15 Ways That Skate Shoes Were Different 15 Years Ago

'98 back.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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In 2013, what defines a "skate shoe" can be ambiguous. The large athletic brands—Nike (and Converse), adidas, Puma and New Balance—all have their hat in the skate shoe ring, and all make great product. But there are skate shoes that resemble running sneakers, skate-inspired shoes that have clearly been made for style purposes, and sneakers that have been taken from other sports and given a skate twist. There are also super-plain shoes made for skating. Fifteen years ago, in 1998, things were quite different: Tony Hawk hadn't done the 900, Tony Hawk Pro Skater hadn't come out yet, and this was the last year that skateboarding was still "underground."


At this junction in skate shoe history, sneakers became inflated. They literally ballooned with fat tongues, added rubber toe panels, had secret stash pockets and air bubbles, and didn't cost a penny over $100. The skate industry was still run by skate brands and you had to often go to skater-owned stores just to purchase a pair of skate shoes—or order them from CCS. As you lace up your Nike SBs, take a look to see how far skate shoes have come. Here are 15 Ways That Skate Shoes Were Different 15 Years Ago.

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They were only available in skate shops or by mail order.

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Heel tabs, fat tongues, stash pockets, air bubbles, and rubber lace loops

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Skate shoe brands only made shoes for skating.

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Skate shoe brands didn't make videos.

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Nike SB didn't exist.

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Only skaters wore skate shoes.

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Collaborations were rare.

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There were no $100 skate shoes.

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Skate shoes were made by skate companies.

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Classic styles have re-emerged.

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Technology was all for show.

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Skate shoes were big, ugly, and not particularly good for skating.

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There was a narrower range of design inspiration.

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Pro models weren't dominant.

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Everyone skated the same type of shoes.

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