The 5 Best Nike Skate Shoes

Go to any skatepark, and I’m willing to bet you’ll see someone wearing Nike skate shoes. Since I was a kid, Nike SB’s have been the go-to option for any skater who wants a stylish shoe for casual wear while still feeling great to skate in. But the big question is, which are the best Nike skate shoes to buy?

Although some Nike’s can be a bit steeper in price than your average skate shoe, they often offer great value for the money in terms of general comfort, durability, and weight.

At first, I wasn’t convinced that Nike was worth the price since I’m a bit of a scrooge when buying a skate shoe I’m just going to destroy. However, after seeing several others I skate with swear by Nike, I decided to give them a shot in the last few years.

And man, oh man, has my opinion changed.

I realized there are a lot of great aspects of Nike skate shoes that any skateboarder will appreciate. However, they aren’t perfectly suited for everyone, and they won’t be worth the cost depending on your foot shape or the type of skating you do.

So whether you’re on the fence about which skate shoes to buy next or want to figure out if Nike’s are worth it, this guide will break it all down.

Each shoe was rated based on durability, comfort, grip, overall style, and skateability. For the shoes I haven’t personally skated, I reached out to other guys I skate with who wear these shoes to help get real and honest opinions you won’t find elsewhere.

Let’s get started!

The 5 Best Nike SB Skate Shoes

As in our other skate shoe guides, everything is rated based on the technical specs and skate testing. Although there are a few other Nike skate shoes out there, these 5 are the ones we believe are most worth your time.

1. Nike SB Blazer Mid (Best Overall)

The Blazer mid is one of the most popular skate shoes I’ve seen recently, with the low-top Blazer being a close second. Although they are pretty expensive as far as skate shoes go, they are one of the most durable Nike’s you can find and offer amazing value for the money.

This entire shoe is made of premium suede and somehow refuses to get holes easily like other shoes I’ve skated. The foxing tape around the toe took weeks to get through, and the suede was still holding strong after that. Since I primarily skate flat bars and ledges, the ollie point on these wore out a bit faster, but this will vary based on your style of skating.

Since this is a vulcanized shoe, the sole is relatively thin and has awesome board feel. Tricks feel natural right out of the box, and the shoes don’t feel too restrictive or stiff. With that said, if you have found mid or high-top skate shoes to be restrictive to you in the past, opting for the low-top blazers is the move.

The sole is a bit tackier than other Nike skate shoes like the Nyjahs or Shanes, and it seems to stay tacky until the bitter end. Unlike other soles where the tread wears flat and your feet start slipping around a lot easier, these still feel grippy even after months of wearing them.

Nike claims to have a Zoom Air unit to help with cushioning in the heel and overall impact protection. Honestly, it’s extremely underwhelming, and these shoes do little to offer padding underfoot. They feel comparable to any pair of Vans Pros in terms of impact protection.

Ultimately, it’s a good idea to upgrade these insoles if you want to skate these. If you like skating drops and stairs, these won’t be ideal.

These shoes took a session or two to break in, but had a very consistent feel to them after that and don’t get floppy over time. If you have a few extra bucks to spend and want a shoe that will last, these are a solid option.

---

2. Nike SB Shane (Best Vulcanized Shoe)

Although I’ve never landed a hardflip as cleanly as Shane O’Neill does wearing these, these are still one of the most responsive skate shoes you can find. It’s light as a feather with a thin insole that makes you almost forget you’re wearing shoes while skating. It does take some getting used to, but after 2-3 sessions, these felt well broken in and kept a consistent feel after that.

This shoe is super minimalist and is all suede around the major flick points, plus a no-seam toe cap, so there’s nothing to rip apart like paneled shoes. The extended rubber toe on the foxing tape rounds out quickly but doesn’t change the shoe’s feel too drastically when flicking tricks.

The Shane’s are also insanely grippy, with a similar sole to the Blazers mentioned previously. They just tend to run a little big, so you will either need to tighten up your laces or consider going down a 1/2 size.

These shoes kick butt if you want a clean, minimalist skate shoe, but they are very narrow and offer next to no impact protection. If you have wide feet, these won’t be very comfortable, and your feet end up feeling tired and bruised if you’re skating big features. These shoes excel more with technical flat ground and low-impact skating like rail and ledge tricks.

---

3. Nike SB Nyjah Free 2.0 (Most Comfortable)

When I first skated these shoes I was skeptical about how well they would hold up, considering they look like a runner. However, the rubber covering all the flick points of the shoe certainly does its job, and these ended up having one of the more durable uppers I’ve seen recently.

I wish I could say the same about the sole, which wears out quickly compared to the Blazers or Shanes, but I guess these are Nyjah Huston’s skate shoes. A guy who loves to skate with as little shoe grip as possible.

Besides the 360° rubber around the shoe, mesh paneling is mixed throughout to make the shoe super breathable. Even after a long summer session, my feet didn’t feel overly warm and sweaty. The mesh isn’t as durable as the rubber and does wear out around the toe box with certain tricks. It still took some to get through, though, which was surprising considering how low my expectations were for the mesh.

Another point I enjoy about these shoes is the lace loops that protect your laces from your grip tape. There are also optional lace loops that are better hidden if you want to guarantee your laces don’t get sliced in half. My only complaint about the laces is that due to their rounded shape, they liked to loosen and come undone more easily than my flat laces in other shoes.

Ultimately, this shoe skates super well and has better padding than the other Nike skate shoes we’ve mentioned. Since it’s a cupsole, it has less board feel but helps lessen the hurt when you land primo. I wouldn’t say these shoes are good for skating big features, but these are great if you want an extremely comfortable skate shoe that looks crazy stylish to wear casually.

---

4. Nike SB Ishod Wair

If a skate shoe and a basketball shoe had a baby, this would be its child. The Ishod Wair takes the basic design of a skate shoe with suede around the major flick points but beefs up the outsole and adds plastic over the mesh paneling to give it a basketball shoe look. Although subjective, these shoes are a bit loud for most people’s tastes in casual footwear. However, if you want a shoe strictly for skating, there are a lot of things that make this shoe great.

This is a cupsole shoe with some of the best impact protection of any Nike skate shoe. With that said, in true Nike fashion, it is a relatively thin cupsole and doesn’t have the best impact protection if you were to compare it to other skate shoe brands. This is an advantage because you get a great board feel and foot support, but not ideal if you want to send that big stair set you see on your way to work.

In the durability department, this shoe holds up averagely well, and the plastic over the mesh helps prevent it from ripping as fast as the mesh in the Nyjahs.

The main downside to this shoe is that it feels super long when you first put them on. Despite still fitting true to size, they just feel big on your feet and a bit clunky to skate in at first. It takes a couple of sessions before you get used to that. Afterward, these skate well and have a consistent flick even as the shoe wears down.

---

5. Nike SB Force 58

The Force 58 skate shoes are one of the more durable Nike SB’s since they have extra suede paneling around the toe and ollie area. The side panel is made of canvas which starts to fray pretty quickly, but I’ve yet to have issues with a hole forming there. The main issue is that the stitching of the suede toe panel breaks and starts to separate the panel from the shoe over time.

This cupsole has a bit more impact protection, but it is still quite thin and not ideal for skating drops. However, there is a ton of support and padding around the ankle and mid-foot of this shoe. This makes it a bit more inspiring to try new tricks compared to more low-profile Nikes like the Shane’s, for example.

The toe box of these shoes is more rounded and helps to make them a bit more comfortable if you’re wider-footed. Even with a wider feel, they still fit true to size and don’t feel too bulky despite the extra material that other Nike skate shoes don’t have.

As for the general grip, they feel reasonably grippy, but the flick can feel excessively grippy until they wear in. After a few sessions, the rubber around the toe wears down, and the flick against the suede feels much more natural. When it comes to heelflips, these are a bit bulky, and the canvas side panel likes to get shredded up when doing a lot of them.

The Force 58’s are a good all-around skate shoe with a bit more material and padding than other Nike skate shoes. These aren’t ideal for skating drops and stairs but feel great for low-impact skating or in the bowl.

---

Are Nike Skate Shoes Good For Wide Feet?

Nike skate shoes are known to be quite narrow and not well suited for wider feet. The exception is the Nike SB Force 58 since it has a more boxy toe box that better fits a wider foot without cramping your toes.

If you are looking specifically for skate shoes to fit a wide foot, see our guide to the best skate shoes for wide feet here.

Do Nike Skate Shoes Fit True To Size?

Most Nike skate shoes do fit true to size, meaning if you are typically a size 10, a size 10 Nike will fit well. The one skate shoe that this isn’t the case is the Nike SB Shane. I found a 10.5 to fit better than my usual 10-sized shoe. This is mostly because of how narrow they are, so sizing up helps them feel more comfortable overall. Every other pair of Nike’s I’ve tried has fit true to size.

Which Pair Of Nike SB’s Should You Choose?

If you want to get the most bang for your buck, the Nike Blazers should be your pick. They are pricey, but they last you longer than two pairs of cheap skate shoes would.

However, if you want a shoe that looks amazing for casual wear but also skates like one of your favorite skate shoes, I would recommend the Nike Nyjah Free 2.0.

Shoe	Specs	Our Rating	Where To Buy
	Nike SB Blazer Mid	Extremely durable sole & upper Are very grippy with a good board feel Laces hold up well Has a consistent flick for the shoe's lifespan	Check Price On AmazonFind At Tactics Boardshop
	Nike SB Shane	Are super lightweight with amazing board feel Look awesome for casual & skate wear Extremely responsive  Has a durable no-stitch suede toe cap	Check Price On AmazonFind At Tactics Boardshop
	Nike SB Nyjah Free 2.0	Surprisingly durable with 360° rubber on the upper Has a very consistent flick from day one Are very lightweight and breathable with mesh panels Are extremely comfortable for skating and everyday wear	Check Price On AmazonFind At Tactics Boardshop
	Nike SB Ishod Wair	Keeps a consistent flick Is a cupsole with a vulcanized feel Better padding than most Nike SB shoes Very grippy	Find At Tactics Boardshop
	Nike SB Force 58	Keeps a consistent kickflip, but heelflips feel weird Has a supportive & well-padded heel and side panel Is a thinner cupsole with decent board feel and impact protection Flexible like a vulcanized shoe	Check Price On AmazonFind At Tactics Boardshop

Still not sure which skate shoes are right for you? Check out more of our skate shoe guides to help make the choice easy!