Whether your board has hit your ankle one too many times, you want a little extra support, or you just love the style of high top skate shoes, there are a handful of great options to choose from. The tricky part about finding the right pair of high tops is striking a balance between board feel and protection without making your feet feel suffocated. So in this guide, let’s look at some of the best high-top skate shoes based on my personal experiences and the other skaters we polled for this roundup.
In a nutshell, 3 main shoes rise to the top based on value, durability, and overall foot protection:
- Very comfortable with short break-in period
- Popcush insoles for improved impact protection
- Suede around all major flick points
- Fits true to size
- Good ankle padding around the collar
- Vulcanized sole
- Feels like a vulcanized shoe
- Short break-in period
- Has great grip that doesn't wear out
- Flexible ankle collar for natural foot mobility
- Has good board feel
- Feels snug around your entire foot
- Stiff, all leather upper
- Cupsole design for the best impact protection
- Very durable outsole
- Have great grip that doesn't wear out
- The most supportive high tops you will find
But let’s get into more details about these three shoes, along with some more options for the best high top skate shoes on the market.
6 Best High Top Skateboard Shoes (Rated By Real Skaters)
6. Last Resort AB VM001 High Tops
The Last Resort AB’s are a shoe designed by and for skaters. This company has a relatively unique approach to its shoe styles with more minimalist designs and some cool add-ons you wouldn’t usually consider. For example, the tread pattern on these shoes is specifically designed to prevent rocks from getting stuck and damaging your grip tape.
This fully suede shoe is a bit expensive for what it is, in our opinion, but holds up extremely well in terms of durability. With the rubber bumper around the toe and a fully suede upper, it takes quite a bit to round out the toe, let alone blow a hole in it. Unlike many other high top skate shoes, the fully suede middle and heel of the shoe offers far better durability for heelflips than many other shoes.
The downside to these shoes is that they are extremely limp and don’t offer much support for your foot. This could be seen as a good thing, however, if you prefer more loose shoes to skate in. They take quite a bit of time to get used to, and the flicking feels different from what you might be used to from other shoes. The final big downside to these shoes is their lack of breathability. Since they are fully suede, they get very warm, very fast, which isn’t ideal when skating in the summer.
If you’re looking for something new that isn’t your usual skate shoe brand, these are worth trying out. However, don’t be surprised when your feet are sweating more than usual.
Reasons To Buy:
- Made by skaters for skaters
- Fully suede making them quite durable
- Good grip that lasts
- Your ankle feels secure wearing these
Reasons To Avoid:
- Not at all breathable
- The response feels very different compared to other shoes
- Expensive
5. Adidas Forum High Tops
The Adidas Forum High Tops are a fully leather shoe that is quite bulky and very stiff. If you want a high top that feels as secure and protective as possible, you will love this shoe. Since it is a cupsole shoe, it has good impact protection despite having a pretty wimpy insole. I know a few people who upgraded their insoles with these and could session a drop for hours without getting sore feet.
The main wear points on this shoe seemed to be around the stitching of the ollie point, but the rubber outsole was pretty good with flip tricks. The heel is also so thick and meaty that doing heelflips felt awesome without needing to try that hard. As for the tread, it didn’t seem to wear out as fast as Vans I’ve worn in the past, but it has a decent balance between gripping your board without feeling too grippy.
If you aren’t used to skating in an all-leather shoe, the flick does feel a bit weird at first and takes some getting used to. Since these shoes are so stiff, they don’t break in much from the initial feeling of them while they’re new. Some people like to put these in the microwave to loosen them up, but if you hate the stiffness that much, it’s probably best to go with a different shoe.
The Adidas Forums are some of the most protective high tops that make your feet feel like they’re in a bomb shelter. So if you want something that offers that extra security, these should be your pick.
Reasons To Buy:
- Fully leather & ultra durable
- Are cupsoles with amazing impact protection
- The ugly upper strap is removable
- Great grip
- Laces don’t rip easily
Reasons To Avoid:
- Poor board feel
- Are extremely stiff
- Take some time to get used to
4. Lakai Telford High Tops
The Telfords are another cupsole shoe with great impact protection and lots of padding around the ankle. This shoe is made of suede around the toe and heel, with leather on the top of the toe and side of the shoe. You’ll be hard-pressed to blow a hole in these shoes as easily as other shoes you’ve skated, which is a nice bonus.
Despite being a cupsole shoe, it has a decent board feel comparable to a vulcanized shoe. It doesn’t feel like you’re wearing bricks on your feet, but they still feel more secure than your standard low-top skate shoe. If you’ve ever worn the Vans Sk8 Hi’s, this shoe feels like a beefed-up version.
The main downside to these (and most Lakai shoes) is that they lose their shape and get floppy over time. After the shoes are broken in, you’ll find yourself tightening down the laces more than normal to make the shoe fit snugly. The grip of this shoe also seems to wear away quickly, and you don’t have that ultra tacky “new shoe” feel for very long. Depending on your preferences, though, this could be a bonus.
These shoes are a great option if you want tons of protection around your foot, good durability, a reasonable board feel, and a flick that feels natural immediately.
Reasons To Buy:
- Leather & suede for great durability
- Tons of padding around the shoe
- Cupsole but feels like a vulc
- Fits true to size
Reasons To Avoid:
- The grip doesn’t last super long
- Shoes become loose and floppy over time
- Lower laces can blow out quickly
3. New Balance Numeric 440 Hi
The Numeric 440s offer some type of sorcery by blending a cupsole with the feel of a vulcanized shoe. If you are coming from a vulcanized shoe, this won’t feel like a huge change in terms of board feel. However, you will notice some huge improvements in impact protection with these.
This shoe has a fully suede toe and heel (or leather on some colorways), with a textile middle and collar. The stitching around the toe holds up reasonably well and doesn’t start falling apart for quite a while. The textile on the side of the shoe also holds up surprisingly well, but it does fray, similar to canvas.
A nice addition to these shoes is the looser collar around the ankle. In a way, these shoes end up feeling like a low-top shoe in terms of mobility but still have that ankle protection you’re looking for. With that said, the collar of these shoes is noticeable less padded than other high tops on this list. However, that helped prevent my feet from overheating.
The downside to these shoes is primarily for those with wider feet. This shoe fits quite narrow and is snug around the heel. If you have wider feet, this probably won’t feel very comfortable and is hard to work around. Otherwise, it fits relatively true to size for most; however, if you are between two sizes, try going down 1/2 size.
Reasons To Buy:
- Best of both worlds between cupsole and vulcanized
- Foot feels secure and snug
- Has great ankle mobility, not common in high tops
- Has good impact protection
- Has good board feel
Reasons To Avoid:
- A bit narrow for wide feet
- Less padding than other high tops
2. Cariuma Catiba Pro High Tops
If you’ve tried the low-top Catiba Pros, think of these as the same thing but in a high top version. These shoes are extremely comfortable out of the box but stiff for the first little while. The shoe is covered with reinforced suede flick points and a canvas middle. The sole of the shoe is extremely sturdy for a vulcanized shoe, and almost has the supportive feeling of a cupsole.
The insoles that come with Cariuma’s are some of the best out-of-the-box insoles I’ve ever felt and offer impressive impact protection. Although these won’t be as good as a cupsole for skating drops, your feet won’t feel as bruised and tired as they would in a normal vulcanized shoe.
My one issue with these shoes is the collar of the heel rubs the back of the ankle weirdly. I always have to make sure I wear tall socks with these, or else the ankle collar gets annoying. Likewise, the laces don’t move through the eyelets very easily, making this shoe a bit annoying to take on and off.
With that said, this shoe still offers amazing ankle protection with a well-padded collar and has some of the best board feel of any high top. If you want a durable high top that doesn’t sacrifice board feel, these are another great option.
Reasons To Buy:
- A vulcanized shoe with cupsole-like protection
- Great ankle padding
- Durable suede flick points
- Sustainably made
- Insane grip
Reasons To Avoid:
- Laces are annoying to loosen
- The back of the ankle collar can rub
1. Vans Sk8 Hi Pros
The Vans Sk8 Hi Pros are the same as the Classics, except with Popcush insoles, rubber reinforced flick points, and made with suede instead of all canvas. This is the high top that started it all and strikes the best balance between ankle support, breathability, and board feel.
These shoes are vulcanized and break in extremely fast. In my experience, 1-2 sessions are all you need to make these things feel perfect on your feet. Despite being vulcanized (which is worse at absorbing impacts), these shoes have Vans Popcush insoles which work wonders for preventing heel bruising. These still aren’t as good at impact protection as the cupsole high tops on the list, but that’s a trade-off for a superior board feel.
These shoes fit true to size for average or narrow feet, but for wider feet, it’s a good idea to go up 1/2 a size.
The only downside to these shoes is that they don’t last as long as others on this list. Vans are notorious for wearing out quickly, but they make up for it with insane levels of comfort and amazing responsiveness when popping tricks.
If you want a great all-around shoe that’s very affordable compared to other high top shoes on the market, these are a no-brainer.
Reasons To Buy:
- Best bang for your buck
- Good ankle protection
- Incredible board feel
- Typical Vans grip
- Look great to skate in or wear casually
Reasons To Avoid:
- Not super durable compared to other high tops
- Not the greatest impact protection
Are High Tops Better Than Low Tops For Skateboarding?
Whether you prefer high tops or low tops for skateboarding is ultimately a personal preference. The advantage of low top shoes is better foot mobility, more breathability, and they are noticeably lighter. However, high top shoes offer ankle protection when getting a board to the ankle, and a more beefy heel that’s nice to heelflip.
Some skaters will prefer to use high top shoes after ankle injuries to give them peace of mind. Although high tops can’t prevent you from rolling an ankle, the extra padding makes a big difference when tricks go wrong.
If you aren’t sure, try switching it up to feel the difference. Once you do, you’ll know quickly whether you prefer low or high tops to skateboard in. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
Are High Tops Better For Your Ankles?
High top skateboard shoes don’t offer extra support or prevent your ankles from rolling. Instead, they simply add an extra barrier between your ankle and the skateboard. For bowl skaters, high tops can be nice for doing knee slides and washing out of tricks. So although there is no extra “support,” high tops offer more protection which could be technically better for your ankles.
Can You Skate Converse High Tops?
Converse high tops are a classic in everyday life, but they don’t make for the greatest skate shoes. Converse high tops are extremely thin, have inconsistent flicks, and offer next to no support and protection. For most skaters looking for high tops, they want something along the lines of better protection and support. Converse high tops simply don’t offer that.
With that said, if you already have a pair of Converse that you want to skate, by all means, go for it. Just don’t base your experience on those shoes as an accurate representation of what a proper skateboard high top should be.
What’s The Most Durable High Top Skate Shoe?
If you want the most durable high top possible, the Adidas Forum High Tops are some of the stiffest, thick, and most supportive shoes you can find. Since it’s a cupsole it has incredible impact protection, and the leather upper helps it hold up against hours on your grip tape. For many, these shoes are overkill, but if you want the best foot protection and durability possible while skating, the Forums are a great choice.
So Which High Top Skateboard Shoes Should You Choose?
To make the choice easy, here’s a list of all the shoes we covered in order of their rating.
| Shoe | Specs | Our Rating | Where To Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
|
| Check Price On AmazonFind At Tactics Boardshop | |
|
| Check Price On Cariuma.com | |
|
| Check Price On AmazonFind At Tactics Boardshop | |
 |
| Find At Tactics BoardshopBuy From Last Resort AB | |
|
| Check Price On Amazon | |
|
| Check Price On AmazonFind At Tactics Boardshop |
Now, if you’re still not sure which skate shoes are right for you, here are 24 of our favorite skate shoes to offer some more options.
Happy Shredding!
