There are several classic shoes that can trace much of what makes them popular back to a single pop culture moment. Harrison Ford picking his old Alden 405s (now called the “Indys” in his honor) instead of the Red Wings on Raiders of the Lost Ark. Keanu Reeves choosing the Torsion Artillery Hi to match Bill & Ted’s attitude. All of those shoes are priced to match their celebrity status, but there is one classic that you can pick up for less than the price of getting Chinese delivered – The Vans Checkerboard Slip-Ons.
The Vans Old Skool, originally known as the #36, is one of those classic shoes that everyone has probably owned at some point. One of the later designs from Van’s classic line, the shoe took what worked from previous skate shoes they have made – the padded collar, the thin sole, etc. – and added the leather strips on the side for additional wear protection.