USD Shadows: Back From the Grave or Dead on Arrival?

Back in 2016 the skate boot company known as Xsjado (pronounced shadow) was closed down by its parent distributor Powerslide. Now, almost 3 years later the skates are back on the market with a new look and branding, but were they worth the wait?

The new look Universal Skate Design (USD) Shadow skates are a revival of a skate boot company which was thought to be gone for good, but has resurfaced with modifications which may be viewed as good or bad. The initial re-release of the skates recalls of the early models which featured a one piece cuff system. Powerslide redesigned the cuffs to contain aluminum in the structure to reduce the chances of base plate cracking, a common problem in the earlier models of the boots.

Additionally, the company altered the strap system to the skate. Now, at the top of the skate is a single large Velcro strap instead of the dual strap setup in models past. The other big change to the straps is the 45 degree strap which is now a small, padded piece with ratchet straps to ensure the liner will not slide around on the base plate.

This leads into the most significant modification of the skate, the new liner design. In previous models, the skates would often include a footwrap “shoe” and some padding on the cuff for the lower legs. The shadows now include an Eclispe My Fit “hightop” liner that also serves as a shoe. As a result, the padding was removed from the cuff and the shock absorber that was typically placed on the baseplate is now inserted in the liner. This new liner system has mixed reviews. The lacing system for the liner includes speed laces and traditional shoe laces which is there to provide a secure fit, but comes across as cumbersome and a hassle to put on or remove from your feet.

The original models were praised for their innovation and this pair is no exception, but the important question is, how do they skate? After thoroughly testing the skates on various obstacles and surfaces the results indicate a surprising similarity to the original models. The flexibility need for topside tricks is still their despite the new liner system and smoothness of grinding is as good as when the first models were rolled into production. The one significant downside is that the shock absorption is not nearly as good and, in the case of this reviewer, there is some chaffing in the ankle region which can result in blistered skin. A condition which is a typical result for this reviewer using USD brand skates. After enough usage, that problem will subside. Despite all of the changes in look and name, this is still the same skate at its core.