Kids' Skate & Canvas Shoes

Canvas and Skate Shoes for Boys and Girls

That first skateboard is a milestone for many kids. And once they find their footing on their longboard or shortboard, the possibilities are endless. With a little practice, your kids can perfect those ollies, kick-flips and grinds.

Let Hibbett | City Gear outfit them with kids’ skate shoes designed to expertly grip the board for smooth moves and an enjoyable ride. We carry top-quality skate shoe brands, including Nike, Converse and Vans.

When it comes to selecting the right skate shoes for kids, keep the following in mind:

• Stability and protection
• Durability
• Comfort

All About Skate Soles

Vulcanized soles or cupsoles? That’s one question to keep in mind when purchasing a pair of kids’ skate shoes:

• Vulcanized shoes are ideal for the skatepark, cruising and transitions. If your kid is just getting used to their board, vulcanized shoes are the way to go. These lightweight picks are flexible and allow your kid to balance on the board more easily. Plus, they’re easier to break in than cupsoles.
• Serious skaters should look to a cupsole design for enhanced protection against impact. Big, showy moves and riding the rails call for a cupsole structure.

Kids’ Skate Shoe Materials

Sole aside, here are some common materials and features of a skate shoe:

• Upper: The skate shoe upper consists of a durable material — usually suede, leather, canvas or some blend of the three. The thicker the material, the greater durability and abrasion resistance it offers the wearer.
• Toe: A Converse skate shoe probably provides the best example of a sneaker with a rubber toe cap. However, other brands, like Vans and adidas, also offer skateboarding protection for your kids’ toes, most commonly composed of rubber. Rubber foxing also often runs around the shoe’s midsole to contribute to overall durability.
• Cut: High top, low or mid? How do you choose the safest shoe for your kid’s foot? For ultimate ankle protection, choose a high cut skate sneaker. Low tops are most popular with the skateboard community, allowing full motion of the ankle, while mid top skate shoes fall somewhere in between the two cuts.
• Slip-on styles: Don’t want to fool with laces? A classic slip-on skating shoe might be your best bet. While it provides the least protection around the ankle, this lightweight pick is an extremely versatile option for kids of all ages and sizes.

Skate Shoe Brands

Hibbett | City Gear has both boys’ skate shoes and girls’ skate shoes available from some of the best brands on the market.

• The Nike Dunk was a shoe originally created for college basketball players, but the skating community quickly co-opted this style for its board-gripping outsole, abrasion-resistant leather upper and quality construction.
• Converse All Stars are a go-to boys’ and girls’ skate shoe style, thanks to their diamond-patterned outsole, comfortable canvas upper, rubber foxing and iconic toe cap.
• Vans shoes are the de facto skate shoe, as evidenced by its “off the wall” slogan. Choose a style like the Vans Ward boys’ skate shoe with a low cut silhouette and classic checkerboard pattern, or go with a slip-on style like the Vans Asher girls’ skate shoe.

Hibbett | City Gear has all kids’ skate shoe fits for all sizes. From the littlest longboarders to those enthusiastic grade school skaters, Hibbett | City Gear can match your child with the skate shoe they need to make all their half-pipe dreams come true. Shop infant and toddler, preschool and grade school skate shoe sizes in our stores and online today.