Skate Shoes & Sneakers
Why Skate Shoes Are Important
Skate shoes are shoes specifically designed for high-impact sports such as skateboarding, longboarding, and scootering. Using skateboard shoes when skateboarding is important because they are built to withstand the hits and impacts of the sport. In addition, their features enhance the performance by providing better grip and board control. At the same time, skate shoes are built to be highly comfortable, so your feet won't get tired as easily.
It is possible to skate with regular shoes or sneakers. However, you won’t probably be able to perform as well as when wearing skateboard shoes, which are made to help you skate better.
The Characteristics of Skateboard Shoes
Most skate shoes are made from leather, suede, or canvas to provide extra comfort when riding. They are equipped with an extra-thick vulcanized rubber sole that minimizes the wear during tricks and increases durability. The soles are usually flat and have tread patterns that provide excellent grip. Furthermore, the shoes have great shock-absorbing abilities to endure impacts and hard landings.
All these features make skate shoes as durable as possible because they are exposed to rough handling if used regularly on skateboards. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that skateboard shoes are often worn down faster than normal shoes, because of the grip tape on the skateboard.
Even though skateboard shoes have special characteristics to make them optimal for board sports, many people choose the shoes solely because of the cool design and comfort.
Take Good Care of Your Skate Shoes
Skateboarding and longboarding can be tough for your skate shoes, so it is important to take good care of them to prolong their lifespan. If you use your skate shoes to perform a lot of tricks, you can buy Shoe Goo or some similar silicone material that is applied to the tip and sides of the shoe. It is used to create a protective layer to the most vulnerable places on the shoe.
You can also take some preventive care measures with your shoes. Applying super-glue to the stitching of the side and nose of your shoes can prevent them from tearing apart when doing tricks. Using less grippy grip tapes can also increase the lifespan of your shoes by providing less friction.