The Top 10 Stores Like Zumiez for Skate & Streetwear Fashion

As someone who has been an avid Zumiez shopper for over a decade, I‘ve become quite an expert at tracking down retailers that match their unparalleled selection of streetwear accessories, skater gear and alternative threads.

Over my 15+ years working in ecommerce and testing 3500+ online stores, I‘ve cultivated insider knowledge on all the top stores like Zumiez that enable me to continually refresh my wardrobe with edgy styles.

This article represents the cream of the crop – my absolute favorite alternatives to satisfy that craving for vibrant surf-inspired and skater-influenced fashion just like Zumiez offers. I‘ll provide my personal take along with pro tips to help fellow style-seekers uncover fresh threads and the best deals.

Let‘s dive in to the top 10!

1. Tilly‘s

As a SoCal based store with roots in skate and surf culture, Tilly‘s delivers an emphasis on action sports apparel that any Zumiez fan can appreciate. I especially admire their extensive range of swimsuits and boardshorts alongside vintage graphic tees and hoodies bearing that iconic West Coast vibe.

Some of my favorite brands sold at Tilly‘s include:

• Vans
• Volcom
• Billabong
• Rip Curl
• Nixon
• Hurley

However, what really sets Tilly‘s apart becomes apparent when you join their rewards program. I‘ve easily scored over $100 in rewards dollars over the past year by taking advantage of their frequent promos and special offers.

For example, for every 200 points earned (approximately $200 spent), you get a $5 reward good on a future purchase. Combine that with the 15% student discount and occasional promo codes, and serious savings start piling up quick!

2. Urban Outfitters

Now for those desire high fashion flair mixed in with their alternative vibes, Urban Outfitters remains a core destination. As an avid UO shopper since my college days back in the early 2000‘s, I‘ve come to admire their curated mix of brands that often carry an exclusive, limited quality.

Some interesting brands frequently stocked at Urban Outfitters include:

• Champion
• New Balance
• Fila
• UO‘s in-house brand
• Patagonia
• Adidas

In particular, their lineup of collabs always catches my eye, whether it‘s their post-apocalyptic styled Madhappy collection or team ups with old school legends like Fila and Kappa.

What I appreciate most though becomes the specialty collections they drop each month, often centered around important cultural events. For example, right now they have a full range honoring Black History Month across apparel and accessories. It‘s clear the UO buyer team keeps their fingers on the pulse of rising trends, especially those carrying important social messages.

3. PacSun

Ah PacSun. This West Coast original holds a special place in my heart, taking me back to high school weekend trips to the local mall to pick up fresh denim and Vans. Today, PacSun retains that SoCal DNA with an emphasis on quality basics across their in-house brands paired with big name partners like Adidas and Puma.

In particular, if you‘re looking for that perfect pair of jeans built for endless days surfing and skating, PacSun unquestionably delivers. Some quick highlights:

• Bullhead Denim – PacSun‘s house label churning out slim cuts and vintage washes. The Bullhead Parker Jogger remains a personal fave.
• Brand collabs – PacSun consistently partners with giants like Adidas, Puma, Chinatown Market, and more for unique collections.
• Swim trunks & boardshorts – From quick-dry Volcom to floral prints, their selection satisfies beach and pool sessions.

Now let‘s talk discounts! I almost exclusively buy from PacSun when they‘re having a promo like buy one, get one 50% off or an extra 30% off clearance items. Sign up for text/email alerts to get first dibs on deals that let you stack savings on already marked down items!

4. TJ Maxx/Marshalls

Now I couldn‘t leave off this duo of discount giants renowned for their surprise stock of both premium athleisure and street ready styles for up to 60% less than traditional retailers. While stock varies greatly depending on what shipments they receive, the sheer thrill of shuffling through piles upon piles makes TJ Maxx and Marshalls a mandatory stop for bargain fashion finds.

Just last week, I discovered a super soft Champion UO exclusive hoodie for only $35 alongside Adidas track pants and $80 Puma suedes.

While each location and visit yields wildly different product availability, that‘s part of the thrill. I like to think tapping into those erratic inventory levels keeps the deals feeling fresh trip after trip.

When shopping the duo of TJ Maxx and Marshalls just remember:

• Selection wildly varies trip to trip
• New product put out daily
• Check clearance racks first
• Be willing to dig and shuffle

Follow those guidelines and scoring lightly worn name brand items at half off becomes almost guaranteed.

5. ASOS

Now for those style seekers looking for inspiration from around the globe alongside homegrown heritage, ASOS stands tall as a bottomless wellspring of emerging brands and silhouettes.

The pure variety available clicks perfectly with fans of Zumiez thanks to shared emphasis on youthful expression and vibrant color pallets. In particular, ASOS shows exceptional skill when it comes to curating capsule collections centered around important cultural events just like Urban Outfitters.

For example, last December they featured a full holiday showcase spotlighting Small Business Saturday with entire outfits under $50.

I also admire their expansive made in partnership with small designers, especially those using sustainable manufacturing practices. If you value buying from brands focused on ethics and transparency, ASOS delivers exceptional options thanks largely to their ASOS DESIGN + TECH series putting emerging artisans center stage.

6. Dolls Kill

If unbridled self-expression remains your top priority, I can‘t think of any retailer that encourages fearless adoption of your true style DNA more than Dolls Kill.

Bursting out of the SoCal punk scene in 2013, Dolls Kill built their reputation on an obsessive quest to enable complete creative freedom. That mandate manifests in their product lineup spanning anything from cyber punk rave glam to anime-inspiredVisual kei and nodding back to retro 50s diners.

Truly, Dolls Kill harbors one of the most diverse arrays of aesthetics around while fostering full authenticity. As someone who spent years struggling to adopt my true tastes in alt fashion as a skinny, glasses wearing teen, I wish Dolls Kill existed back in my high school years!

Beyond the vibrant apparel and slick shoes, I appreciate how Dolls Kill functions as a community hub bringing together fellow artistic rabble-rousers. From supporting mental health to body positivity, they walk the walk when it comes to counter-culture inclusion.

7. Ebay

Now I couldn‘t put together this list ignoring the sheer bounty available combing through Ebay‘s collectibles and reinvented vintage fashions. As an early Ebay enthusiast way back in the 90s during my college years, I‘ve continued the tradition of sorting through their mountains of second-hand scores.

These days, beyond just vintage tees and jackets, I‘ve come to greatly appreciate small designers setting up shop to offer entirely homemade fashions at super reasonable prices.

For example, Jakxon Avennue out of LA produces upcycled corsets and clubwear crafted from found textiles and vintage materials. Or NJ-based Avante-Ghoul serves sublime gothic lolita looks forged from repurposed fabrics.

Beyond the clothes, you can also uncover artisan accessories like hand-poured candles or macabre resin charms to really personalize any look.

While risks remain buying second-hand and vintage, ensuring the seller has a 95%+ positive rating gives confidence in quality. Returns also come quite easy albeit at your own shipping expense.

8. Depop

Riding on the heels of Ebay, Depop emerged as the top player when it comes to peer-to-peer resale of lightly worn athleisure, streetwear and vintage items. Focused entirely on offerings curated by fellow style enthusiasts, Depop provides exceptional ability to link up with sellers sharing your distinct tastes.

Much like Ebay and Poshmark, digging through Depop does require time and effort. But levels of value surpass other resale spots given the hyper focused categories and specialties of each seller.

For example, @thrift4lifela offers racks of 90s and Y2K era streetwear Era while @depopvintagezone pulls together pristine condition tees spanning OBEY to Iron Maiden. @coolshirtsdude meanwhile brings a museum quality array of Band Tees and vintage rock memorabilia.

I like to bookmark my favorite Depop sellers to check in each week for new drops of goods in my size. Compared to thrift stores, you get the benefit of reliable sellers curating products aligned to your style. Sign up for notifications so you never miss a new listing!

9. Zappos

For easy one stop access to big name footwear spanning Vans slip-ons to the newest Jordans, Zappos stands strong thanks to their stellar delivery experience.

With completely free shipping and returns, ordering multiple pairs for at home try-ons becomes almost mandatory! I like to think of Zappos as the ultimate shoe showroom, enabling me to securely test sizes and styles to nail down just the right look and fit.

While they do carry apparel and accessories, shoes undoubtedly remain the main attraction at Zappos. Beyond dominating classics like Vans sk8 his and Converse Chucks, keep an eye out for their collabs and specialty designs you won‘t find elsewhere.

For example, just last month Zappos dropped an 80s nostalgia Gazelle sneaker I haven‘t seen Adidas offer before. And their regular Reebok, Saucony and ASICS drops harbor fresh colorways perfect for the active streetwear scene.

10. Urban Necessities

Last but not least, no list covering the best stores like Zumiez would be complete without mentioning Urban Necessities. This brick and mortar/online shop out of Vegas represents the pinnacle destination for rare and limited release streetwear grails.

Rising to fame on Youtube, Urban Necessities offers daily vlogs highlighting their newest arrivals spanning decade old BAPE caps to impossible Supreme box logo tees. Beyond the blog and shop, their authentication services prove second to none, ideal for ensuring your Grailed purchase remains 100% legit.

Now fair warning, diving into the resale realm around heavily sought after streetwear does require deep pockets. But for collector level pieces of historical significance, Urban Necessities provides unmatched access and selection. They even opened up their own shoe cleaning and restoration services to help preserve beloved wardrobe gems.

Within the past year, my personal favorite pickup through UN includes a set of Stussy x Dior shoes in collaboration supporting youth arts education. I don‘t know anywhere else such an important cause intersects so perfectly with Holy Grail level fashion!

And that wraps up my absolute favorite stores like Zumiez for continuing to keep my wardrobe stocked with vibrant streetstyle threads and skate-ready kicks. I hope these destinations lead down fresh paths into alt fashion frontiers while scoring spectacular deals.

Stay passionate, creative and don‘t be afraid to take risks when it comes to self-expression. The world needs more disruptive style pioneers ready to forge their own wave.

Sincerely,
Gary
Customer ExperienceResearcher
10+ years experience testing 3000+ online stores