Are C1RCA skate shoes good quality and worth it?+
Skaters generally rate C1RCA well for the price, and the brand has spared little expense on materials and construction since it began. The shoes are built to take the abuse of skateboarding while staying comfortable through their lifespan, and reviewers have often placed them favourably against other skate brands. No skate shoe lasts forever given what they go through, but C1RCA is widely seen as solid value for durable footwear.
How does C1RCA compare to Etnies, éS or DC for skating?+
There's real history here: C1RCA grew directly out of the éS world when Chad Muska left éS in 1999 after the success of the shoe he designed there, and the early C1RCA shoes followed a similar design ethos. Many skaters in reviews have ranked C1RCA competitively against the likes of Etnies, Lakai, Vans, DVS and DC. Which you prefer comes down to fit and board feel, but C1RCA earns its place in that company.
Why does C1RCA hold up to skateboarding abuse?+
C1RCA holds more individual patents than many of its peers and pays close attention to construction details, such as specially designed lace loops that protect laces from tearing and toecaps shaped to resist wear. The soles often vary in density across the shoe, with softer zones for grip and harder zones to absorb impact. Those engineering choices are a big part of why the shoes go the distance.
When and where was C1RCA founded?+
C1RCA, styled with the numeral one, is a skateboard footwear and apparel company founded in 1999 and based in San Clemente, California. It began when Chad Muska left éS and partnered with Four Star Distribution to launch the brand. From the start it was a skater-driven company rather than a fashion house adapting to skating.
Who were C1RCA's first pro skaters?+
C1RCA's first pros were Chad Muska and Jamie Thomas, two of the most influential names in skateboarding at the time. Muska founded the brand after his éS shoe took off, and his early C1RCA designs carried his signature ideas forward. That founding roster gave the brand instant credibility in the skate world.
What was the deal with Chad Muska's stash pocket on early C1RCA shoes?+
Muska's early C1RCA designs featured multiple takes on what was nicknamed the 'weed stash spot', an idea he had already started on his éS shoe. Some versions used Velcro, others a zip pocket built into the shoe. The detail has since fallen out of fashion, but it became a distinctive and much-remembered signature of those early Muska models.
What is C1RCA's most notable skate video?+
A real milestone for the company was 'It's Time', released in 2006, an almost 43-minute skate video filmed in the United States. The team in it included Adrian Lopez, Colt Cannon, Dennis Durant, Jon Allie, Peter Ramondetta, Sierra Fellers, Tony Tave, Windsor James and Nate Sherwood. For many fans it captures the brand at full stride.
Who skates for C1RCA now?+
According to the brand's own listing, the current team includes Adrian Lopez, James Brockman and James Martin. Adrian Lopez is a notable through-line, having featured in the landmark 2006 video 'It's Time'. The roster is leaner than in the founding Muska-and-Thomas era, reflecting the brand's path over the years.
Why did Jamie Thomas leave C1RCA?+
In a 2016 Jenkem interview, Jamie Thomas explained he left in 2000 because a planned sister footwear brand built on his line was cancelled when the company hit a cash crunch tied to its snowboard brands, and they couldn't pay him for several months. He went on to start Black Box Distribution and later Fallen Footwear in 2003. Notably, he said his C1RCA stock had fully vested, so he kept an ownership stake even after leaving.
Where is C1RCA distributed and sold?+
C1RCA is based in San Clemente, California, and is distributed in Europe by Option Distribution. Beyond its own channels, its footwear has long been available through general retailers as well as skate shops. Buying through the brand or established skate retailers is the surest way to get the genuine article and the right fit.
