Vans Checkerboard Old Skool review

Who should buy the Vans Checkerboard Old Skool

The Vans Checkerboard Old Skool is a funky shoe that simply looks hip no matter how you style it. It's for you if:

• A laidback look—a simple tee and semi-loose pants—is what you're trying to pull off.
• You want something that provides incredible comfort minus the break-in period.
• Your budget only permits sneakers that sell for no more than $70.
• Snug shoes devoid of air pockets are what you prefer.

Who should NOT buy it

If you prefer a shoe that has no reports concerning premature color desaturation, try the Vans Checkerboard Era. Also, check out the Vans ComfyCush Era instead if you want a pair that delivers extra cushioning underfoot.

Chic through and through

Nearly everyone who has reviewed the Vans Checkerboard Old Skool praise the shoe's exemplary style. They call the shoe either "rad" or "dope."

Instant comfort in the Checkerboard Old Skool

This casual low-top kick is quite comfortable, sneaker fans say. Its level of comfiness, they say, is also available right out of the box.

Vibrant but not for long

A decent number of reviewers say that the darker or more vibrant squares on the Vans Checkerboard Old Skool lose their color too soon.

Not-so-cottony experience underfoot

There are sneakerheads who wish that the shoe's insole was far cushier. Because of this, they prefer a shoe whose footbeds can be replaced.

Vans Checkerboard Old Skool: A fit and sizing wonder

According to a considerable number of sneakerheads, this lifestyle sneaker runs true to size. There are also those who say that the Vans Checkerboard Old Skool provides a hugging-but-not-tight fit.

A fantastic go-to pair for various occasions

The Checkerboard Old Skool is a versatile shoe style-wise and is a great addition to any collection, reviewers say.

For serious smart shoppers

Purchasers say that this low-top sneaker is “one of the best shoes you can buy” when it comes to affordability.

The Vans Checkerboard Old Skool in history

The Vans Checkerboard Old Skool is inspired by the legendary silhouette that has remained in production ever since forty years ago. In 1977, the brand debuted the Old Skool, their first-ever model that features the famous leather sidestripe.

The Old Skool had a hip style and was a favorite among skateboarders and everyone else who wanted to get away from the mainstream shoes of the time. The sneaker was made of suede and canvas and had reinforced toecaps. The design also had the happy coincidence of being ideal for unleashing creativity. Soon, Vans Old Skool shoes with shades and doodles of all kinds started sprouting up, courtesy of their artistic owners.

Throughout the decades since its release, it has remained as relevant as ever. One proof of this is the number of iterations and collabs that have come out based on the low-top’s silhouette. One of them is the Checkerboard Old Skool, which combines the two of the best things that the brand is known for—the Old Skool silhouette and the checkerboard print that debuted on Style #48, or more commonly known as the Checkerboard Slip-On.