Gregory Vance
(Syr / Enfold Darkness / Freeway Music (instructor)
"I’ve worn the soles off many pairs of shoes over the years, but I’ve never experienced this level of specificity with a shoe for my craft. I often would tirelessly experiment with different brands in attempt to find a balance between weight, sole style and heat displacement, but from the moment I slipped on the Vratim brand, it was obvious these were designed with players like me in mind. The sole is flat and flexible, avoiding the pitfalls of most major shoe brands that awkwardly put concaves in the soles, which make foot placement on pedals either strenuous on your knees or awkward for your foot while switching between techniques. The cushioning is comfortable, yet allows airflow. The lining is also not too thick, which helps with drummer’s active feet. They avoid making your feet feel suffocated while trying to maintain dexterity. Even the height of the shoe is perfect, allowing for proper use of ankle techniques required in all genres of drumming. To put it simple, if you’re a drummer and take your craft seriously, you NEED to try these shoes. There are specialty shoes for essentially all types of sports and activities, now there is a brand with US in mind, and they’ve managed to not cut any corners."