TLDR is... these shoes are really good.
Back story, I stopped skating for probably more than 15 years... I still had a board and some shoes that "got the job done" aka some New Balance that were actually skate shoes. After getting a new board, trucks wheels etc. I realized the NB weren't holding up. I ordered these Emericas because I'm an old school Reynolds fan and wanted something affordable that checks all the boxes as far as being suede, tongue wings, designed for board feel etc. As soon as I started skating them I was mind blown. The New Balance were performing like
**** compared to these. I had alot more board feel (where my foot really was, on the deck) as well as more control. They are more comfortable and make approaching tricks less "scary" and even being back from such a LONG hiatus, I've been able to do some Nollie shoves, heelflips, kickflips up a bank, bs boardslides, bs crooked grinds etc. Feels good to be back.