Is it just me or do a lot of or all the "skate range" of vans out now seem to fall apart much more easily and only last half as long as anything else?
I still buy new versions of the OG black/white Half Cabs, Old Skools and a few other shoes that are part of the Classics range that have a more solid feel to them, but a lot of the new colours and styles, Half Cab, Old Skool and others that are out now in the Core range just die so quickly.
From what I have seen and heard, lots of dudes are having shoes just fall off their feet, the lining coming apart, the inner crumbles, etc.
The way I see it is they are perfect to skate in from the second you tak them out of the box / put them on, but then it is all down hill from there. A couple of pairs of them that I tried on were almost too soft, or so it felt to me anyway - new Half Cabs (black/2 tone dark shadow) and new Old Skools (full black suede), just to name two in particular, but the Era Pro are all going the same way - had a couple of them when they first came out and still have them, but the newer ones just die so much more quickly I have noticed.
Any other new ones not in the skate range are still solid in the sole and upper, so I guess it is only the core skate range they have done this to.
I have a few pairs of the TNT5 as well and they are super soft and good to skate in right away, but don't last as long as the older Half Cabs or Old Skools in the sole and upper.
Anyone else noticed this or care to comment?