the.com/skate shoe
Engineered to die heroically so your ankles don't.
means A flat-soled, durable sneaker built for skateboarding, with grippy vulcanized or cupsole rubber and reinforced panels to survive the constant abuse of griptape and ollies.
from A plain compound: "skate," from the action of skateboarding (itself borrowing from ice and roller skating, ultimately from the Dutch "schaats," a stilt or leg), plus "shoe," from Old English "scoh." The thing itself came of age with skate culture in the latter half of the 20th century, when brands like Vans, then Airwalk and DC, built footwear specifically padded and reinforced to absorb the punishment that ordinary sneakers couldn't.
- flat sole
- Vulcanized rubber maximizes board grip and feel
- ollie zone
- Reinforced where grip tape shreds shoes fastest
- padded tongue
- Cushions the brutal physics of every landing
- founding brand
- Vans built the first skater-specific shoe in 1966
- suede choice
- Holds up against grip tape better than canvas
vans old skool — iconic skate shoe first worn by tony alva in 1977, now the best-selling skate shoe worldwide
nike sb dunk low — launched 2002, became dominant in street skating and skateboarding culture
etnies marana — created 1986, worn by pro skater jason dill and still a staple in skateboarding