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Each skate shoe has a number of specific features that distinguish them from sneakers and traditional street shoes. Popularly referred to as a "skate shoe" by the layperson, the skate shoe is the first point of contact between your board and your feet. You can buy the best skate shoes from top brands like adidas, Nike SB, Emerica, Vans and many more at skatedeluxe skateshop.
This is what distinguishes skate shoes from sneakers
Stylistically often well disguised, skate shoes come with a whole range of technology and features. The biggest difference between skate shoes and sneakers lies in the sole and the upper material of skate shoes. These are optimized in shoes for skating on the interaction with your skateboard. To skate with the best perfomance, you need the right shoe. Here you need to find a functional mix of style, comfort, feel, taste and durability. Different brands try to close exactly this gap in their own way.
Brands like adidas and Nike SB rely on years of experience in the production of all kinds of sports shoes and go in the direction of high performance skate shoes. Skater owned brands like Lakai and Emerica have the skate core aspect in mind and refer to their own experience on the streets, in the skateparks and the skateboard community.
The most important features of skate shoes
Skate shoes must meet high requirements and also last a long time. For this reason, there are different variants of soles, the outer material and padding that make up skate shoes.
The soles of skate shoes
Skate shoes need a particularly cushioning sole to prevent injuries. Nevertheless, a skate shoe sole must not be too thick, otherwise board feel and control are lost. A distinction is made here between Vulc soles and Cup soles.*
Vulcanized or Vulc soles
In shoes with vulcanized soles, the individual rubber components of the sole are bonded together and welded to the shoe by a rubber strip (foxing tape). This ensures a low weight.
Skate shoes with vulcanized sole are popular for their flexibility and their good board feel. Mostly you can skate shoes with Vulc sole without or after only a short break-in period directly. However, the cushioning is not as good as a skate shoe with cup sole because of the soft and relatively thin sole.
» Skate shoes with Vulc-soleCup-Soles
Cup soles, unlike vulcanized soles, are made in one piece. The outsole is not only glued to the shoe, but usually also sewn to it. The midsole is often made of a foam, which provides stability and cushioning and is great for skating gaps and steps.
Due to the thicker sole, Cup-soled shoes can be slightly heavier and less flexible than Vulc-soled shoes and usually require longer break-in. In return, however, they usually last longer.
» Skate shoes with Cup-Sole*Meanwhile, there are also intermediate sole forms that combine the best of Vulc and Cup soles. One example is the Wafflecup sole from Vans, which is used on the Crockett Pro.
The outer material of skate shoes
Durability is an inevitable issue when you want to buy new skate shoes. Therefore, the outer material of a skate shoe is one of the most important features.
Suede
Suede is the most commonly used outer material of skate shoes. Suede is particularly robust and stretchy. It also softens with frequent use, which gives you good control when flipping without losing durability.
» Skate shoes with SuedeSmooth leather
Smooth leather is produced from the first layer of skin and is usually thinner and less durable than suede. To compensate for this, skate shoes with smooth leather are often processed with an artificial layer and a color application. If this type of leather is roughened, the so-called nubuck leather is produced.
» Skate shoes with smooth or nubuck leatherCanvas
Canvas is used in skate shoes because of its high breathability and light weight. Unlike leather, canvas skate shoes are not quite as durable. Especially for vegan skaters canvas shoes are a good alternative.
» Skate shoes with CanvasAdditional features of skate shoes
In addition to a good sole and the appropriate outer material, there are still some features that you can look for when buying your new skate shoes. Often the ollie area of skate shoes is double stitched, rubberized or reinforced with a pad to last as long as possible.
So that you can do as many kickflips as possible without getting holes in the shoe, there are skate shoes with a rubberized toe cap. In addition, seams are often reinforced to ensure that a skate shoe lasts a long time.
Not only the outsole, but also the insole plays a role in skate shoes. Many skate shoes have cushioning insoles that protect your feet from impact and shock.
Technical wonders, classics and trends
There are also real technical prodigies, like the Bruin React from Nike SB. The shoe with the simple design is full of innovative features like the Nike React foam. Another advanced skate shoe is the adidas Puig with EVA midsole and AdiTuff reinforcements for shock absorption and abrasion protection.
If you like things a little more simple but still don't want to completely sacrifice technology, there are variations like the Chuck Taylor All Star from Converse CONS. The timeless model has been reworked for skateboarding and features a removable Nike Air Zoom Unit footbed and durable suede.
Other classics are the Vans Skate Classics with DURACAP reinforcements in the most stressed areas and PopCush insoles for the best possible cushioning.
Of course, trends and scene favorites also develop among skate shoes. All-time favorites are, for example, the Janoski from Nike SB and the Busenitz from adidas Skateboarding. Both shoes are relatively simple, but offer you all the necessary features that make up a good skate shoe. If you want to learn more about current shoe trends, then take a look at our trend page.
You can not quite decide and need more info to choose your new skate shoe? In our skatedeluxe wiki you will find a lot of useful information that will help you with your decision!