Verdict from 35 user reviews
8 reasons to buy
- Many sneakerheads and Vans fans alike love the Vans Style 36 Decon SF being a mix of Authentic and Old Skool sneakers.
- Numerous reviewers say that these sneakers are very comfortable and have a cozy fit.
- Quite a lot of users say they receive lots of compliments from friends when wearing the Vans Style 36 Decon SF.
- Many skateboarders claim that the waffle rubber outsole is very grippy making it really great to skate in.
- A few customers like the Black/Red colorway and its yin and yang detailing.
- Many reviewers love the classic Vans Style 36 silhouette in an upgraded look.
- A lot of users say that the pair is very durable and will last for months of constant wearing.
- Some reviewers say that like most Vans shoes, this pair requires a short breaking-in period.
2 reasons not to buy
- A reviewer mentions that the Ultra Cush insole is not as thick as the other Ultra Cush sneakers.
- A few users say it lacks a bit of foot support.
Bottom line
The Vans Style 36 Decon SF is a modern take on the iconic Style 36 silhouette with its deconstructed aesthetic. This low-top skate shoe is made very comfortable with its Ultra Cush insole. It performs well as a skate shoe with the classic waffle rubber outsole giving it superb grip and traction.
Tip: see the best sneakers.
Good to know
The Vans Style 36 Decon SF is available in both men and women US sizes. It has a lace-up closure that allows a custom fit to keep it snug. Ultra Cush insole gives it dependable comfort and support. The low-top construction allows free ankle movement.
Part of the Style 36 series is the Vans Style 36 Decon SF. The classic Style 36 is given a modern twist in this new iteration with uppers designed in a deconstructed aesthetic. Its upper, depending on the colorway, is made of canvas and suede or vegan leather. It bears the iconic sidestripe of Style 36 which was first introduced in 1977. Contrast stitching details appear all over the upper outlining areas of the shoe.
Depending on the colorway it has a color-contrasting or color-matching trim on the upper sole. A toe cap is added to bring a fresh new style to the classic silhouette. The Black/Red colorway has a cartoon yin and yang detailing on the midfoot area of the sole and goes around the heel area. The Quiet Shade/Marshmallow and Red/Marshmallow colorways have a black and white checkered pattern on the same area.
The Vans Style 36 Decon SF comes in multiple colorways including:
- Black/Red
- Black/White
- Marshmallow/Marshmallow
- Quiet Shade/Marshmallow
- Red/Marshmallow
- Stargazer/Lead
- Alex Knost Bitter Chocolate
The Vans Style 36 Decon SF carries the classic Style 35 silhouette in a deconstructed upper made of either canvas and suede or vegan leather material. It is reinforced by overlays on the toe, heel, and lace area with visible double stitching details all over the upper making it durable. Vans sidestripe appears on the lateral and medial sides and a Vans rubber logo patch on the heel.
Vans Ultra Cush insoles are added for light cushioning and dependable comfort. Hard-wearing rubber outsole in a waffle tread pattern offers traction and grip preventing slips on any surface. Water-based inks and glues are used for detailing and binding the construction. A new addition to this iteration of the iconic silhouette is a rubber toe cap that gives it a fresh modern look.
In the mid-1970s, brothers Paul Van Doren and Jim Van Doren introduced the Style 36. It was initially created for skateboarders as a low-top skateboarding shoe. Now, its more popularly known by its alternate name, Old Skool, and has become a streetwear staple for both men and women.
The Vans Style 36 or Vans Old Skool was not the brand’s first foray into skateboarding shoes. When skateboarding peaked in California in the mid-1970s, Vans released their very first skate shoe in 1976 called the Vans #95 or the Vans Era. The success of the Vans Era paved the way for the introduction of the Vans Old Skool a year later.
Style 36 was the first Vans sneaker to feature the iconic Vans sidestripe stitched on the lateral and medial sides of the shoe which then became a symbol of Vans for years to come. It isn’t just intended for aesthetics, it has a protection function to the sides of the sneaker as well. Since the Old Skool was made for daring skaters, their sneakers would easily get beaten. The leather sidestripe stitched to the sides extends the shoe’s lifespan. Aside from the iconic sidestripe, skaters at that time loved the Old Skool due to its sticky sole made of durable rubber that grips well on the wooden board.
Today, the low-top Vans Old Skool still remains an icon as it has become an integral part of the grunge era and hip-hop culture. It has become a sneaker staple by skaters, sneakerheads, artists, and the fashion community. It has been continuously modified and upgraded into countless versions of casual footwear still with the potential of the skateboarding shoe it was designed to be.
The latest modification of the Style 36 is the Vans Style 36 Decon SF which features the classic silhouette in a deconstructed look made of canvas and suede or vegan leather material upper. Vans Ultra Cush insole is added for more comfort. The iconic sidestripe and classic waffle rubber outsoles are kept and a rubber toecap upgrade is made for a fresh addition.
- The Vans Style 36 Decon SF has a vegan patent leather upper version part of surfer Alex Knost’s signature collection under Vans.
- The Black/Red colorway has a cartoon yin and yang detailing that goes around the sole.
- The Quiet Shade/Marshmallow and Red/Marshmallow colorways have a black and white checkered pattern around the sole area.
