Skateboard Shoes – These are special for skateboarding.
In 2002, it was estimated that there were more than 12 million skateboarders worldwide. Hundreds of millions, perhaps even billions, of dollars are spent each year promoting this sport in many countries. As with any sport of massive patronage, free enterprise exploitation is almost a given. A clear evidence of this exploitation is the proliferation of various brands and makes of skateboarding shoes, also known as skateboard shoes or, just plainly, skater shoes or shoe skates. Skateboard shoes are primarily designed for durability because unlike “regular" shoes, skateboard shoes are subject to extreme wear and tear conditions that are characteristic of the sport of skateboarding. For example, in many brand models, the soles of the skateboard shoe are vulcanized rather than sewn or glued to the body of the shoe for better resistance to cracking at the seams. In models where the sole is sewn, double or triple stitching is used. The material for the body of the shoe is also chosen with durability in mind; e.g., canvass abrasion-resistant suede, chemically-treated leather, etc.
While skateboard shoes were designed with the skateboarder in mind, like most shoes designed for other sports, fashion is also given major consideration. After all, not everyone can be a Tony Hawk. The next best thing is to dress like him, all the way down to his skateboard shoes. So if Tony Hawk wears a particular brand or model of skateboard shoes then that is, in all likelihood, the brand or model that those who want to look like him will buy. Businesses exploit this “I want to look like my idol" mentality by making sure that their brand and model of skateboard shoes is clearly seen on television or newspaper when the idol is doing an “Ollie" or a “seven twenty".
Depending on the brand or model, ownership costs for skateboard shoes range from one end of the spectrum to the other. There are cheap skateboard shoes that go for as low as $20 a pair which, despite their low price, are still a good buy in terms of utility and durability. For the fashion plate with a higher consciousness for status rather than just utility and durability, however, the prices of well-known and well-endorsed brands run up to the hundreds of dollars. Socks not included.