They were invented almost 40 years ago, but have never looked more modern. They're simple, but not space-age in fabrication or overly minimal design. They're instantly noticeable, but not in a way that demands your gaze. That's why Vans Sk8-Hi's are one of the more perfect sneakers ever created, and why they're the ones every guy needs in his life right now. Here are five more reasons to invest in a pair.
4 Reasons We Love Vans Sk8-Hi Sneakers
1. They’ve been around for 40 years: The age of social media has turned sneaker collecting into a game of “I Spy.” But instead of street signs, kids today are desperate to name which designer brands and limited releases make up their closets (and Instagram feeds). The Vans Sk8-Hi, however—originally named the Vans Style #38 back in 1978—has been around for so long that it transcends the hamster wheel of the sneaker game, meaning they'll look cool today, tomorrow, and basically forever.
2. Skate style is the new move in menswear: From the Dickies-inspired pants of Noah to the Thrasher-inspired graphics of Vetements, it’s clear that ‘90s-era skateboarders are a major source of inspiration in fashion right now. Vans' Sk8-Hi makes it easy to own a piece of the counterculture spirit, but because they've also been a street favorite for decades, you won't veer into poseur territory if you can't nollie.
3. They keep a low profile: A black canvas upper and grip-friendly honeycomb outsole mean the Sk8-Hi is built to last. (They are, after all, made for skateboarding.) Where so many high-top sneakers too often come with extra padding, double-stuffed soles, and outlandish colors, a pair of black Sk8-Hi's keeps things low-key. (Which helps explain why so many brands, from WTaps to Supreme, insist on making sneaks inspired by the Vans classic.)
4. A pair won’t break the bank: Even though they come fully loaded with style, history, and cool factor, Sk8-Hi's sell for just $65. In the current fashion climate, where $400 sneakers have been normalized (and that's on us, we know), it’s nice to achieve peak style for under $100.
The Bonus Pick! Vans Sk8-Hi Slim
Technically, the Sk8-Hi slim (pictured right) is a women's version of the Sk8-Hi, and one that only goes up to size 10 for men. But we here at GQ are about breaking down gender walls, not enforcing them. Also, they look awesome. The differences between the Sk8-Hi and Sk8-Hi Slim are minor—slightly lower profile, thinner laces, smaller honeycomb design on the sole—but add up to a welcome break from the norm. Plus, it looks more in proportion if you've got smaller feet or prefer your pants extra-slim.
$65
Three More Black High-Tops We Love
The Older-School Pick: Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star 1970s
You know about the Converse Chuck Taylors. They started out as basketball shoes (ankles be damned), then were one of the first sneakers to escape the courts for the sidewalks. But not everyone knows that Converse makes a 1970s-inspired version with higher-quality materials and sturdier construction. An extra $30 gets you a ticket to an era before sneakers became a 24/7 lifestyle and the chance to indulge in the most powerful force in fashion: nostalgia for “the good ol’ days.”
$85
The Obsessive Minimalist Pick: Common Projects Tournament High
Common Projects expectedly makes the perfect black high-top sneaker option for anyone who wishes he could live in an Apple store. No embellishments, details, logos, or fancy stitching. The Tournament High borrows its shape from the Converse Chuck Taylor but, like all Common Projects shoes, only truly exists in an idealized universe where style means anonymous luxury, apartments that come standard with Bauhaus-inspired furniture, and Instagram accounts that are fully loaded with 20,000 followers.
$415
The Neo-Retro Pick: Nonnative Student Trainer Hi
Yeah, they look exactly like the Chuck Taylors they’re based on. Same shape, same colors, similar sole, that stitching. But if #menswear has taught us anything, it’s to always look closer at a Japanese brand’s well-studied take on an iconic American garment (see: blue jeans). In the case of Nonnative's Student Trainer Hi, that means luxurious suede in place of canvas and a supple white leather lining. And they're on-trend enough to show up at your door “new” with a pre-distressed—but subtle—finish. The sneakers look less like they were run over by a car and more like you wore them for a couple months. They're perfect.
4 Reasons We Love Vans Sk8-Hi Sneakers
1. They’ve been around for 40 years: The age of social media has turned sneaker collecting into a game of “I Spy.” But instead of street signs, kids today are desperate to name which designer brands and limited releases make up their closets (and Instagram feeds). The Vans Sk8-Hi, however—originally named the Vans Style #38 back in 1978—has been around for so long that it transcends the hamster wheel of the sneaker game, meaning they'll look cool today, tomorrow, and basically forever.
2. Skate style is the new move in menswear: From the Dickies-inspired pants of Noah to the Thrasher-inspired graphics of Vetements, it’s clear that ‘90s-era skateboarders are a major source of inspiration in fashion right now. Vans' Sk8-Hi makes it easy to own a piece of the counterculture spirit, but because they've also been a street favorite for decades, you won't veer into poseur territory if you can't nollie.
3. They keep a low profile: A black canvas upper and grip-friendly honeycomb outsole mean the Sk8-Hi is built to last. (They are, after all, made for skateboarding.) Where so many high-top sneakers too often come with extra padding, double-stuffed soles, and outlandish colors, a pair of black Sk8-Hi's keeps things low-key. (Which helps explain why so many brands, from WTaps to Supreme, insist on making sneaks inspired by the Vans classic.)
4. A pair won’t break the bank: Even though they come fully loaded with style, history, and cool factor, Sk8-Hi's sell for just $65. In the current fashion climate, where $400 sneakers have been normalized (and that's on us, we know), it’s nice to achieve peak style for under $100.
The Bonus Pick! Vans Sk8-Hi Slim
Technically, the Sk8-Hi slim (pictured right) is a women's version of the Sk8-Hi, and one that only goes up to size 10 for men. But we here at GQ are about breaking down gender walls, not enforcing them. Also, they look awesome. The differences between the Sk8-Hi and Sk8-Hi Slim are minor—slightly lower profile, thinner laces, smaller honeycomb design on the sole—but add up to a welcome break from the norm. Plus, it looks more in proportion if you've got smaller feet or prefer your pants extra-slim.
$65
Three More Black High-Tops We Love
The Older-School Pick: Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star 1970s
You know about the Converse Chuck Taylors. They started out as basketball shoes (ankles be damned), then were one of the first sneakers to escape the courts for the sidewalks. But not everyone knows that Converse makes a 1970s-inspired version with higher-quality materials and sturdier construction. An extra $30 gets you a ticket to an era before sneakers became a 24/7 lifestyle and the chance to indulge in the most powerful force in fashion: nostalgia for “the good ol’ days.”
$85
The Obsessive Minimalist Pick: Common Projects Tournament High
Common Projects expectedly makes the perfect black high-top sneaker option for anyone who wishes he could live in an Apple store. No embellishments, details, logos, or fancy stitching. The Tournament High borrows its shape from the Converse Chuck Taylor but, like all Common Projects shoes, only truly exists in an idealized universe where style means anonymous luxury, apartments that come standard with Bauhaus-inspired furniture, and Instagram accounts that are fully loaded with 20,000 followers.
$415
The Neo-Retro Pick: Nonnative Student Trainer Hi
Yeah, they look exactly like the Chuck Taylors they’re based on. Same shape, same colors, similar sole, that stitching. But if #menswear has taught us anything, it’s to always look closer at a Japanese brand’s well-studied take on an iconic American garment (see: blue jeans). In the case of Nonnative's Student Trainer Hi, that means luxurious suede in place of canvas and a supple white leather lining. And they're on-trend enough to show up at your door “new” with a pre-distressed—but subtle—finish. The sneakers look less like they were run over by a car and more like you wore them for a couple months. They're perfect.
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