The truth is, not all skate shoes are durable, and finding ones that actually last can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Over the years I’ve skated a lot of different shoes, and seen many of my friends do the same. Eventually, I began to notice what skate shoes were more durable than others, making the buying process a lot easier. So here I want to share some of my experiences with you to help you find the most durable skate shoes around.
Rather than wasting a ton of money on skate shoes that only last a few sessions, this list of shoes changes things. With these 10 skate shoes you can get a great looking (and feeling) shoe that will last noticeably longer than your typical skate shoe.
Now before I get into this list I want to clear the air. No matter what you do, skate shoes aren’t going to last for years on end. In most cases, if you’re regularly skating a pair of shoes you can expect to get 4-6 months out of them as an intermediate skater.
The reality is, grip tape is great at wearing away shoes and over time will get through even the most durable shoe.
So although the shoes on this list are certainly more durable than others, they won’t be your one and only skate shoes for life. If that’s what you’re looking for, perhaps you should be getting some steel toe construction boots.
(I’m kidding, don’t do that.)
With that said, there are some things you can do to extend the lifespan of these skate shoes that I’ll share with you later in this post. By going with any of these skate shoes and applying the tricks I mention later on, you’ll be guaranteed to get a lot more life out of your shoes.
Let’s get started!
10 Most Durable Skateboard Shoes For All Skill Levels
Although this is a numbered list, I would call any of these shoes a winner. However, the top three options are among my favorites from personal use, or what I’ve heard from other skaters.
1. Converse CONS Louie Lopez Pro Shoe (Best Comfort + Durability)
If you aren’t already familiar with Converse CONS, they are the skate-specific shoe line from the brand with impressive durability and comfort. The Louie Lopez Pro skate shoe is extremely durable for a few key reasons such as rubber-backed suede, a bumper around the front outsole, and extremely nice insoles.
Rubber suede makes an already durable material (suede) even more durable by adding an extra layer of strength. This rubber backing isn’t around the entire shoe, but only in the most high-wear areas like the flick points of the toe. Essentially this helps to make it a lot harder to wear through the suede.
The bumper around the outsole also adds durability simply because there is more rubber to go through before reaching the shoe. Although it will wear away eventually, it takes a lot longer to wear through an outsole with a bumper vs one without in my experience.
Last but not least, the insoles of Converse CONS are incredibly comfortable and supportive. This plays into durability since many other insoles wear out and can give you foot cramps when they’re reaching their final days.
Overall the Louie Lopez Pro shoe is among the most durable and comfortable skate shoes around and one that you can’t go wrong with.
2. Cariuma Vallely Shoe (Great Grip + Durability)
The Cariuma Vallely takes all that’s great about Cariuma Shoes, and makes it more durable with an extended rubber overlay on the toe. These shoes are also made with vegan suede which is actually 2.5x more durable than regular suede out of the gate.
Besides the more durable vegan leather, Cariuma further reinforces the shoe with triple stitching on the seams and a fully stitched outsole. What that means for skaters is a shoe with seams that are much more difficult to rip, along with an outsole that will not separate from the shoe.
A great addition to Vallelys is the rubber overlay around the toe to add durability to the highest wear areas around the flick point. Especially when doing a lot of kickflips, this part of the shoe wears away extremely fast. With the rubber overlay, you can get a lot more life out of the shoe before you wear a hole.
If you want a long-lasting skate shoe that has mind-blowing grip when you skate, definitely go with these shoes.
3. Vans Suede Slip-Ons (Cheap + Durable)
The weakest link in any skate shoe is the laces, and the Vans Suede Slip-Ons solve that problem altogether. From the start, these are some of the most comfortable skate shoes I have worn and feel like a slipper. But what matters most is the fact they last an impressive amount of time whether you’re skating street or bowl.
These shoes have Vans DURACAP in high-abrasion areas making the shoe a lot more difficult to wear through. DURACAP is essentially a rubber backing to the suede around the toe so it’s less prone to ripping.
To add to this, there is a toe bumper on the outsole making this high-wear area more difficult to get through simply because there is more rubber. It’s a small thing but makes a big difference in any skate shoe you buy!
Lastly, these shoes have POPCUSH insoles which give you awesome arch support and impact absorption, without sacrificing board feel. These insoles are super long-lasting and feel comfortable from the first to the last day in these shoes.
These shoes are some of the cheapest ones on this list and the only skate shoe a lot of people at my local parks wear. When you find a shoe this durable while saving a few bucks, you’ve found a unicorn because that’s quite unusual.
4. Globe Surplus Skate Shoes
Globe is a less common skate shoe brand but the Surplus skate shoe cranks up the durability factor to 11. With extended outsoles around the entire toe, all of the major flick points are covered with a thicker rubber than other shoes.
Along with these extended outsoles, there is also a toe bumper to help further slow the wear of the shoe. With so much rubber to go through, it definitely makes these shoes one of the most long-lasting on this list.
Besides the rubber, the rest of the shoe is made of suede, with the tongue being made of canvas. The suede is in all the areas that could actually get worn down, so there’s not much to worry about with the mixed material design.
These shoes also have added thickness in the heel and toes. You don’t really notice it while wearing them, but it helps to extend the lifespan of the sole. I know I tend to drag my heel a lot when slowing down my board, which really puts the heel of my shoes through the wringer. This added material is a nice touch that many other skate shoes don’t have.
Looking inward, these shoes also have amazing insoles with Globe’s Shockbed technology. In plain English that means your feet and joints will feel a lot better after a hard skate session.
5. Adidas Busenitz Pro Skate Shoes
Adidas is known for creating some seriously durable skate shoes, but this shoe is at the top of the list. With the tactile feel and support of a running shoe with the added reinforcements of a skate shoe, it’s a unique feeling shoe. In a good way of course!
Since this shoe has less stitching around the toe than other shoes, it’s pretty hard to blow out the shoe completely. With the durable textile and synthetic materials around the toe, they hold up well even after a couple of months of skating.
A nice feature about these shoes specifically is the grip design on the bottom which makes pivoting your foot easier than other shoes. A good addition when setting up for a trick and adjusting your feet.
Although a comfortable and durable skate shoe, it is quite expensive, as Adidas tends to be. If you are worried about how much you’re going to spend, I’d avoid these shoes altogether.
6. Etnies Marana
This shoe is a little bit bulkier than some of the other skate shoes on this list but that means more room and added materials. Especially if you have wide feet, this shoe is going to give you some next-level comfort compared to more narrow shoes.
Some durability points for this shoe are the fully suede material, along with a rubber overlay around all the major flick points. This shoe was designed with the help of Michelin (as in the tire company) to create a very long-lasting and grippy sole. Even after a couple of weeks of skating in these the soles remain intact and grippy, unlike many other skate shoes.
Overall this is a very comfortable shoe with a lot of material to wear through. Especially as a beginner to intermediate skater, it’s going to take you a while to get through this pair of skate shoes.
7. Cariuma Catiba Pro Skate Shoes
A slight step down from the Cariuma Vallelys (mentioned at #2), the Catiba Pros are still a great long-lasting shoe with triple-stitched suede and a stitched outsole making it extremely hard to blow out these shoes. I talk about this shoe more in detail in my Cariuma skate shoe review here.
The sole of these shoes has really tacky grip and feels great to skate in. Despite a supportive and rigid design, you don’t sacrifice board feel. Even after a while in these shoes, the soles hold up very well overall.
Although there aren’t the same rubber overlays or rubber-backed suede, like some of the other shoes on this list, the triple stitching makes all the seams hard to get through. Furthermore, the suede alone is one of the most durable materials for skate shoes.
If you are a more casual skater who isn’t flicking hundreds of tricks every session, these shoes are a solid choice.
8. Emerica Wino G6 Slip-On Skate Shoes
Another shoe with great durability (and a decent price point) is these. Some go as far as saying they are better than the Vans Slip-Ons, but that’s up for debate. There are a few versions of this shoe, some in canvas and some in suede. Make sure to go with the suede version as that is the much more durable model.
The main features that make these skate shoes durable are the toe bumper on the outsole, fully suede in all the high-wear areas, and no laces. Like I’ve mentioned with other shoes here, the toe bumper makes a huge difference in how long it takes to get through a shoe. That along with the canvas and lack of laces (which I always rip on my shoes), these are a great option in terms of durability.
The Wino G6’s are strikingly similar to the Vans Slip-Ons, but I believe the Vans are slightly more durable. Due to the fact the Vans have rubber-backed suede, they’re slightly more robust than these shoes. Although this shoe is still a great option, that’s worth keeping in mind!
9. Vans Gilbert Crockett Pro Skate Shoes
This shoe has all the best features Vans has to offer, and are one of the most durable skate shoes around. The only downside is the price compared to other Vans, but I suppose you get what you pay for with the pro models.
This shoe has all the bells and whistles. Thing like toe bumpers on the outsole, rubber-backed suede in high-wear areas (aka DURACAP), next-level cushion with the POPCUSH insoles, and a slightly better sole with Vans WAFFLECUP design. I know a number of skaters who love this shoe for its durability and superior comfort over other models of Vans. However, the price is something that has always held me back.
With that said, if you want the most top-of-the-line Vans skate shoe around, this is it.
10. Converse CONS CTAS Pro Skate Shoes
The final durable skate shoe on the list are the CONS CTAS (Chuck Taylor All-Star) Pro shoes. Unlike the street-shoe version of the CTAS, this shoe is bulked up with more abrasion-resistant materials and a lot more cushioning with the insole.
This shoe is made of suede around the entire shoe, making it super durable from all angles. It also has a completely rubber toe cap that basically makes the toe of your shoe as durable as possible. After all, rubber does beat out suede in durability.
I’ve skated these shoes a number of times and love them for both the simplicity and amazing board feel. They are the furthest thing from bulky and are hardly noticeable when you wear them.
The only downside to this shoe is that it’s quite thin and doesn’t have a lot of support compared to other skate shoes on this list. For some, that’s a huge plus, but for many, a supportive shoe is a must. If you are ok with a more lightweight shoe, you won’t regret skating these CTAS Pro shoes.
What Makes A Skate Shoe More Durable?
With all the fancy names brands give their insoles, rubber-backed suede, or stitching of their shoes, there’s only one main thing that’s most important for durability.
And that one thing is the material of the shoe.
Not all shoe materials are made equal, especially when it comes to taking a beating from your grip tape. If you choose a shoe with the right material, you’ll get a lot more life out of your skate shoes.
Here is a list of the most common materials you should know about.
– Suede
Suede is the most common skate shoe material and is also the most durable. It is more abrasion-resistant than other materials, making it a more durable option to slide against your grip tape.
Suede is more stretchy than other materials making suede shoes mold better to your foot over time. Especially if the shoe feels a bit tight at first, it can get more comfortable over time as the suede stretches.
This material is essentially leather with a more rough surface, taken from the underside of the animal hyde which is softer than the outside.
– Patent Leather
Patent leather is typically thinner than suede and can shred up a lot easier over time. Some skate shoes are made fully with this material, but it’s more common for sections of a shoe to have patent leather instead. This material is made from the outside of the animal hyde, opposite to suede. Since the material is thinner, it’s also less durable.
– Vegan Leather
Vegan Leather is becoming more popular among skate shoe brands, particularly with Cariuma’s Vallely shoes (listed at #2). This material is actually surprisingly strong and can be up to 2.5x stronger than suede. This is a newer material and less common to find, but is a durable material that feels great to skate in!
– Canvas
Canvas is the most common material among street shoes but is the least durable material for skate shoes. Since it is thinner and less robust than leather (think textiles vs animal hyde), it doesn’t take much to put a hole in your canvas shoes while skating. If you are against the use of animal products in your shoes, this may be your only option, but Vegan leather would be a better alternative if you can find it.
How To Make Your Skate Shoes Last Longer
As your skate shoes begin to wear down, there is one major thing you can do to help make any shoe more durable. With something called shoe-goo, you can cover any holes with a cement-like glue that seriously extends the lifespan of your shoes.
I’ve used shoe-goo since my first pair of skate shoes and it often gets me another month or two out of the shoes. Once a hole starts to form (or is almost formed), I’ll cover it in some shoe-goo, make sure to smooth it out so it doesn’t feel weird to skate on, and get back to skating.
The only place you can’t really use shoe-goo on is the soles of your shoes. Instead, it’s meant for the outsole of your shoe, mostly to protect the major flick points. You can get a tube of shoe-goo on Amazon here.
So those are my top picks for the most durable skate shoes currently available. From years of skating and gathering some intel from friends, I feel confident that you’ll be stoked about how long any shoe recommended here will last.
If you’re still unsure and want a one-and-done recommendation, go for the Converse CONS Louie Lopez shoes if the price isn’t an issue, or the Vans Suede Slip-Ons if you want a more budget (yet durable) shoe!
Happy Shredding!
Brendan 🙂
