Update on the search for old man skate shoes...
Adidas Tyshawn:
I've had a lot of Adidas shoes over the decades - going way back. No prior experience with their current skate line though. This is a nice looking shoe that feels fairly well made. Unfortunately the volume of the toe box is way too small and low for me.
It didn't matter if I used my aftermarket orthotics or the thin stock insoles - these don't fit my feet. Sizing up won't work either because the length is correct. Again, it's the volume of the toebox that's the problem here. Not sure if all the new Adidas skate shoes fit kinda like this or not. Disappointing.
Vans MC 96:
These are supposed to be a reissue of Mike Carroll's pro model from the 90s. Of course they don't have his name on them, because he doesn't skate for the company anymore. From what I've read the original version of this shoe was only around briefly. I honestly cannot remember if I ever saw a pair BITD.
The quality of the material on the uppers and the stitching looks way better than any Vans I've ever seen. I guess these are part of the "VCU" line which is supposed to be a higher quality version of Vans. The olive/army green colorway is not for everyone. I do not mind it but it looks lighter in person than on some websites.
The sole is vulcanized which I typically don't like, but nowadays most cupsoles are so thin I don't think it matters. Like some other Vans there is no real midsole cushioning so you need a good insole with these if you decide not to use the stock one. The stock Popcush insole does not feel bad but lacks the arch support I need these days.
Fit seems TTS and there is some fairly thick padding on the tongue and around the ankle collar. Heel lock is not the best and I can feel the heel cup reinforcement when I walk in the shoes. Not good. Compared to the BMX 114 model, these just aren't as comfortable for me even though they look and feel like a higher quality shoe overall. If Vans could take the best aspects of the MC 96 and the 114 and make a hybrid, I would try that shoe.
'eS Stylus Mid:
These are on the lower side of a mid-top shoe and do not offer as much ankle protection as I would have liked. I ordered the Black/White colorway which has an upper made of suede and printed nubuck. I am not a fan of the way the nubuck material looks here, but it's tolerable.
The tongue and ankle padding are both very nice IMHO. There are no tongue straps, which I do not mind since I have problems with those sometimes. The lining of the shoe is very smooth and verges on slick. I did not mind it but some people may have an issue with it. The insole is very thin with a thin piece of arch support material. I did not have any issues fitting an FP 3.5mm orthotic inside the shoe. Overall shoe volume is good IMHO.
The sole on these is thinner than that of the KSL G6s but still feels comfortable. What I dislike is that the shape of the toe comes to a weird rounded point which reduces the amount of room in the toebox. The initial fit felt alright, but once I started to walk around on the carpet I could feel the lining of the shoe rubbing against one of my small toes. Ultimately these are a no go for me.
More later...
If everyone you meet is an asshole, it might be your feet. Or something
This subject is near and dear to my heart. Foot pain keeps me from skating as much as I’d like, and I have family members that have severely limited their physical output, due to foot pain.
The poster
@Crap has good recommendations imo.
My feet have spread out with age, and I went from wearing a 9, to a 10, after my mid 30s.
Shoes that work for me that I haven’t seen you mention:
Ave pro- I just kinda started being over the way they look, but for awhile I was all about em. I went for runs, played basketball/soccer, general walking around, bike shit, and skating. Just a good shoe, for me.
Dunks- what I wear the most. They just work. Not hyped on how they look, at this point, but they won’t be the problem.
Jordan 1s- same as dunks. Also the same in that I’m kinda over the look. I got a wide forefoot, and a narrow heel, so Nikes work. But it’s fuckin Nike.
Tiago’s 1010- I go tts. These are the most comfortable. The tech and build quality is a cut above. I get gnarly heel slip. I don’t care. Nothing is gonna be perfect.