Some of you guys must have just had bad pairs? The vans skate authentic last me at least a month or so at a time, even through hard skating (4-5 times a week during summer months).
It's one of the thinner models and holds up just fine for me. I've also never had the peeling like I think op is describing, which is almost like the foxing tape shedding flakes of clear rubber "skin," pretty common with LRAB's.