There is this myth that skate shoes aren’t suitable for walking. While there is some truth in this, it really depends on your type of feet and the type of skate shoe.
Vans Classics, for example, offer little arch support, but their pro models are very comfortable and great for everyday use.
Skate shoes are suitable for walking as long as there is enough cushioning to support your feet. Vulcanized skate shoes are less suitable for long walks, but cupsole skate shoes are great for walking longer distances. Skateboarding shoes are not bad for your feet if you pick the right type of shoe that works well for you.
Let’s look at what type of skate shoes are fine for daily use and what to look for.
The Benefits of Wearing Skate Shoes Casually
I know many skaters that hate to break in skate shoes and I’m one of them. I also don’t like to buy brand new skate shoes and immediately trash them. Many skateboarders just walk on their shoes until they are ready to skate.
This way, you can get new skate shoes for walking and use your ‘old’ skate shoes for skateboarding. By the time you need to replace your skate shoes, you have a pair ready to go without having to break them in.
If you prefer cupsoles, it’s definitely recommended using them for daily activities first before you jump on a skateboard. Breaking in cupsoles can take a long time, Vulcs will break in much faster.
Skate Shoes That Are great For Walking
In general, you have to look for cupsole skate shoes or consider wearing insoles. Most cupsole skate shoes offer less board feel, but your feet won’t start to hurt after walking a few miles.
Cupsole shoes have a thick outsole and lots of cushioning which makes them comfortable while walking, but also great for skaters who need a more supporting shoe. Because of the relatively beefy design, you will have less board feel. The thick soles and sometimes sturdy shoe make it harder to feel your deck. There is just more space between your feet and your skateboard deck.
Typically, skate shoes that offer a lot of board feel aren’t great for long walks. This mainly is caused by the rather flat outsole and minimal cushioning. These shoes are excellent for technical tricks but you will feel more impact when you ollie stairs or larger objects.
I only mentioned a couple of shoes. There are many more that will feel comfortable during a long hike. The Adidas Tyshawn shoe is a great option, for example.
eS Silo
The eS Silo shoe is a very beefy and sturdy shoe. They take quite some time to break in but offer lots of comfort. Perhaps for skating the cons outweigh the pros because they do feel like you’re wearing bricks. Excellent shoe for walking though and for beginners that just want to learn how to ride.
When it comes to technical skateboard tricks, they fall flat. The thick outsole really makes it hard to properly flip your deck or to accurately position your feet in the right place. Keep in mind that this is my personal experience, and your miles may vary.
I wouldn’t pick them for board feel, I only ride them when I have to because the extremely thick sole makes it hard to feel your board. Ollies feel and kickflips feel awkward at the beginning, but it gets better after a while.
- Super comfortable and can stay comfy after a long session
- Lack of boardfeel makes technical tricks challenging.
- Not the most durable shoe.
DVS Comanche 2.0
Another skate shoe that’s great for walking. Even though the DVS Comanche isn’t the best pick for skateboarding.
If you are a bit heavier than average or rather tall, this shoe will be right up your alley. Like the eS Silo, they offer little board feel but do offer lots of cushioning. Great for those that like longer walks but also hit the skate park and do some basic stuff without changing shoes.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a shoe with top quality suede. While this won’t affect your walks much, doing ollies and flips results in holes pretty soon compared to other shoes. If you want to skate and walk these shoes you better preemptively use Shoe Goo and cover the stitches.
- Not the most durable shoes, need to be replaced after 50 hours of skating
- Extremely comfortable shoe for walking.
- Great for taller and heavier skaters.
- Very bulky cupsole.
DC Legacy Slim 98
DC legacy Slim 98 are very bulky shoes that offer lots of support. You can wear them all day like regular shoes and skate them for hours without discomfort. In general DC offers a lot of shoes that are great for daily activities such as walking longer distances.
Again, a very bulky shoe with great insoles and extremely thick soles that requires some time to break in. Not ideal for board feel but great for those who need support.
They have quite a beefy outer sole that deals well with impacts and also provides stability and comfort when wearing them to work or school.
- Super comfortable skate shoes for daily use.
- Less board feel compared to most Vulcs.
- Great for less technical, heavier skaters.
Vans Kyle Walker
Vans Skate shoes aren’t bad for your feet, the Kyle Walker shoe is a great example of a Vans shoe that can be used for both walking and skateboarding. What’s even better is that this is a vulcanized shoe, so you get shoes with lots of board feel that are great for Walker, I mean walking.
The Velcro strap is very convenient as it allows you to slip in and out easily and a snug-fit. The lack of laces is a great addition as well. Something you don’t see very often these days.
They are fairly priced and last for quite some time, depending on how often you walk or skate. Vans reinforced them using rubber in the toe box and ollie spots.
- Snug fit
- Lots of impact protection
- Decent price
Etnies Joslin 2
One of the most comfortable skate shoes I tried the Etnies Joslin 2. It comes with a lot of padding, thick comfy soles insoles, and an almost indestructible outsole.
The Etnies Joslin 2 is based on the Etnies Marana, using a similar Michelin outsole but more updated. It’s an impressive shoe and may look bulky at first, but it’s very flexible and lightweight. The Michelin soles are great for walking and despite its flexibility, it still offer lots of arch and heel support.
The perfect skate shoe for walking and skating, and last for a decent amount of time if you take care of them properly.
- Most comfortable shoe we skated
- Lots of support, great for walking long distances
- If you decide to skate them, make sure you use some Shoe Goo
Are Skate Shoes Good for Running?
While many skate shoes are fine for walking, running isn’t recommended. Skate shoes aren’t designed for running because they are heavier, lack mesh for air to move freely, and have flat soles that offer less protection compared to running shoes.
While skate shoes do offer cushioning (depending on the type of shoe), they don’t offer as much protection as running shoes. Running shoes are better at controlling the pronation and supination of the foot.
Same goes for skating on running shoes. Running shoes don’t offer any board feel because of the thick outer soles and aren’t suitable for skateboarding.
Insoles For Extra Support
In my experience most skate shoes come with terrible insoles. To me they don’t offer much support and I replace them immediately. This doesn’t mean you have to, I guess I just need more cushioning than the average skateboarder.
If you are happy with your shoes but want some additional support when walking, you might consider insoles. There are many insoles available, but most of them are overpriced. FP insoles offers them up to $90 USD, might as well buy new shoes for that price.
Dr. Scholl’s are great for skateboarding, even Chris Cole recommends them. They are cheap, feel comfortable enough and will support your feet more when you just use them for walking.
The Sports version comes with hard plastic on the side which protects your feet when landing primo. The gel patch offers more comfort than most standard insoles. Insoles need to be replaced every few months because they gradually offer less support.
Conclusion
Many skateboarders use skate shoes for daily activities, walking is just one of them. Some skate shoes are even great for mountain biking because of the extra grip.
When you want skate shoes that are comfortable you probably have to look for Cupsoles. They deal better with daily use and are less likely to cause sore feet. Once you break them in or they don’t look that great anymore they are ready to shred and you can get a new pair for walking.
Even though cupsoles are recommended, I know plenty of skateboarders that use Vulcanized shoes for daily activities. It really depends on preference which is something you have to find out yourself.
