Skateboarding built its own footwear world, full of skater-owned labels and shoes designed to survive griptape. These are the brands that defined skate shoes, past and present.
- Vans is the definitional skate brand; the Old Skool and Sk8-Hi are the baseline of skate style.
- Nike SB is Nike’s skate arm and the engine behind the entire Dunk economy.
- adidas Skateboarding runs a strong pro team and the long-running Busenitz and Tyshawn lines.
- Converse Cons is Converse’s skate program, respected for the CTAS Pro and One Star Pro.
- DC Shoes was the late-90s and 2000s powerhouse tied to Danny Way, more lifestyle today.
- etnies is one of the original skater-owned brands, still independent and still core.
- éS is etnies’ sister brand, revered for the Accel and relaunched for the core crowd.
- Emerica is a heritage skate brand with the Reynolds line and an active pro team.
- Lakai is skater-owned, founded by Mike Carroll and Rick Howard of Girl.
- Supra gave the Skytop era its signature high-top, and leans more heritage than current today.
- Osiris is the brand behind the D3, the chunkiest shoe of the early 2000s.
- New Balance Numeric is New Balance’s skate division and one of the most credible lines going.
- Last Resort AB is a hot skater-owned newcomer from Polar’s Pontus Alv.
See the complete A-Z guide of sneaker brands, or the other guides: basketball shoe brands and running shoe brands.