The Ultimate List Of Skate Shoe Brands

88 Footwear

88 footwear was created by Kris Markovich in 2002. Back then, the company behind Osiris’ skate shoes (Alias Distribution) decided to fund the brand for the first three years. While the brand had relatively good success, Alias Distribution decided to cease any future funding for 88 footwear. However, this didn’t stop them as they were able to find another financial backer. 

This new business arrangement also gave 88 footwear a new name – Vox shoes. 

Adidas Skateboarding

The German sports apparel giant Adidas has arrived to the skateboarding field as well. They sport an impressive lineup of skate shoes ranging from the classic, and one of their most sold models, campus vulcs to our staff favorite Adi Eases. Adidas even has multiple pro models for German-born speed-hound Dennis Busenitz. What’s even better, they have promised to significantly reduce their carbon footprint in the next years to come. What’s not to love?

Adidas has succeeded in creating both traditional vulcanized skate shoes as well as highly technical cup soles with the same flair that you would expect from the brand with the three stripes. Their team is also stacked with international all-terrain skateboarders. And, don’t say that Adidas is trying to cash in on skateboarding. For years skaters used to use Adidas’ futsal shoes like the Samba for skateboarding. 

Adio Footwear

In the early to mid 2002, Adio seemed to have everything. They were selling shoes like no other, they just came out with a full-lenght video One step beyond and their team was packed with some of the industry’s biggest names. These included skaters like Tony Hawk, Bam Margera, Joey Brezinski, Kenny Anderson and Ronnie frickin’ Creager! Sadly, as times passed, Adio was forced to cut their whole pro team in 2010 due to financial troubles. Despite of this they still continued making skate shoes for the masses. 

However, cutting the whole skate team was a huge blowback for the skaters who relied on their paycheck from the company. What caused even more saltiness was the fact that Adio still continued to market themselves as ”supporting and sustaining the skateboard culture”.

Animal Skate Shoes

Animal is a UK-based skate shoe brand that offers a few classic skate shoe styles in multiple colors. Check ’em out if you want to support smaller European-based companies in the skate shoe market. 

Airwalk

Airwalk is often considered one of the first skate shoe brands on the market. Back in the day they even sponsored Tony Hawk! How’s that for an advertisement?

After being a go-to staple in the skate industry since the 1980s, Airwalk eventually fell out of the radar after a few failed attempts of branching out to other fields. 

However, the brand is still alive and kicking. Their shoe designs pay homage to those of the late 80s – the models they have always been known for. They may not be the slimmest vulcs or most technical cupsoles, but they definitely stand out from the crowd.

Axion

Axion was a brainchild of Kareem Campbell, who also worked as a co-owner and a team member of the company. However, as Axion was sold to Dwindle in 2000, Kareem was forced to leave the company. As a result, the brand lost its direction which led to financial struggles. Ultimately Axion saw it’s demise in the early 2000s. 

In 2009 Axion’s name was bought as an idea to breathe new life into the brand. However, this did not take flight and Axion still remains a part of skateboard history for now. 

Edit: In 2020, Axion rebooted their lineup with two old favorites, The Apex and The Genesis. Both of which sold out in an instant. We’re glad to see a respected brand making a comeback.

Circa Footwear

Circa was founded in 1999, and was once considered one of the hottest skate shoe brands on the market – and for a good reason. Their shoes were selling well and their team had some heavy hitters like Jamie Thomas, Adrian Lopez and Chad Muska. After many years of successful business in the skateboard industry, Circa became one of the brands that suffered from the lousy economic market. For years, skaters had been hearing rumors about Circa going under, but no official information had surfaced from the company itself. 

In March of 2018, Circa team rider Neen Williams said in an instagram post that the company is done. However, their website was quickly rebuilt after this, but their team and products only consist of Adrian Lopez and his signature models. However, their sales director Fabrizio Messineo said the they will bring back old classics like the Kingsley and Drifter.

Will Circa still be able to continue on or not? We’ll see. 

Clear Weather

Clear Weather is a newcomer in the skateboard industry.
The California-based company was founded in 2014 by Josh and Brandon Brubaker. Their skate selection relies mostly on a very traditional thin vulcanized shoes, which provide the best boardfeel possible. Donny, their most well-known design, is almost like a modernized version of the Vans Era shoe. However, it comes with a twist – the outer toes have a suede ”toecap” to provide more durability to the otherwise canvas-made shoe. 

”Less corporate, More independent”

Converse

Converse has long been a staple in street style and skateboard culture even years before their official skate shoes. After being bought by Nike in 2003, the Converse brand saw a shift towards the skateboarding lifestyle. In 2009 they launched their ”CONS” skateboard line with a staggering team including some of the industry’s biggest names. Kenny Anderson, Rune Glifberg, Nick Trapasso, Anthony Pappalardo… The list goes on!

Converse remains one of the most street-savvy skate shoes on the market today with a wide variety of low and high top models. They look great, feel great and flick great. What more do you need? 

Converse’s most well-known design is of course the skateboard oriented version of the legendary Chuck Taylor models. Just remember that Converse is notorious for their weird sizing. Be sure to try ’em on before buying. 

DC Shoe Co.

DC was created and launched in 1993 by two college friends, Ken Block and Damon Way. Supported by a logo that is surely known even outside of skateboarding, DC quickly became one of the most recognizable skate shoe brands in the world. Within a decade the company grew into a whopping 100 million dollar brand, that was later bought by Quiksilver in 2004. It is one of the biggest success stories the skateboarding industry. 

DC’s shoes have always been inspired by streetwear and they still value their roots to this day. Most of their models remind us of those technical skate shoes of the 90s but with a few modern twists. However, that doesn’t mean that they solely focus on bulkier skate shoe designs. DC also has a great variety of thinner vulcanized shoes with an added benefit of modern materials, such as Super Suede. 

With a strong team of industry legends like Danny Way to young guns like Jaakko Ojanen, DC will surely stay as a one of the leading skate shoe brands in the world. 

Dekline

Dekline was started in 2004 under Tum Yeto and quickly made a name for itself for supporting a real raw skateboarding lifestyle. What really set Dekline apart from the rest was their lack of mass marketing. Instead of shoving a product down skater’s throats, they decided to let their products do the talking.

And it has definitely paid off. 

Dekline immediately became the skate shoe of choice for a huge group of skaters. Their skate shoes have always been simple and understated, yet built with skateboarding in mind. Along with being a well-known skateboard brand, Dekline’s style has found home from musicians and artists alike. 

”Enjoy the ride”

Diamond

Diamond is a relatively new skate shoe brand in the industry. Founded in 1998, they aimed to create stylish and modern streetwear that were still rooted in skateboarding. Diamond didn’t start as a skate shoe, though. The brand found their way into the skateboard industry by making small hardware and skate apparel. 

In 2005, Nike SB asked Diamond Supply Co’s owner Nick Diamond to create a signature shoe, which enjoyed a cult following quickly after. This was a kick start for Diamond’s line of skateboard shoes. As you might assume, their skate shoes have been a great success among skaters worldwide. You can bet your butt they skate well straight out of the box.

Diamond’s shoes are mostly thinner vulcanized designs that give a modern twist to shoes from years past. They look good, feel good and skate extremely well. Brandon Biebel’s pro model, All Day, was also one of the first skate shoes that utilized the knitted style upper. 

Duffs

In 1992, World Industries with the leadership of Steve Rocco, decided to sink their teeth in the skate shoe industry. Their idea was to launch a new generation of skate shoes through a strong skate team and a striking ad campaign. However, due to stiff competition and bad economy, the brand pretty much disappeared after only a few years. 

In 1997, Duffs was bought by a Canadian winter boot company Genfoot. After a three year transitional period, the brand was ready to be fully resurrected in the early 2000s. After nearly a decade of successful business, Duffs seemed to meet the same fate as they did before. Diminishing sales forced the brand to downshift and take a new direction. Nowadays, Duffs still exists but is a shadow of its past self. Will we see another comeback?

DVS Shoes

DVS is one of the more well-known skate brands out there. Started in 1995, the brand managed to grow a huge following of skateboarders with the likes of Daewon Song, who was DVS’ ambassador all the way to 2016. However, after almost a decade of successful business, DVS had to file for bankruptcy in 2012. 

Fortunately this was not the end of DVS. After some financial hardships the company was sold which gave them the financial freedom to move forward. Their team expanded with the likes of Torey Pudwill and Jon Nguen which gave DVS just the push they were looking for. Nowadays, the brand enjoys the success it has built along the years and is still going strong. 

DVS has an extensive line of shoes for both women and men, which mostly lean towards more padded designs. Texas’ very own Cody McEntire also has his pro model from the company. So, buy a pack of toothpicks and bust out some nollie bigspins while you’re at it! (At your own risk of course).

Element

Founded in 1992, Element has always had a strong goal to be the best skateboard brand they can be in the most ethical and honest way possible. This goal has proven to be successful because Element has managed to withstand the test of time and stay on top of the skateboard industry. 

You might know Element for their skateboards and strong team, but the brand also makes some quality footwear when you are out there shredding the park. They have a wide range of different models to choose from. High top, low top, vulc or cup – Element’s got it! Our staff favorites are the Spike Slip shoe with an ollie patch and the classic-looking Wasso designs. 

Emerica

Emerica might just be the raddest skate shoe brand around. They have an insane team that churns out skate clips and full-length movies more than any other company out there. Since 1996 Emerica has managed to establish a strong and recognizable brand that knows exactly who the are – raw skateboarders that represent the lifestyle to its fullest. 

Emerica has a wide variety of models that will surely satisfy every skater’s needs. We are most impressed with their new low profile cupsoles, such as the Romero Laced and the Figueroa. 

As with other Sole Tech brands, Emerica also has a strong sense of sustainability. They even have a specific section for vegan skate shoes on their website. We’re all about that!

Also, if you haven’t watched Emerica’s full-length films like This Is Skateboarding, Stay Gold or Made 1 & 2, you are in for a treat. Get ready to be stoked. 

This is Emerica. This is skateboarding. 

Etnies

Founded all the way in 1986, Etnies prides itself for being the first skater-owned and operated skate shoe brand in the extreme sports industry. They have pushed skateboarding to where it is now by developing technologies and products to sustain the wear-and-tear of our lifestyle. Hell, Etnies even made the first ever pro model skate shoe for Natas Kaupas. 

Etnies has a rich history in skateboarding and it shows in their product lineup as well. And no, I don’t mean those models that you can see at every mall out there. We’re talking about shoes like the Jameson, which comes in both vulcanized and cupsole constructions. As far as signature models go, the Joslin is the newest addition and works great pretty much anywhere. Ryan Sheckler also has his pro model, the Marana, which comes in both vulc and cup versions. 

We are huge advocates for eco friendly production and sustainability. That’s why we are really excited about Etnies ”buy a shoe, plant a tree” program. So far, the brand has planted over a million trees in the Costa Rican rainforests. 

És Footwear

És has an interesting history. Starting in 1995 and quickly becoming one of the world’s biggest skate shoe brands sporting some of the most famous skaters in the industry. Arto Saari, Bob Burnquist, Eric Koston, Paul Rodriguez, PJ Ladd and Tom Penny. How crazy was that!? És was also responsible for coming up with the first official ”Game Of Skate” contests. In many ways it paved the way for other events such as Battle At The Berrics. 

However, being on top of the world and having one of the best teams ever, there can only be one direction for a brand. And in És’s case it did not go well. After a few years of lower sales and financial struggles És had to close its doors in after 16 years in the business.  

But not for long. 

In 2016, És’s parent company Sole Tech (which also owns Etnies, ThirtyTwo and Emerica) decided that it was time to revive the brand to its former glory. Their new and improved company decided to release some of their most beloved models, like the Accel and Sal 23 (which happens to be one of our all-time favorite skate shoes) among others. És has also managed to stay true to their roots and continued working on new technologies to make their skate shoes more skateable, more durable and more comfortable. A true skate shoe brand made by skaters – for skaters. 
Check them out!

Fallen

Fallen was a skater run and skater owned footwear brand run by none other than skate industry legend Jamie Thomas. In their prime years of ’06 – ’07 the Fallen team had some of the absolute biggest names you can think of. Chris Cole, Jamie Thomas, Tommy Sandoval, Billy Marks… The list goes on and on. What made Fallen rise to the top was their 100% dedication to raw street skateboarding. 

Unfortunately, after years of rebranding and redesigning almost their whole shoe lineup, Fallen had to call it quits in 2016. However, the same Fallen spirit lives on with their sister company Zero skateboards. 

Edit: After a few years of silence Fallen footwear has announced their comeback! Their 2019 team lineup will include some very familiar names from their past team. How does Jamie Thomas, Billy Marks and Chris Cole sound like?

FP Footwear

Yo might have heard about FP insoles before, but they have slowly worked their way to full-on skate shoe designs. The brand prides themselves on innovation and their DGS (dynamic gait stabilization) technology has been very well received in the skateboard community. It utilizes non-newtonian fluid insole that is soft when walking but hardens on impact. What’s even more impressive is the fact that the insoles mold to your foot’s anatomical structure and prevents injuries.

Hell, if it’s good enough for Aaron “Jaws” Homoki and Joey Brezinski, I’m pretty sure you’ll like them too.

Freedom Fog

Freedom fog is the only South American skate shoe brand on our list. Hailing from Brazil, Freedom fog has a 20-year background in skateboarding. And boy do they know how to make good skate shoes!

Freedom fog’s lineup can somewhat be divided into more modern slim vulcanized skate shoes and the chunkier ”classic” series. As you might have expected, the latter pays homage to the padded designs of the 90s. So, whether that’s you style or not, freedom fog’s lineup will surely keep you satisfied.

Take a look and see what they have in store!

Globe

Globe is an Australia-based skateboard apparel company founded in 1985. After a decade of good business, the brand decided it was time to branch out overseas and get into the North American market. This proved to be an incredibly lucrative move for Globe which eventually led them to become one of the world’s biggest action sports companies. At the moment, Globe owns over 20 skateboard apparel and streetwear brands worldwide. 

Globe still makes their own brand of skate shoes as well. They have a wide variety of different models that range from thin vulcanized shoes to more technical cupsoles. Our favorite is David Gonzales’ pro model shoe, The Eagle SG. 

What is your choice from the Globe lineup?

Gravis

Gravis’ life as a skate shoe brand was colorful yet short-lived. They had a strong team led by Arto Saari and Dylan Rieder, who both had their signature shoes in the lineup. Otherwise Gravis’ style leaned towards slim, minimal, simple and refined shoes that looked great on and off the board. But, this did not mean they didn’t perform great while skating. In fact, their shoes had some of the best grip and board feel we’ve witnessed to this day. 

Unfortunately, in 2012, the Burton-owned company decided to move all of their US and European operations and focus solely on the Japanese market. Additionally, their new models are nowhere near what they used to be in terms of their sleek and minimal style. Will the western skate markets see Gravis again some day? Only time will tell. 

Habitat

Habitat skateboards has a long and colorful history in the industry. In 2010 they also launched their very own line of skate shoes. At first, it seemed that Habitat was trying to form a bridge between the core skaters and the eco-friendly Ipath fans. Even though Habitat was able to make great skate shoes for the conscious consumer, their shoe brand never reacher their full potential. 

Ultimately Habitat skateboards went out of business (along with their sister company Alien Workshop) seemingly overnight after over two decades in 2014. However, Tum Yeto came to rescue the brand and it has been up and running ever since. The skaters also played a huge part in keeping Habitat alive. Instead of going with offer from other brands, the riders agreed on paycheck cuts just to stick together and keep the brand alive. 

Sadly, after going with Tum Yeto, the brand decided to ditch their skate shoe lineup and focus on decks and apparel instead. We are happy that they are still here though!

Hawk Shoes

Hawk shoes came into the skateboard scene in 2000 and only lasted a few years until it was forced to close its doors due to dwindling sales. What made Hawk shoes stand out from the rest was that the brand was almost entirely focusing on a younger generation of skateboarders that were just starting out in skateboarding. However, in 2003 the brand decided to solely focus on kids sizes and most of the team members went to Adio footwear. 

Huf.

The story of Huf. shoes is very much a story about its founder, Keith Hufnagel. Growing up in New York City in the late 80s have both shaped his skateboard career and ultimately how his shoe brand came to be. Nowadays, Huf is synonymous with skateboarding and keeps pushing the limits of how skate shoe brands should support their culture. 

The company’s designs lean towards the classic vulcanized shoes with an understated simple-yet-stylish design. What really stands out in the brands models is the stitched ’H’ on the outside of your foot. Other skater’s will definitely know what you’re rocking on the streets or skate park. 

“Go out and create your own future – do it yourself, do it in style.”

Human Recreational Services

HRS, or Human Recreational Services is the newest brand on our list. Formed by Erik Ellington and Bryan Herman, who left their former shoe sponsors to build their own brand of skate shoes. Thus far HRS has only released a killer looking line of loafers, called the Del Rey. 

Is it a lifestyle brand? Is it a Skate shoe brand? We don’t know! We might have to wait a bit longer for their foray into skate shoes. 

Ice cream

Ice cream was the creation of none other than Pharrell Williams. He wanted to create a skate shoe brand to reflect his love for both music and skateboarding. What made ice cream stand out from the rest was their bold use of colors and being more closely tied to music culture. While they did have some success in the skateboard industry, the brand never saw the breakthrough they wanted from skateboarders themselves. As time went by, Ice cream’s owner Reebok decided to pull the plug in the mid 2000s. 

However, there are reports of Ice cream returning as a more of a high fashion brand.
Time will tell if it will come into fruition. 

Ipath

Ipath was one of the few skate shoe brands that had a very specific idea of who they were and what kind of skaters they wanted to represent. Ipath’s style appealed to the alternative thinkers,  eco-friendly individuals and Rasta skaters. What is even better, Ipath was a green company through and through and promoted environmental sustainability as much as they could. As far as their skate shoes go, Ipath tried to lead the skate industry to a more sustainable direction by using unorthodox materials such as hemp and organic cotton.

The brand was going strong from 1999 all the way until 2007, when it was sold to the footwear giant Timberland. Eventually, the owners decided to pull the plug instead of risking a huge dip in Ipath’s diminishing sales. 

However, we are hearing rumors about I-path’s return. We also assume that this generation of skaters could be more passionate about environmental issues and therefore give Ipath a unique angle to come back into skateboarding. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. 

Lakai Limited Footwear

Lakai is a skater-owned and skater operated company by Mike Carroll and Rick Howard. The company was founded in 1999 and has since been the choice of skaters that want to support the core community. Lakai is also a part of Crailtap Distribution, which is also responsible for Girl skateboards, Chocolate skateboards, Fourstar clothing and Royal trucks. 

Lakai is often admired for their laid-back style and occasional humor in their apparel and advertisements. It’s not difficult to see why they have such a cult following. And, add some killer skaters into their team and you have a proven formula for success. Lakai also has a great way of helping out talented amateurs get on the pro level. They are often known for adding some lesser known skaters into their roster and bringing them on tours with the big boys. 

Lakai’s shoes also reflect their skater-driven ideology. Their designs range from highly skateable low tops to more technical modern shoes. Lakai has also put some effort into coming up with new technologies for their skate shoes. Their XLK soles give the same structural integrity as a regular cupsole, but with significantly less weight. But don’t worry, the shoes will still offer a great amount of board feel and impact protection. On the other hand, Lakai’s VLK performance sole is a modernized version of a vulcanized construction. 

New Balance Numeric

In 2013 it was New Balance’s turn to get into the skate shoe industry. The sports giant decided to create a full line of skate shoes and even came up with a specific name, Numeric, to separate them from other sports. 

It is safe to say that New Balance came out swinging when they first arrived to the scene. They released some killer shoes as well as signed PJ Ladd and Arto Saari to their team and gave both of them their very own signature shoes. Later on, Brandon Westgate’s surprise move from Emerica to Numeric solidified their spot as a brand to look out for. 

Speaking of shoes, Numeric has a nice variety of skate shoes that should offer something for everyone. From simple vulcanized shoes like the 255 and the 345, to cupsoles like the 420, which is essentially a running shoe you can skate in. Simply put, their shoes are durable, comfy and great to skate in. What else can you expect from New Balance Numeric?

Nike SB

What can we say about Nike that hasn’t already been said before? The world’s biggest sports brand has successfully branched out to skateboarding and sports one of the sickest skate teams around. Their designs are focused more towards innovative skate shoes but Nike does have some 

Classic designs in the mix as well. One of them is perhaps the world’s best-selling skate shoe of right now- the Stefan Janoski pro model. Other models include the Dunk and Blazer which both enjoy a cult following nowadays. 

Nike definitely came into the skateboard scene with a bang. While some skaters are not thrilled of big brands getting into skateboarding, you can’t argue that Nike has had a big impact in the visibility of skateboarding. The brand has an impressive team and a huge line of great skate shoes for every skater’s needs. Just do it. 

Nuzzi Shoes

Nuzzi shoes is a lifestyle and skate shoe brand created by Spencer Nuzzi. You might know him from youtube or killing spots in the west coast , but he is making some serious moves in the footwear industry as well. The brand focuses on making simple and stylish shoes that represent Nuzzi’s passion for fashion and skateboard lifestyle.

The staple of their lineup is a slip-on called Downtown which comes in a variety of different colors.

Osiris

Ahh Osiris, the brand that brought us the infamous D3.
Founded in 1996, Osiris has created shoes that were strictly focused in producing the best skate shoes possible. Nowadays, the brand still pays homage to their designs from the past. They may not have the slimmest vulcs or the most technical shoes on the market, but it sure ticks all the boxes for skaters looking for a walk down memory lane. 

By the way, Osiris’s full-length film ”The storm” is a criminally underrated skateboard film that was way ahead of its time. Seriously consider checking that out!

Savier Shoes

A blast from the past, am I right?
Savier used to make seemingly indestructible skate shoes using some of the more unorthodox materials on their skate shoes. Their designs were often very unorthodox and had a futuristic look and feel to them. Savier’s whole goal was to create skate shoes with durability and technical aspects in mind. Ultimately, the brand was too ahead of its time when skaters were looking for more traditional designs to skate with. Thus, the brand was forced to close its doors in 2004.

Servant

The harsh Scandinavian climate is not just a home for snowboarders. They have a surprisingly booming skate culture with indoor skate parks sprouting at a rapid rate.

Servant footwear is also born from this underground movement. With a combined experience of 40 years in the skate shoe industry. They definitely have a few aces up their sleeve.

DIY designed and DIY tested. In Sweden.

Supra

The story of Supra started in 2006.
The California-based lifestyle/skate shoe brand came to the scene out of nowhere with the help of Chad Muska, Erik Ellington, Jim Greco, Tom Penny and Stevie Williams. Their first models were aiming for a very specific niche in skateboarding – the low cupsole designs. Supra’s aim was to deliver the boardfeel of a vulcanized shoe with the added benefit of impact protection. However, most people will probably recognize the brand from their high-top models, such as the Skytop.

As of today, Supra’s popularity seems to hit a wider base of hip hop and other lifestyle fans, but they still have a specific lineup made just for skateboarding. 

State Footwear

Founded in January 2016, State was poised to create classic, durable and affordable skateboard shoes for every possible user out there. We’re happy to say that they have more than succeeded in their vision. State has concentrated in making a no-frills product that oozes quality both aesthetically and on your board. As a result, their classic designs like Madison have won over the hearts of skateboarders around the world. Definitely worth checking out!

”The free and liberated state”

Straye

Straye is another newcomer in the vast world of skate shoe brands. Their aim was to provide skaters with a high-quality, stylish, comfortable and affordable shoes with their own flair. As far as their designs go, most of them share a familiar low vulcanized design but with more bold color choices. 

Sykum 

Sykum represents one of the few European companies on the list. The German-based company started its journey in 1999 by two brothers, Armin and Jochen Bauer. They wanted to create shoes that represented their love for skateboarding and snowboarding.

Sykum does not have a skate team anymore, but they still produce shoes the same way they did before – with skateboarding in mind.

Edit: Sykum’s website has been down for some time. Seems like the skateboarding world lost another skater-owned shoe brand.

Puma

Puma’s involvement in skateboarding is a bit of a mystery. There has never been concrete information of their involvement in skateboarding. While the sports giant did not have official skate shoes or a pro team, they still had one man pushing the brand towards skateboarding – Joey Brezinski. At the time, he was working as a real swiss army knife for the brand. Brezinski was a pro skater, a team manager, a sales rep and abrand manager for their whole skate division. If you can call it that. 

Sadly, in 2016 Brezinski announced that he is no longer with Puma, and it seems their skateboard branding has disappeared with him. 

Reebok

Reebok offered a bit of a curveball compared to other big sports manufacturers. They never attempted to go into skateboarding with a huge marketing campaign and take a huge slice of the market share. Instead, Reebok worked with skate shops and made limited edition shoes and let them determine the demand. Reebok concentrated on making limited editions with varying designs and colorways. Thus, they were able to get into the skateboard market but not insult the core community. Hell, they even had a pro model for Stevie Williams!

Reebok definitely has found its niche among other skate shoe brands. 

Vans

What can we say about Vans that hasn’t been said already? It is the oldest and, according to some skateboarders, the most prestigious skate shoe company in the world. The Vans story starts  with the Van Doren brothers, Paul and James in 1966. Back then, they were known as The Van Doren Rubber Company. Th first ever design in the Vans lineup was the Authentic, which is still being sold to this day. 

Aside from being a huge part of the skate culture, Vans also sponsors music events such as the Warped Tour. But that’s not all. Vans is the main sponsor for US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach. 

Vans has an extensive range of skate shoes in that traditional Vans style that people have come to love and appreciate. Their classic Old Skool, Authentic and Era models have been the shoe of choice for many skaters along the years. The newer models like the Style 112 and UltraRange will surely quench the thirst of skaters looking for more modern and technical footwear.  

Vans’ rich history and their strong visibility in skateboard and music scene has established them as one of the premier skate shoe brands in the world. 

Vans – ”Off the wall”

Vision

Vision is one of the oldest skate shoe brands on the market today. Founded all the way in 1976, they have been a mainstay in skateboarding ever since. You couldn’t really go anywhere without seeing their ads or someone rocking their shoes on the streets. While Vision may not have the same amount of hype or visibility as it used to, they still have a wide variety of skate shoes available. 

Most of Vision’s models have a familiar and classic skate shoe look to them. Think ”Vans meets Converse” and you are pretty much there. They often have rubber toe caps or strategically placed ollie-patch on high-abrasion spots. Hell, they actually invented it! This will give you both durability and grip when you are out there shredding. Last but not least, the sole offers great traction for any type of skater. 

Vita

Vita was founded in 1998 by Mark Oblow, Lance Theis and professional skater Natas Kaupas. At a time when most skate shoe brands were competing with how much technology they could cram into a single shoe, Vita had other plans in mind. Their main goal was to produce simple skate shoes that would only be sold in independently owned ”core” skateboard shops. 

Vita’s message slowly caught up with their consumers and started building a very solid skate team when Natas Kaupas, Jason Dill, Tim O’Connor, Danny Garcia, Reese Forbes and Rob Pluhowksi joined their ranks. With that, Vita also started creating pro models to both Kaupas and Dill. 

Sadly however, Vita wasn’t able to survive in the brutal skate shoe market and they were forced to close up shop in 2001. 

Vox Shoes

Formerly known as 88 footwear, Vox offered a solid lineup of both vulcanized and cupsole shoes. Unfortunately, after relaunching with a new name in 2008, Vox was never able to fully break through the market and slowly fizzled out of the skate shoe industry.

We’ve heard rumors that Vox is making a comeback in 2019. Have you seen any in stores?

World Industries

With one of the most recognizable logos in the industry, World Industries has been a mainstay in skateboarding since its inception in 1987. World Industries grew to be one of the most successful brands in skateboarding. They were able to branch out into other products and even owned Blind, Plan B and A Team. However, the company was sold to Globe in 2002 along with Dwindle Distribution. 

World Industries still has its own shoe lineup. It consists of the bulkier skate shoes reminiscent of the 90s era of skateboarding. Thicker tongue, good impact protection and bold accent colors – it’s all there! If this sounds like your cup of tea, then make sure you check them out. 

Zoo York

Mostly known as a brand that makes skateboard decks, Zoo York has also had a lineup of skate shoes. Not a whole lot of information is out about them though, which makes finding them pretty rare. As far as styles go, Zoo York has made some Vans Era-esque vulcanized shoes as well as thicker cupsoles.