Cupsoles skate shoes may not be the most popular shoes for skateboarding, but they certainly are comfortable and great for those who need some extra support. A cupsole is stiffer compared to vulcs but offers lots of impact protection and comfort.
Cupsoles are great for high-impact skateboarding like ollying stairs, huge gaps, or general bigger features. Because of the thick polyurethane sole, added foam, and extra seams, a shoe with a cup sole is more stable and better at dealing with impacts.
These days there are also cupsole skate shoes available with a vulcanized construction, a hybrid shoe that offers the comfort of a cup and the flexibility of a vulc.
Cupsole Skate Shoes We Like
Keep in mind that these cupsoles are just a few of the many options. it will at least give y an idea of what’s out there and make a more educated choice. Some offer more boardfeel than others, and some feel extremely comfortable. Make sure to check out the cupsole/vulcanized hybrid skate shoes to get the best features of both types of skate shoes.
1. The Es Accel Slim
The Es Accel Slim skate shoes are known for their true-to-size fit and comfortable snugness, which may feel a little tight in the toe area initially but will stretch after a day of wearing them. The boardfeel and grip of the shoes are good, with a flexible design that allows for more control when skating.
The shoes keep their shape well but may start to stretch and lose some of their original form after extended use. The triple stitching used in the shoes provides good durability, although the suede version may will develop holes.
It takes some time though and really depends how often you flick your board. A beginner skateboarder can skate them for at least 4 months and roughly 2 months for a more experienced technical skateboarder.
Es Accel Slim’s have minimal cushioning, making them more suitable for tech skating, but can still be worn for at least a month. The Es Accel Slim looks simple but stylish and brings back memories of the classic Es Accel OG shoes. The shoes come with a standard STI insoles.
This is a great cupsole skate shoe for beginners who aren’t in need of much boardfeel, but still want to feel connected to the board. The triple stitching and quality suede makes it a durable shoe which lasts at least 4 months if you’re not too much of a technical skateboarder.
2. Adidas Tyshawn
The Adidas Tyshawn is the most durable skate we tested, both pairs lasted for ages. Even though it’s a cupsole, it feels very flexible and offers enough board feel to perform technical tricks. It’s a bit stiffer in the heel area but also makes your feet feel secure. The suede near the high-contact areas still holds up after 70 hours of skateboarding.
The Adidas Tyshawn is a comfortable skate shoe that fits snugly, if you are in between sizes, pick the bigger size. It features a padded tongue, a cup sole with Adidas Cloud foam technology, and a normal fit. Despite its thick sole, the shoe provides good board feel and grip, as well as protective cushioning.
The shape holds remarkably well, but the suede will last longer. There is still enough support and hardly any noticeable extra wiggle room. The outsoles are indestructible yet very flexible.
The grip is great and stays that way because of the high quality materials used. They require some time to break-in and the heel area can feel a bit stiff. Overall, the Adidas Tyshawn is a highly recommended skate shoe for its comfort, durability, impact absorption, and technical ability.
3. Nike SB Ishod Wair
The Nike Sb Ishod Wair looks great, even more so in real life than the product images. The shoes fit true to size but can feel a bit cramped in the front. It’s actually not really a cupsole but a mix of a vulc and a cup.
The React insoles are pretty thick around the heel area, which makes them feel like cupsoles. This area is also a bit stiffer but more flexible compared to a true cupsole. The upper and front feel very flexible and combined with the pointy toe area makes them excellent skate shoes for technical tricks.
The level of flexibility enhances the boardfeel, and the cupsole construction breaks in rather quickly. The grip is exceptional, thanks to the herringbone pattern on the outsole.
The shoe feels slim with a rather narrow cut, but they stretch a little once properly broken in. Although the quality of the suede is extremely good, the plastic meshing on the side is an odd choice. It’s prone to tearing rather quickly, especially if you do a lot of rotational tricks.
The Nike Sb Ishod Wair is one of the best-looking shoes in the market. A great option for skaters looking for a comfortable, and stylish shoe that offers lots of control.
4. Vans Kyle Walker Pro 2
This is not a cupsole but also not a vulcanized skate shoe, but is it a slip-on? Well, sort off. The Kyle Walker Pro 2 is a great option for whose who want a flexible shoe and hate laces. It’s a cupsole vulcanized mix which offers both control and decent cushioning.
Its most notable feature is the Velcro Strap for an easy fit. The shoe is doesn’t take long to break in and offers a consistent flick. The Vans Duracap makes the shoe more durable because of an extra rubber layer near the contact areas.
Like the Louie Lopez, the Kyle Walker has rubber-backed suede in high-contact areas. The POPCUSH insoles offer excellent arch support and the added padding in the topline, collar, heel, and tongue make this a comfortable skate shoe.
The shape of the shoe is wider than average, and although it takes some time to break in, it provides decent support and stability. The Kyle Walker Pro 2 can withstand bigger impacts without sacrificing much boardfeel.
This makes them excellent shoes for bowl and vert skaters, but also technical street skaters who need extra support.
5 Nike Dunk Low
Nike SB Dunk Low’s are iconic skate shoes, and the sporty shoes have quite a history. Nike SB Dunk Low run true to size but require a break-in period. The sole is very stiff and it will take a long time before it becomes more flexible.
The boardfeel is decent but reaches the level of boardfeel as the other shoes on this list. A good choice for those who like lots of padding and want an extremely comfortable skate shoe.
The outsole is grippy but not very flexible and has a different shape because of its roots in the Nike Dunk Low basketball shoe. It comes with wider than average rounded toe box, making it a great skate shoe for wider feet.
The shoe feels wide and bulky, but has good cushioning with a removable molded insoles and Zoom Air unit in the heel. Keep in mind that the suede sticks out a bit and can easily rip in the kickflip area.
What Is a Cupsole Skate Shoe?
A cupsole skate shoe has a cup-like rubber outer sole wrapping around the edges of the shoe. It features an outsole that has a tall “sidewall”. The outsole cradles or “cups” the upper of the shoe.
A cupsole skate shoe a sole that is made of two layers: an outer layer (the cupsole) and an inner layer (the midsole). The cupsole is typically made of durable rubber or plastic and is designed to provide support and protection to the foot and ankle during high-impact landings and tricks.
The midsole, which sits between the cupsole and the upper part of the shoe, is usually made of foam or other cushioning materials to provide comfort and shock absorption. The upper part of the shoe is often made of suede for increased durability.
Compared to vulcanized skate shoes, which have a thinner sole made of a single layer of rubber, cupsole skate shoes offer more (arch)support. This makes cupsole shoes great for high-impact skateboarding.
However, cupsole skate shoes can be heavier and less flexible than vulcanized skate shoes, which affects the board feel and control. If you’re curious about vulcs, check our recommended vulcanized skate shoes.
