Vans Authentic Core Classics Are Versatile, Comfortable, and Only 55 Bucks

SHOP $55; zappos.com

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Everyone’s got that one pair of sneakers. You know, the shoes you keep next to your front door, because the next time you leave the house you’ll definitely slip them back on. The shoes that you find plenty of excuses to dress up for nicer occasions, even when you maybe shouldn’t. The shoes that will get you through a long day, that look as good as they feel, that aren’t going to raise any eyebrows on your morning commute. For me—and for thousands of others—those shoes are Vans Authentic Core Classics.

If you know these sneakers, you love these sneakers, and if you don’t know them—well, have you been living under a rock for the past few decades? They debuted in 1966 but don’t look too retro. In fact, they’ve never lost their appeal, so if you’re only scoring a pair now, you aren’t too late to the party; you’re right on time.

SHOP $55; zappos.com

They’re absolutely timeless.

In my humble opinion (which is actually not so humble and is based on my research and expertise as a fashion writer), very few sneakers out there are as versatile as the Core Classics. Even fewer are as timeless.

One of the most iconic heritage styles from Vans, the Core Classic is minimalist, cool, and ever so slightly retro, with its low-profile design and lace-up canvas uppers. It’s a shoe built for everybody, ’cause it pervades personal style—I mean, this sneaker looks just as good on Warped Tour (RIP) attendees, paired with punk-rock outfits and grunge, ripped skinny jeans, as it does with khakis, a blazer, and a button-down for the office. The style originated in SoCal as a skating shoe—and, trust me, if you can’t skate in ’em, they aren’t Vans—but it’s become an iconic staple for people from all walks of life.

When I wear my Core Classics, you wouldn’t know this was a shoe heralding from an age when the Beatles were still together and revolution was in the air—it’s such an iconic, twenty-first-century look that it’s hard to believe these have been around for longer than my parents have. Plus, it’s all too easy to style them with anything; I dress ’em up with tailored jackets and pleated pants all the time, and just as often I slip them on when I need to run to the bodega for a hangover bagel, or when I’m taking my dog out for a walk, or when I’m going to meet up with some friends at the bar. If there exists a time or a place where I couldn’t bring my Core Classics along, I have yet to hear about it.

SHOP $55; zappos.com

They’re infallibly comfortable.

A couple weeks ago, I was on vacation in London. Here’s something to know about me: I’m a walker. I love to walk. So I decided to go on a three-hour walk from Hackney to Paddington. (If you’re familiar with London geography, you’re aware that that’s about eight miles going east to west.) When I got to my destination about twenty-thousand steps later, I was parched and somewhat tired, but my feet didn’t hurt even a little. And guess which shoes I was wearing? That’s right—my Core Classics.

To me, the biggest testament to the comfort level of a shoe is if you can bring it on vacation and wear it throughout your trip. Not many shoes make the cut, with how much walking I do and how many uneven cobblestone streets I find myself on, but of all the vacation shoes I’ve worn, Vans are winning by a landslide. These sneakers are remarkably lightweight; even before they’re on your feet, you’ll notice how the shoebox they came in seems absurdly light. When they’re on, though, it’s comfort and cushioning to the nines. The soft, flexible canvas uppers move with your feet but aren’t so plush or puffy that your foot feels suffocated and heavy.

A lot of online reviews for these shoes will leave you thinking they run narrow, but I’m here to disprove that theory. I simply can’t wear narrow shoes; my feet aren’t built for it. The Core Classics fit true to size and were a tiny bit snug when I tried them on straight out of the box, but they break in on the first wear, and the canvas stretches out a bit to give your foot some space.

Honestly, I think I owe a lot to Vans’ signature waffle-rubber outsole, too. What I love about the sole is that it keeps your foot entirely on one plane; when I wear sneakers that have a super-thick heel and a shallower toe, I feel off-balance, but walking around in these Vans is basically as comfortable as walking around barefoot. They keep me so light on my feet that even in New York, when Google Maps claims that my destination is a twenty-minute walk away, I’m easily getting there in under fifteen.

SHOP $55; zappos.com

And the best part of all is the price.

A lot of the time, a worthy shoe investment is going to cost you a pretty penny, because comfort, durability, versatility, and overall longevity don’t come cheap. The more you spend on a shoe, the more you’ll wear it. Typically.

It’s hard to believe that one of the most iconic, versatile shoes on the market is only fifty-five dollars, but I suppose miracles do exist. The Core Classics cost less than an Uber ride to the airport (or to the next neighborhood over, if you live in N.Y.C.), and for how frequently you’re going to wear them, it’s a steal if I’ve ever seen one. I mean, fifty-five bucks for a shoe you’ll want to wear because it’s so comfy—and will continue to wear because you can style it with anything, dressed up or dressed down?

A water and stain protector bumps up the price tag by only ten bucks and ensures you can wear them even longer. In fact, you might as well just stock up on a few pairs in different colors and rotate through them as you please. You can even customize your own pair.

SHOP $55; zappos.com

Photographs by Joe Lingeman. Prop styling by Heather Greene.