Skateboard Shoes - Which Skateboarding Shoes are Best?

Skateboard Shoes

You can skate with regular shoes, no question about that.

But if you plan to do some serious riding, a pair of good skateboarding shoes is a must.

What make skateboarding shoes special are the flat bottom and larger surface area that equate to better grip on the board.

Skateboarding shoes soles (usually polyurethane or rubber) are made tough so that they do not wear down quickly compared to regular shoes. Other features include double or triple stitching with thicker treads for durability and suede or leather composition for added comfort and control.

Which skate shoes to buy:

The most important consideration you should take into account is comfort. Because no matter how expensive or good-looking your shoes are, they are useless if you are not comfortable while wearing them.

Most brands integrate the latest in shoe technology including memory sole, multidensity rubber, plastic eyelets, stronger fabric, thermo-plastic toe, padded tongues, gel pockets, and gum-like grip soles among others. They may be very attractive but take note that with technology comes an additional cost to the shoe.

Choosing between synthetic and leather or suede is really up to you. Synthetic materials while relatively cheaper than leather have a higher international tax making them as expensive as leather. When it comes to durability, synthetic shoes have an edge over leather. But the flex and grip standards for skate shoes are based on suede and leather making them the better choice for pro skaters. Also aesthetically, suede looks cool. But again, if you are choosing what skate shoes to buy, do not limit your choice to which ones look cool or which brand is more popular. Go for the pair that will give you maximum comfort when you ride.

Some manufacturers of skate shoes are: Zoo York, Adio, Lakai, etnies, Circa, DC Shoes, Emerica, eS, Osiris, Fallen Footwear, Globe, Ipath, RBK DGK, Vans, Supra, Nike SB, and Vox. Each pair can be as low as $20 or as high as $90 but most designs are roughly around $40 to $60. Beginners should go for the lower-mid- to mid-price shoes. Bottom line: you do not need high-end models that can cost as much as $100. You also do not need a pair of cheap skate shoes that lack the necessary protection you need while skating.

Do not be confused with the wide variety of brands, colors, styles, and construction.

Comfort and price are still your top priorities with skateboard shoes.