Vans Knu Skool and Vans Authentic are two extremely popular sneakers that sell well.
The Vans Authentic, initially known as the #44 Deck Shoe, marked Vans’ inaugural sneaker release on March 16, 1966. While it held the title of the brand’s best-seller until 2005, its status has since been surpassed, yet it continues to maintain a strong position in the market.
Same goes with Vans Knu Skool; it’s chunky design has seen a lot of attention on social media lately, and over the past few months, they’ve been flying off the shelves. Originally introduced in 1998, these sneakers have undergone reinterpretations over time.
So, let us compare these two iconic sneakers and see which one best fits your needs.
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Vans Knu Skool vs. Vans Authentic: A Detailed Comparison
To find the best among both of these sneakers, I’ve divided this whole comparison into several deciding factors like designs, comfort, fit, prices, and colorways.
These factors will help you identify your needs and make a better purchase.
So, without further ado, let’s test each shoe based on our factors.
Design
Let’s understand the basics of their designs.
Vans Knu Skool: The Vans Knu Skool is a low-top skate shoe with chunky details.
From chunky, I mean it is bulkier and thicker than most shoes on the market. Its design is influenced by 1990s skate shoes.
This Vans Knu Skool is actually a reissued model from 1998. This newer version adds some good modern details to the 90s design.
Now, let’s speak of its specifics.
The upper, in here, is made out of rough suede, which honestly is a bit hard to clean. On the sides, there’s a big 3D Jazz stripe, which is again pretty thick and easily noticeable.
And in the middle, it has this big plushy tongue, which comes with a lot of padding and feels very nice to the skin.
And for the soles, Vans feature a rubber midsole and a signature rubber waffle outsole. Both are fairly thick and absorb impact well. However, it’s insoles are pretty thin and aren’t ideal for extended wear.
Speaking of the whole construction, it’s vulcanized, which makes sense as these are made for skateboarding. Overall, it’s great-looking shoes that give both style and functionality.
Vans Authentic: On the other side, we have Vans Authentic. A humble low-top silhouette that comes with a slimmer profile and no extra fluff. Interestingly, it’s the brand’s first ever sneaker they made, which still holds it’s attraction among people.
Speaking of it’s design, the Vans Authentic features a simple lace-up design, which you get to see commonly on many shoes.
The shoes themselves are made out of thin canvas, which looks pretty clean. There’s no jazz strip or anything on the canvas, just simple stitching. The tongues on these sneakers are pretty thin and don’t have any padding.
Moving on to the construction, it is vulcanized, which is why it is so flexible.
And for soles, it has that classic rubber midsole and gum outsole. For insoles, they are again very stiff and thin, so I doubt this model is any good at skating because of such insoles.
From my actual thinking, this design is just good for styling, not for functionality.
Fit
Vans Knu Skool: Vans Knu Skool goes true-to-size. They might look they’ll go big, but no! I took my regular size and I just feel okay. There is no need to go up or down, even if you have wider feet.
Vans Authentic: They go true-to-size and fit perfectly well. But if you have wider feet, then you can go half a size up. But, generally, they remain true-to-size.
Related Article: Vans Knu Skool vs. Adidas Campus 00s
Comfort
Vans Knu Skool: When it comes to offering comfort, Vans Knu Skool takes the lead with its much softer and plushier design.
It comes with a lot of padding all around, especially around the ankle. So, if you skate in them, you’ll probably notice good support. Even if you’re not a skater, you’ll love this extra padding for normal walks.
Most other sneakers, however, feel heavy when they have extra cushioning. Vans Knu Skool is not like that. Despite all this padding, the shoes remain light and supportive.
Another thing to love about these sneakers is that they fit just fine for wide feet. So if you have wider feet, Vans Knu Skool will give you a nice on-foot experience.
What’s not good about these sneakers are their regular insoles. They do cause a bit of discomfort, but compared to Vans Authentic, they are better and more squishy.
And I do need to remind you that these shoes aren’t anywhere good for running; they are made for skaters, so you can just skate or maybe take a walk in them.
Vans Authentic: Vans Authentic offer decent comfort, but they are not designed as orthotic sneakers. They provide a sufficient level of comfort for regular folks, but they aren’t suitable for people experiencing foot pain.
One big downside is the lack of arch support, which can lead to discomfort, especially for those with high or even normal arches, which can lead to strain at the end of the day.
Moreover, the insoles are extremely thin, for which, I would recommend buying the ComfyCush Authentic. It’s softer and plushier compared to the regular Authentic.
Despite these drawbacks, Vans Authentic are great shoes at their price; their canvas construction makes them easy to throw on as soon as you walk out the door. Also, their canvas is very breathable in hot weather.
So, if you’re looking for an affordable sneaker that you use for college, daily walks, or even the office, then these are a great choice.
Prices
This is where everything changes.
Vans Knu Skool: Vans Knu Skool typically retails for around $75, but picking up colorways other than black and white can raise the price to $80.
Vans Authentic: On the other hand, Vans Authentic comes in a more affordable price range of $50 to $65, making it a budget-friendly option.
However, for just an additional $10, you can upgrade to the ComfyCush version, which offers superior insole and outsole features compared to the standard model.
Colorways
Both of these sneakers give you a lot of colorways to help you match your outfit.
Vans Authentic: Vans Authentic has a wider variety of color options, with more muted tones and brighter colors.
It gives you around 17 colorways, and along with that, there are a lot of collaborations like Julian Klincewicz, Wacko Maria, Anderson Paak, MoMA, and so many others to choose from.
Vans Knu Skool: Vans Knu Skool, on the other hand, has fewer color options, but they tend to be bolder and trendier. I would say the best choice for you depends on your preferences and budget.
Must See: Vans Knu Skool vs Vans Old Skool
Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Buy?
Both of these Vans sneakers offer great style to their wearers, but looking from a comfort perspective, I believe the Vans Knu Skool is going to be a much better choice. They feel nice on your feet and support you perfectly when skating.
However, if you’re on budget and want something that you can pair up with a bunch of different outfits, then Vans Authenics will be your perfect pick. They fit nice, look great, and are quite durable compared to other shoes at their price.
Tell us what your thoughts are about these sneakers. Are they good for you? And what you’re going to purchase.
FAQ
Are Vans Knu Skool Have Thick Sole?
Yes! The Vans Knu Skool features thick soles, with the waffle sole piece being particularly strong. With that, it’s composed of dense gum rubber. This foot-shaped slab is designed to withstand the demands of skateboarding, making it sturdy but also a bit weighty.
Are Vans Shoes Still Cool in 2024?
Yes! Vans has always had a chill vibe that people love. While other shoes like Adidas or Nike took the spotlight for a while, Vans never really went out of style.
But now, they’re making a big comeback. People are loving their reissued models of Vans all over again.
When Did Vans Authentic Come Out?
Vans began its decades-long sneaker journey with the Vans Authentic, which they first called the #44 Deck Shoe. They came out on March 16, 1966 and they were a hit right from the start and stayed as Vans’ top seller until 2005.
While it may not hold the top spot anymore, the Authentic still holds its ground well in the market, showing it’s a timeless classic that people keep coming back to.
