Skate shoe
Under skate shoes is meant especially for the skateboard Sport developed shoes. These shoes are different from "normal" sneakers mainly by a sole that is very flexible and facilitates adhesion on the skateboard, and reinforced frequently wears down points (u. A. So-called Ollie pads, or Lace Saver dt. Shoelace protection) .
development
The history of the skate shoe is as old as skateboarding itself. In the past, "normal" sports shoes were worn to practice the sport, but since skateboarding is derived from surfing, traditional surfing brands such as B. Vans in the scene. One of the first skate shoes in the mid-1960s was the Sk8-Hi from Vans, the design of which corresponded to the low-top, which was very popular with surfers, but went over the ankle to give the skateboarder better support.
When the skateboarding trend experienced a strong boom in the early 80s, many skate shoe manufacturers emerged. The well-known companies of this time were Airwalk , Etnies or Vision Street Wear which, in line with the trend at the time, produced brightly colored shoes. The 80s also saw the greatest number of innovations in the skate shoe sector: In order to reduce the wear and tear of exposed areas, “Olliepads” and “Lace Saver” were invented and introduced.
In the 1990s there was a strong trend reversal in the design of skate shoes, where high (ankle-high) shoes were previously in demand, and suddenly low-cut shoes were in fashion. The scene also used shoes from non-skate shoe companies for the first time, such as B. the Puma State (later Clyde) or Adidas Gazelle. The companies reacted very quickly to the trend and began to throw the so-called "sneakers" on the market. Famous notorious z. B. the Airwalk ONE.
Another trend was to produce so-called “Pro Models” or “Signature Shoes”; a skateboard professional vouches for the quality of the shoe with his name and also has a say in the design. The first model was the Vans Caballero, designed by Steve Caballero in 1989.
A number of new companies were also founded in the 1990s and the range of skate shoes increased. Companies like DC Shoes , Emerica or éS were founded.
Lately big sporting goods manufacturers have also tried to gain acceptance in the scene and often “buy” well-known professional skateboarders into their team (e.g. Paul Rodriguez for Nike SB, Dennis Busenitz for Adidas, Stevie Williams for Rbk / Reebok). In the case of Nike SB, with success.
Another trend in the area of skate shoes is the reaction to a considerable proportion of vegetarians or vegans (especially in the US scene). Some companies therefore offer 100% vegan shoes; ie no leather is used and the rubber for the soles is made without the use of animal fats.
While skate shoes were only available in skate shops in the past, they can now be found in normal shoe stores and sometimes even at discounters.
Skate shoes are now enjoying great popularity (especially due to their high level of comfort) and are therefore widely used outside of the skateboarding scene, namely even with normal people.
The skate shoe today
Today's appearance of the skate shoe largely corresponds to a low-top sneaker, in other words: the shoe ends below the ankle, although there is a slow trend again towards high-top shoes that go above the ankle. One of the main distinguishing features of a conventional sports shoe is the double or triple stitching to make the shoe more durable. Furthermore, these shoes have a thicker tongue than normal; On the one hand, this serves to hold the foot more stable in the shoe and, on the other hand, also provides a little protection if the board hits the instep. Skate shoes also differ from normal models when it comes to the insoles, silicone pads or gel inserts are often attached to achieve appropriate cushioning. This is the solution for skate shoes because a different cushioning system such as B. Air cushions in the soles would not be durable due to the strong abrasion and heavy use.