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The Best Shoes for Skateboarding to Land a Kickflip
Written By OvertimeReviews Team
You don’t need to be a professional to enjoy the half pipe. Many are picking up skateboarding for the thrill and joy of learning a skill-based sport that’s perfect for urban dwellers. From kids to adults, skateboarding is steadily becoming a popular hobby. But if you’re just getting started you might be wondering, what shoes will help you land awesome, airy tricks?
Skateboarding shoes are designed with agility, comfort, and breathability in mind — not to mention style. Their thick, flat soles give you a secure grip on the board so you can perform jumps and tricks without worrying about falling. But choosing the right pair of shoes requires a bit of insider knowledge. We’ve researched and rounded up the highest quality kicks, plus we’ve put together a detailed buyer’s guide with all you need to know about skateboarding shoes, which ones to invest in, and how to care for your shoes so they last well beyond your first kickflip. Let’s take a look!
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Detailing the Best Shoes for Skateboarding of 2025
DC Men’s Shoes for Skateboarding
Best Overall
One of the most well-known skateboarding shoe brands, DC, brings you the Men’s Court Graffik Casual Skate Shoes. Offering comfort and strength, these shoes have an attractive design, extra breathability, and will last well beyond their years due to their unparalleled durability.
These lightweight kicks come with a padded collar and tongue and ventilation holes to keep your feet sweat-free and cool. Rest assured that your feet won’t heat up in these shoes. Whether you’re looking for serious, skate-park shoes, or shoes to simply wear to work or school, these casual, comfortable shoes will make your feet feel at ease no matter how long you wear them.
Etnies Shoes for Skateboarding
Runner Up
Like the Etnies Fader, the Etnies Kingpin Skateboarding Shoe features a classic puffy tongue to keep your feet secure and protected from undue stress. The shoe’s upper is heavily perforated, allowing air to pass through, while adjustable laces allow you to tighten or loosen the shoes to match your preference.
Strong, heavy-duty padding on the tongue and collar make performing a variety of tricks easy. These stylish shoes with their distinct, unique design come in a variety of colors. Plus, the 300 MBS rubber outsole provides a perfect grip, so you’ll be sure to land even the toughest skateboard trick.
Adidas Shoes for Skateboarding
Contender
Adidas, a brand that needs no introduction, has constructed the Men’s Daily 3.0 Skate Shoes from 100% textile synthetics. While these skate shoes are ideal for the skate park, half pipe, and riding all day on the board, they can also be worn for everyday casual wear. Their regular fit, lace closure, and rubber sole design provide the utmost comfort and breathability.
More than a fashion statement, these skateboarding shoes are made from a breathable, washable upper made from canvas, allowing airflow in and out of the shoe as you ride. Plus, being made from synthetic textile, these shoes are easy to clean and care for. Regardless of your level, these skate shoes will have you performing any trick you wish.
Globe Shoes for Skateboarding
Honorable Mention
The Men’s Tilt Skateboarding shoes are fully padded with a cupsole style and the prominent, bold Globe logo. Available in multiple colors and designs, these shoes will give you the grip and comfort you need to practice new tricks on your skateboard. What’s more, the shoe’s shaft measures low-top from the arch. With nitrocel airbag soles, these shoes feature a step-in sock liner.
If you’re serious about skateboarding, these are your shoes. They’re snug and soft, allowing you to focus on your approach and landing rather than worry about your shoes slipping.
DVS Shoes for Skateboarding
Also Consider
Another great shoe for skateboarding enthusiasts is the DVS Men’s Comanche Skateboarding shoe. Made with a rubber sole and a high-quality upper, these shoes are durable, stylish, and very comfortable. Plus, the toe box is roomy, giving your toes plenty of space to spread out and adjust to impacts as you repeatedly jump on and off your board.
Available in multiple colors with a timeless design, many choose these shoes for skating and everyday wear alike. Regardless of when you wear them, you’ll love these comfortable, cozy shoes with their sure grip and pull on heel loops.
Buyer’s Guide for Finding High-Quality Skateboarding Shoes
Most people who have never skateboarded before wonder why they need to invest in a different type of shoe for the sport. The answer is simple: Regular sneakers or shoes will not give you the support required to perform tricks or ride the board with ease. What’s worse, you might be unable to feel the board beneath your feet, causing you to slip, fall, and possibly sustain severe injury.
This is why seasoned skateboarders and professionals advise choosing shoes that are specially designed for skateboarding. These shoes are often breathable, making sure your feet don’t sweat and feature a non-slip, secure grip so that your feet remain glued to the board no matter how much air you get. Plus, having a pair of these skateboard shoes on your feet will give you a unique style that is only found at the skatepark.
What to Consider When Choosing a Skateboard Shoe
With many factors determining a high-quality skateboard shoe, choosing one can be complicated. These factors include comfort, support, and the overall grip of the show, allowing you to feel the board moving beneath you and land those next-level tricks. Below, we explore the top features to keep in mind and why they matter when choosing your next pair of skateboard shoes.
Comfort and support
When looking for any kind of shoe, especially skateboarding shoes, the most important thing to consider is comfort and support. If the shoe is uncomfortable, tight, or does not have ample toe room for splay, you likely won’t be able to wear it for long periods of time, if at all. Comfortable shoes should fit well, and be slightly snug but still allow your feet room to flex and your toes to move. Opt for skate shoes that contain the right style of insole for your arch and foot and have a soft upper with a padded collar and tongue. We recommend laced shoes for skateboarding so you can customize the fit to your foot.
Keep in mind that if there is no padding at the ankle, your feet won’t receive the support they need to skate for long periods. Be sure to walk around in the shoe first before trying it out on your skateboard to decide if it’s the right one for you.
Ability to feel the board
An important factor that newbies tend to forget is the ability to feel the board beneath their feet. Many skateboarders prefer shoes that either have cup soles or are vulcanized, both of which help achieve a better board feel.
We recommend trying the shoes out on your board to truly know how well the shoes will work for you while skating. If you’re ordering online, make sure you check if the shoes can be easily returned; that way if the shoes don’t work for you, you have the choice of returning them.
Sturdiness and durability
The shoe’s sturdiness is another important factor when choosing shoes for skateboarding. Leather shoes and shoes with rubber toe caps are the most durable. Synthetic or canvas shoes may be easier to clean, but they may not last as long. Suede, on the other hand, is quite long-lasting and should be able to withstand any trick or flip. When choosing a shoe based on its durability or stability, we recommend reflecting on how often you plan on skateboarding. For instance, if you plan to ride every day, choosing the most durable option on the market makes the most sense.
Why Is Breathability an Important Factor in Skateboarding Shoes?
Breathability, or air’s ability to pass through a shoe, is extremely important, especially if you plan to skate in hot weather or southern climates. If there is no ventilation in your shoes, sweat will become trapped inside as your feet heat up, making the shoes hot and uncomfortable. What’s more, you may also find that you have trouble gripping the board.
Many believe canvas is much more breathable than leather, but leather is often a better quality shoe. So, how do you choose?
If you’re looking for a shoe that lasts longer, look for a leather skate shoe with holes or mesh on top, making the leather upper more breathable. As mentioned above, weather is a huge factor when it comes to a well-ventilated shoe. In cold weather, your shoes will remain a constant temperature and will not need to ventilate as much. However, in hot weather, your feet will heat up more quickly and will need to ventilate more.
How To Determine Traction for Perfect Balance?
Traction gives you balance. Your shoes need to have soles that allow you to maintain a secure grip on the board. This will keep you upright on the board even when you’re moving at a fast speed. Keep in mind that the sole material and the tread pattern define its traction. Check the bottom of the shoe before buying it to make sure it has a stable, suitable grip.
People Also Asked
Does wearing the right shoes matter for skateboarding?
This may come as a surprise, but it actually does matter what shoes you wear when skateboarding. Skateboarding shoes are designed to improve your grip and help absorb shock, ensuring that you don’t fall or injure yourself.
What is a cupsole shoe?
A cupsole is the outsole, which is placed around the sole of your foot in the shape of a cup. Cupsoles are pre-molded inserts attached via glue to the shoes. These give the shoes their stability, balance, and comfort. They also provide grip, allowing you to easily maneuver the skateboard.
How do I choose the right skateboarding shoes?
The most important thing to keep in mind when buying skateboarding shoes is that they need to be breathable, have a non-slip, grippy sole, and be durable enough to handle repeated jumping, landing, and falling. If these requirements aren’t met, you will not be able to securely skateboard, and there will be an increased risk of falling.
When should skating shoes be thrown away?
Skateboarding shoes should be thrown away when the sole begins to wear, break, or flap off. Also, monitor the shoe’s grip. If you keep slipping off your board or falling — even when you know you should have landed — then it’s probably time to retire your shoes and buy a new pair with a new sole and a secure grip. Never use visibility worn out shoes or shoes that have lost their grip; this can lead to serious injury.
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