The Vans Sk8-Hi GORE-TEX MTE-3 Laughs Off Bad Weather
While being founded on the sun-kissed streets of SoCal over 50 years ago, skate legends Vans have routinely ventured into untamed terrain by giving their griptape classics some GORPy modifications. The Sk8-Hi is the latest of their icons to undergo the all-conditions treatment with a mouthful of tech. Dropping in right now is the Sk8-Hi GORE-TEX MT-3 which advances the brand's ongoing development of footwear made to shred all surfaces.
The upgrades come densely packed. Starting from the bottom, Vans’ proprietary All-Trac rubber compound offers sure-footedness on griptape and gravel alike. The classic waffle tread pattern is substituted for a hardier lugged version. Sandwiched between the foot and outsoles is a double-stacked insole of UltraCush and OrthoLite, ensuring long-lasting comfort.
Up top features even more layers to peel back. Weather-resistant leather and textile uppers are already made for the elements, but they’re padded out with warming 3M Thinsulate material that’s warm and quick-drying. That’s if it even gets wet in the first place: underneath it all is a waterproof and breathable bootie structure by GORE-TEX, whose ‘Guaranteed To Keep You Dry’ assurance has been in practice for over 50 years. Everything is locked down with beefier laces, metal hardware and oversized pull tabs borrowed from their snow range.
Despite these dramatic changes, this is still a Sk8-Hi at its core. Vans render a classic checkerboard colourway in reverence of the brand’s idiosyncratic pattern, plus introducing stealth greys and olives that could also prowl the rain-soaked streets of Gotham.
There’s no such thing as bad weather – only bad preparation. Avoid that by picking up a pair of Sk8-Hi GORE-TEX MTE-3s from Vans retailers now!
