You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I've just binned a few pairs due to holes in the canvas uppers and worn linings.
Chukka boots are the shortest lived, the heel lining seems to wear after a few years.
Classics seem the longest lived - generally walk 10 miles a day in work, the last two pairs have done nearly 3000 miles each and the leather ones are still going. Only binned the canvas ones because the uppers have gone.
In contrast, I love my Adidas, but Samba only last six months and my one year old Superstar look like I found them on the hard shoulder.
At 20 quid a pair online, I can't fault Vans.
They last longer than most marriages.
Where are you finding them for 20 quid?!
TK Maxx (usually about £25) and Offspring online.
Keep an eye on the Vans website too, usually two sales per year, one in Winter and one in Summer, exact times can vary. 🙂
Never buy at full price, always end of line stuff available somewhere online.
The Pro versions last a bit longer and are more comfortable, but you don't usually see them under £25.00. Plenty under £30 if you shop around.
I've pretty much kicked the habit, down to six pairs now. 😀
How strange, I got a pair of Vans a couple of years ago, they were relagated to gardening trainers after about 6 months and had had the soles superglued together before that. My current Adidas Jeans are gong to make 18 months, despite being one of two pairs of shoes I wear outside cycling. My sneaks get a bloody hard life.
Have many pairs. Usually the stench of my feet kills them long before the shoe falls apart. I get about 5 years out of each one. Current favourites are the winterised ones: fleece lined, waterproof and inverted waffle sole, ideal for my lifestyle.
As above regularly have them in stock.
Ideally I’d have airwalk ones. But the repos are so expensive.
My converse boots are going strong after 18 months of solid use. Impressed with them.
Daughters leather vans look good still after 6 months. She’s a typical teen who shuffled as she walks, walks with a permanent sulk to make her look cool, but the vans have held up well to that. She’s actually very athletic, hers get used for mucking about on go ape, summer mountain biking and general shuffling around. They cost about £70 so be good to know if anyone knows of any sales. Want a pair for myself. Bouts though not the sneaker style.
I've got 4 pairs of Sk8 hi's.
Van Halen editions are 15 years old, but have split down the back.
2 pairs of Pro Sk8's, a lot better built than regular Sk8 hi's.
The best are Sk8 hi MTE's in cordura. So comfortable to wear day in, day out where my feet would start to hurt in regular Sk8's. Looking for another pair, but they're little hard to find.
I bought some at Christmas, they’re pretty much ready for the bin now.
I have worn them to death, but they seemed to take an age to be comfy, then we’re comfy for a week then we’re on their way out.
I normally get a year out of a pair of daily wearers, I tend to just get a pair I like and wear them all the time.
Amazon often have Vans for £15 as for them lasting i normally get 18 months before i bin them.
Bought a pair last year and the sole has already started coming away. I also found them cripplingly uncomfortable. Like I’d just strapped some ill fitting rubber to the soles of my feet
they cant make em like they used to then, ive got a pair that must be coming on for 30 years old. soles wearing a bit now, but the quality is spot on.....
Forever, basically. I got a set of Bricks when I was at uni and wore them for years, then retired them to bike use, and got a set of TNT and those lasted another 5 years or so, then I got a set of... I dunno, Rowleys maybe, but I didn't like them so I kept on wearing the TNTs and they refuse to die.
Skate shoes in general don't last like they did. Vans no exception imo. I used to get about 18 months - 2years from a pair. Worn every day walking load and riding. Now I am lucky to get 18 months and they are only warn part time with others for riding.
I never found they lasted that long, Airwalk and Converse were head and shoulders better in my youth. I bought some Vans in a nice red colour the year before last which were knackered after 3-4 months.
I stopped buying them years ago as they just seemed to fall apart in no time.
Best ones I've had were Adidas Superstars. Had those for five years.
I like Onitsuka Tigers, but they disintegrated in a matter of months.
My heels trash everything after a couple of months.
My 3 year old is on his 3rd pair this year, seem to last my 8 year old about 6-8 months, do get worn a lot though. As for 50 year old me I currently have 4 pairs, oldest of which must be 3 years old.
Tbh not noticed any drop in quality since I got my 1st pair in 84
@northwind I had a pair of Rowley XLT2s, probably my favourite skate shoes ever. Currently got a pair of generic Vans for pottering around in, on New Balance for actually skating now.
My ultrarange rapidweld vans, along with being the most comfortable shoes i've ever worn, have lasted a good 18 months and are just starting to get a small hole in the top. I bloody love them and I never want to wear another shoe.
Yup, the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn.
Suit a wide foot with a high arch.
Converse cripple me, too flat and narrow.
Soles falling off? Mine separate from the canvas at the crease point but I've never had a sole actually come away from the shoe.
Anyone wear Half Cabs? Tempted to try a pair but they all seem to be a bit spendy and I'm worried the heel lining will go like Chukkas do.
Bedfords were the ultimate for me, but they don't make the simple canvas ones atm.
I wonder if an American company ever realised that Bedford Vans might have another meaning on this side if the pond? 🙂
Rusty. Got a pair of half cabs, about 2 years old uppers fine, soles a bit worn but yes the heel liner is worn through from bottom of heal to about half way up shoe. Sorry don’t know how to post pics.
I got some Gilbert Crockett Pro II's and the soles are barely worn, but the canvas tops have splits on both sides. TBH, my first pair, and I don't feel I got that much use out of them. Have to go up half a size, as they're not really wide enough at the ball of the foot and hence the toes feel cramped. The Crocketts were comfy enough but not enough support for the arch to be truly comfy. In all, they feel like a cheap, imported trainer.