The Etnies Marana Michelin is a cup-soled skate shoe with an outsole made from Michelin’s rubber. Skaters who choose this shoe will like it for its shock absorption, cushioning, durability, and comfort. The best part about these shoes is that you can find last season’s models on sale for $33-$45.
Overall, you can get a high-quality, pro-level skate shoe at a ridiculously good deal of a price.
The Etnies Marana is celebrating its 13th year of production. This iconic shoe was released back in 2012 as Ryan Sheckler’s pro model shoe for Etnies. Their design mission was to create the most durable skateboard shoe that could still offer some serious impact protection for Ryan’s massive drops. Fast-forward 13 years, and while Ryan Sheckler no longer rides for Etnies, the demand for the Marana is still stronger than ever.
The latest version of the shoe is called the Etnies Marana Michelin because it’s a collaboration with the Michelin tire company to upgrade the Marana’s sole with Michelin’s abrasion-resistant rubber.
I wanted to see if the Marana lived up to its legacy of being durable while still skating well. Overall, I liked it, but I ran into some issues with its grip and pointy shape not fitting my foot so well.
Pros of the Etnies Marana Michelin
These Shoes Are Very Durable.
I’ve been skating these shoes hard for around three weeks, and they look nearly brand new, other than some light scratching on the reinforced toe cap and some padding wearing off from all of the heelflips and inward heelflips that I’ve been doing.
After three weeks of heelflipping, the colar of the shoe looks like this. This is the only real noticeable sign of wear.
To extend their life a little more, I put a light layer of super glue over the torn fabric. Since that’s the only section that’s torn into the shoe so far, I figured I’d reinforce it.
Otherwise, the shoe is still new-looking and 100% functional to skate in, with no tearing in the ollie or kickflip wearing zones.
They’re 61% Cheaper Than the Average Skate Shoe and Noticeably Better.
Right now on Etnies.com, you can find some of last season’s Etnies Marana Michelin models for as low as $33.59 when you use the Coupon Code: BOARDOFTHEWORLD here.
For the durability, features, and overall quality of the Marana, that is an incredibly good deal for a pair of decent skateboard shoes.
As of 2025, the average skate shoe costs $85. However, the price of skateboard shoes varies greatly depending on the brand that makes it and all of the features included.
Most skateboarders buy shoes between $55 and $100, with some limited or premium models greatly exceeding that range.
When you pay more for your skate shoes, you typically get more advanced features to drive more performance out of your shoe. These features often center around their durability, comfort, breathability, or impact absorption. Ultimately, while a higher priced skate shoe can cost more up front they often are the better value in the long run because they last you longer and you won’t need to keep breaking in new shoes. You just skate and replace them when you need to.
While the average skate shoe costs $85, the Etnies Marana Michelin delivers comparable durability, comfort, and even better impact absorption—all for 61% less.
That’s too good of a deal not to stock up.
Here’s how to get the Marana cheap:
When you’re on the Etnies Website, sort their shoes from ascending order, lowest to highest, and filter for your shoe size. You’ll find some really cheap, yet still excellent quality, skateboard shoes and get an additional 20% off just for using the code they shared with our readers.
They Are So Comfortable to Skate In.
The Marana is one of the most comfortable skateboard shoes I’ve ever worn. Its super comfy STI insoles are a combination of stretchy foam and rubber that molds around your feet and makes for an almost memory foam-like impression.
The shoe’s upper part offers generous padding that feels soft and breathable.
They Offer a Generous Level of Shock Absorption.
The comfortable insoles pair nicely with the tick cupsole Michelin rubber to absorb vibrations as you skate and offer a generous level of impact absorption. If you’ll be skating stair sets and loading docks, the Etnies Marana would be one of the best shoes for you to go with.
They Are Lightweight.
With all of the impact absorbing features worked in, you’d expect these shoes to be heavy, and they’re not.
My men’s size 8.0 Etnies Marana Michelin, weigh only .776 lbs (352g). This is .106 lbs (48g) less than the Adidas Busentiz shoe I was skating before them.
They Are an Excellent Shoe for Heelflips.
If you heelflip more than you kickflip, you’re really going to enjoy the Marana.
The shoe’s collar (right where you flick your heelflips) has some extra padding inside of a grippy, twill-like synthetic material. I found that it made heelflips and inward heelflips feel a little easier.
Cons of the Etnies Marana Michelin
There is Not A Lot of BoardFeel.
While these shoes are ridiculously comfortable, they don’t offer much board feel. You can feel your board enough to get by. However, I’d recommend these shoes more for someone who is very used to skating in capsules and doesn’t mind sacrificing the feel of the board for the added impact absorption and comfort.
Their Pointy Toebox Takes Some Getting Used To.
These shoes have a very pointed shape to their toebox, and it will take you some time to get used to them.
It took me around one full week of hard skating.
It’s worth noting that before I was used to it, they felt unusually long at their furthest point. That tripped me up whenever I tried to kickflip.
You might prefer a different shoe if you’re coming from a more rounded-off shoe.
The Michelin Sole Isn’t as Grippy as You Would Think.
On the note of these shoes using the Michelin tire brand’s rubber for their soles, I have to be honest that I was a bit disappointed to learn they weren’t as grippy as you would expect them to be.
I was expecting an unreal level of grip on my board, and unfortunately, that’s not the case. They just don’t offer that extra level of grip they are said to.
I find that with the slightest little bit of dust or dirt, that lack of grip gets even worse, too.
I live somewhere where it rains a lot, and every skate spot gets a little dirty after it rains. I find myself constantly needing to clean my grip tape just to get as much grip as I can on my board, and there have been times where I bailed and slipped out just from the shoes not really even gripping the ground.
The issue is that the rubber pattern of these soles is made up of small, flat, non-textured squares of rubber. Here’s what it looks like.
There aren’t many contrasting patterns, and all of the rubber has this glazy, slippery non-textured feel to it.
And that’s the primary issue.
So in summary, Michelin makes a high-quality, durable rubber that helps you to take impacts and prolong the durability of the shoe, but the same rubber used in tires doesn’t necessarily enhance the grippiness you’ll feel while skating shoes with that same rubber used as your soles.
The tire-like pattern looks cool, but those grooves that allow rain to pass through as you drive don’t seem to allow dust or debris to pass through as you skate.
I’d recommend getting these shoes more for their impact absorption and durability over the detail that they could offer an extra level of grip for technical skating.
At least they didn’t for me.
Review Rating of the Marana
| Considerations | Rating Out 5 | Score Out of 100 | Weight (Importance to Score) |
|---|---|---|---|
| How Well They Skate | 4.20 | 84 | 15 |
| Comfort | 4.65 | 93 | 10 |
| Fit | 3.85 | 77 | 5 |
| Breathability | 4.25 | 85 | 5 |
| Flick for Flip Tricks | 3.85 | 77 | 10 |
| Boardfeel & Grip | 3.00 | 60 | 10 |
| Durability | 4.50 | 90 | 10 |
| Impact / Shock Absorption | 4.85 | 97 | 10 |
| Insoles | 4.75 | 95 | 5 |
| Break In Period / Easy to Get Used To | 3.85 | 77 | 5 |
| Value for Price | 5.00 | 100 | 5 |
| Style / Look | 4.50 | 90 | 10 |
| Weighted Score | 4.25 | 85 |
4.25 Review Rating Out of 5
The Etnies Marana Michelin skate shoes earned a 4.25 rating for their incredibly affordable price, durability, and impact absorption. These shoes are perfect for anyone who is looking for a cheaper shoe that still offers high-performance features for taking drops. If you’re skating stairs and loading docks, you’re going to love the Etnies Marana.
Overall, I enjoyed these shoes, but will probably not be buying a second pair. They took awhile to get used to, and I just don’t need this level of impact absorption for the style of skating I like to do.
The Size / Model I reviewed
I skated in a men’s size 8.0 Etnies Marana Michelin X Santa Cruz Skateboards collab version.
How the Size Fit
At first, they felt they were true to size, just narrow. However, after around four hours of skating, their width broke in. They started to feel incredibly comfortable, but then I noticed how unusually long they felt when they stretched out.
My issue is they’re unusually pointy, and while they feel tight, that isn’t as much of an issue, but when they stretch out, they feel awkwardly long for their size.
It’s taken some getting used to flicking my kickflips with these shoes.
I’d recommend following Etnies Size Chart closely or try these on if you can. They stretch out quickly, so pay closer attention to their length than width. They stretch.
In either case, Etnies offers free returns, so you can always send it back if you get an incorrect size.
Are the Etnies Marana Worth Getting?
Maybe, but it really depends on the type of skating you like to do.
- Yes, they’re absolutely worth it for their very low price if you’ll be skating stairs and taking drops.
- No, they won’t be worth it if you’re more of a technical ledge or manual skater. If you are more of a technical skater, you should check out Etnies other shoes like the Windrow, Callicult, or Jameson. They’ll offer you more grip and boardfeel over the Marana.
Overall, the Etnies Marana stands out as an excellent, budget-friendly option for skaters who will be skating stairs and taking impacts. The Marana offers an incredible level of durability, comfort, and high-end cupsole cushioning for an added level of impact absorption.
Just go into it knowing that it’s not as grippy as you’d think, so get a sheet of Mob griptape and keep your grip cleaner near by.
Where to Buy the Etnies Marana Michelin
You can save 20% off your entire order on the Etnies.com website when you use coupon code: BOARDOFTHEWORLD.
Image Gallery From the Marana Review
Steve Weber is the passionate snowboarder, skateboarder, and author behind Board of the World. He understands that most gear reviews focus on having the perfect snow conditions, but his testing methodology is different. Living in Pennsylvania, Steve describes exactly how a board performs when the conditions aren’t perfect. His reviews cover performance on ice, hardpack, and flat-out brick conditions. In other words, he reviews boards for the conditions that East Coast riders actually face.
Bringing 27 years of East Coast snowboarding and 21 years of skateboarding experience, Steve is a 42-year-old intermediate park rider. His recommendations are informed by decades of battling icy conditions, ensuring every review accounts for the board’s performance on the roughest of terrain.
For the last five years, Steve has poured his passion into writing in-depth, unbiased reviews that help riders make informed decisions about the gear they’ll use. He also works part-time at a snowboard shop in Northeastern Pennsylvania, which gives him a direct line to learning about the new gear tech months in advance. When he’s not writing reviews, Steve is often found riding at Montage Mountain and testing out new boards.
Steve’s goal with Board of the World is simple: to help every reader find the right gear so they can have fun outside from the first time they use it.