Skate shoes are popular footwear especially among youngsters who are trying out new fashion trends or just seeking something comfortable to wear and easy to maintain. Just because they’re called ‘skate shoes’, doesn’t mean you can’t wear them unless you’re skateboarding. You use them with ease for just about any occasion, or even without any.
With their rising popularity, different brands are getting more interested in manufacturing skate shoes or skate inspired shoes for everyday use. But how good are they actually? Are they really that comfortable as they say? What are the different sides to wearing a pair of skate shoes on a daily basis? Let’s find out, are skate shoes bad for your feet?
Are Skate shoes bad for your feet?
This is no rocket science; you’ve probably guessed it from the name. Skate shoes are shoes that are specifically designed for skateboarding. They look and fit pretty much like regular walking shoes, but have some fundamental differences in materials and design that make them ideal for skateboarding.
For example, skate shoes have rubber outsoles that prevent them from slipping. Some of them have a little arch support. We’ll talk about that later. And finally, they come with a very thin padding in the toe and heel area. These are the areas that take the most amount of pressure when skateboarding, so it’s obvious why they put it there. So eventually from the discussions further here, we’ll get to know, are skate shoes bad for your feet?
Read More Details: Are Skate Shoes Non-Slip
Are skate shoes good for walking?
If you don’t look too closely, skate shoes are not very different from your regular shoes. But there are some basic differences in their build, design, materials, and characteristics that set them apart from our everyday walking shoes.
For instance, the soles of a pair of skate shoes are way too flat and therefore not suitable for exposure to activities that involve a lot of thumping, such as walking or running for a long time at a stretch. But on the other hand, they’re usually made of rubber, which makes them resistant to slipping.
That goes for walking, but what about running? Can you run in skate shoes? Well, the answer is both yes and no. See, skate shoes are not ideally designed for running. With that being said, there are quite a number of comfortable designs made by various brands that can be even more comfortable than your regular running shoes. We’ll get to that list later on. But would you rather spend that amount of money to buy a pair of skate shoes for running, is something you need to ask yourself.
Read More Details: Are Skate Shoes Good For Walking
What are the different kinds of skateboard shoes?
Basically, there are several types of skateboard shoes with their own specialties and specifications. Here they are:
- High-cut Skateboard shoes
- Mid-cut skateboard shoes
- Low-cut skateboard shoes
High-cut Skate Shoes
These have a higher top than other skate shoes. In most cases, they end just above the ankle. Because they have a higher cut, they provide more support to the ankle area along with more padding. They also tend to be cozier and keep your feet warmer. Ideal for winter.
Mid-cut Skate Shoes
These have a lower top than high top or high-cut shoes, but slightly higher than low-cut ones. They’re good for casual wear. They offer better stability, and they tend to stay warm and dry, making them the perfect pair of shoes to wear during the changing of seasons.
Low-cut Skate Shoes
These are also known as ‘zero drop’ skate shoes. These are the flat standard models that tend to be more lightweight. They don’t have a comfy padding like the high-cut or the mid-cut variants, but the well-built insoles make up for the missing cushioning. These are usually worn in summer by skateboarders and non-skateboarders alike.
How Should Skate Shoes Fit?
Since they’re designed specifically for a sports activity like skateboarding, the fit of skate shoes is a crucial factor to consider when buying them. It’s obvious that they need to have a good fit, meaning they should provide a fine grip around your ankles with enough space inside for our feet to twist and swivel as needed when you’re skateboarding.
Why Are Skate Shoes Uncomfortable? A List Of Comfortable Skate Shoes
Some people complain that skate shoes are uncomfortable, and they do have a point. They’re not as easy to break in as regular shoes. It takes a certain amount of time and you need to follow a few steps to break into them properly. If you’re buying skate shoes for the first time, here’s what you’d need to do in order to break into them:
Wear heavy socks
Fill a plastic zipped bag with water and put it inside each shoe. Leave it in there for a couple of days. The weight of the water will expand the sides of the shoe giving it a more comfortable fit.
These tricks work in most cases, both for skateboarders and non-skateboarders. But why go through such hassle when you can purchase a pair of skate shoes that are actually comfortable? Here is a list of comfortable skate shoes:
- Vans Unisex Old Skool Classic Skate Shoes
- Adidas Originals Men’s Seeley Sneaker Shoes
- DC Men’s Pure Skate Shoes
- DC Men’s Court Graffik Skate Shoes
- VANS Sk8-Hi Unisex Casual High-Top
- New Balance Men’s All Coasts 210 V1 Sneaker
- Adidas Men’s Daily 2.0 Skate Shoes
- New Balance Men’s All Coasts 331 V1 Sneaker
- Nike SB Zoom Janoski RM Men’s Skateboarding Shoes
- NIKE SB Check Solarsoft Canvas Skate Shoes
Wearing Skate Shoes Casually
If you want to keep wearing skate shoes casually, then remember to get ones that really fit you well, and are suitable for the kind of weather condition you’re currently living in. A huge factor that determines how comfortable a pair of shoes will be for you is the weather and climate.
Skateboard Shoe Protector
One last thing you need to buy after buying a pair of skate shoes is a skateboard shoe protector. You might wonder, why would a pair of shoes need a protector? But skateboard shoes do need them. You can find them in the same store you buy skateboard shoes from, or any sports accessories store.
So, to say the final words, we can state that skate shoes are not right away bad for your feet. But while buying the shoes, you need to consider and reconsider its features to ensure it doesn’t hurt your feet. So, you’ve probably got the answer to the question, are skate shoes bad for your feet! Hope you find a good one for you.