a TPU heel counter (neither internal nor external) we didn't experience any heel slippage.

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_016

Test results
SB Force 58 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 69 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

To measure this shoe's midsole width in the forefoot, we put it upside down and grabbed our calliper again.

Nike SB Force 58 Midsole width in the forefoot_1

It marked 102.4 mm, which is way lower than average. And even though we usually say that wider midsoles equal more stable landings, we didn't feel out of balance or anything like that during our wear tests.

Test results
SB Force 58 102.4 mm
Average 108.4 mm
Compared to 70 trainers
Number of shoes
95.1 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
121.0 mm

Midsole width in the heel

Things got even wilder with the width of the midsole in the heel, as our calliper returned 69.8 mm. This figure is a crazy 15% lower than average!

Nike SB Force 58 Midsole width in the heel_1

Test results
SB Force 58 69.8 mm
Average 82.9 mm
Compared to 70 trainers
Number of shoes
67.7 mm
Midsole width in the heel
103.1 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

We only needed 14.2N of force to bend this shoe all the way up to 90 degrees!

The fact that it needed such a light push to go for a handstand on our lab desk translated into a really comfortable ride thanks to its flexibility. It bent easily alongside our foot when we were walking, and it was the same feel when we tried this shoe on the skate!

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_06

Test results
SB Force 58 14.2N
Average 22.9N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 70 trainers
Number of shoes
5.8N
Stiffness
60.5N

Grip / Traction

The Nike SB Force 58 provided us with wonderful traction!

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_03

Overall, this shoe needs a little bit of a break-in period. But after a couple of wears, it gave its best version to us!

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_04

On the board, it was simply majestic. We enjoyed how well it bit it, which helped us gain some extra confidence! And honestly, it was pretty much the same on urban surfaces, as its grip didn't lose points at all.

Also, its outsole is hard and durable, which means it can withstand the abrasion of this sport (as well as of urban surfaces) with no problems.

Size and fit

Toebox width at the widest part

According to our calliper, the toebox width of the SB Force 58 at the widest part is slightly narrower than average at 97.4 mm.

Nike SB Force 58 Toebox width at the widest part_1

This goes hand in hand with the foot-hugging fit of this shoe, where our standard-sized feet didn't feel cramped or uncomfortable.

In fact, not even the reinforcements (suede layers) on the high-wear areas felt tight or rubbed our feet the wrong way. These protective walls help the shoe last longer, working as an armour that made us skate confidently.

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_018

Test results
SB Force 58 97.4 mm
Average 98.8 mm
Compared to 70 trainers
Number of shoes
91.6 mm
Toebox width at the widest part
107.7 mm

Toebox width at the big toe

The good thing about this Nike's toebox is that it doesn't taper like an arrow.

Nike SB Force 58 Toebox width at the big toe_1

Our calliper returned 75.1 mm, which means our toes had some space to breathe. And trust us, we were very grateful after walking for a while!

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_017

Test results
SB Force 58 75.1 mm
Average 74.7 mm
Compared to 69 trainers
Number of shoes
63.7 mm
Toebox width at the big toe
83.0 mm

Tongue: gusset type

A semi-gusseted tongue is the (almost) final touch of this shoe's supportive upper.

Nike SB Force 58 Tongue: gusset type_1

It held our feet in place, hugging them tightly so we didn't feel insecure on the board!

Test results
SB Force 58 Both sides (semi)

Comfort

Tongue padding

With the 16.6 mm of padding this shoe's tongue has, we might as well change it and put a real pillow over our instep!

Nike SB Force 58 Tongue padding_1

Just look at that! Pure softness, pure comfort. You can absolutely forget about lace bite too, of course.

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_015

Now this was the final touch that let us tighten these Nikes up firmly! The shoe didn't move an inch, as the tongue also has a lace in the middle to keep everything in its right place.

Nike SB Force 58_outdoor_011

Test results
SB Force 58 16.6 mm
Average 9.0 mm
Compared to 70 trainers
Number of shoes
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
38.4 mm

Heel tab

No heel tab around! The Nike Force SB 58 kept things simple and easy.

Nike SB Force 58 Heel tab_1

Test results
SB Force 58 None

Removable insole

As we've mentioned before, if you need some extra support you can always change this shoe's insole.

Nike SB Force 58 Removable insole_1

The SB Force 58 features a removable insole that's easy to change if you need or want to use your own orthotics.

Nike SB Force 58 Removable insole_2

Test results
SB Force 58 Yes

Misc

Reflective elements

This Nike pair doesn't have any reflective elements, and even though it's shown us wonderful performance levels, we can't forget it's a budget shoe!

Nike SB Force 58 Reflective elements_1

Long story short: we didn't expect it to have any.

Test results
SB Force 58 No