Everyone has a bit of a different preference when it comes to skateboarding shoes and there are reasons to both love and hate Adidas skate shoes.
I’ve only skated Adidas once in the past, but I’ve reached out to a few other skaters I know who have a bit more experience than I do.
With the knowledge of those at my local skateparks and my personal experience, I put together this post to break down the pros and cons of skating Adidas. Although they can be a great shoe to skate in, there are some notable features that could turn you off from the brand.
The Advantages To Adidas Skateboard Shoes
Adidas skateboard shoes are incredible skate shoes with very little break-in period, good durability compared to other brands and the best foot protection of any skate shoe. With that said, they are stiffer with less board feel than other skate shoes. This can be a downside for some skaters.
1. They Offer Some Of The Best Foot Protection Of Any Shoe
One of the main advantages of Adidas skateboarding shoes is how much protection they offer. No matter your experience level, your feet can take a beating from a good skate session. Pushing around and absorbing impacts can make your feet feel bruised and tired without the right shoes.
In Adidas, the first thing everyone says about these shoes is how comfortable and “safe” they feel. Adidas incorporates what’s known as “Adituff” toe boxes which make the front part of the shoe more durable to impact and abrasion.
Mix that with their notoriously thick insoles that literally feel like you’re skating on a cloud, and your foots effectively protected from all sides.
So even after skating a drop all afternoon, your feet will feel less bruised compared to other skate shoes. Not to mention your joints will feel a whole lot better for those of us who aren’t 14 years old anymore.
2. There Is Little To No Break In Period
Another reason that Adidas shoes are good for skateboarding is that there is no break-in period. If you aren’t familiar with this, some shoes can take a few sessions before actually feeling “comfortable” to skate in. Before they’re broken in, foot cramps are going to be a major part of any skate session you have for the first while.
With Adidas shoes, however, you can skip right past the foot cramps and go straight to enjoying skateboarding again. I believe that the extra support Adidas shoes offer make your foot feel right at home from day one. This lack of a break-in period makes them an ideal shoe for any skater.
After all, who the heck likes dealing with sore feet?
3. They Are Long Lasting Compared To Other Brands
All Adidas skate shoes are built with more durable materials than other skate shoes. Every skate shoe model has high-quality suede and/or leather which are more abrasion resistant than canvas shoes. What that means for you is a lot more time before you start wearing a hole in the side of your shoes.
Not all models have suede or leather around the whole shoe, however, every model at least has these materials around the toebox or the laces. This covers the flick points for most tricks, but you may notice the heel start to wear out faster if you do a lot of heelflips.
Besides the top part of the shoe, the rubber of Adidas skate shoes is also quite durable. Most Adidas skate shoes have vulcanized rubber making them significantly longer lasting.
These shoes also have a distinct tread pattern that offers a solid amount of grip.
The Downsides To Adidas Skateboard Shoes
1. They Don’t Have Great Board Feel
For the same reason that Adidas skate shoes are so comfortable, is the same reason for their downside. Since the insoles and soles of these shoes are thicker, they give a lot less board feel compared to shoes like Vans or Converse skate shoes.
You do get used to this over time, but I find it a pretty major downside of Adidas shoes and why I don’t skate them more regularly. It’s a bit of give and take here as what you lack in board feel you gain in comfort and support.
2. Some Models Are Quite Expensive
The second downside to Adidas skateboarding shoes is simply the cost. These shoes typically cost more than other brands of skate shoes. So it’s a bit costlier when you’re going through another pair of shoes every couple of months.
With that said, Adidas shoes do last quite a bit longer than other skate shoes, such as Vans, so the extra cost could be overlooked as the “price for longer durability.”
Adidas Skateboarding Shoes VS Adidas Street Shoes
There’s a big difference between Adidas skateboarding shoes, and Adidas street shoes. The skate-specific shoes are made with different materials and better insoles than non-skate-specific shoes.
The first major difference between the two types of shoes is the toebox. On Adidas skateboarding shoes, most shoes have Adituff toeboxes which are way more durable than their regular street shoe toebox.
The second point is the materials the shoes are made with. Skate-specific shoes have much stronger materials than non-skate-specific shoes. All of the Adidas skateboard shoes have high-quality suede or leather which are much longer-lasting than the materials of their street shoes.
Many of the Adidas street shoes have thinner materials as well, so they rip a lot faster after a session or two of skating.
The final difference to note is that most Adidas skateboarding shoes are made with vulcanized rubber while non-skate-specific shoes are not. Vulcanized rubber is made with sulfur to improve the links in the rubber’s polymer chain and make it more resistant to the wear and tear of grip tape.
Without a vulcanized sole you’ll notice the rubber of the shoe to wear away a lot faster, which is exactly what will happen if you used Adidas street shoes for skating.
The Best Adidas Shoes For Skateboarding
1. Adidas Matchbreak Super Skate Shoe
This shoe strikes a balance between quality, comfort, and price. For both beginner and advanced skated, this Matchbreak Super skate shoe is long-lasting and extremely comfortable from day one. The toebox is made with Adituff Suede with a leather upper making them quite durable. The only point to mention is the mid-part of this shoe is canvas which can wear down quickly when you’re just learning how to ollie.
2. Adidas Busenitz Pro Skate Shoe
This Adidas skate shoe is one of the best ones you can buy, but it’s probably a bit overkill if you’re just getting into skating. For intermediate to advanced skaters, the Busentiz Pro is one of the longest-lasting skate shoes you can find. With an Adituff toebox and fully suede materials, you can expect several good months in these shoes before they start to wear.
With that said, this shoe does not have vulcanized rubber which makes the sole wear down a bit faster. However, you do gain a better board feel with this trade-off.
3. Adidas Busentiz Vulc II Skate Shoe
This shoe is a lower-profile and vulcanized version of the Busenitz Pro skate shoe. These shoes are also fully suede but they are made with vulcanized rubber making the sole of the shoe last a bit longer. The nice thing about these shoes is despite the vulcanized rubber, they still feel playful and flex nicely when flicking a trick. They don’t feel overly stiff and are a nice balance between the Matchbreak Supers and the Busenitz Pro skate shoes.
Although Adidas does make some great skate shoes, they might be a bit more expensive than what you’re looking for. Some great alternatives to these shoes are Vans Skate Shoes or Converse Skate Shoes which offer a similar quality, but start at a slightly cheaper price point.
Happy Shredding!
