The New Vans Surf Treks are Crocs for People Immune to Ugliness - Stab Mag

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The New Vans Surf Treks are Crocs for People Immune to Ugliness

What is it about rubber that’s so damn appealing?

style // Apr 1, 2021
Words by Alistair Klinkenberg
Reading Time: 2 minutes

There are lots of things that are ugly but comfortable, plenty vice versa, and that’s just fine by us. Part of the great yin yang of life. But it’s ok to leave ugly things lie. Like Crocs. Their hideousness was celebrated when they first arose, but now, for some god forsaken reason, the trendsters that be are trying to reclaim the Croc as the hip summer footwear, fixing bespoke straps to the back and so forth. We say let the Crocs stay ugly and get a pair of Vans Surf Treks.

There’s something indescribably captivating about seeing something familiar re-made in a more tactile material. And like porcelain handguns (if only they were all pin-less and purely decorative), Vans Classics remade in monochrome rubber had us instantly hunting for the best contact to get a box sent to the office pronto. Let’s examine.

The beauty here is that you can wear ’em low key with socks – good for driving, checking the surf, winter lounging around the house etc – and also when you really need them – camping, public spas, scrambling around the rocks to the next bay – without drawing undue attention to your rubber daps. Then just hose them down, leave them outside, slide in the next morning and you’re off. They come in a range of subtle colours, so it’s really a chose your own daily venture deal.

It’s amazing how soft, durable and light you can make rubber compounds in 2021, and the Vans Surf Trek’s are the pinnacle. They’re comfy, practical and guaranteed will become your most highly circulated footwear if you’re brave enough to hit green.

A curious, useful little purchase.

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