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This is a collaborative post.
If your child has started skating, you have probably already learned what grip tape does to a pair of ordinary trainers. The answer is: a lot, and quickly. Standard shoes were not designed for the friction and impact that skateboarding puts them through, which is why skate-specific footwear exists. The right pair will last considerably longer, protect feet better, and make learning significantly easier.
My girl started skating about 3 years ago, which I am delighted about as I absolutely loved skating as a child. I also loved bike riding, but skating was my thing back in the 80’s. I still think it’s one of the coolest skill to learn and it’s so much fun. So we went through a couple of sizes of shoes ever since, I feel like as a skater myself and after researching skate shoes for hours, I now have some authority in this topic.
From an eco perspective, I’d like to add, that buying a well-made pair once beats replacing a cheap pair every six weeks. What seems to be too cheap, it never worth the money. Plus, you can pass them on or re-sell them very well! This is why a well made pair that’s proper quality and will last is a good investment.
Form performance perspective, I personally think that well-known brands are a design that have been better for every edition and every new feature. They are safer, more protective of the foot and perform better. It’s just common sense for me, that I will buy them from a retailer that I find trustworthy and from a brand that’s been pioneering on the field for a time. Like ever, I would never buy them on online marketplaces or worse even, one of those apps that we do not even mention! 🙂
These suggestions below in my opinion will help you to find the very best skate shoes for your child. Here are the options worth choosing.
1. Etnies Marana Kids
The Marana is designed around durability above everything else, with a fused injected rubber toe cap that resists the grip tape wear that destroys most shoes at the toe first. The STI Evolution Foam midsole is firmer than standard cushioning and does not compress flat over time, which is a common problem with cheaper shoes under regular skating use. Around £55-65 and worth every penny if your child actually skates consistently rather than occasionally.
2. Vans Skate Old Skool Youth
Vans have been making skate shoes since 1966 and the Old Skool Youth brings the same vulcanized construction and DURACAP reinforcements as the adult version, scaled for smaller feet. The flat rubber sole gives genuine board feel, the suede and canvas upper handles abrasion better than most materials at this price point, and it comes in enough colourwaysthat your child will actually want to wear it. Around £50-60, widely available, and a safe choice for beginners.
3. DC Pure Kids
DC make some of the most solid construction skate shoes at the junior level, and the Pure Kids is their most reliable entry point. Leather and textile upper, padded collar for ankle support, and a rubber outsole with good grip. Particularly good for children who are spending significant time at the skatepark and putting real wear through their shoes. Around £45-55 and built to last longer than the price suggests.
4. Nike SB Day One Kids
The Day One is Nike SB’s first skate shoe designed specifically for children from the ground up, rather than a scaled-down adult model. It has skate-specific tread, a Zoom Air unit for impact protection, and a reinforced upper that handles the toe drag and lateral stress that skateboarding creates. Nike SB has earned genuine credibility in the skate community rather than just licensing the aesthetic, and this shows in the construction. Around £60-70.
5. Lakai Cambridge Kids
Lakai is a brand founded by professional skaters and the Cambridge is their most accessible model for younger riders. Suede upper, cupsole construction for impact protection, and a clean low-profile silhouette that works both at the skatepark and off it. Tends to be slightly less widely available than Vans or Nike SB but worth seeking out for the construction quality relative to the price. Around £50-60.
6. Emerica Wino G6
Best suited to children who have progressed past the beginner stage and want to start developing more technical skills. Vulcanized sole for excellent board feel, G6 polyurethane midsole for impact absorption, and a slim profile that experienced skaters prefer for control. Around £60-70 and a step up in quality that shows up in how long the shoe lasts.
Where to Buy
Not all retailers stock skate-specific versions of these shoes. The distinction matters because lifestyle versions of the same brands are often built to a lower standard than the skate-specific lines.
Route One is the UK’s largest specialist skate retailer and the most practical first stop for UK buyers. They stock the full skate-specific range across all the brands above, with clear labelling between performance and lifestyle versions.
Tactics has been running since 1999 and carries a thorough range with genuinely useful buying guidance on the site. Their shoe guide covers sole construction, sizing, and what to look for at different stages of learning, which is particularly helpful for parents buying without a background in skating.
SkateHut is a UK-based online retailer with competitive pricing and a solid range of kids-specific skate shoes. Good for finding deals on previous season colourways from the brands above.
Skate Deluxe is a German-based specialist that ships across Europe and carries an extensive selection with detailed product descriptions. Useful for finding specific models that have sold out at UK retailers.
Skate Warehouse is a well-stocked US-based specialist that ships internationally. Worth checking if you are looking for something specific that is not available locally.
Skateboard GB, the national governing body for the sport in the UK, includes guidance in their beginner’s resource on sizing and protective gear that is worth reading alongside any shoe purchase. The right shoes work considerably better when paired with a properly fitted helmet and wrist guards from the start.