What we like most about Focus Skateboard Shop is its sheer range of products and brands. You can easily find top brands like Nike SB, Bones, Alien Workshop, Independent, and Magenta, meaning you can get the whole setup—from decks, wheels, trucks, and bearings to clothing. 

To give customers a cool treat, they often release decks or collaborations exclusive to Focus, such as special projects like a series with Paul Banks. These sorts of drops make their offerings more unique and more appealing to collectors. 

And if you’re a beginner, we love that they offer deals like 15% off your first order when signing up, a thoughtful perk.

Shopping-wise, we appreciate that you have the option to browse or order online and pick up in store, helping you avoid shipping costs.  

You can also go for delivery, but note that they don’t ship to P.O. boxes. Still, the shop is in Old Town, just a few minutes’ walk from Waverly train station, making them incredibly accessible.

Really helpful

“2 guys that built my board today were top class. Really helpful in giving me freedom to choose my specs with their amazing advice. Super down to earth, awesome. Thanks!”

– Peter Fairbairn, Google Review

Brilliant staff

“Made an order online as I found a great deal. Brilliant staff who do their all to meet customer needs (Graham is a legend!). Will definitely order from here again and recommend locals to visit the store in person”

– Civan, Google Review

Route One Edinburgh has an impressive collection of niche and streetwear products. Besides your usual decks, trucks, wheels, bearings, and skate hardware, they also have skate shoes, streetwear, and accessories from brands like Vans, Butter Goods, and Nike SB.

With the variety they have, it can be a bit daunting for first-timers, or if you’re just buying a gift, that’s why we have to give their staff props for being helpful and informative with what you need. They walk you through their inventory, without pressuring you to buy something.

However, we did notice that they don’t have any explicit servicing for things like repairs or builds. They’ll help you with tips and guides, but complete board servicing might not be possible. 

On a positive note, we love to take advantage of the promotional deals and in-store offers they have. You can catch them with multi-buy deals like “3 for 2” on socks and bundled offers across tees, hoodies, jeans, and more. So, combining that with skate gear makes it more worth it. 

Great prices 

“Went to route one to buy my first skateboard, both Greg and Nic were both really nice, told me about some skateparks I could go practice at. great prices and gave me some free goodies along with my skateboard. Couldn’t recommend more 10/10”

– 50 50, Google Review

Top notch customer service

“After ordering a board on line as a Christmas present which was damaged in transit by the courier the staff and in particular the manager went the extra mile to ensure a replacement was found and delivered by christmas eve. Top notch customer service in this store. Also really good selection of clothing in store and nae bad tunes!”

– JP, Google Review

You might’ve heard of Decathlon and just think it’s just a general sporting goods shop, but it actually has a decent range of skating and longboarding inventory. They have skateboards, longboards, cruisers, skate parts, skate shoes, helmets, and protective gear. 

A major plus is that this shop is ideal for newcomers or beginners, since it offers affordable starter boards and complete setups that help you build confidence from the get-go.

The catch? Well, because they cater broadly to many sports, top-tier skate brands or pro-level specialty parts and limited edition drops may be more limited than a niche skate shop. If you’re a big skate collector, then you’ll probably have to look elsewhere. 

Here’s the silver lining: this place is basically a one-stop shop for any sport, including skateboarding. In other words, you can rely on them not only for parts, but also for repairs and upgrades for your board without needing to visit multiple stores. 

Great selection

“This is one of the few places my kids actually get excited to go! It’s not just for the great selection; they absolutely love being able to try out all the different tools and equipment. The hands-on experience makes shopping fun for them, which means I almost always end up buying more than I planned—and I never regret it. It’s so much easier to get them to this store than to any other place.”

– Sumrin Kaur, Google Review

Very helpful

“The sells person over here are great. They were very very helpful to make sure I get the best value for the money. Noel, Abigail they were lovely and very supporting with smile all the time. Love to come back here again.”

– Mahbub Hossain, Google Review

Sports Direct stands out for its brand variety and cross-category shopping. You can shop for skate gear alongside sportswear, trainers, and other athletic equipment, which is helpful if you want to start your skateboarding journey. 

It’s worth noting that their skate accessories section includes helmets, elbow and knee pads, gloves, spare wheels, and more. This is great for last-minute grabs, especially since their downtown branch on Princess Street is incredibly accessible.

They feature well-known names like No Fear, Airwalk, and Blazer Pro—skate brands that are known for durability and comfort. That said, we like how their range offers buyers dependable quality even at accessible price points. 

On the flipside, you’ll have to pay for delivery fees, and if you order online and opt for the Click & Collect service, you’ll still have to pay around £4.99 to have the product delivered to the store (which sounds kind of redundant). 

But hey, since they’re relatively a large retailer, they often run sales or have discount pricing on skate gear and shoes, making it a budget-friendly option.

Affordable prices 

“A great variety of sporting goods at affordable prices”

– Mohamed Elghamrawy, Google Review

Great shop

“Great shop for all kinds of shoes and sports equipments. Brands and models from Nike, Adidas, Karrimor, Skechers, Reebok, and so on. You need time to get what you look for as there are many items in the store. It can be very busy on weekends. Price is very reasonable, some items are on sale. Recommended.”

– Niko Goodfellow, Google Review