Skate shoes are unusually cheap right now, with a few worth talking about
Drops up to 56% on skate shoes today, from Busenitz Pros to Last Resort AB high-tops. Here are the five deals that actually make sense to buy.
Today's recap is almost entirely shoes, which is either great timing or a sign that a few shops are clearing summer inventory before fall lines hit. Either way, the numbers are real. A handful of these are legacy models with actual reputations, and two are sitting at prices that are hard to argue with even if the silhouette isn't exactly your first choice. Here is what stood out.
Shoes: New Balance 508 Westgate and Adidas Copa Premiere, both 56% off
Two very different shoes at the exact same price point deserve to be mentioned together. The New Balance 508 Brandon Westgate and the Adidas Copa Premiere are both sitting at $35, down from around $79.55, which is a 56% drop on either. Thirty-five dollars for a name-brand, skate-specific shoe from a proper collaboration or a dedicated skate line is the kind of price that makes you buy a backup pair.
The Westgate 508 is part of New Balance Numeric's catalog, designed around Brandon Westgate's preference for a low-profile, responsive feel. Westgate skates heavy and technical, so the shoe is built accordingly. The Copa Premiere comes from Adidas Skateboarding's soccer-inspired lineage, which translates to a thinner upper with solid ankle structure and a sole tuned for street use. These are not the same shoe at all, but they are both worth $35. If you are on the fence, the Copa skews slimmer and closer to the board; the 508 has a bit more structure to it.
Shoes: Adidas Busenitz Pro, 50% off at $42.50
The Adidas Busenitz Pro Crystal White/Crystal is down to $42.50 from $84.99. The Busenitz Pro has been around long enough to have a real track record. Dennis Busenitz skates fast and precise, and this shoe was built around that, meaning it is low-profile, durable, and oriented toward board feel over cushioning. It is a minimal street shoe that does not try to be anything else.
Fifty percent off a shoe that regularly holds at $85 retail is significant. The Crystal White colorway is clean enough that it works with most setups and does not look like a closeout. If you have been skating a similar minimal low-top and want to try the Busenitz without committing to full price, $42.50 removes most of the hesitation.
Shoes: Last Resort AB VM003 Canvas Hi, 50% off at $45
The Last Resort AB VM003 Canvas Hi (Cracked Black White) is at $45, cut from $89.99. Last Resort AB is a Swedish brand that has built a reputation quickly among skaters who care about construction quality and a stripped-down aesthetic. The VM003 Hi is their high-top canvas model, and the cracked black and white graphic is not a gimmick, it is a deliberate finish that reads well in person.
High-top canvas skate shoes are a specific preference. They give you more ankle wrap and a slightly more rigid feel on entry, and canvas as a material tends to mold to your foot faster than synthetic uppers. The tradeoff is durability over time, but at $45, the value calculation changes. This is a good pickup if you already know you like high-tops and want something that looks considered rather than generic.
Shoes: Emerica Wino G6 Slip-On, 40% off at $44.95
The Emerica Wino G6 Slip-On is down 40% to $44.95 from $74.92. The Wino G6 laced version is one of Emerica's most consistent sellers, known for its flat insole, low-to-the-ground geometry, and the kind of board feel that technical skaters who hate cushion prefer. This is the slip-on version of that same platform, which means you get the same sole construction and last, just without laces.
Slip-on skate shoes are polarizing. Some skaters find them less secure for flip tricks; others appreciate the locked-in heel fit and the speed of getting them on and off. The G6 geometry is narrow enough that the slip-on version does not feel sloppy the way some elastic-entry shoes do. At $44.95, if you have been curious about the Wino platform but have not wanted to pay full price, this is the version to test it on.