I recently wrote a post on the site discussing Vans’ Trek.
Vans Trek Slip-On Has CROCS in Their Line of Sight:
Initial responses to the post was that the shoe would be too tight and difficult to put on. No one had tried the shoe, but that was a reasonable point. Typically anything made of a one piece rubber type material, would be clingy. Especially if it was designed the same as Vans Slip Ons made for skate.
I visited the Vans Store on 4-20 to check out what was new. The customer service was excellent, but it took a moment for me to find the Trek. The shoe was tucked away in the farthest corner from the door. I found this surprising for a new release. Possibly this is because the store doesn’t have a lot of the shoes in inventory and the roll out is more of a test than it is a full on launch. There weren’t many sizes left and the only 13 was in the olive pair I tried on. That’s a good sign. The shoe fit amazingly well and I was able to place the pair on while holding my phone.
Other observations from the quick visit was that the AVE Pro hasn’t performed well in this market. That isn’t surprising as the demographics of the region cater more to traditional sport than skate and surf. Fashion leads and although the AVE was a technical wonder, it cost 25 dollars more than any other Vans release. The model was on sale.
The Trek is definitely a competitor to Crocs if the brand increases inventory and distribution.