Skateboarding with flat feet can present unique challenges, often leading to discomfort and potential joint issues. While there’s no single “best” skate shoe for flat feet, understanding the biomechanics involved and exploring solutions like insoles can significantly improve your skating experience. If you have flat feet, consulting a podiatrist is crucial for personalized advice and custom orthotics. However, this guide will explore how to find skate shoes that work for you and how insoles play a vital role.
The Importance of Proper Arch Support
Flat feet, characterized by the collapse of the foot’s arch, result in the entire sole making contact with the ground. This can misalign your body, stressing joints and ligaments and causing pain. Proper arch support is crucial to alleviate this discomfort and realign your body. While some skate shoes offer more support than others, insoles are often the most effective solution for individuals with flat feet, offering the necessary comfort and alignment, whether you prefer thinner, more flexible skate shoes or more supportive, bulkier models.
The Role of Insoles in Skateboarding
skate shoe insole heel support
For skaters with flat feet, insoles are often the unsung heroes. They provide much-needed arch support, helping to distribute weight evenly and reduce strain on the feet and lower body. While some skaters may prefer the minimalist feel of thin skate shoes, they can still benefit from using supportive insoles. Here are some popular options to consider:
Footprint Insoles
Footprint Insoles are known for their high-quality, customizable orthotics, designed to address the unique needs of skaters. These insoles can be heated in an oven and then molded to the exact shape of your feet and shoes, providing a truly personalized fit. This level of customization is crucial for individuals with flat feet, helping to prevent overpronation, reduce the risk of arthritis, and minimize the likelihood of acute injuries. They improve balance and performance by preventing arch collapse, and reducing fatigue, keeping you on your board for longer.
Remind Insoles
Remind Insoles utilize advanced technologies to keep your feet healthy while you skate. Their insoles feature a multi-layered foam impact rebound system, along with anti-microbial and anti-friction fabrics, preventing blisters and hot spots. This system also ensures your feet stay cool, dry, and odor-free, providing excellent grip and stability. The “Blue Magic” smart foam absorbs significant impact while maintaining a soft feel, while the anatomical arch support provides proper alignment and joint pressure relief. Remind also offers moldable insoles similar to FP, for that perfect personalized fit.
Dr. Scholl’s Athletic Sport Insoles
A more accessible option, Dr. Scholl’s Athletic Series Sport Insoles are designed for a variety of athletic activities, including skateboarding. While perhaps not as specialized as the previous two options, these insoles offer a good balance of support and affordability. The Massaging Gel Advanced technology reduces stress on lower body joints and the flexible arch support helps control motion, preventing your foot from sliding around within your shoe. This can be beneficial for improving stability during ollies, stalls, and flip tricks.
Understanding Skate Shoe Construction
Generally, most skate shoes aren’t designed with arch support in mind. Skate shoes typically have flat outsoles for maximum contact with the board, thin insoles designed primarily for impact absorption (which often compress quickly), and midsoles that lack arch support. This is why insoles are so important. In contrast, running shoes often feature contoured outsoles, supportive insoles, and midsoles with arch support. Recognizing the differences in construction helps highlight the need for additional support in skate shoes for those with flat feet.
Choosing the Right Skate Shoes
While insoles are crucial, choosing the right type of skate shoe can also help. Cupsole skate shoes generally offer better support and stability for your feet and ankles compared to vulcanized shoes, which prioritize board feel. However, many brands now offer options with more built-in support for flat-footed individuals. Here are a few brands to consider:
FP Footwear
FP Footwear designs their shoes with support and impact absorption as priorities while aiming to maximize board feel. Their shoes feature a bio-mechanically correct outsole with anatomically correct heel cup and arch support, using FluidX Non-Newtonian Protection™ for added flexibility, board feel, and impact absorption. Their shoes are designed to provide more support than other models on the market, especially for skaters with flat feet, by distributing force evenly across the heel and reducing fatigue.
Nike SB
Nike Ishoid Wair insole
Nike SB offers a wide range of skate shoe styles, including high tops, low tops, vulcanized, and cupsole models, incorporating various support technologies. Some models, like the Nike SB Ishod Wair, come with thick insoles that offer significant arch support. Other options, like the Dunk High Pro, with its Zoom Air heel unit and padded tongue, and the Air Max Stefan Janoski 2, with its Max Air heel cushion and full-length IP foam midsole, prioritize comfort and cushioning, which helps to reduce fatigue. While not specifically designed for arch support, these features can improve your overall skating experience with flat feet.
Vans
vans vulc shoes
Vans, a classic in the skate shoe industry, has traditionally been known for its flat and minimally supportive designs. However, their “Pro” lines have made significant advancements in support without sacrificing board feel. If you’re looking for a classic skate shoe that can provide the extra support you need for your flat feet, Vans Pro models may be worth considering.
eS Shoes
Es Silo Skate shoes on a skateboard
eS Shoes, a leader in skate shoe technology since 1995, offers many comfortable and supportive options for skaters. Models like the TRIBO, with its built-up arch support and System O2 Air-Bag, the Silo, with its STI Energy Foam MidSole, and the Accel OG, with die-cut STI Energy foam insoles, all prioritize support and comfort. While they may take some time to break in and may offer less board feel, these shoes provide the features needed for those with flat feet.
Conclusion
Finding the right skate shoes for flat feet involves a combination of understanding your foot’s unique needs and leveraging supportive technologies. While custom orthotics from a podiatrist offer the most personalized solution, exploring insoles from brands like Footprint and Remind, as well as considering more supportive models from brands like Nike SB, Vans, and eS can make a significant difference. Remember, comfort and support are key to a better, pain-free skating experience.
