My Top 5 Vans of 2021

Jan 3 22 under Collaborations, OG, OTWS, Pro, Skate, UTP, Vans Family, Vault, VLT, Waffleheads | Comments Off

I haven’t done a top “X” list for a few, but since everyone’s got one this year, here’s my top 5 of 2021. With the exception of the jjjjounds, I’ve completed the sets for each of the packs featured, and that’s usually the indication that I really like that particular release. They’re all that good. In no particular order: Vault x Undefeated OG Old Skools; Vault x Bedwin & the Heartbreakers Pack; Vault x JSP Chukka 79 VLT LX’s; Vault x jjjjound OG Sk8-Mid LX’s; “31 Days of Vans” Skate Half Cab. All 🔥

Vans x Metallica x Pushead – Black Album 30th Anniversary Collection (7.25.21)

Jul 21 21 under Bands, Collaborations, Vans Family | Comments Off

Vans and Metallica Celebrate 30^th Anniversary of the Black Album with Footwear Collection Featuring Artwork by Pushead Available Exclusively via Vans Family

Vans x Metallica Sk8-Hi and Classic Slip-On will be Available Exclusively for Vans Family Members on July 25^th at 9pm PST and Metallica.com on July 26^th at 9am PST

Vans and award-winning rock band Metallica come together this July to honor the upcoming 30^th anniversary of the band’s all-time best-selling Black Album with a limited-edition Sk8-Hi and Classic Slip-On. Inspired by the band’s never-ending pursuit of going faster, louder and “Off The Wall”, the Vans x Metallica footwear assortment features artwork inspired by Metallica and designed by iconic Metallica artist Pushead and will be sold exclusively via Vans Family on July 25 at 9pm PST and on Metallica.com on July 26 at 9am PST.

Metallica’s self-titled, fifth studio album was originally released in August of 1991 and has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and spent over 580 consecutive weeks atop the music charts. Vans and Metallica have been long-time partners and collaborators, the band having performed at House of Vans London in 2016 and released three previous footwear and apparel collaborations over the last decade. This July, Metallica and Vans once again join forces to release two footwear silhouettes, which feature artwork created by Pushead, who has provided iconic imagery and artwork for the band’s tour books, t-shirts and stages since 1986. Pushead’s “Sad But True” design is synonymous with the entire Black Album era; his twin skulls traveled the world, displayed on banners on each side of the stage while Metallica performed.

The latest Vans x Metallica release showcases Pushead’s enigmatic facing skulls across the quarter panels of the Sk8-Hi as well as the opposing sides of each Classic Slip-On. Each design showcases a graphic blue shatter design and silver Metallica branding around the sidewall of Sk8-Hi and stop the upper of the Slip-On. Each pair is finished with Metallica printed on the heel stay.

The limited-edition Vans x Metallica collection will be available exclusively to Vans Family members on July 25 at 9pm PST and on Metallica.com on July 26 at 9am PST. Sign up for Vans Family on Vans.com/family. For more information, please visit vans.com/news.

LBIFBACK Review: Vans “31 Days of Vans” Skate Half Cab (Vans Family) Red/White

Jul 17 21 under Reviews, Skate, Vans Family, Videos | Comments Off

LBIFBACK was one of the lucky few to score a pair of the “31 Days of Vans” Skate Half Cabs that surprise dropped this past week, and he wasted no time in getting us one of his professional video reviews on them. I had spoken with him a little while before filming, to provide him with a little bit of how this project came about, and what small role I had played in all of it. I don’t take any credit for the shoe, and especially the design of it, hehe, but I will accept that I spoke on behalf of everyone in our Vans sneaker community, that we wanted this to happen. I think the proof is in the selling out in most popular sizes, within about an hour or so, and only about 3 pairs showing up on eBay. That’s the true testament. People aren’t going to be giving these things up easily, cause they know these were made for us. For you all. Thanks for the shout-out Daniel, appreciate you brotha’. Check out his proper review, and leave a comment on his channel.

Vans Family – “31 Days of Vans” Skate Half Cab (UTP Review!)

Jul 15 21 under Accessories, Friends, Heritage, History, OTWS, Pro, Recent Pickups!, Reviews, Skate, UTP, Vans Family, Waffleheads | Comments Off

Here they are! One of the biggest surprise releases of the year. Something I got to be a part of, from the very beginning when it was just a conversation about how Vans could join in on the 31 Days of Vans month-long celebration, and just to be clear, I DID NOT DESIGN THESE, but I did get to have my input heard on if they were dope enough for our Vans collectors, and I also got to help with all the brainstorming on what else we should do, like add the dope enamel pin! So, as most of you know, these dropped the other day, exclusively on the Vans Family app, and sizes were pretty much sold out after a few hours. Maybe faster, since sometimes the site shows inventory, until you check out. Anyways, congrats to those who secured a pair, and this is more of a pic review, featuring my trusty ol iPhone for pics, which I must say are much nicer with an 11 Pro, than my old SE I was using for years. I really do need to do more of these UTP reviews. I’m sure some of y’all miss them.

Enjoy!

-Bill (Guamstyles)

tons more pics after the jump Read More

Vans – “31 Days of Vans” Half Cab (Vans Family Exclusive!)

Jul 12 21 under Heritage, History, OTWS, Skate, UTP, Vans App, Vans Family, Waffleheads | Comments Off

So this is something we’ve been secretly working on with Vans for about a year now as part of the all month long celebration of #31daysofvans. When Vans originally approached me to talk about ways that Vans could officially join in on the fun, while fully acknowledging that this was community created, there was always a talk about maybe having a shoe made up that would be created with the collectors and Waffleheads in mind. Something dope, and limited. The Half Cab was the shoe of choice, as this is the 30th Anniversary of Steve Caballero’s signature shoe, and they delivered big time with this dope design. (Now Kyle’s 31 Days Vans flyer makes more sense, right?!) I’ve only seen mock-ups of the shoe, but never official pics, and I’m beyond stoked the way these came out. The color. The croc texture. The freakin’ silver duct-tape lining!! All these things pay homage to the Half Cab, in the most authentic way. I’m sure Cabbie is proud of these. There’s also a dope pin that is included with each purchase, of the actual Half Cab. One other nice surprise, is that you can sign up for 200 pts. on the Vans Family app, for a chance to win a signed deck, by Stevie Cab, featuring his Cab Fink artwork on it.

Here’s the Vans caption:

“Calling all Waffleheads: this one’s for you! Celebrate 31 Days of Vans with this Half Cab, designed and made exclusively for the Fam. Originally released in 1992, the Half Cab represents an era of design innovation. Constructed by street skaters in the early 90s by cutting the collar off the original Vans Caballero pro model and creating the “lighter, better, faster” version of its predecessor, the signature shoe is a true icon.

In celebration of 31 Days of Vans, we’re bringing you an exclusive colorway of the revolutionary Half Cab in a heritage red with metallic silver collar lining to give a duct tape vibe, symbolizing its origins in street skateboarding. Every pair comes with an exclusive pin.”

Disclaimer, these are all but sold out by now, since they released earlier this morning, so this is more to heap praise on the Vans Family team who made all this happen, and to thank them for allowing me, and a few of my friends to join in and be a part of this. We’re honored and I hope we get to do this again for years to come!