RED CHILI MATADOR LACE

Red Chili’s new lace-up version of the Matador sports more rubber—on the toebox, the heel, and the rand—than any shoe in the review. They’re asymmetric, heavily downturned, and extremely sensitive, making them an outstanding shoe for jessery on the steeps. The 4mm RX2 Red Chili rubber is too soft for super-tech edging, but no matter—they’ll stick to anything overhung. A trade-off for the rubber-coated toe box is that the laces don’t reach all the way to the toe, but the Matador has a low-volume fit and sharp, precise toe profile that suits all but the widest feet. The cotton-lined, synthetic uppers ride high on the foot, which translates to excellent stability for hooking and scumming. The black and white design conveys a “unique skater vibe,” said one tester.