Village PM is a Paris-based skate footwear brand founded in 2024 by lifelong skaters Basile Lapray, Bram De Cleen and footwear specialist Julien Traverse (from All Triangles), with the aim of bringing genuine innovation back into skate shoes.

Their initial launch was highly anticipated and well-received by the skateboarding community. Instead of following the traditional skate shoe formula, Village PM applied climbing shoe technology, asymmetrical shaping, and wrap-around rubber construction to create a breath of fresh air in the skate shoe industry.

The brand debuted with two models, the 1PM and 1:30PM,

Meet the Range: Village PM 1PM and 1.30PM Shoes

The Village PM skate shoes range starts with two core models, the 1PM and the 1.30PM. Both are built on the principle “form follows function,” taking everything skaters love in high-performance outdoor shoes and melding that with what the best skate footwear should deliver. 

• Village PM 1PM:

  
  
  This flagship style is instantly recognisable thanks to its climbing-inspired wrap rubber rand and asymmetrical toebox, ideal for a grippy and responsive flick. The shoe’s fit is engineered for stability and comfort, and the durable toe cap and upper delivers better life over repeated kickflips and street sessions. Priced around £100, available in sizes from 4 all the way up to 12, it’s a shoe that doesn’t compromise.
  

• Village PM 1.30PM:

The 1.30PM model takes the tech of climbing shoes and blends it into a more flexible, low-profile silhouette. You get the same grippy, long-lasting rubber, but with a subtle look that works anywhere. Available at around £80, it’s the best value in the Village PM Skate Shoes range, and it breaks in has surprisingly impressive durability and impact protection, considering it's their slimmer shoe.

Both shoes are offered in classic colours, with occasional seasonal releases and special editions in leather and seasonal shades.

But How Do They Fit?

Village PM look like climbing shoes, but do they fit really small like climbing shoes?

Unlike real climbing shoes that are notoriously tight and small, Village PM’s skate shoes fit regularly. While they visually borrow climbing-inspired elements, sticky rubber, asymmetrical shape and a precision fit concept, reviewers and skaters generally report that the fit is like regular skate shoes.

For the 1:30PM, users consistently say they fit true to size, with a comfortable asymmetrical snugness that wraps around the foot without squeezing painfully.

The 1PM has slightly more structured rubber coverage and a unique last, and most reviews find them true to size, too, though wide-footed riders sometimes note they’re a bit narrow or snug around the mid-foot or toe box. In those cases people recommend going half a size up if you have broad feet, but it’s more due to personal foot shape than climbing-shoe-style tightness.

Brand descriptions highlight their “Asymmetrical Precision Fit”, which mirrors the natural shape of the foot for control but isn’t meant to deform or cram your foot like real rock-climbing footwear.

In short: they look inspired by climbing shoes, but they skate and fit far more like performance skate shoes, usually true to size, with some room for personal preference.

If you’re deciding which size to buy in Village PM skate shoes, the best starting point is simply your normal skate shoe size. Most skaters report that both the 1PM and 1:30PM models feel familiar underfoot despite their differences.

Because the brand’s design uses an asymmetrical last that follows the natural curve of the foot, the shoe can feel slightly more “locked in” than traditional skate shoes straight out of the box. This doesn’t usually mean the shoe is too small, it’s simply the result of the precision shaping and the wrap-around rubber construction that Village PM uses.

For skaters with narrow or average-width feet, sticking with your regular size is typically the best choice. The shoe is designed to hug the foot slightly, improving board feel and control when flicking tricks or skating technical ledges and rails.

If you have wider feet, the fit may feel slightly snug around the midfoot or toe box, particularly on the Village PM 1PM. This is due to the extended rubber rand and the way the upper wraps around the shoe. Some riders with broader feet prefer to go half a size up for a more relaxed fit.

Another factor to consider is how you prefer your skate shoes to feel while skating. Some skaters like a very tight, responsive fit that maximises board control, while others prefer a slightly looser shoe for comfort during long street sessions.

If you're unsure, it’s usually safer to start with your normal size and allow the shoe to break in naturally.

Like most high-quality skate shoes, Village PM models do soften slightly after a few sessions.

When brand new, the rubber rand and structured upper can make the shoe feel quite supportive and firm. This is intentional. The design helps protect the toe area during repeated flicking and adds durability where skate shoes usually wear out fastest.

After skating them for a short period, the upper materials begin to relax and mould to the shape of your foot. This is particularly noticeable in the forefoot and flex points of the shoe. The asymmetrical design then becomes more comfortable as the shoe adapts to your natural stance and movement on the board.

The break-in period is generally fairly short compared to older, heavily padded skate shoes. Most skaters report that Village PM shoes feel properly broken in after a handful of sessions.

Importantly, they are not designed to stretch dramatically like leather dress shoes or climbing shoes. The fit should feel secure rather than painfully tight when you first try them on.

Because of this, choosing the correct size from the start is still important. If a pair feels extremely tight in the shop, they are unlikely to stretch enough to become comfortable later.

Overall, the balance Village PM has created between structure and flexibility is one of the reasons the shoes have gained attention so quickly within the skateboarding community.