90% matchemerica
Same core-skate footwear lane, video-team culture
What changes: Chunkier, more Emerica-specific cupsole heritage; no Crailtap board tie-in
Brand profile
Lakai
Los Angeles–area skate footwear brand started in 1999 by Girl Skateboards co-founders Mike Carroll and Rick Howard.
TorranceOrigin
MenswearFocus
SkatewearStyle
$$Price
27 brands like Lakai like emerica, Etnies, DC Shoes →
What to know about Lakai
Skaters own it, not a conglomerate
Mike Carroll and Rick Howard left DC Shoes in 1999 to start their own footwear label, which sits in the Crailtap group beside Girl and Chocolate.
Built around a few core silhouettes
The line runs on vulcanized and cupsole skate shoes — Griffin, Manchester, Cambridge, Flaco — plus pro models, with apparel kept basic.
Team videos are part of the product
Lakai has released full-length skate videos from Fully Flared to Bubble, which is how most people encounter the brand before the shoes.
How Lakai fits
Overall fit
true to size
Lakai skate shoes are generally reported to fit true to size, in line with most standard skate footwear.
Tip: Order your usual sneaker size; go true to size for most models.
Medium confidence · based on 6 sources
By category
| Category | Runs | Shape | Size advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sneakers | true to size | medium width with a regular toe box; vulcanized models feel a touch slimmer than cupsoles | Take your normal sneaker size; some vulc models like the Griffin break in and loosen slightly after skating. |
Directional fit consensus summarized from public sources with AI — a starting point, not a guarantee. Confirm with the product's own measurements before buying.
If you like Lakai
See all 27 brands like Lakai →90% match
85% matchEtnies
Longer-running technical skate footwear program
What changes: Broader lifestyle and outdoor lines, more technical constructions
80% matchDC Shoes
The brand Carroll and Howard actually left behind
What changes: Bigger, more mall-oriented and snowboard-driven since the ABG era
80% matchVANS
Original vulcanized silhouettes at bigger scale
What changes: Mass-market fashion reach far beyond a core skate roster
Lakai fit questions
Does Lakai run big or small?
Lakai fits true to size. Order your usual sneaker size; go true to size for most models. Lakai skate shoes are generally reported to fit true to size, in line with most standard skate footwear.
How does Lakai fit?
Lakai skate shoes are generally reported to fit true to size, in line with most standard skate footwear. Overall shape: standard skate shoe volume with medium width.
How do Lakai sneakers fit?
Lakai sneakers fits true to size. Take your normal sneaker size; some vulc models like the Griffin break in and loosen slightly after skating. Shape: medium width with a regular toe box; vulcanized models feel a touch slimmer than cupsoles.
Brand facts
Lakai Limited Footwear is a skate shoe and apparel company founded in 1999 by professional skateboarders Mike Carroll and Rick Howard, who also co-founded Girl Skateboards and left DC Shoes to start it. Based in Torrance in the Los Angeles area, it sits within the Crailtap group alongside Girl and Chocolate. The range covers vulcanized and cupsole skate shoes, including the Griffin, Manchester, Cambridge and Flaco, plus pro models and basic apparel. Lakai also produces full-length team videos, from Fully Flared to Bubble.
- Founded
- 1999
- Origin
- Torrance, United States
- Made in
- USA
- Price
- $$
- Focus
- Menswear
- Facts checked
- August 2026
- Styles
- Skatewear, Streetwear