The 5 Best Vans Skate Shoes (Skated & Rated)

When most people think of skate shoes, Vans is the first brand that comes to mind. As one of the original skate shoe brands in the industry, Vans have defined the look and feel of many skate shoes today while continuing to create extremely comfortable skate shoes with great board feel.

I’ve owned and skated just about every pair of Vans you can think of over the last decade, and have a few that I still go to when I want a reliable skate shoe. What I love about this brand is how consistent their shoes feel to skate, with a flick that just feels right.

For beginners to advanced skaters alike, there is a Vans shoe for everyone. It’s just important you are buying the right pair of Vans with upgraded insoles and reinforced flick points; otherwise, your shoes will blow out in a couple sessions.

But don’t worry, I’ll share what makes certain Vans more durable and suited for skateboarding than others and which ones will be best for your feet later in this guide.

Now to make life easy, after years and years of wearing Vans to skate, here is a quick look at our top three picks:

Now let’s get into these shoes and a couple of other options more in depth below.

The 5 Best Vans Skate Shoes

5. Vans Slip-On Pro

The Vans Slip-On Pros are the highest rated on this list simply because their durability can’t be beat. A big factor in skate shoe durability is how easily the laces and seams rip. With a slip-on shoe, there are no laces, and with this shoe, no seams to rip around most high-wear areas. However, the reason it’s ranked at number 5 is that slip-on shoes are an acquired taste that not all skaters love.

The Pro version of these shoes has what’s known as Vans Duracap, which is a fancy way of saying the toe has rubber-backed suede. This drastically improves how long these shoes last before you rip a hole through the suede since the rubber will take some time to wear out after the suede. The second advantage of the Pro version of this shoe is the Popcush insoles which are noticeably more cushioned and have way better foot protection.

Since these are very low-profile shoes, they aren’t great for skating drops or stairs. Your feet will feel beat up in these if that’s what you skate. However, where these shoes shine is with technical tricks and flat ground since the board feel is unmatched. With less material between you and your board, flicking tricks feels a lot more precise in my experience.

These shoes fit a 1/2 size small, so going up a 1/2 size is a good idea. Just remember that all slip-on shoes are the definition of narrow, and anyone with wide feet will hate these.

---

4. Vans Sk8 Hi Pro

The Sk8 Hi’s are one of the best high-top skate shoes you can find and will make your feet feel a lot more protected than any low-top skate shoe. Although high-tops are certainly more restrictive and bulky, they do help a lot when a board runs into your ankle and make your feet feel more secure with the higher collar.

Since these are the Pro versions, these shoes once again have Durcap rubber reinforced suede around the toe, along with Popcush insoles that are super comfortable. These are vulcanized shoes, which means you get way more board feel than a cupsole, but less impact protection. For skating drops, these shoes aren’t the best, but technical and flat-ground skateboarding is these shoes’ strong suit. These are some of my favorite shoes for skating bowl since they feel more supportive, and the cushioned high-top ankle has saved me from a lot of pain.

These shoes are comparable to the Old Skool’s but in a high-top version. Since there is more material, they are noticeably heavier to skate in, but you get used to it after a couple of sessions. They fit true to size for most feet, but if you consider yourself a wider foot, going up 1/2 a size is the move.

---

3. Vans Old Skool Pro

The Old Skool Pro’s are the classic Vans skate shoes you are most likely to see at the skatepark or from non-skaters walking around. I’ve owned at least 5 pairs of these shoes, and they’ve been one of my go-to skate and everyday shoes since they’re comfortable, cheap, and feel great to skate in. They’re just not the most durable shoe you can find.

Like the other shoes you’ve learned about so far, these shoes also have Duracap rubber underlays around the suede toe. They also have Popcush insoles that make the Old Skool Pros way more comfortable than the Classic Old Skools. The side panel of these shoes is canvas in most models, but you can find some versions with all leather or all suede. They’re just a bit less common to find in stores.

These are vulcanized skate shoes with great board feel and have one of the best feeling flicks in the game. It’s a bit of an average shoe for the needs of advanced skaters, but since it’s reasonably priced, this is our top pick for any beginner skater. It has the usual Vans waffle tread pattern that’s super grippy but does wear out somewhat quickly when you skate a lot. Ultimately, these shoes won’t be the longest lasting, but they fit their role perfectly as a good all-around skate shoe.

The Vans Old Skool’s fit true to size and have a slightly wider toe box than some other Vans models. As someone who is narrow-footed, these fit great with a bit of room to spare, but someone with slightly wider feet could easily get away with these too.

---

2. Vans Gilbert Crockett

The Gilbert Crocketts are like a beefed-up Old Skool with a more narrow toe box and more suede around the entire shoe. This shoe is also a cupsole with Vans Wafflecup’s, making them far better in the impact protection department. Considering the low-profile style of the shoe, these are surprisingly durable and won’t easily blow out, no matter how many kickflips you throw at them. Despite a slightly different-shaped outsole, they still have a great flick that feels consistent with any other Vans skate shoe.

The unique part about these shoes is the fact the heel has that extra protection and padding of a cupsole, but the toe moves and flicks like a vulcanized shoe. Since most cupsole skate shoes tend to have less rubber around the toe, it gives them a less tacky flick in some cases. With the Gilbert Crocketts, that doesn’t seem to be the case with a vulcanized-like foxing tape around the toe that feels like a vulcanized flick.

These shoes are one of the more robust skate shoes Vans has, and they’re super comfy too. The cupsole will take some time to get used to if you’re coming from a vulcanized shoe, and there won’t be as much board feel. However, you gain major improvements in impact protection, and your feet feel less tired and bruised after a long session.

---

1. Vans Wayvee

The Wayvee is completely unique to other Vans since they have a translucent mesh material that makes them super breathable but not any less durable. This is another cupsole Vans shoe that is one of my favorites for skating and casual wear. It has insanely good impact protection with comfortable insoles, plus it has the usual Vans Duracap rubber underlay to reinforce the flick points.

Although you might think the mesh would blow out quickly, it holds up well even around the side panel, where it usually rubs when doing ollies. It also helps that there is a suede toe cap before the mesh around the toe, so you aren’t sliding against it with flick tricks. That added suede also helps this shoe to have a regular feeling flick since the main materials you’re flicking against are the suede and rubber you’re used to from other shoes.

These shoes do fit true to size, but the toe felt a little more squishy than normal from what I assume to be the extra suede around the toe. That last inch of the shoe where the mesh and suede meet do make your toes feel a little less free than if it were an all-mesh toe, but obviously that wouldn’t be an option. Regardless of that small gripe, these shoes are still insanely comfortable and are great technical skate shoes for intermediate to advanced skaters.

---

Are All Vans Skate Shoes Good For Skateboarding?

Most Vans shoes are great for skateboarding since they have a very flat sole that offers good board feel and grip while skateboarding. They are also quite affordable compared to other skate shoes brands, making them an easy option for skaters on a budget.

The only downside of Vans is that they don’t have many unique features about their shoes. Most shoes from Vans are pretty standard feeling without much rigidity making them a less aggressive skate shoe overall. However, that could also be seen as a bonus because you can guarantee the same feel and flick between different shoes as one pair wears out and you move on to another.

What’s The Difference Between Vans Classic & Vans Pro?

The difference between Vans Classics and Vans Pros is primarily in material, durability, and the insole. Vans Classics are typically an all canvas shoe with a less cushioned insole and no reinforcements to improve the shoe’s durability for skateboarding.

Vans Pros, on the other hand, are typically suede with rubber underlays around the toe to improve durability. Vans Pro shoes also have better insoles, known as Vans Popcush, which are noticeably more cushioned than the insoles in Vans Classics.

Overall, Vans Pros are far better for skateboarding and more comfortable to walk in. The only downside is that the Pro version of any Vans shoe will cost you a few more bucks than the Classics.

How Long Do Vans Last?

Vans aren’t the best or the worst skate shoes in terms of durability. If you are skating them multiple days a week, you can expect 1-2 months out of most Vans shoe models. However, the Wayvees tend to be a bit more durable, with a lifespan of around 2-3 months if you’re skating regularly.

Just keep in mind that these are estimates and not guarantees. Your shoes might last a lot longer or a lot less than this, depending on how often you skate and how you skate.

So Which Vans Skate Shoes Should You Buy?

Below is a list of all the skate shoes mentioned in this list to help you easily compare and see which is best for you:

Shoe	Specs	Our Rating	Where To Buy
	Vans Slip-On Pros	No seams or laces to rip Reinforced duracap suede Have a great board feel A snug-fitting low-profile skate shoe Fit 1/2 size small	Buy From VansFind At Tactics Boardshop
	Vans Wayvee	An extremely breathable cupsole skate shoe Holds shape and doesn't get floppy Great padding in the heel with a vulc-like toe Reinforced lace eyelets Fits true to size	Buy From VansFind At Tactics Boardshop
	Vans Gilbert Crockett	Great impact protection since it's a cupsole Durable toe thanks to duracap Super comfy popcush insoles Have great flick like all Vans skate shoes Fit true to size, but have a narrow toe box	Buy From VansFind At Tactics Boardshop
	Vans Sk8 Hi Pros	Good ankle protection Incredible board feel Rubber-backed suede around flick points Look great for skating and casual wear Fit true to size	Buy From VansFind At Tactics Boardshop
	Vans Old Skool Pro	A classic vulcanized skate shoe with great board feel Reinforced duracap suede toe and heel Look great for casual wear and skating Classic Vans waffle tread Are extremely comfortable Fit true to size	Buy From VansFind At Tactics Boardshop

My favorite Vans to skate in are the Wayvees, but they can be expensive. If price is of concern, I would recommend the Old Skool Pros or the Slip-On Pros since they’re the most affordable options.

Happy Shredding!