Vans' Squat New Skate Shoe Symbolizes a Fresh (and Fat) Era
While most sneaker brands drop new, high-tech sneakers most weeks, it’s always refreshing to see how much faith Vans has in its icons.
Instead of redesigning the wheel, Vans makes subtle changes because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? The Vans Skate Era Stub perfectly exemplifies how small changes can go a long way.
The design first hit shelves in August 2025, unveiled as a collaboration with Dime. The collaboration offered the perfect introduction with a clean white colorway that put the new silhouette in the spotlight.
And it seems to have been a success, because since the Dime drop, the Vans Skate Era Stub has had a wider rollout with a range of attractive colorways. Now, the antithesis to the all-white Dime iteration, we’re treated to a triple black version.
The shoe is very familiar. Using the iconic Vans Era as a starting point, Stub features an extended lacing column which effectively shortens the toebox.
Aside from the stubby toebox, alterations come in the form of technical upgrades such as PopCush insoles and Duracap reinforcement.
A scroll through recent Vans silhouettes such as the Knu Skool shows how much Vans values familiarity. Using tried and tested fan-favorites as the base, these new designs offer a familiar oasis in a market that often evolves faster than you can keep up.
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