No piece of skateboarding footwear embodies the ‘less is more’ approach better than the Vans Slip-On Pro. Originally introduced as the ‘Style #98’ in 1977, the Slip-On has been a mainstay of the Vans range every since and was propelled into the mass footwear consciousness after being worn by Sean Penn in the 1982 film ‘Fast Times At Ridgemont High’.

Fast forward to the 2000s and the Slip-On proudly sits in its modern reinforced format alongside other Vans Classics (such as the Authentic, Era and SK8-Hi) as a staple silhouette in the Vans Pro Skate range.

“a true icon of the skateboarding footwear world, updated and co-branded alongside Spitfire Wheels for one of the most naturally talented ATV skaters in the world”

This particular iteration of the classic that you can see here, namely the Vans x Spitfire Slip On Pro Van der Linden excels in both its simplicity and technical specifications. An all-suede black upper is backed with a Duracap under layer, doubling up the durability of the shoe, with Vans’ timeless vulcanised Waffle sole providing the grip and board feel that skateboarders have cherished since the 1960s.

Many renowned skateboarders have given the Slip-On a personal touch – ranging from long term Vans rider Andrew Allen, to acclaimed filmmaker Harmony Korine for the elusive Vans Syndicate range, and this time around it’s the turn of Dutch wunderkind and sure-fire eventual SOTY candidate Daan Van der Linden. Vans have had a prolific relationship with Spitfire Wheels over the years with their collaborations frequently resulting in some of the best colourways from season-to-season and this one is no exception.

A simple yet eye catching palette of black, red, and white reflects the colours synonymous with both brands, and with dashes of gold topping the model, along with Spitfire’s iconic ‘Bighead’ logo emblazoned onto the shoe’s tongue, this is an aesthetic take on one of the most beloved silhouettes in all of skateboarding. The shoe also subtly incorporates Spitfire’s ‘Swirl’ graphic onto the toe bumper’s tread with the same graphic plastered onto the shoe’s comfortable and supportive Ultracush insole. Finally, the heel panel of the shoe boasts ‘GET LIT’ referencing Spitfire’s devotion to ‘Keeping The Underground Lit’.

In short – a true icon of the skateboarding footwear world, updated and co-branded alongside Spitfire Wheels for one of the most naturally talented ATV skaters in the world: impossible to go wrong here.

• VANS – SPITFIRE SLIP ON PRO
• RRP: £56.99
• VANS.EU