10 Best Vans Shoes in 2021

Vans shoes are among the most culturally-relevant brands of shoes available at the moment and can be seen all over the place on the feet of a wide range of different people. There are many different styles of Vans shoes available in 2021, but all of them feature the distinctive styles and components of the original classic Vans shoes, making them easy to recognize in a wide range of different situations.

The most popular Vans shoes are the classic skate shoes and casual Vans shoes, but there are more styles of Vans shoes available than ever before in 2021, ensuring that there’s something out there for everyone. Picking the right pair of Vans shoes for you can be tough, which is why we’ve put in the effort to do the research and testing in order to save you the time and work, simplifying the process of choosing the best Vans shoes as far as possible.

Below, you can find our best Vans shoes reviews 2021, in which we explain the most important features of each of our top 10 Vans shoes designs. We’ll break down some of the main things you should consider when buying Vans shoes, and answer some of the most common Vans shoes questions to help you feel confident in your knowledge about Vans shoes before you buy.

Related: Slip-on Shoes.

View the Best Vans Shoes, Below.

• Vans Classic Checkerboard Slip-On
• VANS Sk8-Hi Reissue Skate Shoes
• Vans Authentic Core Classic Sneakers
• VANS Sk8-Hi Casual High-Top Skate Shoes
• VANS Era Skate Shoes
• Vans Slip-on Classics
• Vans Kids’ Sk8-Hi Zip
• Vans Men’s Atwood Low-Top Sneakers
• Vans Old Skool Low-Top Trainers
• Vans Bearcat Skate Shoes

1. Vans Classic Checkerboard Slip-On

The Vans Classic Checkerboard Slip-On skate shoes are based on the design of the original Vans shoes; the Vans Classic Slip-On design that led to the enduring iconic nature of the Vans skate shoes brand. These simple slip-on skate shoes follow a stripped back construction with no added features, and their high-performance skate design and clean look have enabled these Vans skate shoes to endure for years without seeming visibly dated.

This particular model of Vans Classic Checkerboard Slip-On skate shoes features a slightly flashier look without compromising on that classic aesthetic, bringing a checkerboard pattern to the simple upper of the Vans shoes. These iconic Vans skate shoes are built with an extra thick sole made from waffle patterned rubber, providing a high level of comfort and stability for both skating and walking, as well as a stylish checkerboard patterned upper made from 100% canvas for a vibrant, stylish look that's easy to put on or remove at high speed for the ultimate in style and flexibility.

The Vans Classic Checkerboard Slip-On Vans Shoes take the design of the original Vans Classic Slip-On shoes and add some slightly more vibrant, exciting aesthetic elements for a somewhat flashier look that still follows all of the classic, iconic design cues.

2. VANS Sk8-Hi Reissue Skate Shoes

The Vans Sk8- Hi Reissue Skate Shoes are a legendary Vans shoes lace-up high top shoe design inspired by the Old Skool Vans shoe design for a style that is simultaneously classic and modern, with bright contrast stitching to highlight every panel of their construction and an authentic, classic build.

The high top ankle features a well-padded collar, offering a high level of comfort and support to keep your ankles comfortable and well protected when skating. The sole of these Vans shoes is thick and sturdy, built from the distinctive Vans shoe waffle pattern rubber construction for an instantly recognizable high performance skating sole.

Chunky and distinctive in design, the Vans Sk8 Mid Skate Shoes are stylish and instantly recognizable Vans shoes that offer a slightly flashier riff on the Old Skool Vans design.

3. Vans Authentic Core Classic Sneakers

The Vans Authentic Core Classic Sneakers are designed around the aesthetics of the authentic classic Vans shoes but bring a number of modern design and construction elements for a more comfortable and luxurious experience.

These low rise vans shoes feature a premium Ultracush padded footbed, offering a higher level of cushioning for the soles of your feet for added comfort and support for the vulnerable areas of your feet, keeping you comfortable and well protected at all times, while the thick waffle rubber sole beneath the footbed is springy and sturdy while still being flexible enough to offer a high level of feedback for your feet.

The distinctive Vans shoes waffle pattern gives a high level of grip for your board, keeping you stable and able to perform at your best at all times.

Combining classic, authentic Vans shoes style with additional padding for a higher level of comfort, the Vans Authentic Core Classic Sneakers promise exceptional cushioning and comfort without compromising on the distinctive style of classic Vans skate sneakers.

4. VANS Sk8-Hi Casual High-Top Skate Shoes

The Vans Sk8 Hi Casual High Top Skate Shoes are inspired by the Old Skool Vans shoe design, but larger, chunkier and more vibrant, combining to create a style that is simultaneously modern and old school, with the distinctive Vans shoes side stripe and bright contrast stitching to highlight every panel of their authentic, classic style construction.

The high top ankle of these Vans shoes features a well padded and durable cushioned collar, offering excellent ankle support as well as comfortable cushioning to keep your vulnerable ankles comfortable and well protected during intense skating sessions or simple casual activities. The sole of these old school high top Vans shoes is built from the distinctive extra thick Vans shoe waffle pattern rubber for a durable and distinctively recognizable high performance skating Vans shoes sole.

Combining the aesthetics of the classic Vans Old Skool skate shoes design with a more modern high top style for a slightly different look and a higher level of ankle support, the Vans Sk8 Hi Casual High Top Skate Shoes are an enduring and distinctive style of Vans shoes.

5. VANS Era Skate Shoes

The Vans Unisex Era Skate Shoes are understated, versatile Vans shoes designed to be an excellent choice for casual wear as well as for using as skate shoes, with a slimmer, cleaner and subtler style than the thick, chunky look of most Vans skate shoes. These Vans shoes are comfortable and supportive, with a padded ankle collar and a soft die-cut EVA foam insole for foot support and cushioning, as well as a soft cotton drill lining to keep your feet comfortable at all times.

The thick sole is cushioned and springy for a high rebound on each stride, while still being tough enough to withstand use for skating.

A little leaner and less chunky than many other models of Vans shoes, the Vans Unisex Era Skate Shoes are simple and understated Vans shoes that are appropriate for a broader range of situations than most Vans shoes available, making them a little more versatile.

6. Vans Slip-on Classics

The first style of Vans shoes on our list of the best Vans shoes in 2021 is also the first style of Vans shoes to be made. The Vans Slip-On Classics are the original Vans shoes; the design that launched an iconic and enduring brand of Vans skate shoes. These simple shoes are slip-on skate shoes with no added features, and their simple, high-performance design has enabled them to endure for years without looking dated in any way.

These clean, iconic shoes feature an extra thick waffle rubber sole for comfort and stability while skating or walking, and a 100% canvas slip-on upper available in a wide range of colors and patterns for a simple, stylish look that’s easy to slip on or take off at a moment’s notice.

The original style of Vans shoes, the Vans Slip-On Classics are the most straightforward and most stripped down Vans shoes available, still iconic and modern looking even after so many subsequent variations.

7. Vans Kids’ Sk8-Hi Zip

Comfortable and high quality in build and design, the Vans Kids Sk8 Hi Zip vans shoes for kids are well designed, stylish shoes that offer more than just scaled down Vans shoes design. These Vans shoes for kids feature a zip running down the back, allowing them to be easily slipped on and off without having to spend time wrestling with shoelaces on younger children, making these kids Vans shoes an excellent, accessible choice for younger kids.

The uppers of these high top kids skate shoes are built to follow classic Vans shoe style but are available in a wide range of bright, vibrant colors and patterns designed to appeal to kids, ensuring that everyone is happy with their choice of Vans shoes, both parents and children themselves.

Combining classic Vans skate shoe style with a number of helpful accessibility features for children, the Vans Kids Sk8 Hi Zip Vans shoes are a great way to ensure that kids can experience the classic, vibrant style of Vans shoes.

8. Vans Men’s Atwood Low-Top Sneakers

The low top design of the Vans Men’s Atwood Low Top Vans Sneakers keeps them lightweight and low profile for a smaller, more stripped down Vans style reminiscent of the original classic Vans shoe design. The low rise ankle collar is well padded for comfort and moderate support, as is the tongue of these Vans shoes, ensuring a high level of comfort when walking or skating at all times.

The double stitched nature of the durable canvas uppers of these Vans shoes is such that they promise a long lifespan, offering high performance for a long time and easily surviving heavy use. The Vans Men's Atwood Low Top Sneakers are an excellent choice for beginner skaters or anyone who just wants to wear these shoes for casual purposes for a stylish and distinctive Vans shoes look.

The Vans Men's Atwood Low Top Sneakers are well built and stylish Vans shoes with a slightly leaner and slicker style than some of the chunkier classic Vans shoe styles available in 2019.

9. Vans Old Skool Low-Top Trainers

Last but certainly not least on our list of the best Vans shoes in 2021 are the Vans Old Skool Low Top Trainers, a classic and stylish model of Vans shoes that offer a high level of support and comfort as well as a great look. These Vans shoes are the classic Vans skate shoes, the first design of Vans shoes to feature the now iconic stripe along the side.

The Vans Old Skool Low Top Trainers are low top, lace-up skate shoes with a comfortably padded ankle collar for support and protection while skating, as well as durable reinforced toe caps to ensure that these best Vans shoes survive for a long time even if worn for skating on a regular basis.

Classy and durable, the Vans Old Skool Low Top Trainers bring a high build quality and a few extra bits of flair to a classic, timeless design for a new twist on an old and beloved classic.

10. Vans Bearcat Skate Shoes

Designed to be a great entry level Vans shoes option for skating or for casual wear, the Vans Bearcat Skate Shoes are attractive, chunky lace-up Vans shoes for men with a more rugged style. Their durable, thickly seamed uppers are strong and rugged looking, while the thick, strong rubber soles feature extra thick grip elements to ensure a strong grip on any outdoor surface for a stress-free outdoor experience for you and your feet.

Built for comfort in all situations, these Vans shoes are equally suited for casual indoor wear and active outdoor wear, offering the same high level of padding and protection for all environments without compromising on style in any way. These are high quality, durable vans shoes that don't come with the premium price tag of some of the more popular classic Vans shoe styles, making them an excellent choice for many different types of users.

The Vans Bearcat Skate Shoes are more affordable than many other styles of Vans shoes, making them a great entry-level option for anyone who wants to experience classic Vans style without the premium price of some of the more popular models of Vans shoes.

Vans Shoes Buyer’s Guide

Materials

All Vans shoes are created with the same focus on durability and lightweight, strong materials. Almost all models of Vans shoes feature a canvas upper, but some models feature elements made from leather, suede or textiles for a slightly different look and reinforcement to certain vulnerable areas. Whichever material your choice of Vans shoes are constructed from, however, they all offer the same properties: high-quality construction, minimal weight, and impressive durability and protection.

The soles are also an important feature of Vans skate shoes, as all Vans shoes feature the same outsole but offer some variation around the insoles. The outsoles of all Vans shoes are made from the same distinctive Vans signature waffle cut rubber, giving a high level of strength and durability as well as a lightweight grip that keeps your feet firmly in place on a wide range of different surfaces. These sturdy rubber outsoles are made to absorb as much shock and impact as possible, keeping your feet comfortable and safe at all times.

The insoles feature more variation, however; some are relatively stripped down, with simple sock liners, while others feature supportive, shock-absorbing EVA foam footbeds or UltraCush HD padding for a more luxurious cushioning. Ultracush is thinner than EVA foam, providing a lightweight, premium cushion that molds to fit the shape of your foot.

In addition to this, some models feature removable footbeds, making them easy to clean separately, keeping your shoes smelling fresh and clean even after extended, intense usage.

How to Clean Vans Shoes?

The white areas around the edge of the soles of your Vans shoes can easily pick up dirt, scuff marks, and other blemishes, and cleaning them is essential if you want to keep your Vans shoes looking fresh and new. Fortunately, it’s easy to clean Vans shoes using only regular household cleaning products, quickly restoring your Vans shoes to perfect condition even later in their lifespan, and potentially also helping them to survive longer!

To start with, choose a shoe cleaning product. Any sort of bleach, acetone nail polish remover, magic eraser, or hydrogen peroxide solution should be fine. Then, you’re going to want to set up a protective cloth covering the floor of an area that’s either well ventilated or, ideally, outdoors. Cover the canvas areas of your Vans shoes with masking tape to prevent them from being stained and damaged by the bleach, and you’re ready to get started.

Using an old toothbrush or small shoe brush, massage your cleaning product of choice into the white strip around the sole of your Vans shoes, ensuring that you thoroughly work it into the crevices and any particularly discolored areas. After that, simply wipe down the sides of your Vans shoes with a piece of kitchen towel or a clean rag moistened in fresh, clean water to remove any bleach residue, and the white parts of your Vans skate shoes should look fresh and clean once more!

The canvas body of Vans shoes is even easier to clean, requiring only regular dish soap or detergent and warm water. Simply scrape off all the chunks of dirt you can from the canvas part of your Vans shoes, and then scrub them with a toothbrush or soft shoe brush dipped in soap and water solution until the dirt and stains are gone.

Then, give them a quick rinse in clean, warm water (but not hot, as this can cause damage to the canvas), and leave them outdoors to air dry. Ensure that you stuff your Vans shoes with clean towels to ensure that they don’t shrink or stain from watermarking, however!

Who Invented Vans Shoes?

Vans shoes were invented in 1966 by the brothers Paul Van Doren and Jim Van Doren, working with their business partners Gordon Lee and Serge Delia.

How to lace Vans Shoes?

If you’re determined to keep your Vans shoes looking fresh and new, you’re going to want to wash the laces occasionally, or even replace them if they start to wear out. The problem with that is that you’ll have to put them back into the shoes when you’re done, and if done wrong, that can look messy. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can follow to ensure that your Vans shoes are correctly laced every time.

Put both lace ends through the bottom two holes of your Vans shoes, pointing downwards, and ensure that an equal length sticks through for each lace. Then, push the left lace through the top of the next hole up on the right, so it crosses over the tongue. Do the same with the right lace, pushing it through the top of the next hole on the left, and repeat this pattern until the top of the shoes, pushing the laces through from the top every time.

Expert Tip by Elisa Lewittes

To ensure that your Vans are authentic, they’re a few inconsistencies to help you spot a counterfeit product. Some of these include a faux, painted-on rubber stripe on the outer sole, inconsistent stitching throughout (authentic Vans have smooth seams) and real items have waffle rubber bottom soles. Other common signs of fake products include unclear logos on the insole (they should be rectangular when facing upward) and the logo patch on the heel should be a true rectangle. Authentic Vans have a slimmer and ”low” toe that slants slightly upward and are very bendable.

Did you know?

While you might think of Vans as a brand that purely makes skate shoes, they have been consciously working to broaden their range of available styles. There are Vans shoes out there to suit every lifestyle now!