7 Best Nike Skate Shoes, 60+ Shoes Tested in 2023

We independently selected these top recommended pairs of Nike skate shoes after subjecting 50 pairs to rigorous weeks of wear-test. Whether you are a skate virtuoso or a non-skater eyeing for a durable, everyday skate sneaker, this selection is for you.
We also segregated our top choices into groups. Below you will find our top picks among slip-on shoes, suede variants, mid-tops, and budget-friendly sneakers.
How we test sneakers
- We buy all newly-released skate shoes with our own money and send them to our team of skate experts for wear-test and review.
- We also have a group of dedicated specialists that spends an average of 8 hours collating and summarizing all the user opinions for every shoe, about thousands of them.
- Our Corescore system puts together all the user opinions and scales them from 1-100 to show the best- and least-rated ones.
- We came up with these best lists based on the outtakes from the expert reviewers and user ratings.
Best Nike skate shoes overall
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all sneakers.
- Top 8% most popular sneakers
Pros
- Cozy in-shoe feel
- Stylish and good-looking
- Perfect board feel
- Excellent durability
- Secure lockdown
- Superior grip
- Little-to-no break-in
- Customizable lacing
Cons
- Tight fit
- Not breathable
- Not much collar padding
Verdict
After trying dozens of pairs from Nike Skateboarding, we think Nike SB Shane got ahead of everything else! It’s PHENOMENAL!
We hit the skate parks and gave this serious pounding and beating on the banked ramps, vert ramps, quarter pipes and pools! Oh, boy it made us pull off WILD STUNTS smoothly!
The moment we took this to a 100 kickflip test we knew this would take us places. AND it sure did! Even with its simple guise, the kind you’ll use for strolling, this skate shoe is smashing!
The higher foxing tape did add a lot of life to this shoe. That and the extended rubber toe bumper are the saving graces as they took all the blows yet stayed clean and unscuffed for several days of skate drills!
It gave us more reasons to glide and fly as it comes lighter than we expected! Thanks to the partly reduced amount of rubber on the outsole this kick didn’t weigh us down even on those craziest flips!
Best of all, this shoe is packed with amazing comfort coming from that added Zoom Air on the heel. It isn’t pronounced or noticeably thick so it allowed us to get closer to our boards. We can feel the underfoot support despite it’s vulc structure.
Best slip on Nike skate shoes
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all sneakers.
- Top 27% in Nike sneakers
Pros
- Cozy cushioning
- Generously padded
- Snug fit
- Functionally versatile
- Very low-cost
- Great board feel
- Amazing traction
Cons
- Frail construction
- Requires breaking in
Verdict
Going for lace-free skate shoes and particular about not going for the expensive range, you won’t regret choosing the Nike SB Charge Slip!
It got us charged like energy bunnies! It didn’t require a lengthy time to get used to the mold. The durable canvas cover was so ready to for street and skate park action straight from the box.
It offers the convenience as slipping in and out was easy peasy. Those elastic gore on the sides make the shoe snug-fitting. Even without the laces, the sides and rear part grabbed our feet comfortably.
Comfort is another factor that got us gripped to this shoe. Its foam sockliner cushioned every step. It isn’t thick enough that we enjoyed good communication with our boards.
Its vulc frame made it appear slimmer and lighter. Nothing comes in between our feet and the board that will hamper our movements. Maneuverability was great even with its slip on structure.
Those jagged treads allowed us to grip on our boards longer without losing our balance or slipping to the sides unwantedly.
When thinking of amazing skate slip ons that’s a winner in style, performance, and value, be energized too with this SB Charged shoe
Best Nike retro skate sneakers
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all sneakers.
- Top 8% in sneakers
- Top 7% in Nike sneakers
Pros
- Snug fit
- Breathable upper
- Durable
- Adequate arch support
- Timeless design
- Easy to clean
- Best for tricks and jumps
Cons
- Narrow fit
Verdict
Best Nike low top skate sneakers
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all sneakers.
- Top 7% in sneakers
- Top 7% in Nike sneakers
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Comfortable ride
- Stylish
- Sock-like fit
- Lightweight
- Good board feel
- Affordable price
Cons
- Flimsy material
Verdict
Best mid-top Nike skate shoes
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all sneakers.
- Top 7% in sneakers
- Top 7% in Nike sneakers
Pros
- Casual style
- Light
- Different colorways
- Affordable price
- Easy to keep clean
Cons
- Low-quality material
- Narrow
Verdict
When it comes to mid-top skate shoes, Nike SB Stefan Janoski Max Mid got all the bells and whistles. It ticks all the boxes that’s why it’s a must-have if you haven’t decided which ankle-high skate shoe to purchase next.
Obviously, its most significant selling point is that protective collar! It embraced our feet comfortably while allowing us to flex with ease at a fast speed. The plush and luxurious padding that hugged our feet is worth noting as well.
Those padded collars also protected our ankles every time they got whacked by our boards in between crazy stunts and flips.
Even with that extra ankle height and Air Max feature on the heel, this shoe did not feel heavy at all.
It’s an excellent value for money! You are getting more than you can ask for, especially if you can grab this Janoski shoe at a sale price below $90 through this site. It’s also a practical option since it’s dressed like your typical casual, street-ready shoe so that you can swing this from the skate park to date nights.
When it comes to performance and style, this is another Stefan Janoski signature shoe that's absolutely worth bagging up.
Best value Nike skate shoes
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all sneakers.
- Top 24% in sneakers
- Top 20% in Nike sneakers
- Top 29% most popular sneakers
Pros
- Gives cozy feel
- Minimalist style
- Goes well with anything
- Fits well
- Affordable
- No break-in period
- Soft
Cons
- Frail upper
- Firm
Verdict
Nike SB Charge Canvas is a must-have if you are gunning for a practical, inexpensive, all-rounder skate and street-ready sneaker. You’re in for a great ride without spending over $65 a pair of these.
What we loved most about this shoe is its minimalist upper that’s super comfortable. It did not give us a hell of a hard time since day one as such flexible fabric cover did not require us a lot of break-in time. Another great thing about this shoe, it was so ready for skate action the moment we tried it on.
Maneuverability wasn’t a problem. And though it’s a vulc shoe, it came with a dual-density insole that gave us that relaxing underfoot sensation without us feeling detached from our boards. It wasn’t bottom heavy too, so kickflips weren’t taxing at all.
It’s undoubtedly a dope budget-friendly skate shoe as it’s wearable practically anywhere. It goes well with almost any thinkable streetwear clothes. If compared with other lifestyle shoes, it stands out as the outsole doesn't smooth out quickly.
It’s an A+ shoe that will keep you charged wherever your feet take you.
Most popular Nike skate shoes
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all sneakers.
- Top 1% in Nyjah Huston sneakers
- Top 5% most popular sneakers
Pros
- Supreme fit
- Comfortable in-shoe feel
- Durable upper construction
- Breathable
- Variety of colorways
- Tight lock with Nike's lace system
Cons
- Mesh is not as durable as the rest of the shoe
- Not the grippiest
- Hard to clean some areas
Verdict
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