Buy Skate Shoes Online at Skateshop-24

Skate shoes from Emerica, éS Footwear, Lakai, Hours Is Yours and Fallen. At Skateshop24 you'll find Low Tops, Mid Tops and High Tops with Vulcanized soles or Cupsoles — built to survive griptape, ollies and your daily commute. Shipping in 1–2 working days.

Vulcanized or Cupsole — which sole for which skater?

The sole is the most important decision when buying skate shoes. Vulcanized soles are thin and flexible — you feel the board directly under your foot. Classics: Emerica Wino G6, Lakai Griffin, éS Quattro. Ideal for technical tricks, ledges and flatground.

Cupsoles are thicker, more stable and absorb impacts when bombing stairs or hitting transition. Classics: éS Accel, Emerica Pillar, Hours Is Yours Cohen. They need a few days to break in, but they last longer.

Rule of thumb: beginners and vert/park skaters often do better with cupsoles. Street and tech skaters usually prefer vulcanized. In practice it's a matter of taste — try both.

Brands that hold up in skateboarding

• Emerica — Andrew Reynolds heritage since 1996. Models like The Reynolds Low Vulc, Wino G6 and Pillar have been pro-approved for decades. Robust, classic skate-look design.
• éS Footwear — comeback brand with real skate heritage. The éS Accel is a cupsole legend, the SLB line has multiple Skater-of-the-Year approvals (Tom Asta, Kelly Hart).
• Lakai — Mike Carroll and Rick Howard's Crailtap brand. Uncompromising skate focus, pro-models like Griffin, Cambridge and Manchester are daily beaters for serious skaters.
• Hours Is Yours — young indie brand out of L.A., founded in 2020 by a skater team. Cohen, Code S and Callio are modern cupsoles with a clean look.
• Fallen — Jamie Thomas heritage, heavy cupsoles with aggressive hardcore styling. Bomber, Patriot and Trooper are classics for skaters who want style and durability.

Materials & construction — what to look for

A skate shoe has to survive griptape friction. The upper material makes the difference:

• Suede — abrasion-resistant, molds to your foot, standard for pro models. By far the best material for anything involving flicks.
• Canvas — light and breathable, but blows out faster. More of an after-skate or summer daily than a park beater.
• Leather & action leather — more durable than suede, less board feel. Good for cupsole models and heavier skaters.

Also pay attention to ollie pads (reinforced area on the forefoot), lace savers (laceshield against shred) and double stitching at stress points. Pro models come with this from the factory. If your suede still wears thin in the ollie zone, a drop of Shoe-Goo can often save the shoe for weeks.

Skate shoes vs. sneakers — what's the difference?

A skate shoe often looks like a sneaker, but it's engineered for the stress of skateboarding: thicker suede, reinforced ollie zones, a sole that transmits pop instead of dampening it, and a cushioning system built to take impacts. Fashion sneakers (Air Force 1, Stan Smith and the like) tear at the ollie zone on the first kickflip — they're simply not built for it.

If you want one shoe that handles both daily wear and skating, the Emerica Wino G6, Lakai Griffin and éS Accel are solid all-rounders — all three work in the park and at the bar.

FAQ

Which shoes are best for skateboard beginners?
Vulcanized sole, medium-thin, with suede uppers. The Emerica Wino G6 or Lakai Griffin are solid entry models. You don't need a pro setup for your first ollie — just make sure it's suede, not canvas.

How long does a skate shoe last?
With daily skating: 2–6 weeks, depending on the shoe and how much you flip. Suede and cupsoles last longer. Skaters working on kickflips blow through the ollie zone faster — that's normal, not a defect.

What size should I get in skate shoes?
Skate shoes usually fit true-to-size; Lakai often runs half a size small, Emerica runs slightly bigger. When in doubt, go up half a size — a too-tight skate shoe will crush your toes when you're bombing stairs.

What's the difference between a vulcanized sole and a cupsole?
Vulcanized: thin, flexible, direct board feel, no break-in. Cupsole: thicker, more stable, more cushioning, lasts longer, needs 2–3 days to break in. Both have their place — technical skaters lean vulc, park skaters lean cup.