KO Classic : AND1 Skip To My Lou
In an industry first AND 1 has released a signature shoe named after a streetball player. Actually, streetball legend is more like it. Does the AND 1 Skip to my Lou live up to its name?
by Professor K, posted September 20, 2002
Yes, I know Rafer Alston (aka Skip to my Lou) plays in the NBA too, but his nom de court was earned on the playgrounds and that’s where his status as a living legend was earned and cemented. He’s spent most of his first three years in the NBA on the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks so there’s a good chance that, unless you’re plugged-in to the streetball scene, you’ve never seen Rafer play (hopefully he’ll see a lot more playing time now that he’s with the Golden State Warriors).
And, if your only exposure to him has been through the NBA, then you might be wondering why a guy who has spent a sum total of about 21 hours on the floor over the course of three seasons has his own signature shoe. If this is the case then do whatever you have to do to get a hold of the AND 1 Mix Tape Volume 1. A few minutes into the tape and you’ll understand. I’d say more, but trying to explain Skip’s game is like trying to explain Jim Traficant’s toupé, you just have to see it for yourself because words don’t do it justice. The one thing that I will say is that he has the sickest handle that you’ll ever see. Skip’s on most of the other Mix Tapes too, but the things he does on Mix Tape 1 will just blow your mind (just a note, if you can’t find Mix Tape Volume 1 or you just want to see more of Skip, you can catch him on ESPN2’s coverage of the AND 1 Mix Tape Tour 2002 — it airs Tuesday nights at 11:00pm Eastern, but check your local listings for air times in your area).
figure 1. The outsole design of the AND 1 Skip to my Lou Mid is clearly visible in the shot above. If you’ve seen the AND 1 Mad Game you’ll recognize that the outsole of the Skip to my Lou is a carbon copy of the Mad Game’s. Though they appear identical, the outsole of the Skip seems to provide slightly better traction. The bottom line on traction is that it’s excellent.
But enough background, let’s get to the shoe. The AND 1 Skip to my Lou Mid has a simple, distinctive design that is reminiscent of the AND 1 Tai Chi Mid and Jordan Camp 23 in its two-tone concept. And like the Jordan Camp 23, the AND 1 Skip to my Lou also features an asymmetrical lacing system. This means that the laces don’t run straight up the middle of the shoe as they do in almost all other hoops shoes, but instead are shifted to one side (the medial side in the case of the Skip). This gives the shoe a very clean profile when viewed from the lateral side and prevents pressure points from building up across the top of the foot. Usually the trade-off for this enhanced comfort is less than stellar fit, but I found that the Skip to my Lou fit very well. I felt a bit of front-to-back movement within the shoe, but it was pretty minimal.
Heel fit in the Skip was also a pleasant surprise. Even with the shoe’s very low cut (it’s classified as a mid-cut shoe, but I think that a lot of people would consider it to be a low) I experienced no heel slip. And though the Skip’s heel counter is nowhere near as substantial as the heel counter in the AND 1 KG Low, it still does a good job of keeping the heel in place and upright. The cupped design of the midsole around the heel and midfoot and the support structure that runs below and along each side of the midfoot (see figure 3) also help in this regard.
figure 2. In this shot of the AND 1 Skip to my Lou Mid the two-toned design of the shoe becomes apparent. The outer side, in white, is made of full-grain leather and the inner side, in royal blue, is made of a synthetic material that has the feel of vinyl. You can also see in this shot that the lacing system of the Skip to my Lou is offset towards the medial side of the shoe (i.e. towards the blue side).
The Skip to my Lou does, however, give up quite a bit in the stability department to higher end shoes like the AND 1 KG Mid and aforementioned KG Low. Same goes for cushioning, which felt very, very soft. It felt so soft, in fact, that I fully expected to develop a nasty case of shin splints, but it turns out that my concerns were misplaced. Through six tough wearings that included full and half-court games I didn’t feel any discomfort in my legs or lower back. I was happily surprised by this, but the shoe’s super soft cushioning left me feeling a bit disconnected from the court.
And, even though the cushioning held up for me (a shade under 5′11″, 162 lbs) I do not believe that it will be adequate for serious ballers who are heavy for their size (note that Rafer is listed at 171 lbs, very light considering that he’s 6′2″). The upside of the shoe’s soft cushioning is that it’s very comfortable for general purpose wear. This makes the Skip to my Lou a solid choice for people in search of an everyday shoe that can be used for an occasional game of hoops — even if you are a bit on the heavy side.
figure 3. This shot of the AND 1 Skip to my Lou highlights the sculpting of the shoe’s midsole around the heel and midfoot. The cupped shape of the midsole cradles the heel and, along with the internalized heel counter, helps to keep it in place and upright within the shoe.
One thing that helped make up a bit for the Skip’s soft cushioning feel and about-average stability was its traction, which was excellent. Traction is so important in a hoops shoe and it’s great to see AND 1 consistently do a good job in this area. Because I knew that the shoe would hold onto the court I could cut and drive with confidence — an important attribute given the Skip’s target audience of quick, active guards.
One last thing worth noting is the upper of the Skip to my Lou. The lateral, or outer, side of the shoe is covered with full-grain leather while the medial, or inner, side of the shoe is synthetic (see figure 2). Aside from giving the shoe a distinctive look, this also provides functional benefits in that the parts of the shoe that will see the most wear are made of leather, which is very durable, while the less exposed areas are covered with synthetic material, which is lighter. This allows the upper to provide the often contradictory benefits of durability and light-weight. The only thing is that I’m not sure if the midsole will be able to match the longevity of the upper, but only time will tell on this point.
figure 4. If you were to only see this profile shot of the AND 1 Skip to my Lou you would never guess that the other side of the shoe looks completely different. As is clear here, the outer side of the shoe is very spare and simple, which is all the better since it means fewer seams and stitches. This shot also provides a good look at the cut of the Skip, which is very low for a shoe that is classified as a mid.
So, to sum up and answer the question that I posed at the outset of this review, the AND 1 Skip to my Lou does indeed live up to its name. It’s not a perfect shoe, but it does a good job of reflecting the on-court qualities of its namesake. Skip to my Lou the shoe provides good fit, very good comfort, light weight, and very good traction — all qualities that quick, ankle breaking guards like Skip to my Lou the player crave. The shoe can’t quite match its higher-end competition in stability and impact protection, but at $80 the Skip to my Lou clearly has a leg up on price. If you’re a light, agile guard in search of a good value, the AND 1 Skip to my Lou is definitely worth a try. It’s also a good choice if you’re an occasional baller in search of a comfortable everyday shoe. Look elsewhere if you’re a serious baller who’s on the heavy side for your height or if you like shoes that provide a firm ride.
Who’s Worn It
Rafer Alston (G – Golden State Warriors (yes, you read it right, Rafer is now with Golden State) — Rafer has worn the Skip to my Lou this summer while playing in AND 1’s Mix Tape Tour 2002)
Tags: and1, and1 skip to my lou, ko classic, professor K
10 Responses to “KO Classic : AND1 Skip To My Lou”
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who wear and 1s any more
Such a dope shoe.
Fuckin Classic. Remember these from the old Mixtape Tour
And1 does clean organic design so well.
Still have my pair, they are a little yellow and scuffed though. That patent leather creases like none other too.
been rockin AND1’s since the RACER LOW
that was worn by CHRIS MORRIS
when he was playin with UTAH(the year they went to the FINALS!!)
recently found a pair of
REKANIZE in a few different color schemes
TAI CHI is a classic
CHOSEN1 was pretty hot as well!!
if i find a pair
i am defintly rockin em
tell the company they got a BIG FAN
out here in SANTA MONICA
Where can I find these shoes ??
These are awesome designs but i’ve being looking for old versions tho. Where can I find And1 models from 2002? Or maybe let’s say between 2001 through 2003. I want to buy a version I used to have, just can’t remember the name of that model.
Still have my pair in the exact same colour, these are tyt, hope AND1 will bring them back since they brought back the Tai Chi
The outsole resembles those of the And1 Mad Game.