News
Nike Making Skate Shoes
2009-06-03
Only a few years ago Nike decided to enter the skateboard shoe market . One of their first shoes was the Nike Dunk. Dunks were originally basketball shoes (thus the name ""Dunk"") back in the 80s, but the shoe worked fairly well for skateboarding too, having a flat sole that allowed for good board feel. Since the Dunk's evolution into a skateboarding shoe, the letters ""SB"" have been added to signify their link to Skateboarding. Nike Dunks now feature the Zoom Air sole, suede toe caps for better board grip, and nice puffy tongues.
However, since the start Nike has had the stigma of a big company coming into skateboarding just to make some money. I was apprehensive at first about Nike skate shoes, but I like the way they've gone about it. Instead of making cheap crap skateboarding shoes and trying to undercut the skate shoe market, Nike has taken the high road. Nike Dunks have their own unique style, and while some of their shoes look like a pack of crayons left on a stove burner, some of them look pretty cool. And all of them are well made. Whatever your take on Nike being in the skate market, it is nice that they actually took the time to make skateboarding shoes that work well.
The Bottom Line
Like everything with skateboarding, you should do what you want, and express yourself. If you like the look and feel of Nike Dunk Pro SBs, go for 'em. I like the strong response and board feel that Nike Dunk SBs give, and some of the colors are sick. It's also ice to have a pair of skate shoes that can double for other sports - most large puffy skate shoes don't work that well for other sports. And, to top all of this off, the Nike skate team is very strong with guys like X Games gold medalist Paul Rodriguez.
Nike Dunk Pro SBs work great for skateboarding, are comfortable, and there are so many out there that even your grandma could find a pair that she likes. Not many skate shoes last for three years on the market, but Nike Dunk Pro SBs are still going strong. There's a reason for that - Nike spent some time on these, and is dedicated to making sure Nike Dunk SBs work well for skateboarding. I really enjoyed testing these shoes out. They get scuffed up fast, and I can see that they will wear out sooner than puffy moonboot skate shoes, but the responsiveness and feel are perfect. I would prefer if they were a little wider, but that's only if I'm looking for something to whine about
However, since the start Nike has had the stigma of a big company coming into skateboarding just to make some money. I was apprehensive at first about Nike skate shoes, but I like the way they've gone about it. Instead of making cheap crap skateboarding shoes and trying to undercut the skate shoe market, Nike has taken the high road. Nike Dunks have their own unique style, and while some of their shoes look like a pack of crayons left on a stove burner, some of them look pretty cool. And all of them are well made. Whatever your take on Nike being in the skate market, it is nice that they actually took the time to make skateboarding shoes that work well.
The Bottom Line
Like everything with skateboarding, you should do what you want, and express yourself. If you like the look and feel of Nike Dunk Pro SBs, go for 'em. I like the strong response and board feel that Nike Dunk SBs give, and some of the colors are sick. It's also ice to have a pair of skate shoes that can double for other sports - most large puffy skate shoes don't work that well for other sports. And, to top all of this off, the Nike skate team is very strong with guys like X Games gold medalist Paul Rodriguez.
Nike Dunk Pro SBs work great for skateboarding, are comfortable, and there are so many out there that even your grandma could find a pair that she likes. Not many skate shoes last for three years on the market, but Nike Dunk Pro SBs are still going strong. There's a reason for that - Nike spent some time on these, and is dedicated to making sure Nike Dunk SBs work well for skateboarding. I really enjoyed testing these shoes out. They get scuffed up fast, and I can see that they will wear out sooner than puffy moonboot skate shoes, but the responsiveness and feel are perfect. I would prefer if they were a little wider, but that's only if I'm looking for something to whine about
