Cariuma Catiba Pro VS Cariuma Vallely Shoe Review (Tested)

In the last few years, Cariuma has been all over the skateboard world, and I was long on the fence trying to decipher whether or not they were worth it. I’ve never been one for jumping on board with new fads, and to be honest, that’s what Cariuma seemed like to me at first. However, after my last pair of Vans wore out, I decided to try Cariuma for a change.

I ordered a pair of the Cariuma Catiba Pro Shoes and another pair of the Cariuma Vallely’s to see what they were all about.

After using them for both casual footwear and for skateboarding after work, I’ve been blown away by several things about these shoes.

Not only have they been some of the most comfortable and well-padded shoes I’ve skated in recently, but they have also already lasted me a lot longer than the usual Vans I tend to skate.

I gotta admit, it’s pretty nice not having to lather my shoes in shoe-goo just to hope they last another day.

Now, if you are on the fence like I was about Cariuma’s skate shoes, let’s break down all the good and bad about these shoes I’ve come to know after 5 months of skating them. Although I have started to love these shoes, they certainly aren’t right for everyone, so let’s see if they’ll be a good fit for your skating.

But first, if you’re in a rush, here’s my top pick between the two and why:

Who Started Cariuma & What The Company’s All About

Cariuma was founded by two friends named David and Fernando, who are skateboard, surf, and snowboarding enthusiasts from Brazil. They started the company to create shoes that are extremely comfortable, good-looking, and, most importantly, sustainable. With a tree-planting initiative and a variety of ethically sourced materials, it’s safe to say they do just that.

For every shoe sold, Cariuma plants two trees in the Brazilian rainforest. Rather than just planting trees that aren’t native to a specific area, the company plants over 120 different species based on the planting site. They even have certificates to prove their tree planting activities here.

Cariuma is also very transparent with its manufacturing sites and labor conditions within the company. Based on the Internation Labor Organizations minimum wage policy, Cariuma pays its employees an average of 79% above the legal minimum wage, with their lowest paid employees still 47% above minimum wage.

Lastly, all of Cariuma’s materials are sourced by green and renewable methods. For example, their rubber is sourced from the hevea brasiliensis tree through “tapping,” which produces rubber from the tree’s sap rather than cutting down the tree. They also use recycled PET for their upper laces, labels, and threads, along with recycled packaging and non-hazardous dye chemicals in the manufacturing process. You can see the other sustainable materials used in their shoes here.

Ultimately, Cariuma is one of the most environmentally conscious skate shoe brands I’ve seen, and it feels good to support a brand like this.

But sustainable or not, the shoes still actually need to be good, so let’s take a look at both the Catiba Pro and the Vallely shoe in-depth.

The Cariuma Catiba Pro Skateboard Shoes

The Catiba Pro’s were one of the first big launches for Cariuma’s skate shoes and are the go-to option for most skaters. They have a pretty standard style to them that you’d expect from a skate shoe, with a relatively wide toe box that doesn’t feel squishy if you have wider feet.

A noticeable thing about the Catiba Pro’s is the insole’s from the moment you put them on. There is a significant cushion in the heel of these shoes that strikes a balance between board feel and comfort.

The shoes have a nice hugging feeling around the mid-foot that prevents your foot from moving around in the shoe without needing to over-tighten your laces. With that said, they are relatively flat, so I wouldn’t say they have the most arch support compared to, say, a running shoe, for example. However, as far as skate shoes go, these have a pretty standard feel that you’ve likely felt before in other shoes like Vans, Lakai, Etnies, and others.

The shoe definitely feels a bit stiff when you first start wearing them. However, I found them to break in after a couple of hours of use. I’ve only used these shoes for riding my cruiser and as casual streetwear (since the Vallely’s are what I’m currently skating), but they felt like they formed more naturally to my foot even after just walking around in them.

My one gripe about these shoes so far is that the laces are a bit of a pain to adjust. Since there aren’t any metal eyelets for the laces, they run through the suede. There’s a lot more friction between the laces and the shoe this way, so trying to tighten laces further down the shoe can be annoying.

On the flip side, that also means these shoes don’t really loosen as you wear them. So it depends on if you’re a glass half full or half empty type of person on that one.

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The Cariuma Vallely Skateboard Shoes

The Cariuma Vallely shoe is a more recent release in Cariuma’s skate shoe line, and they beefed up a lot of specs from the Catiba Pro. The Vallely is made with vegan suede, which is said to be 3x more durable than regular animal suede. After skating these shoes most days after work the last few months, I can certainly say that’s true.

There are also more environmentally conscious aspects of this shoe, with the use of recycled polyester fabric for the non-vegan suede areas of the shoe. This is primarily around the ankle and the middle of the shoe, while the toe and heel are fully vegan suede.

These shoes definitely aren’t “narrow,” but they are more narrow than the Catiba Pro. The toe box is a little less boxy feeling, and I personally find it to feel more natural for my medium-wide feet.

The shoes have a nice snug feel around the entire foot and don’t have any weird pressure points while you skate. They were a bit stiff when I first started skating in them, but after a few sessions, they feel almost as comfortable as wearing slippers.

I’ve been extremely impressed with the durability and protection of these shoes so far as well. They have tons of heel cushion (similar to the Catiba Pro), and the upper feels reasonably padded, so your feet don’t feel bruised at the end of a session. Since moving to these shoes after skating in Vans, my feet genuinely feel less beat up after a big session.

There are also rubber overlays around the toe which has proven to be a huge bonus in terms of durability. For me, the suede around the flick point always wears out within 6-8 hours of skating, but these only started showing signs of wear after 10 hours which is unusual (but nice).

As this seems to be a common thing with Cariuma’s skate shoes, my only issue is once again with tightening the laces. The laces don’t feed well through the eyelets, and it’s a pain to tighten the lower laces. However, they never seem to loosen during a skate session, so there’s that too.

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Cariuma Catiba Pro VS Cariuma Vallely Shoes

Now that you have a good idea of what the Catiba Pro and the Vallely are all about, let’s compare the two head to head to see which one is best for your skateboarding.

– Comfort & Foot Support

The insole in both the Catiba Pro and the Vallely is the same, with incredible heal cushioning that doesn’t feel like you’re standing on a memory foam bed.

The Catiba Pro’s have a noticeably wider feel to them, although this is most noticeable in the toe box. Since I have slightly more narrow feet, I find the Vallely’s to be more supporting and snug around the entire foot. However, anyone who has wider feet would probably feel the opposite.

Both shoes offer great protection when jumping off drops, and I’ve yet to get a major heel bruise in either pair. The upper of both shoes are both reasonably thick and add a bit of extra protection when a board hits your foot.

Ultimately, both shoes are extremely comfortable both for skating and for casual use. Since the wideness of each shoe will have subjective comfort, I’ll have to call this one a tie.

Winner: Tie

– Board Feel

Since both of these shoes are vulcanized, they have a pretty good board feel compared to any cupsole skate shoes I’ve skated. They might not have as good of board feel as some lighter-weight Converse or Vans, but what they lose in board feel they gain in foot protection. Like I mentioned earlier, my feet feel way less bruised after a session in Cariuma’s compared to my last pair of Vans.

When flicking tricks, I’ve found both shoes to be quite nice in terms of actually feeling where the concave is on the deck. In other shoes, I’ve felt a lot more disconnected, so both of these shoes were a pleasant surprise.

Both shoes feel pretty much the same when it comes to skateboarding, so again, this one’s a tie.

Winner: Tie

– Durability

Although I’ve only properly skated the Vallely’s, I think it’s safe to say that the Vallely’s are generally more durable than the Catiba Pro. Although the Catiba Pro has reinforced flick points, the rubber overlay and vegan suede in the Vallely’s are hard to beat. The rubber overlay has taken me a while to get through, but after around the 12 hour mark, I started to wear through the rubber, and there’s a small hole forming in the suede.

Even on the heel, where I often wear out the canvas around the ankle, the Vallely’s are holding up extremely well with only a little bit of fraying. I’ve skated many shoes with similar builds to the Catiba Pro’s, and none have lasted me as long as the Vallely’s have so far.

So if you’re constantly flicking tricks, the Vallely’s are a sure bet to hold up longer.

Winner: The Cariuma Vallely

– Price

Both the Catiba Pro and the Vallely skate shoe are the same price, sitting at $89 USD at the time of writing this. As far as high-end skate shoes go, this is a pretty average price, and I’d say they are worth it for what you get.

Winner: Tie

How Quickly Do Cariuma’s Wear Down?

Both the Cariuma Catiba Pro and the Cariuma Vallely skate shoes hold up well compared to other skate shoes. The reinforced flick point in the Catiba Pro and the rubber overlay in the Vallely go a long way. You can safely expect to get 2-10 months out of these shoes, depending on how hard you skate.

The one thing that seems to happen to most people is the sole begins to separate from the upper in the toe after they are significantly worn down. This is mostly due to their vulcanized build, but it’s worth noting since they can still become worn out even if you never put a hole in them.

This issue isn’t uncommon with other vulcanized shoes, so it’s at least good to see the durability of these shoes’ upper materials.

How Comfortable Are Cariuma’s For Skateboarding?

Cariuma’s are some of the most comfortable skate shoes if you like a balance between a softer sole and a good board feel. The insoles in Cariuma’s are extremely padded, and the footbed of the shoes has a nice bit of cushion too. For both walking around and skating, your feet will be happy in them.

With that said, some skaters prefer a more hard footbed in a shoe, so they feel more connected with their board. Cariuma’s certainly aren’t “hard” feeling, but they aren’t overly soft either. In my opinion, they feel soft enough without going overboard.

Who Are The Cariuma Catiba Pro & Vallely Skate Shoes For?

If you’re stuck between buying the Catiba Pro or the Vallely as your next skate shoe, let’s make it easy.

If you want a standard style of a skate shoe with a wider toe box, the Catiba Pro will be a better option. They are reasonably durable with reinforced flick points but are more likely to wear a hole in the upper since they lack the rubber overlay. For anyone looking to cruise, ride transition, or don’t do tons of flip tricks, these shoes will be right up your alley.

If you are constantly skating flat ground or want extra shoe reinforcements, the Cariuma Vallely should be your pick. These shoes have an overall more durable build quality than the Catiba Pros, but they are certainly more form-fitting and narrow. For anyone with wider feet, you’d be better off with the Catiba Pro. However, if you have averagely wide or narrow feet, the Vallely’s are still a great option.

Where To Buy The Cariuma Catiba Pro & Cariuma Vallely Skate Shoes

Cariuma skate shoes are typically only found online from Cariuma’s website, although some skate shops seem to be slowly carrying them too. Unfortunately, none of my local shops had them, so I had to order online.

Luckily Cariuma has free shipping and free returns, too, so I didn’t feel worried if I had the wrong size or something. The shoes typically arrive within a week of ordering, and I’ve found them to fit true to size. I am regularly a size 10, and ordering a size 10 in both these shoes fits perfectly.

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Alternative Options For Cariuma Skate Shoes

As much as I love Cariuma, there are still plenty of other great options out there if you’re looking for new skate shoes. If you’re not into the style of Cariuma’s or are looking for something you can find at a local skate shop, here are my top three alternative picks.

1. Converse CONS Louie Lopez Pro Shoe

The Louie Lopez Pro shoe is a solid alternative to the Catiba Pro with a similar design style and durability. These shoes have rubber-backed suede to reinforce the flick points and a bumper outsole to prolong the shoe’s wear. The CONS lineup from Converse all have extremely comfortable footbeds and offer great overall foot protection. The only downside to these shoes is the tread pattern on the bottom that I don’t find as grippy as Cariuma’s.

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2. Nike SB Nyjah Free 2 Skate Shoes

This is one of the most light-weight and comfortable skate shoes out there that feel more like a cross trainer than a skate shoe. Surprisingly, these shoes hold up well, with rubber overlays covering any high-contact areas on the shoe. There’s a mesh lining where other shoes typically have canvas, but I’ve yet to have an issue with that ripping since the rubber overlays protect it. Although these shoes are extremely comfortable, they are quite a bit more expensive than the Cariuma’s.

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3. Globe Surplus Skate Shoes

Finally, if you like the idea of rubber overlays like the Cariuma Vallely’s have, then the Globe Surplus is a great alternative option. These shoes are a bit of a lighter-weight shoe that’s fully suede with rubber overlays at all the flick points. The footbed in these shoes is a bit harder than the Cariuma, so if you prefer a more responsive feeling shoe, this is another solid option.

If you’d like to see a full list of alternative shoe options, see my guide to the best skateboard shoe brands here.

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Which Is The Best Cariuma Skateboard Shoe?

Although you can’t go wrong with either, the Cariuma Vallely is my favorite of the two since it hugs the foot a bit better, and I love the addition of the rubber overlays. They’re extremely comfortable for skating in or even for running errands around town. As long as you can get over the fact that the laces are a bit annoying to loosen, these will likely be added to your list of favorite skate shoes.

Happy Shredding!

Brendan 🙂