Vans Just Proved Yet Again That It’s a Major Player in Technical Trail Shoes

Technical materials and classic skate style collide in the brand’s most capable hiker to date.

Close-up of the heel area of a sneaker featuring a light green upper with visible stitching, a black sole, and a suede overlay with the word "GORE-TEX" printed on it. The inner lining has a black and white striped pattern.

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By Hayley Helms

Published September 24, 2025

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Updated September 24, 2025

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Vans makes skate shoes. But guess what? The brand makes trail shoes too, and its latest looks like the most technical silhouette to date.

The new Crosspath XC Gore-Tex is big. It’s bold. You could even go so far as to call it beautiful. But it’s not just a pretty face. There’s some serious muscle powering the overall design.

Vans’ tough new trail shoe manages to maintain its skate DNA while bringing in trail-ready components.

Vans

The Crosspath was first released in October 2024 as part of the brand’s 2024 fall and winter collection. It included the classic Vans Sidestripe and Off the Wall heel tab, and it married those elements with technical components.

The 2025 update sees Vans taking things up a notch, deploying technical heavy-hitters like Gore-Tex and Vibram.

Trail steez

The Crosspath XC Gore-Tex features an upper built with Gore-Tex Invisible Fit technology, where the Gore-Tex membrane is directly bonded to the upper, resulting lightweight, flexible and durable waterproofing that maintains the fit of the shoe.

Close-up of the front part of a sneaker featuring a textured black rubber sole with a rugged tread pattern. The upper part includes a light green grid-patterned fabric with black and light green suede overlays. Black laces are threaded through black fabric loops. — The reinforced toecap is practically begging to hit the trails.

The updated tread pattern on the Crosspath is ready to handle your next hike, or slick city streets.

Vans

RapidWeld enforcement has been added in critical areas, enhancing the Crosspath’s ability to handle tough trails.

The Vibram XS Trek Evo outsole, which features a new tread profile, adds enhanced multi-surface, responsive traction, making the Crosspath even more capable than before.

Same-same, but different

The Crosspath maintains much of its original DNA, including Vans’s proprietary UltraCush foam, easy-on pull tabs and of course, that skate-influenced styling. And don’t forget that iconic sidestripe!

Close-up of a green and black sneaker featuring Gore-Tex material. The shoe has a textured fabric upper with suede overlays, black laces, and a pull tab on the tongue with the Vans and DC logos. The interior lining is black with light green patterns and the word "GORE" visible. The midsole is black with a translucent section. — Easy-on pull-tabs are a classic for Vans.

Intended for daily wear, unexpected weather and light outdoor activities, I can see this being my go-to shoe for fall travel: it has just the right amount of tech, protection and style to manage spontaneous hikes, foul weather and everything in-between.

Availability and pricing

The 2025 Vans Crosspath XC Gore-Tex is available now on the brand’s official website in three new colorways: “Blackout,” “Dusty Olive Blue” and white.

Vans

Vans Crosspath XC GORE-TEX Shoe

$180 at Vans

About the Author: Hayley Helms is an associate editor at Gear Patrol specializing in outdoor gear. Once upon a time, she wrote for Men’s Journal, Gearjunkie and Shape. Whether it’s testing a new rain shell or putting a pair of hiking boots through its paces, she leaves no stone unturned (however, she always Leaves No Trace).

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