Skateboarding has been in Vans' DNA since the company opened its first store on March 15, 1966. Since then, Vans has become one of the world's largest skate shoe companies, providing shoes to skaters in every corner of the globe. Recently, Vans introduced a new sporty shoe, the Zahba. This new silhouette incorporates technology and elements from performance sports and features colorways developed by Vans pro skater Zion Wright.
We've been following trends in skate footwear and have noticed a demand from brands and skaters alike for shoes that last. We were curious to see how the Zahba would perform with this new technology, so we took Tactics team riders Nathan Vitale and Trent Bowman north on Highway 26 to Seek Skateboard Camp to explore whether it could become the new standard for performance skate shoes. Seek hosted a private session at their indoor concrete skatepark, BOB, which became our laboratory for exploring the Zahba.
What was so great about Vans' Zahba?
Impact Support
Flick
Comfort
The Zahba sits at the intersection of Vans' traditional design and technological advancements, aiming to provide the best performance and shock absorption. This shoe is equipped with Vans patented technologies like ImpactWaffle™, VR3 Cush insoles, and Sick Stick Construction, and is designed for long days of skating.
After 20 hours of skating in the Seek, Nathan noticed less foot pain after long sessions, and Trent found the shoe's shock absorption extremely helpful after a bad quarter-pipe slide. With the Zahba, Vans has succeeded in creating a shoe that protects skaters' feet.
When you think of Vans shoes, what comes to mind?
When you think of Vans shoes, you probably think of the classic vulcanized sole and checkerboard design, but the Zahba has none of those elements.
Zahba is a hybrid of two common skate shoe constructions, and the equation is this...
1/4 Vulcanized Sole + 3/4 Cupsole = (1) ImpactWaffle™. ImpactWaffle™ is made up of a 50% bio-based composite foam material with a foam heel insert and a waffle-structured midsole. This gives the Zahba a 3/4 cupsole that provides support, comfort, and impact support.
Nathan and Trent found the Zahba to be stiff at first, but after 20 minutes to an hour, they felt comfortable, a characteristic of a more supportive, long-lasting shoe.
Once the raking was complete, one of the shoe's standout features became apparent: the flick. Trent immediately noted the rounded toe shape and reinforced suede Duracap™, which allows for the clean flick typically found in cupsole shoes.
I started this review expecting performance, durability, and support, and the Zahba delivered. There are still two parts to this review.
The improvements to the VANS ZAHBA are as follows:
Breathable
Insole not removable
Now, let's get the point of this review straight: I applaud Vans for wanting to join the club of technical performance skate shoes, and they really achieve that goal. While there's a lot to like about the Zahba, I also found a few things throughout my review that bothered me.
If you're concerned about sweaty feet while skating, these shoes are a bit tricky. Nathan's shoes were noticeably soaked with sweat, both on the laces and around the canvas around the toe box. Trent hopes that if Vans adds more breathability or mesh in the future, they'll maintain the shoe's stiffness.
As mentioned, the Zahba uses a VR3 Cush insole. This insole offers great support and is made from recycled materials. However, because it's glued to the shoe, it can't be removed and replaced with a custom insole. If you need additional arch support, consider this feature.
Those seeking performance shoes may have old knee or foot injuries and want custom-fit cushioned insoles, which is a reasonable consideration.
final conclusion
To sum up this review, the Vans Zahba is a great skate shoe that offers great flickability and shock absorption, but there are areas that could be improved, such as breathability.
Overall, Vans has created a quality, easy-to-wear shoe, and I highly recommend the Vans Zahba to any skater looking for a performance shoe like this.
