COFFEE BREAK WITH THE VANS CROCKETT 2 AND THE KYLE WALKERI've wanted to compare the Crockett 2 to the Kyle Walker (hereinafter referred to as "Walker") for awhile now... and they're basically what I expected them each to be. The Crockett 2 appears to be based more on the fit and feel of classic vans (which fits Gilbert's interest in vintage clothing) and the Walker is based more on the continued push towards the Pro-line and increased 'tech'
(Crockett 2 / Walker)
Toe Shape
The Crockett 2 has both a narrower and a shallower toe than the Walker. That's not to say that the Crockett 2 scrunches your toes from above or on the sides, rather, it fits like a glove (even on my wide feet) without constricting your precious toes. The fit of the Crockett 2 in the toe is similar to the fit of the classic era. The wider toe of the Walker is roomier than your average Vans Pro, but that's not to say your toes are swimming around in the toe. It just has more room than the Crockett 2.
SidewallsAgain, the sidewalls of the Crockett 2 are designed more like a classic Vans than the Pro line. Like the classics, the Crockett 2 has the scalloped foxing, where the Walker has the straight cut like the rest of the Pro shoes.
The fit along the side of the Crockett 2 is narrower, and I don't know if it's just the canvas versus the suede (Walker), but the Crockett sidewalls feel more forgiving and again form to the foot. The Walker is very comfortable on the sides of your foot, but feels a bit boxier and when tied tight to foot, actually fatigued my foot a bit after skating in them for half an hour. This went away as the shoes broke in after 2-3 sessions.
Collar, Heel Lock, Insole
Again, the collar of the Crockett 2 is comparable to a classic Vans collar, but a little more contoured to your ankle (i.e. more comfortable) and the Walker 2 is thicker/padded. The Achilles notch is a nice touch along with the pull tab. Both shoes have the Ultracush insoles, and both shoes appear to be made to accommodate the large insole (unlike some of earlier versions of the Pros). For me, the Walker gives a tiny bit of heel lift (probably not noticeable to the average skateboarder...I'm just a stickler for heel movement), while the Crockett 2 locks it in perfectly. Another example of the Crockett 2 fitting similar to the classics. The Crockett 2 also has a lower cut than the Walker.
The Tongue
The Crockett 2 tongue is a thin no-frills tongue with a center loop.
The Walker tongue is puffier than the Crockett 2, but by no means a "puffy" tongue. The best part is that it has elastic centering straps (which should be standard in all skate shoes!)
The SoleThe soles of the Crockett 2 and the Walker are both waffle-cup, but they both use the waffle-cup in different and interesting ways.
The Crockett 2 has a narrower sole and gets even narrower at the arch of the foot. This makes it have a more glove like fit and maybe has an effect on the weight of the shoe. I dunno if the hiking-boot like ridges on the bottom do anything for grip, but it looks pretty cool. Also, I don't know whether the solid heel does anything for impact or grip, but again, it's cool Vans did something different with the sole compared to the Crockett and the Walker. The Crockett 2 also has a score in the sole at the arch, where the Walker has scores at the toe and heel. Despite both using the Ultracush, the Walker has a much thicker and heavier sole, which dampens the boardfeel, but doesnt completely kill it.
Final ThoughtsThe Crockett 2 and the Walker are very different shoes, which is a nice change of pace for Vans. The Crockett 2 is definitely the better choice for anyone who skates Classics and wants to give the waffle-cup a try. The Walker is the better choice for someone coming over from another brand and wanting to give Vans a try for the first time, or someone who is a Vans fan but wants to give their feet, knees, and hips a break from the abuse of vulcs. Looking ahead to the Ultrarange and reading a past interview with Kyle where he says something akin to "I don't want some foam shit in my shoes", the Walker may have originally been slated to be a bit more tech than it turned out. Anyways, both make great use of the waffle-cup.
*Despite this review reading like I prefer the Crockett 2, I've actually been skating in the Walker more. For what that's worth. *
Topic: COFFEE BREAK with the VANS Crockett 2 and the Kyle Walker (Read 7005 times)