Vans Checkerboard Slip On

Looks: 

The checkerboard design is, of course, the first thing you notice about this shoe. The half-inch (1 cm) squares splattered on the vamp go from the toe all the way to the tongue. The pattern continues on the back of the shoe, with the motif also appearing on the heel cap. While the style is timeless and the main reason to purchase the shoe, it conceals a few additional aspects that can be overlooked.

To begin with, the top is cream and charcoal rather than white and black. This is a little startling when you first pull them out. When you picture a Vans checkerboard slip-on, all you see are two colors on the shoe. In actuality, both the bright and dark portions appear to have faded. However, once you've gotten used to the varied hues, you'll like them.

No canvas shoe will last very long if it is white (or black). In a few days, dirt and sun bleaching will affect the hue. Vans was able to get ahead of the game by using a cream and charcoal color palette.

The cream also runs down the center of the shoe. One panel goes down the collar and down around the heel counter, while another covers the gap between the front and back patterns. Between these two panels is a Vans tag, which is white with black writing. Charcoal panels are a little more uncommon, with only the vamp outline in this hue.

The red “Off the Wall” sticker on the rear of the shoe that attaches the tape is the only bright color on the sneaker. Van's distinctive waffle-sole design is included on the gum colored outsole, which completes the shoe.

Overall, the construction appears to be in good condition. There are a few inconsistencies in the stitching, particularly on the inside, but it holds up well against more costly shoes. The panels are well-aligned, and the checkerboard patterns appear to be consistent across the two shoes.

Fit & Comfort: 

According to Vans, all of their shoes are made on the same last. This implies that any Vans you purchase should fit like any other. This sneaker demonstrates that this is not the case.

The top of the slip on is significantly thinner than that of the Era or the Old Skool. While I wear a size 12 in these as I do in other Vans, it's just because they don't produce a size 12.5. If you have the option, I would recommend going up a half size, especially if you have broad feet.

It's quite common to make slip-on shoes significantly smaller than lace-ups. Often, a firm will do so in order to ensure that the shoe stays on the foot and does not fall out. Vans, on the other hand, should be upfront with their customers about the fact that it's constructed differently.

Vans aren't known for being very comfortable, and this shoe is no exception. The only genuine cushioning may come from an insole due to the way they're manufactured. Between you and the ground, there's nothing but hard rubber. Vans was unable to obtain a high-end insole for these shoes owing to the expense of the shoe.

Elastic straps on the rest of the shoe make it easy to put on and take off. These are ideal for putting by the door if you need to dash to the shop quickly. It's better than nothing, but the cushioned ankle isn't much. If I were shopping for a skate shoe, I'd go for something a little more cushioned.

Materials: 

The upper of the shoe is mostly made of a thick canvas. It's not "luxury" in any sense of the term, but it'll do for an inexpensive shoe. It's durable enough to outlive the outsole, yet light enough to be comfortable to walk about in. It also has a similar roll to Shell Cordovan, which sells for $700+ on comparable slip-ons.

Apart from the fabric tag, the white elastic straps are the only additional material on the outside of the top. While these are convenient for slipping on and off, they have a cheap feel about them. This is only an initial assessment, so we'll see how they hold up after some use, but they don't appear to be that durable.

The shoe's inside is made of a similar canvas, although it's considerably thinner. Though the shoe is lined from rear to front, it nevertheless gives 100 percent of the top structure. The shoe has a tiny amount of cushioning around the throat, between the upper and the internal lining. This isn't something to write home about, as I said in the comfort part. Overall, it's rather stiff. Personally, I think of this as a technique to improve the traction on your heel rather than padding your ankle.

A medium-strength heel counter is located immediately below the cushioning on your heel. It's most likely pressed cardboard, and it's a nice compromise between not enough support and a rigid casual shoe.

The insole is topped with the same thinner canvas material as the outsole. A pretty cheap-feeling open-celled insole sits just below that. The vulcanized rubber outsole takes it a step further by keeping you off the ground. This sort of rubber, while not especially pleasant, lasts a long time. In fact, rather than wearing out, the shoe usually fails when the adhesive that maintains it linked to the top fails.

The shoe is finished off with a rubber foxing tape that spans the whole circle of the shoe. This is connected to both the top and the outsole, and it serves to offer both structure and weather protection.

Ease Of Care:

While it's easy to overlook the material choices, they're not ideal in terms of maintenance. The canvas top quickly becomes filthy. Even though they're cream, they'll show a lot of dirt. This filth is made worse by the fact that the canvas Vans chose is nearly difficult to clean. Basic water and a cloth will accomplish practically nothing, and soap will remove the printed charcoal. You should truly embrace the worn-in look when it comes to the top.

The brilliant white of the midsole and elastic straps reveal dirt much more quickly elsewhere on the sneakers. Both of them, thankfully, are much easier to clean. With dirt and water, the midsole will remove the most of the discolouration, and there is no need to use soap. The elastic straps are very simple to clean, albeit a little difficult to reach.