Skate boarding and the entire skater culture seems to become more and more popular every year. Twelve-year old girls who’ve never even stood on a skate board suddenly beg their parents for skater shoes. Shoe store employees are then faced with befuddled parents who aren’t quite sure of the differences between a skater shoe and a regular pair of tennis shoes, and without the expert help, probably would have purchased a cool looking pair of sneakers that were as far removed from skater shoes as tap dancing shoes are removed from roller skates.

So what makes skater shoes different than regular shoes?

They’re designed specifically for skateboarding, with their signature flat rubber or polyurethane sole that allows skaters to make better contact with the board and have maximum control while skate boarding. They’re also made wider to allow for more grip. The differences don’t stop there, though.

Some skater shoes have air pockets built into the heel to allow more shock absorption while skating to prevent bruising. Often the shoes are made from suede, and have double and triple stitching so that they stand up to the hard work of skate boarding, particularly trick skate boarding. They have shoelace protectors that keep the laces from hanging loose and possibly causing accidents. They’re cushioned and reinforced especially for the way the feet move and make contact with the board while skate boarding, and to make the shoe more durable. Still, avid skate boarders will wear out a pair of shoes faster than someone who doesn’t skate. The rough grip on top of the board wears at the soles, especially if a skater practices regularly or does lots of tricks.

While you might think you can still wear any old shoe to skate board, consider that all these features that make skater shoes special are there, not only to make you a better skater, but to keep you safer. A skater shoe allows you to grip the board better. You have more control which makes you a better skater, but also keeps you from falling off the board or having accidents as much. Control is key in learning to skate properly and remaining on the board. If you’re wearing a regular tennis shoe, you won’t have that same measure of control and you might find yourself surprised to be on the ground, hurt.

Spend the extra money on well-designed skater shoes. You’ll skate better, and you’ll have less risk of injury. And they’re not as expensive as you probably think they are. You can find excellent skater shoes like Fallen Troopers for $50 to $75 dollars, and skater shoes made by Vans, a company that’s been making skater shoes longer than almost anyone else, will run an average of $60. Globe is another skater shoe manufacturer that makes some of the best skate boarding shoes, also in that price range. A regular pair of shoes could cost that much or more, and with skater shoes you’re getting protection built right in.

Originally posted 2008-12-08 17:24:19. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

• Surf Skate Wake Board - What's Your Passion? For many people, there is nothing that they find to be more exhilarating or exciting then boarding of all types. This can mean surfing, skate boarding, wake boarding and more. For many people it may e the danger that they feel or even the endorphins that they feel coursing through......
• The Tony Hawk Foundation The Tony Hawk Foundation is an organization that is geared towards providing youths with the resources to safely and legally hone their craft of skate boarding. In November of 2008, the entertainment elite and action sport pros met to raise money in the fifth annual Activision Presents Stand Up For......
• Learning How to Duck Dive Before you can learn how to duck dive, you may need to learn what duck diving is and what it is all about. Any breaking wave that is more than two feet high is going to require that you duck underneath the wave rather than floating right over it, and......
• Inline Skate Wheels pt1 When it comes to inline skates, the wheels you choose to ride on could quite possibly have the biggest impact on how well you skate. Inline skate wheels come in many different shapes, sizes, and materials (or composition). Different wheels are made for different skating styles, so picking the proper......
• Surf Skate Expo Experiences 20th Year in Orlando The Surf Expo is an annual surf and skate trade show that is put together every year at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. This is the most popular surf and skate trade show for the last twenty years, and the most recent year was absolutely no exception......

Related Websites

• Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days. Some of us are always looking to......
• Seeking New Investment Options in a 401(k) Plan Recently I wrote a piece on how a 401(k) plan can make lousy retirement plan. One of the reasons I cited is the lack of high quality investment options in the plan. The missing qualities can include low-cost, variety, and suitability to changing market conditions. A Visit from the 401(k)......
• Getting on Board the SEO Train Getting on Board the SEO Train By Frank Orman The acronym 'SEO' is becoming an increasingly mainstream part of our business terminology. Whilst not quite up there with the BBC, CIA or FBI, nearly everyone involved in running any kind of a business that involves a website (hands up!) is......
• Do One Thing: Take Off Your Shoes. This week's Do One Thing is about your feet - and what you can bring into your house by not leaving your shoes at the door. Turns out that 90 to 99% of bacteria found on the exterior of the shoes is transmitted to the floor in your house when......
• Snowboarding Glossary Flute - A snow column that can be found on rocks and other terrain features as well as almost vertical slopes. Free riding - This is the term for casual snowboarding that is done on any terrain type. There are no gates, half pipes, rules, or contests. This is all......

Online Stores

• Tennis Womens Shoes

If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.



Categories:

Clothes Shoes and Gear, Consider This, Skating, Surf Skate Wake

Tags:

accidents, air pockets, laces, maximum control, old shoe, polyurethane, roller skates, rough grip, shock absorption, shoe store, shoelace, skateboarding, skater shoes, sneakers, soles, suede, tap dancing shoes, tennis shoes, twelve year old girls, year twelve