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History of Skate Shoes

A Brief History of Skateboarding Footwear

Skateboarding first emerged as a surfer’s dry-land alternative in the early 1960s, and like wave surfing, most participants rode their boards barefoot! Before long the Randy 720º, the first dedicated skateboarding shoe, was manufactured in 1965. Not long after that, the Vans shoe company started making custom shoes in California. But it wasn’t until 1976 that Vans marketed their shoes specifically to skaters, creating styles that are still being made today. Other early brands that made skate shoes in the 70s and 80s include Makaha, Hobie, Dunlop, Clark’s, and even Adidas. It is worth noting that many skaters of this era opted for non-skateboarding shoes like Converse All Stars and Nike Blazers.

A Brief History of Skateboarding Footwear

Skateboarding first emerged as a surfer’s dry-land alternative in the early 1960s, and like wave surfing, most participants rode their boards barefoot! Before long the Randy 720º, the first dedicated skateboarding shoe, was manufactured in 1965. Not long after that, the Vans shoe company started making custom shoes in California. But it wasn’t until 1976 that Vans marketed their shoes specifically to skaters, creating styles that are still being made today. Other early brands that made skate shoes in the 70s and 80s include Makaha, Hobie, Dunlop, Clark’s, and even Adidas. It is worth noting that many skaters of this era opted for non-skateboarding shoes like Converse All Stars and Nike Blazers.

The History of Skateboard Shoes - CCS

The History of Vans Skate Shoes

The History of Vans Skate Shoes

The boom of skateboarding in the mid-late 80s led to the growth of Vans’ skate designs and the emergence of new skate-specific footwear companies like Airwalk, Vision Street Wear, and Europe’s Etnics (later renamed Etnies). And then in late 1989, independently of each other, the pro-endorsed skate shoe entered the scene as Etnies introduced the Natas Kaupas signature shoe at nearly the exact same time as Vans debuted a pro shoe for Steve Cabellero. The practice of signature pro shoes is still considered one of the highest (and most lucrative) achievements a skater can achieve.
The 1990s saw the birth of lots of skate-specific footwear brands, some of which are still popular today (Emerica, DC Shoes, Globe, Osiris, Lakai) but most of which no longer exist. This era evolved into a time of beautifully bulky sneakers with eye-catching, and even excessive, designs.

The History of Nike Skate Shoes

The History of Nike Skate Shoes

The skate shoe game was forever altered when large athletic shoe brands successfully entered the marketplace in the 2000s, with brands like Adidas and Nike utilizing advanced footwear technology combined with heritage styles (and large paychecks for top skaters) to entice buyers. This era also was marked by a return to simpler designs and slimmed-down styles of footwear.
This brings us to the glorious present with its wide range of brands and styles available. From athletic brands like New Balance offering technical innovation, to re-released classics from brands like Fallen and DVS, to new skater-owned manufacturers like Last Resort AB, to the highly-collectible, limited-edition quickstrikes of the Nike Dunk.
Whatever style, whatever fit, whatever feature, whatever colors you could want, they are there for the skating. So how do you decide what skate shoes you want?

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CCS Has a Huge Variety of Shoes Available for Every Taste

Almost all skateboard shoes qualify for Free Shipping in the US, and returns are free on non-clearance items, so we are confident you will find footwear that you love. Hit us up through email or on social media with any questions or skate shoe observations, and make sure to tag us in any photos of you in your favorite kicks.

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