Skate Shoes & Trainers
The Importance of Skate Shoes
Designed specifically for high-impact activities like skateboarding, longboarding, and scootering, skate shoes are essential. They are constructed to endure the stresses and impacts these sports demand. Their design features improve performance by ensuring superior grip and board control. Additionally, skate shoes are made for exceptional comfort, so your feet remain less fatigued.
While it's feasible to skate in ordinary shoes or trainers, wearing skateboard shoes optimises your performance, as they are crafted to enhance your skating ability.
Features of Skateboard Shoes
Typically crafted from leather, suede, or canvas, most skate shoes offer extra comfort while riding. An extra-thick vulcanised rubber sole reduces wear during tricks and enhances durability. With flat soles and tread patterns, they provide outstanding grip. Moreover, they are equipped with excellent shock-absorbing properties to handle impacts and harsh landings.
These features maximise the durability of skate shoes, as they are subjected to rough use during regular skateboarding. However, it's important to note that skateboard shoes often wear out quicker than ordinary shoes due to the grip tape on skateboards.
Despite their specialised features for board sports, many favour skateboard shoes purely for their stylish design and comfort.
Proper Maintenance of Your Skate Shoes
Skateboarding and longboarding can be demanding on your skate shoes, hence maintaining them well is crucial to extend their lifespan. If you're frequently performing tricks, consider using Shoe Goo or a similar silicone product on the shoe's front and sides. This adds a protective layer to the most susceptible parts of the shoe.
Additionally, adopting preventive care strategies can help preserve your shoes. Applying super-glue to the stitching on the sides and toe areas can prevent tearing during tricks. Opting for grip tapes with less friction can also prolong the lifespan of your shoes by reducing wear.