Skate shoes are unusually cheap right now, and a few are worth talking about
Drops of 40-59% across Lakai, New Balance, Etnies Marana Michelin, and more. Here are the five deals that actually have something to say for themselves.
Every once in a while the pricing across tracked shops lines up in a way that makes a category genuinely worth paying attention to. This week it is skate shoes, and the range is wide enough that there is something here whether you need a workhorse pair for daily abuse or something with a more specific technical story. A few of these are sitting at prices low enough that buying a backup pair is not a crazy idea. Below are the five that have the most going on beyond just being cheap.
Shoes: Lakai Cambridge and Manchester, 59% off
Both the Lakai Cambridge and the Lakai Manchester are sitting at $35, down from $85.37, which is a 59% drop. That is the steepest cut in today's recap. Lakai has been making skate shoes since 1999, and the Manchester in particular has a long track record as a no-nonsense low-top built around board feel and durability. The Cambridge sits in similar territory. Neither model is trying to compete on cushioning technology or lifestyle crossover appeal. They are skate shoes built to take hits and keep working.
At $35 you are basically paying what a decent pair of insoles costs. If you skate often enough to blow through shoes regularly, this is the kind of price point where buying two pairs at once makes straightforward financial sense. These are not beginner-only shoes either. Plenty of experienced street skaters prefer a minimal, close-to-the-board feel, and both Lakai models are built around exactly that philosophy. The Manchester especially suits skaters who have already figured out what they want from a shoe and are just looking for reliable repetition of it.
Shoes: New Balance 508 Brandon Westgate, 56% off
The New Balance 508 Brandon Westgate is $35, down from $79.55, a 56% cut. Westgate has been one of the more prominent New Balance skate collaborators, and his input on this model is aimed at a skater who wants something lightweight and responsive rather than heavily padded. New Balance's skate line has earned a real reputation since they got serious about it, partly because they brought genuine footwear construction knowledge into a category that sometimes treats shoe-making as secondary.
The 508 is described as a good entry point to the NB skate line, which is accurate framing. If you have been curious about New Balance skate shoes but not willing to pay full price to find out if the fit works for you, $35 is a low-risk way to answer that question. The streamlined feel noted in the specs suggests this is better suited to technical skating where feedback matters than to heavy transition where maximum cushioning is the priority.
Shoes: Etnies Marana Michelin, 40% off
The Etnies Marana Michelin is $65.95, down from $109.92, which is a 40% drop. The Michelin rubber outsole is the actual story here. Michelin has licensing deals with a handful of skate shoe brands, and the rubber compound they bring to the outsole is meaningfully different from generic skate shoe rubber. The grip is more consistent across surfaces and the durability holds up longer before you start to see significant wear on the sole. For skaters who burn through the outsole of their shoes before the upper gives out, this matters.
The mid-top profile adds ankle support that suits transition skating or any skater who has had ankle issues and prefers a bit more structure. At full retail, $110 for Marana Michelins is a reasonable ask given what the outsole brings. At $66 it becomes a straightforward good deal for anyone who skates hard enough to care about how long their soles last. This is probably the most technically differentiated shoe in today's recap.
Shoes: Adidas x ADWYSD Always Pro Model, 50% off
The Adidas x ADWYSD Always Pro Model Black/Semi is $60, down from $119.99, exactly 50% off. ADWYSD (Always Do What You Should Do) is a London streetwear label that has been putting out collaborations across the sneaker and apparel space, and this Pro Model pairing brings that aesthetic into skate-specific territory. The Always Pro Model sits at the premium end of the Adidas skate lineup in terms of materials and construction, so this is not a budget shoe that happens to be cheap right now. It is an elevated shoe that is currently discounted.
The Pro Model silhouette itself has history in skateboarding going back years, and Adidas has done enough to the platform and sole construction for skate use that it functions properly on a board and not just as a fashion object. At $60 for a collaborative premium shoe with technical skating intent, this is genuinely harder to argue against than it would be at $120. If you care at all about what your shoes look like and want something that can still back it up on a board, this is probably the most interesting single item in today's drop.
Shoes: eS Creager White/Blue, 40% off
The eS Creager White/Blue is $74.95, down from $124.92, a 40% drop. eS has been in the skate shoe market since the early 90s and the Creager sits in their mid-cup category, which means it offers more lateral support and protection than a vulcanized low-top without going full high-top. Mid-cup construction is a reasonable choice for skaters who do a mix of street and park, because it handles impact from drops better than a pure vulc while still giving you decent board feel.
At $125 retail the Creager is priced like a serious skate shoe, and the construction is consistent with that. At $75 it competes with shoes that cost $75 at full retail, which puts it in a different tier entirely. If you have been skating in shoes at the $70-80 price point and wondering whether spending more makes a functional difference, this is a good opportunity to find out without actually paying the premium.