Vans Shoes – Skate Shoes – A mark of Skateboarding Community

Vans shoes was founded by Paul Van Doren with a simple idea; to make shoes for man & women and sell them directly to the public instead of using a middleman. Paul moved west to Southern California with his partners, Jim Van Doren, Gordy Lee and Serge D'Elia.

March 15, 1966, when the first Vans shoe store opened in Anaheim, California. They offered three styles of vans shoes on that first day, but had only made display shoes. The racks on the wall were stacked with empty boxes to help make it look like a shoe store.

Twelve customers came into the Vans store for man & women that morning and picked out the style and color of shoes they wanted. But they didn't have any shoes in stock so Paul and Gordy asked the customers to come back in the afternoon to pick up their shoes. They rushed back to the factory and made the shoes. When the customers returned in the afternoon to pick up their shoes, they needed change for their purchases. Paul and Gordy hadn't thought of this and didn't have any change available. So, they just gave them the shoes and asked them to come back the next day to pay for them. All 12 customers showed up the following day to pay for their shoes. The first Vans old skool shoes had a diamond pattern in the sole across the entire bottom of the shoe. Vertical lines were then added later to make it stronger, a design which is now vans  proprietary waffle sole.

In 1976, skateboarders and skaters began wearing Vans shoes and asked to have different colors combined on them. In march 19, 1976, Vans came out with the first Era in red and blue vans authentic shoe. This shoe was designed by two professional skaters, Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta. The Vans footwear collection now features over 60 styles ranging from classic deck shoes and slip-ons to high performance skateboard shoes, snowboard boots and sandals.

They are distributed through over 190 company-owned retail stores and outlets as well as through a nationwide network of independent shoe, sporting goods and apparel stores.

On February 16, 1988, the original owners sold Vans to McCown DeLeeuw Co., an investment banking firm. Vans expanded and gained recognition across the nation and around the world. Vans later made public offering of Vans stock, and the stock is now traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Vans expanded manufacturing overseas in 1994 in order to produce specialized footwear incapable of being made in the United States. The Vans footwear collection now features over 60 styles, ranging from classic deck shoes and slip-ons to high performance skateboard shoes, snowboard boots and sandals.

Top Shoe brands include Jordan Shoes , DC, Vans, Puma, Adidas, Converse, Gucci, Prada Available here at Kuvuk.com. Shoes come in unique designs and color and are trendy styled with intricate detailing.

What Things to Look For When Buying New Vans Skate Shoes

1) FIT: You want to get the very best fit possible when buying yourself a new pair of skate shoes . The best time for shoe shopping is at night because your feet actually swell during the day (or after a good skate session) due to heat. For size you need about 1/2 inch between the big toe and the end of the shoe. Also make sure the heel of your foot rests comfortably at the back of the shoe.

2) GRIP: A pattered sole give you a sure grip on your board. Brands like DC and Vans have excellent grip on their soles. The last thing any skater wants is slippery feet when skating. So make sure whatever shoe you go with it has an excellent grip and pattered sole.

3) FLEX: You need a durable shoe that is also lightweight and provides a really great flex. Brands like Adio have special "Flex grooves" which give you maximum flexibility while maintaining total comfort. Flex is very important. Who wants to feel like they are wearing ridged hard shoes when skating? Not us.

4) DURABILITY: If you spend alot of time skating then you are going to need a tough skate shoe. One that will stand up to punishment from your board and from the street! Look for leather sides for good wear and tear, a rubber toe and even lace protectors. All will add to the life of your shoes. Some shoes now feature internal "lace hiders" which keep them totally out of the way. Nobody wants to deal with unruly laces while skating. Also look for a thick and durable sole.

5) STYLE: You got to love them if you're going to skate in them every day! So be sure to grab something that you think looks cool and fits your style. At the end of the day functionality is important but if you don't love how they look on you then chances is they will see more dust then skate parks. With such a mind blowing selection of skate shoes out today finding something to meet your skating and style needs has never been easier. Follow our tips and you will do just fine. 5 Things To Look For When Buying New Skate Shoes