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Thinking of getting some cheapy skate shoes for riding the uni - question is, do any of them have more grippy soles than others, and if so do I have to pay lots of money for them? Any recommendations bearing in mind a limited budget (I'd rather not pay FiveTen prices), I've never owned a pair of skate shoes in my life and I'm over 40, so want something which doesn't look like I've borrowed them from my teenage son (I look silly enough riding a uni as it is).
Vans do a specific flats shoe.. The gravel. Nike 6.0 work sweet too.
sports direct are cheap
Any of the usuals - DC, Etnies, DVS, etc - should only be £25 a pair from TKMaxx.
Any Vans with the waffle sole are good - as stated above, the 'gravel' is their bike/flat pedal specific shoe. Basically the waffle sole made from stickier rubber.
Nikes 6.0's work well too - although some of the soles on these are focused to skating, just have a look for something like this:
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rollersnakes.com has a good selection at fair prices
those vans gravel shoes are undoubtably ace but at £80 a pop they may be over your budget.. I have a pair and they size up slightly small too IMO
those vans gravel shoes are undoubtably ace but at £80 a pop they may be over your budget
Yep - can get Five Tens for that much. Any chance Adidas are any good, as they have some (which I could bear to be seen in) on sale in my size at a local shop?
http://www.office.co.uk/trainers/catalogue/SHOP%20BY-is-his+trainer+sale/SIZE-is-7+uk
Thanks for the help.
Actually I've just noticed we do have a TkMaxx (don't really go on the high street shopping - it must be new some time in the last 10 years 😉 )
Yep - can get Five Tens for that much.
After buying a pair of 5.10's I think they're incredibly overpriced for quite poor quality.
I'll be trying a pair of the Gravel's when CRC get some in stock.
I'd just get whatever TK MAXX have for cheap that you like the look of. I've used Vans, Duffs and something else for riding in, and whilst they're not AS grippy as something like 5.10s or Shimano MP90s (which is what I use for "proper" riding) in reality they're absolutely fine. You'll pick up some Etnies or something for circa twenty quid.
...or I might just try some Vans on to check the sizing - there appear to be some very cheap Gravels going which [b]might[/b] be my size. Had a look in Brantano the other day, but all I could see were things you have to be about 14 years old to wear (I suppose from that perspective it doesn't help that there are probably more 14yos than 41yos who take my shoes size!) so hoping for better luck in TKMaxx. Thanks again for the help.
As a side note, I wouldn't recommend Airwalk. TK Maxx always have loads, I had one pair and I broke them in about a week - and that wasn't even using them to ride!
Do you have a link to cheap Gravels?
Wiggle have US 7.5 for about £40... bargain if you have small feet.
That's the only problem with riding in skate shoes are all the shit teenager colours they come in. Vans seem to do some that are a bit more 'conservative'.
I've always rode in bmx/skate shoes but grip isn't the deciding factor when buying as most are grippy enough combined with half decent pedals. I choose based on how thick and sturdy the sole is. Some skate specific shoes have great grip but the sole can be very and thin flexy - probably ideal when for skating, but a bit uncomfortable on the bike. Currently using some of the Nike 6.0 range and some 4130 Duffs both had for under £30.
Wiggle have US 7.5 for about £40... bargain if you have small feet.
Yeah - that's probably half a size too small for me, but according to one size chart I found might work. If it wasn't for the cost of posting them back if wrong I'd just order them.
...actually I've just discovered Wiggle have a new (to me) system where I can return shoes for free via a shop/petrol station I go past regularly, so the only thing holding me back is the fact they get 80p cheaper every day if I hold my nerve!
...well I didn't hold my nerve very long - figured having publicised them on here, somebody else with little feet might be reading (though they are still showing as having stock after my order).
This offer might suit you - just got it via Email
Ooh I like those Etnies, the white is a bit too... White for me though.
The sole on those etnies doesn't actually look like it would be that great anyway IMO.
Nice my Cinches have just been relegated to full time bike duty so I think I'll get another pair. They do grip very well as the pins sit in the deep grooves nicely, the only bad thing is the grooves are quite widely spaced so sometimes it can be a little bit of a faff getting your foot just right. Personaly I prefer a zigzag waffle but these would be great too.
I've just realised that even at that bargain price those shoes will have cost me more than the uni (though I'm fixing that - also ordering some upgrade pedals!)
They do grip very well as the pins sit in the deep grooves nicely, the only bad thing is the grooves are quite widely spaced so sometimes it can be a little bit of a faff getting your foot just right.
Definitely not good for a uni in that case, as you don't have the luxury of lots of time to faff with foot placement. Thanks for the feedback!
(though they are still showing as having stock after my order)
Not any more - obviously takes a few minutes to update. So unless they don't fit me, they're all gone at that price.
Bargain for £40 I reckon - let me know how you get on with them. Will be another month till CRC get them in my size 🙁
I fancy the Etnies more for general bumming around duties anyway... My Vans's are getting a bit tired, and Rowley XLT (which I love!) are expensive...
Best riding shoes I've used so far have been Orchid Cobras which were only £30 when I bought them, from Source BMX. I've done something to one of the insoles now though and the right shoe rubs on my toes. They last ages, still feel stiff and grippy after a few months of hard daily riding (more than I'd do in a year in the UK).