Clothing
About Clothing
About Clothing
Skate Clothing
Garage Skateshop is a Southern California skate shop, in business since 1995, that sells skate clothing from Dime, Butter Goods, Dickies, Thrasher and its own Garage Skateshop line. Shop tees, hoodies, pants, shorts and jackets that hold up to skating, shipped from Orange County, California.
Last updated: September 24, 2026
What do skaters wear?
Most skaters wear loose, durable clothing: relaxed or baggy pants, heavyweight hoodies, graphic tees and a cap or beanie. That's what people mean by skate clothing (or skate clothes). It comes from skateboard brands like Dime, Butter Goods and Thrasher, plus workwear like Dickies that skaters adopted decades ago.
Shop by type: skate t-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts, skate pants, shorts, jackets and shirts and flannels.
What pants should I wear to skate?
Wear pants with room in the thighs and knees, made from heavy cotton twill, canvas or denim. Tight or thin pants bind when you crouch and tear the first time you slide on grip tape or the ground. These are the pants skaters pick most:
| Pant | Why skaters pick it | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Dickies Double Knee | A second layer of fabric over the knees survives slams and kneeling | Stiff at first, softens as you skate it |
| Dickies 874 | Classic straight-leg work pant, cheap and tough | Slimmer through the leg than a baggy fit |
| Baggy denim (Dime, Vans Check-5) | Most room to move, heavy denim lasts | Long hems can drag under your heel |
| Relaxed denim (Dime, Butter Goods) | Room through the seat and thigh without the full baggy look | Less room at the knee than baggy |
| Garage Skateshop Ledger Pant | Our own baggy-fit, 100% cotton 5-pocket pant, in six washes | Baggy through the leg, so check the size chart |
Are Dickies good for skating?
Yes. Dickies are one of the most common pants in skateboarding because the fabric is heavy and cheap to replace. The Double Knee is the favorite for skating, since the extra knee panel outlasts single-layer pants. Dickies started as a workwear company, not a skate brand, but skaters have worn them for decades. Shop Dickies, including the Dickies x Thrasher collaboration.
Why do skaters wear baggy pants?
Skaters wear baggy pants because they move better. Loose pants don't pull when you crouch, pop or push, and heavier fabric survives falls that rip slim, stretchy pants. The look also comes from 1990s street skating and never fully left.
Why do my pants keep ripping when I skate?
Pants rip from grip tape, slams and tight fits. Grip tape sands through the hem and inside ankle every time your other foot drags across it, falls tear the knees, and tight pants split at the crotch when you crouch. Heavier fabric, a Double Knee or a roomier fit fixes most of it. Hemming pants so they don't drag under your heel helps too.
What skate brands do skaters wear?
Skaters mostly wear brands that are part of skateboarding through their teams, videos or founders:
- Dime is a Montreal skate brand known for Cursive and Classic logo fleece and baggy denim.
- Butter Goods is a skate brand from Perth, Australia, known for graphic tees, caps and Weathergear denim.
- Thrasher is the San Francisco skateboard magazine, publishing since 1981, and its logo hoodies are a skate staple.
- Former is the clothing brand from Austyn Gillette, Dane Reynolds and Craig Anderson.
- Sci-Fi Fantasy is the brand Jerry Hsu started.
- Garage Skateshop is our own line: the baggy-fit Ledger Pant, Revert denim shorts and camo tees.
Garage Skateshop also carries Bronze 56K, Paradise NYC, Stingwater, Vans, Independent, Volcom, Powell Peralta, HUF and Santa Cruz.
Skate clothing FAQ
Is it okay to skateboard in shorts?
Yes. Plenty of skaters wear shorts in hot weather. The trade-off is no protection for your knees and shins from grip tape and falls, so expect more scrapes. Denim shorts hold up better than thin athletic shorts.
What should I wear skateboarding when it's cold?
Wear layers you can move in: a tee, a hoodie with room in the shoulders, and a light jacket like a coaches jacket or windbreaker. Bulky puffer jackets limit your arms and get hot fast once you start skating. A beanie keeps you warm without getting in the way.
How should skate pants fit?
Skate pants should have room in the thighs and knees so you can crouch all the way down without the fabric pulling. The hem should sit on top of your shoe, not under your heel, or it'll drag on the ground and wear through.
Do you need special clothes to skateboard?
No. You can skate in anything you can move in. Skate clothing just lasts longer because it's cut looser and made from heavier fabric.
What do beginner skaters wear?
Beginners do best in loose pants, a tee or hoodie and flat skate shoes. Pants protect your legs while you're falling a lot, and a looser fit makes it easier to learn to crouch and balance.
What sizes does Garage Skateshop carry?
Most tops come in S to XL, with XXL in select styles. Pants are sized by waist, and each product page has its own size chart.
Can I return skate clothing?
Yes, within 30 days of shipment, if it's unused, unwashed and has all tags attached. Sale items are final sale.





