I was surfing around one day and saw someone post a pic of Vision Street Wear shoes — suede high tops. I had quite a few pairs of these back in the 80’s, so I had to have them. I ordered a pair of the turquoise from Amazon and was stoked to get free shipping.
My initial impression that they look a lot like the originals in terms of packaging, construction, etc. Talk about a trip down memory lane. Once I started wearing them, though, I quickly realized just how far skate shoes have come. The VSWs fit well and are comfortable around the sides and top of the foot. My major complaints are that they are stiff, and the insole is flat. It is also glued in, so it would difficult to replace. I’ve dealt with quite a few feet issues over the years, so I was pretty disappointed about this. After wearing them for a few weeks, I have come to realize they are not what they used to be. These seem to be made quite cheaply (granted I only paid about $35). I’ve only worn them for walking around, and would actually be afraid to skate in them. The rubber is super thin compared to the originals, and I think they’d be destroyed after a few hard days of skating.
Pros
- Look cool
- Good ankle support
- Inexpensive for a skate shoe
Cons
- No arch support
- Thin footbed; footbed is glued in
- Construction and material
Overall
I’m stoked about finding these again and being able to wear them around, but will probably never skate in them. They run true to size, and are available in a lot of the original colors. I’m a bit confused at what’s going on with VSW as a company; their web site is unavailable, with a message saying it will be available in a few minutes, but it’s been this way for a long time. They are not very active on their social media accounts either. My guess is if you decide to buy a pair of the shoes, you are probably on your own if you have any issues.
| Style: |  (5 / 5) |
| Comfort: |  (2 / 5) |
| Construction: | (2 / 5) |
| Overall: |  (3 / 5) |
I bought 3 pair a few months ago and one of my kids had 2 pair. While not the quality that they were BITD they have held up really good while skating. I put insoles in mine which helped a ton. But the quality is better than some of the Vans that I have bought in the last couple of years.
My only complaint is the lace eye in the tounge is thin and rips so the tounge is always sliding.