Vans to make RUnning and Athletic shoes....

[mini greek]

So.........

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-14/vf-s-vans-unit-to-add-athletic-shoes-to-challenge-nike

Anyone up for a pair of Vans runners?  IS anyone still claiming Vans to be a core brand?

[brent]

this is all nike's fault

[waltercronkite]

still backin em

[DaSk8D00D]

please, i gotta hear one of those avid "core" skateboarders speak on this.

[busstopmag]

I guess you didn't see vans' entire line during the 90s. That was way worse than any running shoe could be.

[Shufflessss]

Vans blow anyways

[ivegotlevitation]

Well that's a disappointment, just like this pair of Old Skools I've been skating in. probably won't buy them anymore.

[brianwilson]

Supra cashed in too.

[Big Skatefase]

vans didn't start as a skate brand so meh.

remember when they tried to make a basketball shoe?

[Aatila]

yeah true

[Eschaton]

They made break dancing shoes.

[Charles Smith]

Supra cashed in too.

just saw this. i wonder if people will skate in them.

[oyolar]

Supra cashed in too.

just saw this. i wonder if people will skate in them.

I think Ellington posted a photo on his twitter/instagram or something of him skating in these.

[truthislie]

Haha, I guess a lot the runners will stick to nike and adidas, because vans is not a core-running company.

[Turtle Boy]

I guess you didn't see vans' entire line during the 90s. That was way worse than any running shoe could be.

[Cosme]

History repeating:

As the 1980s rolled around, Paul Van Doren began to take a lesser role in the company?s activities. Over this period, Vans started to create shoes for a number of sports from skateboarding, wakeboarding, motor cross, to surfing in an effort to compete with large athletic shoe companies. [...] Although Vans core shoes were selling well, the wide range of products that the company now offered had drained the company's resources, and with Vans not able to overcome its debt they were forced to file for bankruptcy in 1983.

[Charles Smith]

History repeating:

As the 1980s rolled around, Paul Van Doren began to take a lesser role in the company?s activities. Over this period, Vans started to create shoes for a number of sports from skateboarding, wakeboarding, motor cross, to surfing in an effort to compete with large athletic shoe companies. [...] Although Vans core shoes were selling well, the wide range of products that the company now offered had drained the company's resources, and with Vans not able to overcome its debt they were forced to file for bankruptcy in 1983.

what's this from?

[Cosme]

^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vans

Wich I found curious about that writing is that in this other semi official site:

http://www.vans.net.au/wawcs0130206/History.html

The same paragraph incorporates different activities to the story...

[...] As the 1980s rolled around, Paul Van Doren began to take a lesser role in the companies' activities.  Over this period, Vans started to create shoes for a number of sports from baseball, basketball and wrestling to skydiving in an effort to compete with large athletic shoe companies [...]

[...] from skateboarding, wakeboarding, motor cross, to surfing [...]

[Gay Imp Sausage Metal]

still backin em

yep!

once they STOP supporting skaters then you can all have a whinge

[Ripped Laces]

As an avid runner, I can only expect some dreadful results from Vans going into the running game. Regardless of their resources & capital, they'll never match the quality, technology and designs of the greats like Axis, New Balance & Brooks.

[patob]

[A.J.K.]

Those actually look better then 90% of what you would see in a footlocker

please, i gotta hear one of those avid "core" skateboarders speak on this.

What are you expecting them to say?  A non skateboard company doing non skateboard things.....so what?  And anyone who thinks Vans is 'core' is a moron.

[PTDK]

I think the issue here is it is just another middle finger to the core shops. With all their retail stores, selling in JC Penny and kohls, etc. it just shows the shops that they really don't give a shit about them. It is unfortunate that these brands are killing true skate brands. Don't be fooled that they "support skateboarding". They are a multi billion dollar corporation just like Nike, adidas, etc. VF (vanity fair who owns vans) is out to squander the competition and put more brands out of business to take more real estate on the shoe wall. The second the money isn't there from skateboarding, they will be gone. That is why they are diversifying again.

I love Vans product, they look great, they skate great, and they support a lot of amazing skateboarders...that is not my argument. What I am saying is whichever way you look at it they are hurting skateboarding more than they are helping it by not supporting the true roots, which are the shops. If the real shops go, the real brands will go, and in turn skateboarding will become less popular. If skateboarding becomes less popular there will be less skateparks built, less videos coming out, and less content for our magazines. Vans is trying to go from 1 billion to 2.2 billion in the next 3.5 years. Where do you think that growth is going to come from? Unless we see a MAJOR resurgence in skateboarding, and I am talking major, it isn't going to come from skateboarding. Skateboarding is shrinking right now, that is undeniable. Brands are looking for a way to stay alive...and still grow, and these major corporations will turn away from something as silly as just another hobby to keep their growth up. 

Sorry to get all preachy. I understand that these big brands probably make the best product. Nike/converse shoes look great, I personally have never actually skated them. Adidas skate amazing. Vans are great as well, that is undeniable. I am not trying to tell people what to do or what they should do, but I just get heated when I see all my friends losing jobs or losing their businesses due to these soulless corporations.

[Fongstarr.]

I held those Supras in my hands and surprisingly, they are pretty light. Still not as light as the Nike Frees but if I was open to trying any shoe to run, I get those Supras if it was super cheap.

[PTDK]

I held those Supras in my hands and surprisingly, they are pretty light. Still not as light as the Nike Frees but if I was open to trying any shoe to run, I get those Supras if it was super cheap.

I have a pair of the Owens, they are rad, but I wouldn't really run in them, but I also have horrible knees right now and don't really run....so what do I know. They are super comfortable if you are on your feet all day though.

[Mein Fuhrer! I can walk!]

So uncool bro, this totally affects their skateboard program.

[Pete]

YOU KIDS WHINE AND CRY ABOUT THIS SHIT LIKE IT REALLY MATTERS TO YOU AT ALL. EVERYTHING IS OWNED BY SOME BILLION DOLLAR SHIT SO SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT IT. THEY WILL PROBABLY SELL THIS WEIRD NEW VANS 6.0 SHIT AT FOOTLOCKERS FOR CHEAPER THAN NIKES, THAN REALIZE IT WONT WORK AND STOP AFTER A SEASON OR SOMETHING. START A THREAD ABOUT SOME REAL SHIT LIKE FREEING MAX B!

[PTDK]

YOU KIDS WHINE AND CRY ABOUT THIS SHIT LIKE IT REALLY MATTERS TO YOU AT ALL. EVERYTHING IS OWNED BY SOME BILLION DOLLAR SHIT SO SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT IT. THEY WILL PROBABLY SELL THIS WEIRD NEW VANS 6.0 SHIT AT FOOTLOCKERS FOR CHEAPER THAN NIKES, THAN REALIZE IT WONT WORK AND STOP AFTER A SEASON OR SOMETHING. START A THREAD ABOUT SOME REAL SHIT LIKE FREEING MAX B!

No offense, but this type of shit does matter. Also, not everything is owned by a billion dollar corporation. Sole tech (Emerica, Etnies, Altamont) is not, One Distribution (KR3W and Supra) is not, C1RCA is not, Lakai is not, Podium definitely is not....

[Gay Imp Sausage Metal]

they could actually just kill 2 birds with one stone and bring back rowley XLT 1's

[DIRTWEED]

Those actually look better then 90% of what you would see in a footlocker

please, i gotta hear one of those avid "core" skateboarders speak on this.

What are you expecting them to say?  A non skateboard company doing non skateboard things.....so what?  And anyone who thinks Vans is 'core' is a moron.

plain & simple this is gross. i am not ashamed to say part of the reason i like vans is their heritage/retro feel of the brand. they do an amazing job of marketing to me.

this athletic direction is lame for vans. and it actually bums me out. its not true roots. all of their segmentation has been so on point because its been cooler than the main line- syndicate, vault, CA, otw. its elevated my feeling about the brand. this segmentation makes me think the guys that get "it" there didnt have a say on if they should do this.

i always go back to a jurassic park/ jeff goldblum quote when i see brands going down an awkward path- "your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could that they didn't stop to think if they should. "