I get asked this a lot - so I figured it is a FAQ
Usually the question asks about durability as well.
They are both very durable considering what we put them through
The shoes are fairly different - here's the main points
The Ariake is a medium weight shoe with a very solid leather construction that actually takes time to "break in" and then fits your foot better than any other shoe I've tried. It's more like "a shoe" than a sneaker in that regard. It has killer grip.
The Light Mesh on the other hand is more like a running sneaker, you put it on (slip as there is no real tongue) and it fits and feels great from the first moment. It is a lighter shoe, with less padding and more "feel" and the same great traction. Being mesh it's not a great shoe for a rainy day - but being mesh I far prefer them in the summer.
Summary - both shoes are great, but they are different. For me, it's Ariakes in the winter and Light mesh in the summer. I also personally feel that the Ariake is a better shoe for someone brand new to parkour as there is a bit more support and less flexibility, as you train and learn to land and get a feel for things it turns into a time to switch to the mesh and let your feet do more of the work, but not at the beginning.
