If you're a skater you know that equally important as the skateboard is the type of shoes you pick. The soles, materials, laces, padding around your ankles - it all contributes to your movements and tricks on the rails and ramps. If you're new to this and want to get your first pair of mens skating shoes, it's time to learn a few basic things. Before you check what mens skate shoes Australia stores offer, here is what you need to know.
What Are Great Skate Shoes
When searching for skate shoes go for shoes that have a bit of everything including heel support, toe caps, suede material, soles that absorb shocks, laces out of grip range and good stitch work. A good skate shoe will have all of these features. These shoes may be sturdy but they still allow you to feel your skateboard. Their nose design should be a bit longer than the average sneaker. This will prevent your laces from tearing apart due to friction; broken laces are annoying but the right shoes won't get damaged so easily.
Vulcanized Soles vs Cupsoles
Consider if you want vulcanized soles or cupsole shoes. The difference between both is their board feel and durability. Cupsoles are sturdier than vulcanized soles and give better heel support and protection. If you have checked mens skate shoes Australia stores and websites you have probably came over both options. So which one is right for you?
Vulcanized Soles
Vulcanized shoes are taped around the body of the shoe and have 2 separate pieces around the shoe which often will fall off after long use. Vulcanized feels are slightly lighter and a bit slimmer and provide a more board feel. These shoes are excellent for skaters that want a lot of board feel. The thinner sole and the flexibility of the shoe are better for skaters that love technical skills. You can wear cupsoles for technical skills as well. Some people can't even tell the difference between both shoes. Vulcanized shoes have less impact protection because of the lack of heel support and thin soles. They aren't so durable as capsules, but this also depends on the type of skateboarding you do. Vulcanized models are cheaper but will not last as long as capsules. Go for this model if you're an aggressive skater.
Cupsoles
Cupsoles were designed after skaters started to complain about bruised heels. The sole has multiple layers, a solid layer, cushioning and a rubber layer sprinkling. These shoes use EVA or TPR cushioning foam which is put inside a rubber ‘cup’. These shoes are a bit bigger which means there’s more space between you and your board. These shoes are durable but not so flexible; get them if you often get heel bruises. Cupsole shoes won't keep you from injuries but can absorb the shock much better than vulcanized sole shoes. Cupsoles are stitched to the top part of the shoe and the shoe is embedded inside, making it perfect to get an impact. If you often go skating on huge rails, stairs or do jumps, cupsoles are your ideal option.
High Tops, Mid Tops and Low Tops
Low Tops
If you want freedom of movement, get low top skate shoes. These are standard and weigh less compared to mid and high tops. The con here is that they don't have padding around the ankles, making your ankles more vulnerable.
Mid-Tops
Mid-tops are in the middle and offer a bit more support and stability in the ankle area, but not so much freedom of movement. The ankles aren't exposed and the feeling of restriction isn't there like it's the case with high-tops. Also, the mid-tops give protection against the deck hitting your ankles.
High Tops
High tops give less freedom of movement but give some ankle protection. They won’t prevent you from spraining an ankle but will absorb some of the impacts when your board hits your ankles. Some high tops come with extra cushioning to increase impact absorption. On the other hand, they don't give your feet much room for breathing (get runner socks for this). So expect the high tops to smell pretty bad.
Skate Shoes Soles
The sole has different parts and depending on the type of shoe. Some have heel support, and special insoles and usually a herringbone or waffle tread pattern for added grip. Thin soles will make it easier for you to feel the skateboard and have better board control. However, you'll need something that can absorb the impact and won't hurt your feet. Go for the mid-ground since these skate shoes for men give you the best of both worlds - certain protection and control over the board.
Laces & Materials
Laces are usually the first to break. Some shoes come with lace protectors which keeps the laces from snapping all the time. You can also consider buying a few laces or glue them so they won’t tear quickly. The downside of gluing to your shoes is that you can’t adjust their tightness again.
When it comes to materials suede is the most recommended one. Suede can take far more than canvas and is easiest to repair in case you get holes. You can't expect your shoes to last forever, and any material will tear after a while, but suede is much more durable than canvas. Canvas shoes are cheaper but they won’t very last long when you do technical things. The canvas layer will rip and tear within an hour of skateboarding.