I was in TKmaxx today looking for some bargains and came across some skateboarding trainers with nice grippy soles and wondered if they're suitable for flat pedals. I can't really afford to buy the proper thing at the moment but maybe these will do the job almost as well?

I use skate board trainers on my wahwahs. perfectly fine. but Im saving for some 5tens

Some instructors reckon you shouldn't use cycling shoes with flat pedals, as they're too stiff, and you can't "feel" the pedal.

So trainers with grippy soles sound ideal!

Ok thanks. I'll be getting some wah wah's myself so that's nice to know.

Sure they'll be fine. Personally I use 5.10's on v12's and are a good match indeed, Fox trainers ''stewart'' are a good option also as iirc, they retail for £35.

GiantJaunt – you still need a firm spring for your pikes as I have one for sale at the moment?

I got some cheap skate shoes from wyndsors, grippy as ****.

vans are nice and grippy 🙂

GiantJaunt – you still need a firm spring for your pikes as I have one for sale at the moment?

No but thanks for asking. I eventually got one.

Yup, I ride often in an old pair of Vans, I have AM40s (best) and 5 10s (second best) but the Vans do the job very well too. People will bang on about grip on the pedals but any half-sensible shoe will give more than enough grip unless you're really pushing it, provided you have any sense of footwork.

I'm a real tart with trainers and would never risk any of my predominantly limited edition/rare Vans (Era mainly, but some Authentic, Old Skool, Mid Skool too) so I use an old pair of Etnies LoCut.

Wish Duffs hadn't turned their backs on skateboarding, anyone remember the Strombolies? Best skate shoes I ever had.

Thanks I'll check out those other brands too. The ones I liked best today in TKMAX were Adio Kenny Anderson for £25. They seemed a bit grippier than the others and were quite bling too. 😛

I wear Vans and Element trainers (which I usually get from TXmaxx) and love 'em.

I use Vans and they grip fine. Look shite though – too big and bulky.

It would be nice to have ones that take less than a week to dry out and provide a bit of feel for the pedals. I use Nike's at the moment which take about 4 days to dry out and you can't feel much.

"I use Vans and they grip fine. Look shite though – too big and bulky. "

The Elements I wear look like vans but are usually made of canvas or hemp, not as bulky and stickier than my vans and dry out in a few hours as well.

adios should be fine.

I use etnies on my unicycle with DMR copies. Work really well.

skate shoes and flats rule. I have DC WR range shoes – stands for Weather Resistant = pretty much waterprooof. Good value!

I ride in Adio Kenny V2s i think 😕 I've had them a year and now are sadly coming to the end of their life but they are fantastic with V8s 🙂

old school vans low tops-good enough for eddie fiola & andy ruffle and stop you looking like a 5.10 fashion victim

5:10 and fashion!!!! Now there is a concept…..

These look ok and are cheap enough to wreck .

I use Converse All Stars with my DMR V8 pedals, and they work a dream! Plenty of feel and grip, and not too hot either

vans with a waffle sole here on any flat pedal with a decent pin length.. although in the past I have mostly just used whatever knackered old skate shoe happens to be kicking around at the time..

I use vans.

Alternatively, buy your wah-wahs from superstar components
for £20-25 less (spot the difference!) and spend the difference on some nicer shoes!

Etnies & DMR's here too. I've not come off the pedals yet. Pedals have eaten my legs but that's different. 🙂

I Use Nika Mogans on my v12s. Comfy, grippy and got them in the sale for £27.

….also they are UV reactive which I never realised till the sun came out.

What about running shoes? Reason I ask is that I'm doing a Questars race next week on flat pedals for the first time and I'm wondering if I can save time by just leaving my runners on. Will they get trashed?

P.S. Runners don't work very well on SPDs as I found out last time when I forgot my bike shoes 🙁

I wish I had read this last week when I bought new trainers.

I have old Columbia shoes with naff all grips on the sole now, but they always felt really good and sticky on my V8 copies.

Was in Sports Direct and saw some Karrimore shoes, thought that they would do the job, nice and chunky grips, no more sliding on the mud.
WRONG – crap they are, feet fly off the pedals at every opportunuty.

Going to buy myself some flat shoes again

mountain biking on old style vans waffle soles can get a bit painful after a while so be aware. i can handle them around a bmx track but continuous riding down stuff on the mtb they just get unbearable. (ok ok, i was thinking of ben nevis descending for over an hour. maybe a bit over the top)
aim for a stiffer midsole.you will find vans with them.. but you might have to go feel around a bit in the shoe stores if you dont know the construction before you order.

Vans have some BMX specific shoes like the Whip 2 that are well worth a go, Etnies also have some BMX specific designs.

Less emphasis on reinforced uppers (if anyone has worked out how to kickflip a BMX let me know!) with more effort dedicated to bombproof soles.

Alternatively, buy your wah-wahs from superstar components

Nice one. Are they identical pedals other than the logo?

Personaly never got on with the adios on the bike or skateboard, vans waffle sole or dc's pill pattern sole always worked for me, get a few dc's in tk max as well.

as a flat pedal newbie I have lost confidence in foot/pedal contact and prefer flexible Vans with thin soles where I can feel the pedal, to stiffer soled five tens where I couldnt feel the pedal at all. I also couldnt feel any difference in grip between waffle-soled Vans and the five tens. Anything more than "enough" is probably too much.

Like others I relegate everyday shoes to riding shoes when they get old and knackered, and also get Vans and Etnies from TK (rad to the) MAXX.

The adio Kenny Andersons have a sole that is too thin, I reckon. Look for something a bit more solid.