Reliving the good old days is a great look for Vans, whose new Speed LS colorways add even more allure to a reimagined classic.
Released earlier this year, Vans’ Speed LS sneaker is a nostalgic nod to the inflated silhouettes of Vans’ 1998 Speed LS, an OG skate shoe. The reissue came with some material upgrades, including a mesh and suede upper to bring additional endurance and durability to an already wear-friendly shoe, a cornerstone of Vans’ appeal.
Worn by halfpipe thrashers and streetwear enthusiasts with equal enthusiasm, Vans’ self-referential sneakers never stray too far from its stylistic pillars.
One key area of difference that even more casual followers of the brand can clock, though, is the absence of the brightly contrasted side stripe, a design staple we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from the brand in pairs like the Knu Skool Shoe, an equally thique Vans’ classic.
Instead, the Speed LS features an unobtrusive raised variation of the molded bit of branding that is still just as Vans as the famous “Off The Wall” motto that is, interestingly missing from the shoe.
A consistent lane paver and semi-regular defier of trends, Vans divulging further into the pumped-up aesthetics of skate footwear, subverting the rising fondness for slimmer builds in footwear.
In other words, in an era where many shoe brands are cutting back, the Speed LS is well-fed.
And so are fans of the brand as this new drop, now available on Vans’ website for $90 apiece, which sees the addition of saucy new colorways, including some retro-feeling khaki and tan suede. These hues are a welcome update from the Speed LS’ initial black, blue, white and off-white offerings.
Don’t let the partialness to skater tradition fool you: Vans has the flavors.