Certain skateboarding shoe designs defined skateboarding. It’s through particular designs that you can chart the history of the sport itself; from the early days of the multi-purpose Converse All-Stars to the highly-specialised Nike SB Koston 3 Hyperfeel.
It’s not just the names that became more elaborate. When the Randolph Rubber Company, a small, Massachusetts-based outfit, created the Randy 720, the first ever purpose-built skate shoe, it would signal the beginning of the race to design the best skate shoe.
50 years later, the pinnacle of skateboarding shoe design comes from multi-billion dollar companies, by way of years of innovation, testing, the input of professional skateboarders and amateurs alike, and pure experience. Whilst the sport’s popularity has ebbed and flowed, a loyal community has encouraged the evolution of tricks, boards, technology and, of course, shoes. Sock-like collars and new, more versatile materials show us the industry’s development.
Simple Footwear’s History of Skate Shoes charts how we went from the 720 to the wild aesthetics of the Osiris D3, and everything in between. As skating developed its own specialities, shoes followed suit; DC’s collaboration with big-air specialist Danny Way being a great example. A 10-foot drop out of a helicopter onto a ramp propelled not only himself through the air but DC’s global profile through the roof. Similar celebrity skater endorsements fuelled design inspiration.
Reinforced mid-soles, high-top ankle support, big-air modifications, vulcanised rubber soles, varied lacing technology… what happens below the surface is just as important as what happens above. The variety of visual design is testament to the diversity inherent to skateboarding culture. Wild colours and patterns serve as expressions of the influences within skateboarding, and the popularity of skating shoes in culture in general is just as telling.
A team of longboard lovers that seek to bring the word of longboarding to the world.
“Just skate for fun, don’t pick up a skateboard because you want to be a pro one day. Don’t forget why you started skating in the first place.” Steve Caballero
Enjoyed the article. I am a skater. I am skating from 6 months on my elder brother’s skateboard and his old skate shoes. This time I have purchased skateboard shoes for me. Suddenly I searched for the skate shoes history, how this invented and found your article. Really liked your article. History is always interesting for me.
Nice article to know about the two major types of skateboard shoes by design. I have experience using skateboard shoes with vulcanized sole. This sole is very effective as it makes the better board feel, flexible and comfortable and also in the affordable price range. Due to its wide structure at the front part of the sole, it is widely popular. Adidas, Nike and Puma have lots of these types of shoes. As a professional ai must advise beginners to use this shoe.
A few errors have been done in the graphic presenting the shoes.
1998: Lynx : graphic presents a Lynx 2 that was released afterwards
2000: Kalis : This is not the sole that originally came out (way after in reedition around 2017) also I believe the Kalis came out a bit before 2000 in 99.
2001: Muska were released in 97 in 2001 Muska already had his own brand circa
Anyone know maker/model of 2003? example here blue/grey