Vans’ Legendary ’70s Sneaker Gets a Formidable Outdoor-Inspired Reissue

The Vans Old Skool is not the brand’s first shoe. That distinction is owed to the Authentic. It’s not even the SoCal outfit’s first skate shoe (that would be the Era).

However, there’s a strong argument to be made that it is, in fact, the most iconic sneaker Vans has ever released (and it’s definitely in the top four).

That said, I’m willing to bet you’ve never seen a version of this legendary footwear quite like the formidable, hiking-inspired Vans OTW Old Skool 36 Knot Vibram.

Vans

(Way) off the wall

Overall, the silhouette of this Southern California sneaker icon remains true to its history. This isn’t a completely major departure. That said, even a casual sneakerhead will notice some differences.

That starts with the iconic side strip. For the record, the Old Skool is the first shoe in Vans catalog to feature this signature design element (in fact, it was a doodle originally scribbled by the brand’s founder, Paul Van Doren).

Vans

But this one takes a wholly unique approach, weaving a cord (suede on one colorway and paracord on the other) through this signature element. That cord also weaves through the toe and heel reinforcements, tying it all together (so to speak).

Beyond that, the shoe is pretty stylistically in line with its siblings, which is a good thing. Anything too different and it would lose what makes an Old Skool an Old Skool.

That said, there are other elements that aren’t immediately noticeable that further elevate this interpretation.

Vans

Outdoor sole (and soul)

The classic Old Skool upper is typically made from a standard cotton canvas and suede (with leather making up the side stripe). This edition takes that concept and doubles down on formidability.

The main upper canvas is swapped for a heavy-duty alternative. And the toe, heel and eyelet reinforcements are the same leather as the side stripe. This combination makes the shoe a lot more robust than it might otherwise be. But it’s the underside that gets top marks.

Vans

Instead of a classic vulcanized sole with a waffle pattern, as is typical with the Old Skool (and Vans in general), this OTW edition gets a far more rugged Vibram outsole with a tank tread. Vibram, for the record, is a performance rubber originally designed for mountaineering.

While I wouldn’t call these hikers, the Vibram outsole does means they’re more stable, even on uneven or soggy terrain. And that’s a nice little performance and precision bonus you wouldn’t otherwise expect.

Vans

Availability and pricing

The Vans OTW Old Skool 36 Knot Vibram launches today, May 21, in two colorways for $160 per pair. Sign up on the landing page to be notified the minute it becomes available (unless it has already dropped by the time you see this).

Vans

Vans OTW Old Skool 36 Knot Vibram

• $160 at Vans

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