What 229 Pro Skaters Wear
Source: skatesetups.com database · 229 pros with verified shoe data · April 2026
| Brand | Pros | % |
|---|---|---|
| Nike SBTop | 53 | 23.1% |
| Vans | 46 | 20.1% |
| Adidas (combined) | 32 | 14.0% |
| New Balance Numeric | 12 | 5.2% |
| Cariuma | 10 | 4.4% |
| DC Shoes | 9 | 3.9% |
| Lakai | 8 | 3.5% |
| Converse (combined) | 7 | 3.1% |
| éS Footwear (combined) | 7 | 3.1% |
| FP Footwear | 5 | 2.2% |
| Etnies | 5 | 2.2% |
| Emerica | 5 | 2.2% |
| Other (12+ brands) | 30 | 13.0% |
Nike SB and Vans together account for 43% of all pro shoes. Adidas makes it 57% combined with these two. The remaining 43% of pros spread across more than 20 brands, making shoes the most fragmented category in skateboarding gear by some distance.
Why skate shoes are different from other gear
Shoe sponsorship deals are typically exclusive contracts worth significant money to top pros. This means shoe choice reflects sponsorship economics more than any other gear category in skateboarding. Trucks, wheels and decks have similar dynamics but the financial scale of shoe deals is much larger. It tells you as much about which brands invest in skateboarding as it does about performance preferences.
That said, the brand-by-discipline patterns reveal real preferences underneath the sponsorship layer.
Shoe Brand by Discipline
This is where the data becomes genuinely useful.
| Brand | Street | Park | Transition | Bowl | Vert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike SB | 26.2% | 14.3% | 10.2% | 12.5% | – |
| Vans | 13.9% | 42.9% | 40.7% | 47.9% | 48.0% |
| Adidas | 14.4% | 14.3% | 11.9% | 12.5% | 8.0% |
| New Balance Numeric | 5.9% | – | – | – | – |
| Cariuma | 5.3% | – | – | – | – |
The pattern is unmistakable. Nike SB leads street skating but its share drops dramatically in every transition discipline. Vans does the opposite. 14% in street but 40 to 48% in park, transition, bowl and vert. Vert specifically is the clearest split: Vans at 48% versus Nike SB nowhere in the top 5.
This is one of the clearest discipline splits in our entire database.
Of 53 Nike SB pros in our database, 49 (92.5%) skate street. Only 1 skates vert.
Of 46 Vans pros, 26 skate street but 24 also skate transition, 23 also skate bowl, 12 also skate vert. Vans is genuinely cross-discipline.
Why Vans Dominates Transition Skating
Vans has been the foundational transition skating shoe since the 1970s. Multiple factors drive their dominance in these disciplines:
Ankle support
The Sk8-Hi and Half Cab are high-top designs that provide ankle protection critical for transition skating. Repeated impacts from vert landings and bowl carving stress ankles more than street skating does.
Heritage and team continuity
Vans signed Tony Alva, Steve Caballero, Stacy Peralta, Christian Hosoi and the rest of the transition pioneers decades ago. Many of those pros remain on the brand today, and younger transition skaters grew up watching them.
Vulcanized soles
Vans is known for vulcanized construction (versus cupsole in many Nike SB models). Vulcanized soles have a more direct connection to the board and a slightly thinner profile, preferred by many transition skaters.
Specific Vans models common in transition setups
- Sk8-Hi (high-top, ankle support)
- Half Cab (mid-top, founded by Steve Caballero specifically for skating)
- Old Skool Pro (low-top)
- Hosoi Pro (designed specifically for vert)
Why Nike SB Dominates Street Skating
Nike SB launched in 2002 specifically targeting the street skating market and they've held that position for over two decades:
Cupsole technology
Many Nike SB models use cupsole construction (Zoom Air, React) that provides better impact protection from stairs and gaps. The landings that define street skating.
Pro endorsement model
Nike SB invested heavily in signature pro models from Eric Koston, Stefan Janoski, Paul Rodriguez, and more recently Nyjah Huston and Yuto Horigome.
The Dunk specifically
The Nike SB Dunk Low is the most-cited specific shoe model in our database, appearing on 9 verified pro setups. More than any other single model.
Specific Nike SB models in street setups
- Dunk Low (the modern street standard)
- Janoski (low-profile classic)
- Zoom Blazer
- Air Max Ishod
- Zoom Verona Slip
The Adidas Position
Adidas takes a strong third place at 14% combined but with a different distribution than the top two.
By discipline: 84% of Adidas pros skate street. Only 8% skate vert. Adidas is essentially a street-focused brand with some park/transition presence.
Strong pro signature lineup: The Busenitz (3 pros in our database) and Tyshawn II are notable contemporary signature models. The Superstar ADV is also popular at 3 pros.
Key Adidas models in pro setups
- Busenitz Pro
- Tyshawn II
- Superstar ADV
- Aloha Super
- Adimatic Mid
The Specialist Brands Worth Noting
Beyond the big three, several brands have carved out specific niches.
New Balance Numeric (5.2%, 92% street)
A clear street specialist. Notable pros include Jamie Foy (NB 306), Andrew Reynolds (NB 933), and Tiago Lemos. Quietly building one of the strongest pro teams in skateboarding over the past 5 years.
Cariuma (4.4%, mostly street and park)
Brazilian sustainable footwear brand that has signed an unusually broad pro team including Jagger Eaton, Luan Oliveira, and others. Notable for its environmental positioning.
DC Shoes (3.9%)
Once-dominant brand that has reduced its team but still appears across all disciplines. Strong heritage in vert skating going back to the 1990s.
Lakai (3.5%)
Owned by Mike Carroll and Rick Howard, genuine pro ownership. Strong technical street focus with a small but committed pro team including Chris Joslin and Eric Koston historically.
FP Footwear (2.2%)
Tom Penny's brand. Small team but a presence at the highest technical street level including Aaron "Jaws" Homoki.
The Top Pro Shoe Choices
What do the most-viewed pros in our database actually wear?
| Skater | Brand | Model | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyjah Huston | Nike SB | Zoom Nyjah 4 | Street |
| Yuto Horigome | Nike SB | Dunk Low | Street |
| Shane O'Neill | Nike SB | Shane | Street |
| Eric Koston | Nike SB | Air Max 95 | Street |
| Guy Mariano | Nike SB | Team Classic | Street |
| Jamie Foy | New Balance Numeric | 306 | Street |
| Andrew Reynolds | New Balance Numeric | 933 | Street |
| Tyshawn Jones | Adidas | Tyshawn II | Street |
| Na-Kel Smith | Adidas | – | Street |
| Aurelien Giraud | Nike SB | – | Street |
| Andy Anderson | Etnies | Andy Anderson | Multi |
| Jagger Eaton | Cariuma | Vallely Pro | Multi |
| Luan Oliveira | Cariuma | Luan Pro | Street |
| Tony Hawk | Hawk Skate Shoes | – | Vert |
| Chris Joslin | Lakai | Telford Low | Street |
| Louie Lopez | Converse CONS | Louie Lopez Pro 2 | Street |
The Nike SB Dunk Low appears on more pro setups than any other specific shoe model in our database.
Cupsole vs Vulcanized
Beyond brand choice, skate shoe construction matters. Two main types:
| Type | Characteristics | Common brands | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cupsole | More impact protection (better for stairs and gaps), stiffer feel, less board feel, heavier | Nike SB, Adidas, DC, Lakai | Nike SB Dunk, Adidas Busenitz |
| Vulcanized | More board feel, more flexible, less impact protection, lighter | Vans, Converse, éS | Vans Old Skool, Converse CONS |
Quick decision framework
- Street with stairs and gaps: lean cupsole
- Transition and bowl skating: lean vulcanized
- All-around skating: try both, see what fits your style
High-Top vs Low-Top
Another meaningful choice:
| Type | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Low-top | Nike SB Dunk Low, Vans Old Skool, Adidas Busenitz | More ankle mobility, lighter, the street standard. The majority of pro setups. |
| Mid-top | Vans Half Cab, Nike SB Blazer Mid | Some ankle support without full restriction. Popular for park and mixed skating. |
| High-top | Vans Sk8-Hi, Nike SB Blazer | Maximum ankle support, heavier. Common in vert and transition skating. |
Steve Caballero's Half Cab is the iconic mid-top skate shoe. Essential for many vert pros.
Price Range Reality
Most performance skate shoes from the top brands sit in the €80 to 130 range.
| Price | What you get |
|---|---|
| €70 to 90 | Entry-level pro models from Vans, Converse |
| €90 to 120 | Most signature pro models from Nike SB, Adidas, New Balance Numeric |
| €120 to 150 | Premium models, limited editions, collaborations |
| €150+ | Hype releases, special collaborations (not necessary for actual skating) |
You do not need the most expensive shoes to skate well. The Vans Old Skool Pro at €85 and the Nike SB Dunk Low at €110 are both worn by elite pros.
How to Choose Your Shoes
Step 1: Match your primary discipline
- Mostly street: Nike SB, Adidas, New Balance Numeric, Cariuma
- Mostly park or transition: Vans, Converse
- Vert or bowl: Vans (or specialty brands like DC)
- Mixed/all-around: Vans is the most cross-discipline
Step 2: Choose your construction
- Stairs and impact-heavy: cupsole
- Board feel priority: vulcanized
- Trying skating for the first time: vulcanized is generally easier to feel
Step 3: Choose your ankle support
- Low-top: street and technical skating
- Mid/High: transition, vert, ankle support needs
Step 4: Consider fit over brand
Always try shoes on before buying when possible. Skate shoe sizing varies significantly between brands, particularly between Vans, Nike SB and Adidas.
A Note on Sponsorship and the Data
Shoe data deserves an honest caveat. Shoe sponsorship deals are exclusive contracts. A pro on Nike SB cannot wear Vans publicly. This means our 229-pro brand distribution reflects sponsorship deals as much as performance preferences.
That said, the discipline patterns are real. Vans' 48% vert share would not exist purely from sponsorship. The brand has earned that position through decades of building transition-specific shoes and signing transition specialists. Same with Nike SB's street dominance.
Treat the data as
- Quality signal. These brands are professional grade and worn at the highest level.
- Discipline indicator. The brand-by-discipline patterns reflect real fit between products and terrain.
- Not strict prescription. Sponsorship economics influence individual choices more than they do truck or wheel selections.
FAQ
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Browse Pro Setups by Shoe Brand
- See all 53 Nike SB pro riders →
- See all 46 Vans pro riders →
- See all 32 Adidas pro riders →
- See all 12 New Balance Numeric pro riders →
- Most popular shoes among all pros →
Related Guides
Data sourced from the skatesetups.com database of 278 professional skateboarders, April 2026. Shoe brand data verified for 229 pros (82% coverage). Shoe model data verified for 119 pros (43% coverage). Where brand variants exist in source data (Adidas vs Adidas Skateboarding, Converse vs Converse CONS, éS vs éS Footwear), they have been combined into a single brand category. All percentages calculated from verified data only.