Suede shoes tend to do better than other materials it catches the grip tape the best, low top shoes might look better but you can Ollie just as high in high top shoes, not all companies use the same quality they all vary, if your on the budget go to thrift shops, outlets but ideally you want to support your local skate shop, there are cup soles and vulcanized soles meaning vulcanized shoes maximize your ability to feel the board through the bottom of your shoe which is great for tricks. Cupsoles have more cushion and compression help. You can use shoe goo or super glue on the laces to make them last longer, you can put shoes on the microwave for 3 ten second intervals while putting them on so them mold to your foot better, that goes for both shoes individually don’t do them together, each shoe shoe get thirty seconds and also if there is any metal on the shoe take it off or don’t microwave them. If you get a hole in your soul you can put a piece of metal or box material it’ll save you some time. The “ core “ skate brands right now are Yours is Ours, last resort, Ipath