If you've been living under a rock for the past 30 years, you might not know that Vans and Steve Caballero co-developed the Half-Cab skate shoe in 1992. The shoe has become iconic, becoming a cultural icon beyond skateboarding through collaborations with renowned skate and lifestyle brands like Palace, Supreme, and Thrasher Magazine. It's built with premium materials for comfort, durability, and a classic vulcanized rubber sole, double-stitched toe cap, and padded tongue. But to test its durability, we enlisted Tactics employee Rusty Jones to put it through a few sessions at Portland's Classic Skatepark. Here's what we found.
So, let's take a look at what's great about the Skate Half-Cab Pro.
Comfort
shock absorption
Vulcanized rubber sole
durability
During testing, we dug deep to find the best parts of this classic Vans shoe. The biggest thing we want to talk about is comfort. The Half-Cab is incredibly comfortable, thanks in large part to the padded collar and tongue, made from a durable suede and canvas upper. This comfort is complemented by Vans' POP CUSH™ insole, designed to withstand the hard impacts of jumping down stairs.
Let's also talk durability and protection. Rusty states in his test video that "the Vans Half-Cab is very protective and comfortable." Part of the shoe's durability comes from Vans' proprietary Duracap™ and vulcanized sole technology. Vulcanized soles are strengthened by applying heat and pressure to rubber, making them more resistant to abrasion. Vans also uses patented Duracap™ and Sick-Stick™ technologies for increased durability.
This so-called "Duracap™" is a technology developed by Vans that is designed to provide additional durability in specific areas of the shoe. It aims to extend the life of the shoe by providing additional protection in particularly high-wear areas. Another durability technology incorporated into the Half-Cab is Sick-Stick™, an upgraded rubber compound built into the waffle sole that provides best-in-class grip and abrasion resistance. Vans aims to utilize these technologies holistically to create the best skate shoes that are comfortable and durable.
Improvements to the Vans Half-Cab
Shoe shape loss
Lack of arch support
Just as there are good points about the shoe, there are also some flaws that were discovered during wear testing. This is the nature of the shoe and we won't hide them. The Vans Half-Cab is a great shoe, but there are a few things to be aware of. First, the fit and overall shape. This varies from person to person, but those with wider feet may find them a bit tight at first. Once broken in, they are very comfortable, but Rusty pointed out that with more wear, they "can get flat, bulky, and floppy looking."
As mentioned above, these shoes feature a POP CUSH™ insole, which provides excellent impact absorption but lacks arch support. This may not be relevant to younger skaters, but it's important to note. The Half-Cab is designed without arch support, prioritizing natural board feel and flexibility. Therefore, if you need arch support, we recommend replacing the POP CUSH™ insole with a custom orthotic insole or consider an athletic skate design.
conclusion
The Vans Half-Cab is a classic skate shoe that has stood the test of time with Tactics. Its durability, versatility, and classic design continue to make it a favorite among skaters. It's up to you to decide if the Half-Cab is right for your next skate shoe.
