Finding the best sneakers for skateboarding

Other than your board, your sneakers are the most important piece of gear you own. Here are a few rules to help you get the kicks you need for the skating you enjoy.

The biggest thing to consider when buying skateboarding sneakers is what kind of sole you prefer. There are two main types:

• Cupsoles: Rubber bottoms are stitched on to the shoe, offering more protection and longer-lasting tread, but less board feel.
• Vulcanized outsoles: Bottoms are bound to the shoe with a thin strip of rubber, offering more board feel and a faster break-in period.

No matter what skating you like, there are skate shoes to suit your style.

• If you love tricks down stairs, you’ll want sneakers with a lot of cushion through the heel and ball of the foot to absorb impact when you land. Seek out cupsoles, probably with high-top or mid-top ankle support in case you roll your ankle.
• If you’re more technical and love flip tricks and flat ground stuff, you’ll probably prefer vulc soles, and a thinner toe cap on the shoe, to let you apply more exact pressure to the board to get the spins and rotations you want.
• If you’re carving around the park, you might want sneakers with a low-cut to leave your ankles free and flexible. Vulcanized soles are probably best, so you can dig your toes into the concave.
• Finally, if you’re just a coffee cruiser, you could wear nearly anything that feels most comfortable for you.

You won’t really know what you prefer until you try out a few pairs. But a bit of knowledge about the tricks you do and the types of soles available will help you get the most from what you’re lacing up.