The Vans Skate Era Is Back, and the Next Evolution Begins with Skate Era WaffleCup™

The return of the Skate Era marks a pivotal moment in Vans skateboarding. Born in the ’70s as the world’s first skate shoe and shaped by the needs of skaters pushing the limits of what was possible, the Era set a new standard for comfort, control, and durability. 

Bringing back the Skate Era alongside Tony Alva reconnects the franchise with its origins and launches the Skate Era WaffleCup™ as the next evolution of the franchise. 

The Spring 2026 campaign features Vans skate team riders Tony Alva, Shiloh Catori, Diego Todd, Dick Rizzo, Daiki Hoshino, Junior Gutierrez, Pedro Delfino, Geoff Rowley, and more, bringing the Era back to the streets through their individual styles and perspectives.

Few skateboarders embody the Era’s spirit like Tony Alva. Born in Santa Monica in 1957, Alva helped redefine skateboarding as a founding member of the legendary Zephyr Competition Team, also known as the Z-Boys. He later won the Men’s World Overall Championships in 1977 and became one of the first skateboarders to build his own brand, cementing his influence on skate culture worldwide. 

From backyard pools in Dogtown to global recognition, including appearances in the documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys and the feature film Lords of Dogtown, Alva’s legacy is intertwined with the Era’s history.

Originally introduced as the Vans #95, the Era was designed with direct input from legendary skateboarders Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta. What set it apart was simple but revolutionary: a padded collar for added comfort and bold color combinations that reflected the individuality of the era’s skate scene. It quickly became the shoe of choice for a generation carving pools, inventing vertical skating, and defining a culture.

Now, celebrating 50 years of Vans Skateboarding, the Skate Era brings it full circle. Rebuilt for modern skateboarding while keeping what first made it iconic, it features added impact protection underfoot, reinforced durability, a locked-in fit, and the unmatched grip of SickStick™ rubber. A molded heel counter increases structure and stability, while internal tongue straps keep everything secure. The padded collar remains—a nod to the Era’s breakthrough design—delivering comfort and support exactly where it’s needed.

From this foundation, Vans moves the legacy forward with the introduction of the Skate Era WaffleCup™, the latest evolution of the franchise, built for what’s next in skateboarding. The Skate Era WaffleCup™ updates the classic low-profile silhouette with Vans’ most advanced Skate outsole technology to date, delivering cupsole-level support with vulcanized boardfeel and flexibility.

Designed for modern skate performance, the Skate Era WaffleCup™ features WaffleCup™ outsole construction, DuraCap™ reinforcement for durability, and PopCush™ impact cushioning for impact protection, engineered to withstand daily wear while preserving the iconic feel of the Era with precision-tuned control you can trust.

The Skate Era is available now at Vans retail locations and Vans.com. The Skate Era WaffleCup™ will be available globally at Vans retail locations and Vans.com beginning March 3rd, 2026.