I put something up already in this thread, but I now have two pairs of the new SKATE shoes, one each in Old Skool and Sk8 low and they are both by far a stronger, more supported, grippier and stiffer version of anything I have ever had from Vans, which going forward is the way of the future, even if a lot of people are unhappy with the feel of the new ones.
My options are limited to full sizes here in AU (no half sizes and I fit 11.5 best) so I went with the bigger 12 rather than 11 and they are very comfortable right away, no blisters or unwanted rubbing issues, but I am yet to really do much more than wearing them for a full day each and having a bit of a skate in both of them.
That said, I prefer tighter shoes to skate in, but going up half a size might help some others who have big issues with the fit of the new ones.
They are definitely not the soft thin moccasin type of shoes that the pro turned out to be, that's for sure.