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Skateboarding Shoes: Airwalk And Nike
By:
Published: November 28, 2006
Imagine playing baseball in golf cleats or football in soccer shoes. Every sport has a shoe designed specifically to meet the demands of the activity. Yet for years, skateboarders had to settle for simple athletic shoes that frequently fell apart, requiring makeshift repairs with household supplies, such as duct tape. Thankfully, those days are over; skateboard enthusiasts now possess a variety of skateboarding shoes to choose from.
In general, skateboarding shoes encompass footwear made specifically to tackle the demands of skateboarding. Manufacturers design skateboarding shoes to provide the support and durability a skateboarder needs, including a sturdy, thick sole to help support the shoe. Another characteristic of these shoes are their thick tongues, made to protect the skateboarder and prevent injury.
Years ago, a telltale sign of a skater boy or girl were shabby, damaged shoes. In fact, shoes often would look as if they had been retrieved from a trash disposal. They often had holes and broken shoelaces. Yet interestingly, trashed shoes were like war wounds, standing as a testament of how hard one skated. Even so, sore feet, ankle and shin injuries, and bruised legs were enough to alert shoe manufacturers to a potentially lucrative market—skaters were in desperate need of a shoe made especially for their activity.
A milestone in skateboarding shoe history came in the mid-1980s, when Nike's air Jordan shoe became popular with skateboarders. Though not specifically made for skateboarding (they were a basketball shoe, after all), they provided skaters with a higher level of comfort. This is because the shoes were designed to absorb shock, provide lateral support, and withstand the wear and tear of athletic activity. While they were a welcomed improvement in footwear for skaters, they were not made specifically for skating—and fell apart after heavy use.
In the late 1980s, a company named Airwalk finally began advertising footwear specifically targeting skateboarding issues. Airwalk was the first bulky leather shoe capable of withstanding the wear and tear of skating without needing globs of Shoe Goo for maintenance. Though they, too, tended to wear out, they were a step above basketball shoes. Another company named Vision also marketed padded skateboarding shoes.
These days, well-made skateboarding shoes remain readily available for those who have a passion for skateboarding. Adio makes several popular models. Nike also markets several quality skater shoes.
Interestingly, even non-skaters have become fans of skateboarding shoes as everyday wear due to their quality and comfort. It seems the skateboarding shoe market will continue to enjoy success in the future.
Sources:
Skate shoes. Wikipedia. 2006. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. 4 Nov 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skate_shoe>.Skate Shoes—top 10 skateboarding shoes. 2006. About, Inc. 4 Nov 2006 <http://skateboard.about.com/cs/gear/tp/TPShoes .htm>.
Some skate shoe history. 2005. Skateboard-City. 4 Nov 2006 <http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:X-CVZ2J0ZC 0J:www.skateboard-city.com/some-skate-shoe-history
In general, skateboarding shoes encompass footwear made specifically to tackle the demands of skateboarding. Manufacturers design skateboarding shoes to provide the support and durability a skateboarder needs, including a sturdy, thick sole to help support the shoe. Another characteristic of these shoes are their thick tongues, made to protect the skateboarder and prevent injury.
Years ago, a telltale sign of a skater boy or girl were shabby, damaged shoes. In fact, shoes often would look as if they had been retrieved from a trash disposal. They often had holes and broken shoelaces. Yet interestingly, trashed shoes were like war wounds, standing as a testament of how hard one skated. Even so, sore feet, ankle and shin injuries, and bruised legs were enough to alert shoe manufacturers to a potentially lucrative market—skaters were in desperate need of a shoe made especially for their activity.
A milestone in skateboarding shoe history came in the mid-1980s, when Nike's air Jordan shoe became popular with skateboarders. Though not specifically made for skateboarding (they were a basketball shoe, after all), they provided skaters with a higher level of comfort. This is because the shoes were designed to absorb shock, provide lateral support, and withstand the wear and tear of athletic activity. While they were a welcomed improvement in footwear for skaters, they were not made specifically for skating—and fell apart after heavy use.
In the late 1980s, a company named Airwalk finally began advertising footwear specifically targeting skateboarding issues. Airwalk was the first bulky leather shoe capable of withstanding the wear and tear of skating without needing globs of Shoe Goo for maintenance. Though they, too, tended to wear out, they were a step above basketball shoes. Another company named Vision also marketed padded skateboarding shoes.
These days, well-made skateboarding shoes remain readily available for those who have a passion for skateboarding. Adio makes several popular models. Nike also markets several quality skater shoes.
Interestingly, even non-skaters have become fans of skateboarding shoes as everyday wear due to their quality and comfort. It seems the skateboarding shoe market will continue to enjoy success in the future.
Sources:
Skate shoes. Wikipedia. 2006. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. 4 Nov 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skate_shoe>.Skate Shoes—top 10 skateboarding shoes. 2006. About, Inc. 4 Nov 2006 <http://skateboard.about.com/cs/gear/tp/TPShoes .htm>.
Some skate shoe history. 2005. Skateboard-City. 4 Nov 2006 <http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:X-CVZ2J0ZC 0J:www.skateboard-city.com/some-skate-shoe-history
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