What Are the Best Skateboarding Shoes? Review & Guide
Regular shoes can create a lot of trouble for you when you’re skateboarding because these don’t provide you the flexibility that most require. So if you’re using ordinary pairs, you need to replace them with skateboarding shoes. You must keep in mind will help you find the right shoe or else you’ll buy the wrong one. These factors include weight, traction, flexibility, durability, and design, as these are quite different from ordinary ones.
The best skating boarding shoes are light in weight and allow you to move freely without any hindrance whatsoever. Moreover, they have excellent durability and provide you firm grip by keeping your feet in place, making them quite suitable for skateboarding. Along with this, these have solid sole construction and offer you a good feel board. After looking at various skateboarding shoes available in the market, below are the best ones that you won’t regret purchasing.

What Are the Best Skateboarding Shoes?
1. Emerica Pillar Mid Top Vulc Skate Shoe
Performing tricks on a skateboard can be a difficult task, especially when you’re wearing the wrong shoe. The Emerica Pillar Mid is a high-quality skateboarding shoe that you won’t regret purchasing. It provides you fantastic ankle support, which allows you to perform different tricks without spraining your ankle. Moreover, there is extra padding around the collar that gives you additional protection when you’re skateboarding.

It also locks the heel tightly, which prevents the slippage of your feet and keeps you safe, making it an excellent choice. The shoe consists of a double wrap vulcanized sole having rubber tapes that wrap around it, giving it exceptional durability. Now you won’t have to purchase another one anytime soon, saving you money in the longer run. Although the shoe won’t break in after the right way, it won’t take much time, unlike the others.
These offer you incredible control over your movement compared to the others available in the market, making it worth an investment. The shoe’s sole has two various patterns with a series of deeper dots on the forefront, providing you excellent grip on the board. In other words, you won’t have any trouble catching the flips on the skateboards, making it the best skateboarding shoe. Although the shoe is a little heavy, you won’t have any issue with it when you’re skating.
Pros
- Robust Build Quality
- Phenomenal Support
- Excellent Traction
- Extremely Comfortable
Cons
- Heavy
In short, the Emerica Pillar Mid is an ideal pair for skateboarding that you won’t regret purchasing due to its impressive specs. It features excellent traction and is highly comfortable, which helps you quite a lot. The shoe provides you phenomenal support that you can’t find elsewhere.
2. Adidas City Cup Skate Shoe
Are you looking for a super-light skateboarding shoe that allows you to move freely without restricting your movements? The Adidas City Cup is a lightweight pair that doesn’t sacrifice the protection of the skateboarder. It consists of premium padding that safeguards your feet from any damage that can occur due to skating, offering you maximum security. The shoe features an alluring design and consists of a sturdy build like the other high-quality ones, making it worth investing in.

Some skateboarding pairs require a lot of time to break in due to the stiff and rigid material and may lead to blistering around the heel. In contrast, you can easily break into these shoes and enjoy skating without experiencing any discomfort. Moreover, it’s pretty suitable for performing various tricks such as flipping the skateboard, making it the best skateboarding shoe that I have tried. Unlike the other low-quality ones, the pair has excellent ventilation, making it ideal for skateboarders who face the issue of sweaty feet.
The pair consists of breathable material and perforations within the leather around the area where the toes meet. In addition to this, it has a well-grooved pattern on the outsole, which provides you a firm grip, especially when you’re skateboarding. In other words, high traction allows you to perform the most incredible tricks on a skateboard and enhance your skills. Along with this, it has excellent durability and can last beyond your expectations, saving you money in the longer run.
Pros
- Light in Weight
- Excellent Durability
- Quite Comfortable
- Break-in Quickly
Cons
- Lacks Lace Protection
Overall, the Adidas City Cup is a lightweight skateboard shoe that features a robust build quality, making it an excellent choice. You can quickly break into the pair within a few days and enjoy the thrill that comes with skateboarding. It also provides you the comfort that you require, unlike the low-quality ones.
3. DC Men’s Kalis Vulc Casual Skate Shoe
Do you need to buy a shoe that’s quite suitable for skateboarding without emptying your wallet and sacrificing its quality? The DC Kalis Vulc comes at an affordable price, and you won’t have to spend a fortune, making it a budget-friendly option. In terms of design, it resembles Kalis OG, but there are striking differences between these two pairs. For instance, it features a sleek design and is thinner and lighter in weight than the Kalis OG pair.

Moreover, it provides you the comfort that most skateboarders demand, making it the best skateboarding shoe that I have tried. It also features excellent durability as it’s manufactured from high-quality materials and can last beyond your expectations. Although most shoes require time for breaking in, the DC Kalis Vulc doesn’t due to its ergonomic design. Now you can enjoy skateboarding without having to wait for months, adding convenience for the rider.
In addition to this, it comes with a breathable mesh which gives the shoe fantastic ventilation making it ideal for sweaty feet. It also features plush and soft insoles, which provide you excellent impact protection when you’re skateboarding. The shoe is available in many different colors, such as red, black, and more, giving you plenty of color variety that you can’t find elsewhere. Although the shoe doesn’t have any ankle support, it can still get the job done for you, which is quite impressive considering the price.
Pros
- Solid Build Quality
- Good Price Point
- Excellent Build
- Minimal Break-in Time
Cons
- Lacks Ankle Support
The DC Kalis Vulc features a solid build quality and comes at a reasonable price, making it worth an investment. Moreover, it doesn’t require much time for you to break into a shoe, unlike the other ones available in the market. Along with this, it offers you excellent impact protection and keeps you safe when you’re performing tricks.
4. Lakai Footwear Mens Carroll Skate Shoe
There are various skateboarding shoes available in the market, but not all have an excellent lace protection system. The Lakai Carroll is an exception and offers you the protection you demand when you’re skateboarding, making it a perfect option. It features a robust build because it’s manufactured from high-quality materials and can last beyond your expectations. Plus, it has phenomenal padding surrounding the shoe’s collar, which is responsible for providing you additional support.

Moreover, the shoe holds your feet in place when you’re performing various types of tricks on the skateboard. Along with this, it has excellent ventilation, which allows you to enjoy skateboarding with sweaty feet, making it worth an investment. Plus, you won’t have any trouble breaking the sole, and it will hardly take you a few days, unlike the others coming at this price. The shoe also offers you exceptional impact protection and keeps the skateboarders in place when they’re riding a skateboard.
In addition to this, it features an alluring design and is available in different colors that include black, white, and blue, giving you plenty of options to choose from. The shoe has excellent traction due to well-grooved patterns on the outsole, making it the best skateboarding shoe. Moreover, it is ideal for skating, especially in summer, due to its breathable mesh and excellent lacing protection. Although it requires a lot of time for break-in, it offers you maximum comfort after breaking into the pair.
Pros
- Robust Build Quality
- Ideal for Summer Skating
- Good Lace Protection
- Superb Impact Protection
Cons
- Long Break-in Time
The Lakai Carroll is manufactured from a well-known brand and features a robust build quality, making it worth investment. It consists of breathable mesh and prevents sweating of feet, allowing you to ride for long hours. Plus, the shoe has superb impact protection and keeps the skateboarder safe.
5. Nike Mens Check Solar CNVS PRM Canvas Printed Skate Shoes
Nike is a famous brand globally known for its high-quality shoes made to last and deliver excellent performance. The Nike SB Check Solarsoft Canvas is no exception and is the best skateboarding that you can purchase from the market without any regrets. It’s super comfortable because of its ergonomic design and doesn’t require any time to break in.

Moreover, the pair consists of breathable mesh providing you excellent ventilation, making it ideal for summer skating. Plus, it’s relatively light in weight as it features a breathable upper canvas and vulcanized sole, allowing you to move freely without any hindrance. Like the other high-quality ones, it also gives you the support you require to perform various tricks on the skateboard.
In addition, the shoes offer you phenomenal traction, hold your feet in place, and provide you maximum protection that you can’t find elsewhere. It also features a robust build quality as it’s manufactured from high-quality materials saving you money in the longer run. Lastly, the good news for those looking for some of the best shoes for wide feet is that the Nike SB Check Solarsoft Canvas comes with a wide-toe box.
Pros
- Breathable Fabric
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
- Minimal Break-in Time
Cons
- Average Durability
The Nike SB Check Solarsoft Canvas is a lightweight shoe that provides you ultimate comfort and support. Moreover, the pair has a minimal break-in time, and it won’t take you much time, adding extra convenience for the skateboarders. It also has a sturdy build and provides you fantastic ventilation making it ideal for summers.
6. New Balance All Coast 574
Are you looking for a skateboarding shoe with all the necessary features you demand without paying a lot of money? The New Balance All Coasts 574 V1 is suitable for everyday use and comes at an affordable price, making it a budget-friendly option. Some pairs don’t provide you excellent arch support, which can create problems for some skateboarders when they are riding.

However, it provides you fantastic ankle support allowing you to maneuver the skateboard without creating any hindrance. Although the pair needs some time to break in, it gives you maximum comfort and holds your feet in place, making it the best skateboarding shoe. In addition, it features excellent durability, and you won’t have to purchase another one anytime soon.
It’s because the upper portion surrounding the toe, heel, and side panel is suede and features a breathable mesh giving you excellent ventilation. The pair also consists of premium cushioning and lightweight that you can’t find elsewhere, making it worth an investment. Along with this, it provides you excellent traction due to well-grooved printed on the shoe’s outsole like the other high-quality ones.
Pros
- Suitable for Everyday Wear
- Excellent Arch Support
- Superb Ventilation
- Light in Weight
Cons
- Narrow Fit
The New Balance All Coasts 574 is the ideal skateboarding, thanks to its incredible performance. Moreover, its relatively light in weight and features robust build quality, saving you money in the longer run. It also offers you superb ventilation and is quite suitable for everyday use.
7. Adidas Originals Seeley Sneaker
Another shoe you can purchase for skateboarding is the Adidas Seeley that you won’t regret purchasing due to its high-quality construction. It features an alluring design and is available in various colors such as red, black and more, giving you plenty of options to choose from. The pair is quite popular among skateboarders and allows you to perform tricks without creating any hindrance, making it worth an investment.

In addition, it features additional padding around the shoe, which provides you excellent support, making it the best skateboarding shoe. The pair consists of a robust build as its manufactured from high-quality materials and can last beyond your expectations. It also has a sturdy sole that doesn’t require much time, unlike the other ordinary shoes available in the market.
The shoe is light in weight, making it easier for you to move the skateboard without putting in a lot of effort, making it an excellent choice. It also consists of a rubber sole and is manufactured from a synthetic material that’s made to last. Moreover, the pair has excellent traction, and it provides you a good board feel, which is why it’s ideal for skateboarding.
Pros
- Excellent Traction
- Lightweight
- Minimal Break-in Time
- Good Board Feel
Cons
- Average Padding
The Adidas Seeley is a top-notch pair that you can use for skateboarding and enjoy the thrill of riding the skateboard. Moreover, it’s lightweight and gives you complete control over your movement, allowing you to perform different tricks. Along with this, it offers you fantastic ventilation, which makes it quite suitable for skating.
8. Vans Men’s Sneaker
Although various skateboarding shoes are available in the market, not all of them are ideal for summer skating. The Vans Authentic is an exception because it’s a lightweight shoe that offers you fantastic ventilation, making it worth every penny. It also consists of breathable mesh and features an innovative design that provides you the comfort you desire when you’re skating.

Moreover, it’s available in various colors that include red, black, yellow, giving you plenty of variety which you can’t find elsewhere. Some shoes require a lot of time to break-in, but that’s not the case with this one, as it doesn’t need much time due to its build quality. Even though the shoe has average durability, it can last for quite some time, saving you in the longer run.
In addition, it’s relatively less expensive than the others available in the market, making it a budget-friendly option. Plus, the pair features a simple design, and you won’t find any frills on the shoe, unlike the others available in the market. It also has some padding that you didn’t see on its previous model, providing additional support when skateboarding.
Pros
- Excellent Ventilation
- No Frills
- Iconic Design
- Break-in Quickly
Cons
- Average Durability
The Vans Authentic is an excellent option, especially for summer skating, because it provides fantastic ventilation. It’s available in many colors, and you can pick your favorite one to match it with your style. Moreover, it features an iconic design, and you won’t have any trouble breaking into the pair, making it the best skateboarding that I have tried.
How to Select the best Skateboarding Shoes?
Skateboarding shoes are pretty similar to ordinary shoes, which can confuse you into thinking that they are the same. Therefore you need to consider essential factors that you must keep in mind before purchasing them. These will help you get the pair that works the best for you, especially when your skateboarding.
1. Kinds of Soles
There are two types of cup soles regarding skateboarding shoes: the cup sole and the vulcanized sole. These differ in terms of durability and the board feel that they provide to the wearer. The cup sole is less durable as compared to the vulcanized but offers you an incredible board feel. In contrast, the vulcanized shoe provides you much better heel support and lasts more than the cup sole. So it depends on your priority and what you’re looking for in a skateboarding shoe.
- Cup sole is manufactured using an EVA or TPR cushioning foam, and it’s larger than the regular foam providing you phenomenal heel support. Although these are pretty expensive, they last for a long time, and you won’t have to purchase another shoe anytime soon. You may get heel bruises as they don’t offer you much flexibility, but these provide superb protection and gives you additional support.
- Vulcanized soles are usually taped around the pair and give you excellent stability, which prevents heel bruises. Moreover, they are relatively cheaper, having a great board feel, unlike the cup sole. However, these have average durability and don’t last as much as the cup soles do. Plus, it won’t take you much time to break into these pairs, making them worth an investment.
2. Types of Skateboarding Shoes
There are three types of shoes available in the market depending on their design and what they offer. Some pairs provide you better ankle support, while others allow you to move more freely. These include the low tops, mid-tops, and high tops and differ in freedom of movement and ankle support.
- Low-top shoes provide you maximum freedom of movement, allowing you to move freely and perform various tricks. These are light in weight compared to the mid-top and the low-top giving you more flexibility. The major disadvantage is that they don’t provide you fantastic ankle support.
- On the other hand, the mid-top shoe offers superb ankle protection without restricting your freedom of movement. However, you won’t move as freely as you would with a low-top pair.
- The high-top ones give you maximum impact protection but limit your movement.
3. Cushioning
Another important that you must consider is the cushioning of the skateboarding shoe. The pair that consists of premium cushioning protects you from injuries and blisters when you’re wearing them. Therefore you must never purchase a shoe that doesn’t have any cushioning at all.
4. Sole of the Shoe
A shoe consists of an insole, midsole, and an outsole placed together with the help of glue for providing you excellent support. It would be best if you got the pair that comes with a removable insole made from good quality material. These give you maximum comfort and usually consist of gel, air pockets, or foams. Whereas the midsole of the shoe is manufactured using foam and polyurethane.
5. Heel Support and Traction
Skateboarders are pretty vulnerable to injuries and often end up hurting themselves. A shoe that has excellent heel support protects you from damages and has superb impact absorption capacity. These usually consist of gel, rubber, and air pockets, providing you maximum comfort. In addition to this, the shoe must have fantastic traction, which comes from ones that have herringbone tread and a sole waffle tread.
FAQs
Which shoes are best for skateboarding?
The shoes manufactured by well-known brands with excellent flexibility and allow you to move freely are the best for skateboarding. These provide you additional support and good impact protection preventing injuries.
Wrapping it Up
The skateboarding shoes are designed to meet the basic requirements of the skateboarders and protect them from injuries. These have premium padding and offer you flexibility and freedom of movement without compromising your safety. For now, here are the top three picks that come with 100% customer satisfaction.
- Adidas Originals Seeley Sneaker is the Best Seller on Amazon and has excellent traction, is lightweight, and provides you good board feel.
- New Balance All Coast 574 is the best for everyday use, light in weight, and offers you incredible ventilation with superb arch support.
- Emerica Pillar Mid Top Vulc Skate Shoe is best as it offers you maximum comfort, phenomenal support, superb traction, and excellent durability.
The pairs have excellent durability and are available in various colors, giving you plenty of options. Along with this, they allow you to perform your favorite tricks on the skateboard without any hindrance. So get yours today and enjoy the thrill that comes with skateboarding. Happy Shopping.