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 -
High Tech Deck Skate Park Choices There is a great deal of interest in high tech deck skate park materials today as more and more people are becoming interested in the sport once again. As you watch the interest in skateboarding becoming more popular every year, there is more reason than ever for the innovations in...... -
Early History of Skateboarding Skateboarding goes back a lot farther than people might think. The roots of the sport can be traced back to roughly some point in the late 1940's to the early 1950's. It started as a past time for surfers when there were no good waves to ride. The early boards...... -
How are Roller Blading and Inline Skating Different? Roller blading is a name that has been applied to the inline skating sport as a result of the large role that the "Rollerblade Company" played in creating popularity out of the inline skating sport. Rollerblade, Inc. was not responsible for inventing, manufacturing or designing the very first inline skates....... -
Gear Basics for Kitesurfing Kite surfing is a sport that has gained significantly in popularity over the past couple of years. This is very understandable, at least if you watch some of the champion Kite surfing events and see how much fun it looks. Kite surfing is also known as kite boarding or fly...... -
Choosing the Right Surfboard Surfing might be a challenge to learn, but choosing the right surfboard can feel overwhelming. Everyone seems to have a custom board these days. Even small kids on the beach have boards painted with sea life shapes. Teens have wildly colored boards, each appealing to their personalities, and adults will......
Related Websites -
More Snowboard Reviews for 2009 The K2 Jibpan for 2009 The 2009 K2 Jibpan is a jibbing snowboard intended for all mountain terrain and created to rip up the entire mountain from end to end. If you love to treat the entire mountain as if it were a park, then this is the board for...... -
How to Start a Walking Fitness Plan There is no better time than right now to begin your own outdoor fitness walking program. Keep in mind that walking outdoors is going to offer you more benefits than simply getting outside of the house occasionally. When you go on regular walks, you are going to strengthen your muscles,...... -
Callaway Women's Katy Golf Shoe User Reviews Send this to a friend Callaway Women's Katy Golf Shoe Manufacturer: Callaway Customer Rating: List Price: Varies based on product options Sale Price: View Sale Price Availibility: View Product Availability Buy Now Product Description Callaway's charming Katy borrows the classic summer sneaker profile to create a golf...... -
Buying Shoes for your Triathlon It is obviously quite important for you to have a really good pair of shoes that you can run in when you are going through the closing stage of a triathlon - But equally important is making sure that you have a solid pair of triathlon shoes that is also...... -
Surf Spots in the San Francisco Bay Within 20 minutes of Pacifica in California, there are three really popular surfing spots. Ocean Beach is located in San Francisco, Linda Mar is located in Pacifica and the Jetty at Half Moon Bay is located at Half Moon Bay. Ocean Beach is truly unbelievable when it comes to surfing.......