10 Best Skate Sneakers in 2022

What are skate sneakers?

Skate shoes, unlike lifestyle sneakers, will not only keep you looking stylish all day. These kicks are purposefully built to improve skaters’ performance whether they’re into cruising, tranny skateboarding, or street skating. 

So, what differentiates a skate shoe from your everyday sneaker? 

Compared to casual sneakers, good skateboard shoes need the following:

Enhanced durability. Skaters are known to push their limits. The same is expected from their shoes. Skate shoes are engineered to withstand the abrasive nature of this high-impact action sport.

Grippy soles. Expect most skateboard shoes to have flat and wide rubber outsoles with minimal treading. This increases the friction effect letting you hold onto your board.

Better boardfeel. Skate shoes are often engineered with thin cushioning. This makes the shoes less comfortable but maximizes board feel, allowing the skater to have better control of their movements.

PRO-TIP: Skate sneakers are now street staples because of their in-style look and functionality. There are, however, sneakers that carry a skate shoe look but lack the three characteristics stated above. These shoes are categorized for everyday wearing but will not perform well on the board.

5 easy steps to get the best skateboard shoe

These 5 simple steps will help you pick the shoe that provides the right amount of boardfeel, protection, and durability in no time.

• Cup sole vs Vulc sole
• Leather vs Textile
• EVA vs PU
• Keep an eye on these 5 special features
• Pick your style

1.Pick a sole based on your riding style

How you shred will dictate the type of sole construction that will work best for you. For skate shoes, it’s a choice between cupsole and vulc sole. 

If you’re a beginner, try vulc-soled skate shoes since these types of kicks offer excellent grip and boardfeel (two must-have things that a newbie skateboarder needs).

Cup sole vs Vulc sole
Sole-type	Cupsole	Vulc sole
What is it?	the upper is glued and sewn to a one-piece outsole unit	a foxing tape is wrapped around the shoe to connect the upper to the outsole
Benefits	-better impact protection and support -hardwearing sole -lasting traction -more cushioning	-enhanced boardfeel -lightweight -cheaper -quick break-in time -better maneuverability
Drawbacks	-reduced boardfeel -longer break-in time -bulkier and heavier -less control	-less impact protection and heel support -less durable -lacks cushioning
Great for	-big drops (involves jumping on railings, large gaps, and a flight of stairs)	-cruising (using the skateboard for traveling or commute) -transition skating (skating mini ramps, half pipes, and quarter pipes) -flat ground maneuvers
	See cupsole skate sneakers	See vulc sole skate shoes

2. Select your preferred upper material

When it comes to upper material; it’s an option between breathability and durability. However, watch out for shoes that are made of both leather and textile like the Vans Old Skool and Adidas 3ST.004. These ensure to give you both in one package.

	Common Materials Used	Pros	Cons
Upper	Leather (Suede/ Nubuck/ Full-grain)	+ Durable + Stable and supportive + Comfortable overtime (it molds to the shape of the foot giving skaters a customized fit) + Abrasion-resistant + Easier to clean	- Longer break-in time - Full-grain leather shoes are heavier on the feet - Less breathable
	Nice to know: Full-grain is the most durable. Suede is top-rated when it comes to skate shoes for its maneuverability and consistent flick. Keep an eye on shoes made with Super Suede or Action Leather. These are coated with polyurethane (PU) to boost its durability.
	Textile	+ Breathable + Lightweight + Cheaper + Feels softer on the get-go	-Less durable -Limited support and stability -Tends to absorb water
See canvas, mesh, knit, etc. skate shoes

3.Choose your midsole

It’s a choice between durability and flexibility when it comes to choosing your midsole material. 

	Common Materials Used	Pros	Cons
Midsole	EVA	+ Cushioning provides mild impact absorption + Flexible + Lightweight	-Less supportive -Compresses over time
	PU	+ Hardwearing + Supportive	-Longer break-in period -Heavier
See EVA skate shoes

4.Look for these 5 special features if you want your skate shoes to last

Given the added tech and top-notch materials on some of the longest-lasting skate shoes, expect these to have a higher price tag. Aside from the usual suede or leather upper, these shoes would also have at least one of the features below:

Heel protection 

Heel bruising can’t be helped after a session of shredding. This type of injury can be avoided by using skate shoes with heel-saving tech or dual cushioning. Try checking out CONS and Nike skate kicks that are equipped with Zoom Air insoles. Adidas also features skate sneakers with Adiprene insoles that are known to effectively absorb impact and provide cushioning.

Reinforcements in high-wear areas

The collar, front, and sides of your shoes wear out quickly due to constant rubbing. Enter toe caps, double foxing tapes, padded collars, and ollie bumpers. If you’re the type who does a lot of heelflips, kickflips, or ollies, these reinforcements are capable of protecting your heels and toes from bruising and lengthening the life of your shoes. 

If you’re someone who is into skate shoes with a sleek look, you can opt for shoes with rubber underlays or printed toe caps. Nike’s Hyperfuse or eS STI Thermothane both provide added durability while giving a seamless look. Hidden reinforcements like Adituff and Duracap will let you grind even with unwanted blowouts.

Gusseted tongue

Skate shoes with tongues attached to the sides of the upper is another neat feature to look for. Aside from giving the shoe a snug, bootie-like fit, this also keeps the tongue centered.

Extra stitching

Double or triple stitching on areas that get the most abuse will maximize the shoe’s longevity by reducing seam splitting.

Lace protectors

Expect the laces to be the first to break with constant shredding. In fact, some skaters rip their laces at least once a week. Built-in lace protectors do wonders in minimizing the occurrence of lace breakage. While this is something you would find on older models, there are skate shoes that are engineered with hidden lace loops and metal or plastic eyelets. 

5.Select the style that suits your taste

Apart from performance, good skate shoes have to look badass. Brands, nowadays, provide multitudes of options. Choices range from retro to chunky to minimalist, and a whole lot more. But before you go through that, you will need to choose between low-tops, mid-tops, and high-tops.   

Bonus topic: 4 genius hacks to make your skate shoes last longer

Let’s face it, even the top-rated and most durable skate shoes are prone to wear and tear (all thanks to the all-rebellious grip tape). So, shredders, over the years, have come up with a couple of genius tricks to extend the lifespan of their kicks. 

Note: Most of these hacks are made to lengthen your shoe’s life and will not improve the way your shoe looks (it may just do the exact opposite). 

1. Apply super glue on the stitching. You can do this on brand new shoes. Make sure to only apply a thin layer on the stitches that usually rub against the grip tape. To know which areas are the most prone to tearing, check the holes on your old shoes. If it’s your first time to skate, consider applying glue on high-contact areas, the most common of which are found below: 

• toebox
• heel
• sides of the shoe (ollie area)
• stitching around collar
• shoelace area

2. Learn how to properly lace your skateboard shoes. Laces ripping can’t be avoided. Adding Shoe Goo or super glue on your laces will help but this would stop you from adjusting the fit of your shoes. If this option won’t work for you, here are a few lacing techniques that you can use to prevent skate-related injuries as well as keep your laces from snapping.

• Criss-cross lacing
• Straight bar lacing
• Army lacing
• Zipper lacing

In case you have toe problems or high arches and the like, we’ve compiled a good number of neat knots and lacing methods that you can try out. 

3. Repair blowouts using Shoe Goo. Shoe Goo is an adhesive or sealant that is made specifically to repair shoes. A skater’s BFF when it comes to patching holes up, you just need a cube of ice to smoothen it out. In case you don’t have on hand a tube of Shoe Goo then you can always use superglue, trick tape, or even pieces of suede from your old shoes to cover up those holes.

4. Sand down new grip tape. One other way to delay the extinction of your kicks is by confronting the cause itself - Griptape. While grip tape is needed for you to stay on your board, this sandpaper-like sheet will puncture your shoes in no time. You can either buy a non-abrasive grip tape that costs around $50 or use regular grip tape and sand it down.