The most essential part of a skateboarder's gear, aside from the skateboard itself, are the skate shoes. There are many, and varied, components that go into a proper skate shoe. First, all skaters look for a skate shoe with grip. Vans skate shoes are famous for their "waffle sole" grip, while brands like Lakai and Emerica use "sticky gum rubber" for the soles of their skate shoes. There's an ongoing debate in the skate world between the advantages and disadvantages of the cupsole versus the vulcanized sole. Vulcanized soles are thinner and more flexible, and therefore offer more board feel, but are less protective. Cupsoles are thicker and offer more protection for when skating big steps, gaps, and rails. As a result of this issue, skate shoe companies such as Nike and Fallen footwear offer the same model with both cup and vulcanized soles. Another debate is hi-top vs low-top. The high-tops offer more ankle support, but are more restricting, while the low-tops offer more freedom in the ankle area, but with less ankle support. Therefore, skate shoe companies like DC and Supra offer hi and low versions of the same model skate shoe. So, whether you're a hi-top cupsole skater, or a low-top vulc skater, CCS has got you covered.