Verdict from 100+ user reviews
9 reasons to buy
- The sneaker would literally go with anything. It has a great color that matches any article of clothing that you wouldn't think of.
- Many users loved the super original checkerboard design.
- A lot of wearers continuously get compliments while wearing them.
- The sneaker is excellent for a clean summer look.
- Its price point is remarkable.
- A couple mentioned that the shoes were even better in person than on photos online.
- The sneaker is versatile enough to be sported to work and extending its use on the weekends to hang out.
- Many commended the ample comfort it provides.
- It runs true to size.
2 reasons not to buy
- When cleaning the sneaker, the dye would sometimes smudge on the white part which leaves the shoe looking ugly and faded.
- One user was annoyed with the sneaker which, according to him, looks different and off.
Bottom line
The Vans Checkerboard Authentic embellishes the pioneer low profile silhouette in this vibrant design which replenishes the retro feel while staying relevant to modern fads. Get ready to receive a barrage of compliments from onlookers as it is known to go well with almost anything.
The sneaker showcases the right amount of comfort and fit any Vans Authentic sneaker would get, but the checkerboard design would always overpower its practical functions. Speaking of design, it is best to spray waterproofing elements before cleaning the shoe.
Tip: see the best sneakers.
Good to know
The sneaker is manufactured in unisex sizes. Boys' sizes would start from 3.5 to 6 that extends to men's sizes of 6 to 13. Women can go down 1.5 sizes down from their usual to acquire the adequate fit. This sneaker comes in a medium width for both genders.
Even if one is just wearing super short shorts as Spicoli did in the eighties or sand-blasted jeans, one can look flawless while sporting the Vans Checkerboard Authentic. The chess-tile design magnetizes the eyes of bystanders and gives dimension to the low top silhouette. Young and old women are known to flaunt the sneaker best, but many men on the opposite side of the spectrum think otherwise.
The checkerboard design would be the sneaker's prime selling point as it was first seen in the Slip-On. The Authentic's whole upper is painted in checkerboard marks as compared to other models which are only visible in some of the parts of the shoe.
From horse racing to producing shoes, Van Doren's passion for things would continue for decades without halt. But the most exciting niche for Van Doren's is having a knack for creating shoes. Fortunately for us, the shoe-making genes continued to flow through the family tree for generations.
The California-based company started as a custom shoe store in Anaheim, California way back in 1966. Paul Vandoren, along with his brother and several friends, established the Van Doren Rubber Company that specializes in the direct selling of shoes. Customers would pick a design of their liking in the morning which would be ready in the afternoon for pick up.
It is rumored that one of the shoes sold during this time was the famous "Authentic" model. The Authentic or the Style #44 was predestined to be a staple sneaker because of its low profile image which stays relevant to concurrent trends. It was also made into a canvas of different iterations through time, including those which are outrageously radical.
The upper material of Vans sneakers was subject to creative inputs courtesy of artistic loyalists who would scribble and paint the canvas upper. One of the iconic designs that surfaced was the "Checkerboard" which was initially drawn into the midsole of Vans shoes. Steve took the concept and utilized it into the Slip-On's upper. Since its film cameo in Fast Times At Ridgemont High was seen, it never left the checkerboard-hungry styles of the young and old generation.
- The sneaker has a vulcanized rubber construction which contributes to its low profile form.
- The shoe utilizes a lace-up system of lockdown with metal eyelets for a smooth snug.
- For its traction, the sneaker continues to use its classic waffle outsole.
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