words // Zack Schlemmer
The late 1990's and early 2000's weren't exactly the glory days of skate shoe design. Case in point: the Osiris D3 from 2000. The super puffy, air-bagged (they added even more in the 2001 edition), tech-laced, overpriced Dave Mayhew signature skate shoe was the epitome of everything that was wrong - and simultaneously great - about skate shoes at the turn of the 21st century. With too much tech and no board feel, the D3 was everything skate shoes before and after the D3 era are not.
Never necessarily considered the best skate shoe company by "core" skateboarders who favored brands like Emerica, éS, and DC, Osiris had a surprising hit with the D3. Although most skaters scoffed at these marshmallows for your feet, they reached almost cult classic status among suburban homie skaters (and Limp Bizkit fans) in baggy pants everywhere.
Even if you find them completely hideous and would never skate in them, there's no denying that the Osiris D3 is one of the most memorable skate shoes of all time. Take a look at an original two page ad spread below, and if you remember the D3, let us know whether you loved or hated them.
