Soap Shoes are special shoes with a plastic grind plate on the sole of the shoe, so grinds can be pulled off on whatever convenient object happens to be around. (A grind is a lateral slide on an object.) There are two different types of grind plates: removable and non-removable. The removable plate has three holes in it in which screws can be inserted in triangular form. Both varieties of soap shoes are highly suited to running, and a special gap is placed between the plate and the two sole sections keep friction from wearing away at the shoe. The non-removable plate, however, may have this problem, due to being fixed in the shoe. All soap shoes have ties; none are with Velcro straps.
To sport a grind:
- Build momentum by either walking or running towards a designated grind spot, such as a bench, rail, or curb.
- Jump up slightly above the designated grind spot, maintaining momentum.
- Land with your feet parallel to the grind spot. Nothing but the grind plate should be touching the surface of the grind spot.
- Balance your weight in an approximately 60/40 weight distribution (back leg to front leg).
- Be sure to maintain lateral balance by leaning into your forward momentum, so as not to topple to the ground.
- Once you reach the end of the grind spot, shift your balance to an even 50/50 weight distribution.
- Jump - not fall - off the grind spot.
- Land the grind and come to a stop.
Soap Shoes can be purchased at http://www.bewild.com/, and may be available at Foot Locker, but since soap shoes are rapidly becoming an endangered species, they may no longer be available at any brick-and-mortar stores.