You sang a song about Susan B. Anthony, thoroughly researched Sacajawea, and have a secret yearning to tattoo Sojourner Truth's name on your forearm. You are proud to be a woman – and a skater – and your summer shoes should celebrate your femininity and strength. That means copping a pair of women’s skate shoes that can withstand the rigors of skateboarding but boast an unapologetic, sassy attitude. They should be comfortable, with padded tongues and insoles; sturdy, with protected laces and reinforced outsoles; and feisty, to belie claims of frail femininity.
Check out our top summer skate shoe picks, all of which excel in the categories described.
1. DC Shoes Manteca 2 Mid Shoes in White/Orange (Pictured At Top)
DC Shoes' leather-and-suede Manteca 2 Mid Shoes feature a funky
personality while aptly
resisting wear and tear. The sneakers' foam-cushioned
tongue and collar, silky suede uppers and DC’s trademark performance Cup Sole a maximum comfort. Plus, the kicks are available in an array of summer colors — from pinks and baby blues to oranges and whites.
Women's Manteca 2 Mid Shoes, $64.99 Available at DCShoes.com
2. Nike Dunk Low SB Premium Hello Kitty Edition
Nike Dunk Lows are perfect for skating as they offer full-length EVA midsoles for
cushioning while tough rubber outsoles with full cupsole
stitching provide the necessary durability to withstand even the
grittiest skater’s abuse. If you want to add a flirty flair to your Dunk collection, check out the new, limited-edition Hello Kitty design pictured at top.
Nike Dunk Low SB Premium Hello Kitty Edition, $120. Available at select sneaker boutiques and DunkID.com
3. Osiris Libra in Metallic Blue/Black/Pink
The Osiris Libra shoe boasts special features such as: a double-stitched toecap; a durable, thermal, plastic-backed toe; internal elastic restrainers; Osiris’ trademark Flex-Warp outsole; and a set of back-up laces. Slip on a pair and popping an Ollie or 180, and you'll see why the pros laud this shoe. Plus, the new '80s-flavored,metallic blue/black/fuchsia color way will have all eyes on your expert footwork.
Osiris Libra in Metallic Blue/Black/Pink, $60. Available at Osiris.com
4. C1RCA 50 Classic Skate Shoe
Classy and contented defines the C1RCA Women's
50 Classic Skate Shoe. Retro canvas uppers, extra grip and a
triple-stitched toe are perfect for amateur skaters who need some extra
jounce.
C1RCA 50 Classic Skate Shoe, $50. Available at Shop.C1rca.com
5. Etnies RSS Girls in White with Purple Madras Trim
Discover the legendary Etnies RSS Women’s skate shoe. With its classic appearance, textile lining, vulcanized 400 NBS rubber sole, and padded collar, tongue and footbed, the RSS makes skating almost as comfortable as golf. This particulaar style even takes a cue from the plaids and madra prints sported on the gold course, giving the skate a park a refreshing new feel.
Etnies RSS Girls, $50. Available at Etnies.com
Hey, adding an extra style kick to those kickflips means all eyes will be fixed on your skating prowess.
—Ronnie Friedmann
**For more badass skate shoes and skate gear, visit Underworld-shop.com
**Ronnie Friedmann is a writer/skateboard enthusiast who works for Underworld Skateshop in Montreal. He is also a self-described sneaker addict who never wears the same pair twice in a week.
