Why We Exist

Urbann Boards History

A brand created by a musician, for musicians

Urbann Boards was born from the fusion of two passions: music and footwear design.

The brand was founded in 2004 by Brazilian musician and designer Rodrigo Castilhos, with a clear mission: to solve a real problem that drummers have faced for decades — there were no shoes truly designed for playing drums.

The idea came directly from live performance experience. Many drummers played in socks or even barefoot because traditional sneakers have thick soles, low sensitivity, and excessive grip on the pedal — factors that reduce precision and speed.

From this need, the core concept of Urbann Boards was born:

to create the world’s first shoe specifically designed for drummers.

The Origin of the Concept

As a musician, Rodrigo Castilhos once saw his band’s drummer changing shoes before a rehearsal — and that was the lightbulb moment.

From that point on, he began researching and heard countless complaints from drummers about:

heavy and rigid shoes
thick soles that reduce pedal sensitivity
lack of control and proper grip
discomfort and excessive foot sweat

Realizing that drummers were trying to adapt shoes made for other activities, one question sparked the creation of the brand:

“Why not create a shoe designed from the ground up for drummer performance?”

And so, Urbann Boards was born.

Innovation in Musical Performance

From the beginning, the brand stood out by developing technologies specifically for drumming.

Urbann Boards footwear is engineered to provide:

extreme lightness
enhanced pedal sensitivity
natural foot movement
breathability
precise balance between glide and grip
comfort
durability

The outsole is made of natural rubber with exclusive thickness, design, and formulation, allowing drummers to feel the pedal with precision without sacrificing protection and stability.

Although originally designed for drummers, the shoes are also suitable for everyday use due to their high wear resistance.

In addition, the brand incorporates several exclusive technologies, such as:

drummer-specific ergonomics
high-absorption insoles with perforated materials
ventilation system to reduce sweating
Smart Heel: a specially curved heel to facilitate fast pedal movements
lightweight and flexible materials that reduce muscle fatigue
nanotechnology applied to lining and insoles for moisture absorption and dissipation
anti-odor technology and release of natural essence to promote foot muscle relaxation

Worldwide Recognition

As the brand grew, Urbann Boards began to be adopted by some of the world’s top drummers.

Among the artists who have used or had signature models with the brand are:

Neil Peart (Rush)
Virgil Donati
Dennis Chambers
Aquiles Priester

These musicians contributed to the development of models tailored to their performance needs.

The legendary drummer Neil Peart, widely regarded as one of the greatest in rock history, used Urbann Boards footwear during his tours.

A Brand Born from Music Culture

Unlike many footwear brands, Urbann Boards was born within the music scene.

The brand grew through:

drum clinics
music tours
music events and trade shows
online drummer communities

This organic growth created a strong connection between the brand and the music community.

The Purpose of Urbann Boards

More than just producing footwear, Urbann Boards was built with a clear purpose:

to give musicians the right tools to achieve their highest performance.

The brand believes that just as drums, pedals, and drumsticks are specifically designed for musicians, footwear should be too.