Where would we be without shoes? Probably curled up at home nursing chronic shin splints. As our mark of respect to the modern revelation of rubber outsole and foam insole, we break down our list of the top 10 skate shoes that have hit our site in 2023.
Off the back of the baggier-fitting Y2K trend, we’ve seen a big year for footwear transition. Cup-constructed shoes are steadily regaining the throne from the vulc, as skaters are prioritising comfort, protection, and the traditionally puffier aesthetic of the cupsole over the grippy flick and stereotypically slimline silhouettes of the post-Janoski vulcanised landscape. Spoiler alert: this is a sentiment reflected in nine-tenths of our list.
With a seemingly infinite influx of footwear models and colourways released in 2023, stripping this list down to just ten styles almost felt like a disservice to some of the others that narrowly missed out. With that in mind, we’ve got to shout out some of our honourable mentions:
Nike SB Zoom Janoski OG+, Leo; New Balance Numeric 440 Hi, 574; Emerica OG-1; éS Muska; Last Resort AB VM004; Lakai Yeah Right Telford; adidas Pro Model, Adimatic; Vans Rowan 2, Knu Skool; Converse CTAS Mid, Alltimers Fastbreak Pro.
And without further ado, here is our top 10:
10. Last Resort AB VM005 Loafer – Brown/Black
The one and only vulcanised model that made this list, the VM005 Loafer from Last Resort represents a section of the industry that’s really pushing the boundaries of what a skate shoe can be. A few brands tried their hand at tackling the loafer style in 2023, including Globe with the Liaizon, HOURS IS YOURS with their Cohiba, and the Vans Beatrice Domond Style 53, but we felt that Last Resort nailed the concept at the tail end of the year with the VM005’s soft suede and traditional tasselled look. A classy option for those that have the skate spot at two and the soiree at ten.
9. DC x Skateboard Café Kalis OG – Light Grey
Maybe we’re biased ‘cos we love Café, but we felt that DC really set the precedent for footwear collaborations way back in February with this one. Accompanying a two-minute mini mix of Bristol harbourside hammers from mutually spons’ed-up duo Josh Arnott and Layth Sami, the Lloyds-inspired colourway paid homage to the legendary UK spot with its pairable granite complexion and tastefully subtle detailing. Added to the already sought-after Kalis OG silhouette, DC and Skateboard Café had brewed themselves up a serious shoe-of-the-year contender right at the start of 2023.
8. Converse AS-1 Pro – Black/White/Gum
Breaking out with a standout part in Coliseum’s P.J. Ladd’s Wonderful, Horrible Life back in 2002, it’s taken over 20 years for Alexis Sablone to receive the pro shoe bump. Converse set that right this year with the AS-1, a solid cupsole silhouette with obvious influence from the brand’s ‘90s basketball court styles. The colourway we’ve chosen riffs on a classic Simple Shoes OS-91 colourway, a nineties schoolyard classic defined by a black suede upper and contrasting white accents. Finished with unique detailing and a hefty Star and Chevron logo, the AS-1 proves that Converse can still hang with the cupsole crowd.
7. adidas x Mike Arnold Handball Top – Black/Shadow Navy Blue/Pulse Yellow
British skateboarders certainly gave their counterparts across the Atlantic a run for their money with shoe collaborations in 2023, with a bunch of the year’s standouts starting life this side of the pond. Another Lloyds native, Mike Arnold made his mark in March with the Handball Top, a repurposed sports shoe matching Mike’s unique take on skating. The shoe stood out with a distinctive toggle lacing system, luxury gold detailing, and intricate outsole scaffolding. Who said black and blue don’t mix?
6. New Balance Numeric 600 – White/Gum
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who had a more productive year than Tom Knox in 2023: Tom racked up a total of 17 minutes and 57 seconds of footage in 2023, dropped four parts and featured in a further four montages; he joined Krooked Skateboards, landed the December cover of Thrasher Magazine, and scooped up a Dickies clothing line and pro model New Balance shoe. Another model based on a ‘90s court style, the New Balance Numeric 600 excelled on the board, with skate shoe review site weartested.com commenting “[the Numeric 600] didn’t have many flaws at all”.
5. Nike SB “April” Dunk Low Pro QS – Racer Blue/Metallic Silver-White
Shane O’Neill’s board brand went from strength to strength in 2023, adding stair-hucking powerhouse Dashawn Jordan to the roster and backing a serious SOTY push from company MVP Yuto Horigome. The physical realisation of that success arrived in late November, a sleek Dunk Low accentuated by its glitzy Swoosh, embossed logos, and mesh side panelling.
4. adidas Samba ADV - Core Black/White/Gum
Blokecore took the UK by storm in 2023, and skateboarding was no exception. The classic Three Stripes model made its grand resurgence on the feet of celebrities, football fans, and skaters alike, and we’re not expecting the hype to die out any time soon. With its simplistic silhouette, the shoe is easily worked into any fit, and its cupsole design paired with a slimmer profile made it a solid choice for skateboarding.
3. Nike SB Air Jordan 4 Retro SP - Sail/Pine Green/Neutral Grey/White
A solid alternative to the conventional skate shoe since its original release in 1989 thanks to a supportive construction and optimal cushioning, the Jordan 4 really made the jump from the basketball court to the skatepark in 2023 with a new, updated model provided by Nike SB. The shoe started its rounds on the feet of Polar pro Oskar Rozenburg Hallberg, known for his forward-thinking footwear choices, and many began speculating on the shoe’s release. Hype for the Air Jordan 4 Retro SP certainly exceeded any footwear release in the year of 2023, and we can only hope for further versions moving into 2024.
2. New Balance Numeric 480BOS – Chocolate
New Balance had an incredible year in 2023, fronted by a stellar cupsole offering formulated by footwear design genius Jeff Mikut. Andrew Reynolds’ addition to the already-stacked professional roster at the end of 2022 put wind in Numeric’s sails, and the long wait for a “Boss”-themed model throughout 2023 paid off – the Numeric 480BOS arrived in a smooth chocolate colourway, indulging in rustic tones popularised throughout the year, and offered a classic cupsole design perfect for skating.
1. Nike SB “Born x Raised” Dunk Low Pro QS – Deep Royal/White
Despite an eclectic year of varied Dunk colourways and collaborations, one stood above the rest: the Nike SB “Born x Raised” Dunk Low Pro QS. This model featured intricate embroidered details throughout its upper and a translucent outsole revealing further artistry underfoot, setting the precedent for the April Dunk that followed. It was packed with unique detailing, a pearlescent Swoosh, and was the perfect reflection of Born x Raised’s mission statement.
