The Vans Gravel: The Verdict Is In!

If you know anything about us, you know that we rock Vans day in and day out! Although the old model Whip shoe has always been my personal shoe of choice for trails, I never really had too many options for aggressive DH outside of the original Intense sticky rubber shoes (yes, we own pairs of these) and the current 5.10 models.  No offense to anyone though, but damn, these shoes were always heavy, even heavier when wet, looked like a bad hiking boot (5.10 has improved that ten fold), and we always asked...why don't I have more options?

Enter the new Vans Gravel. Okay, we may be biased as Vans is as critical to our lives as Jack Daniels, Levis, Dickies, and John Deere, but we will be straight up and honest about our findings to help guide some of you in the right path.  Utilizing the same "Impactsorb" sole as the original model Whips (which are the best shoe ever), the Gravel features a stiff sole that is built from a sticky rubber compound in the shape of the Vans trademark waffle pattern. Tough to beat? Well, they are not as sticky as a 5.10, but this was actually another bonus point for us as adjusting our feet on the fly is almost impossible on a 5.10. With the Gravel...you get more grip than any other shoe, but adjustments can be made without fully lifting your foot off the pedal.

The Vans Gravel is also incredibly light, features durable synthetic materials that do not soak up water like a sponge, side panels that protect your shoes from crankarm friction, and added padding when your ankle gets close to crankarm impact.  The aesthetic in this case is just a bonus as the Gravel is a beautiful shoe in it's all black with reflective Vans piping configuration. It is the first DH ready shoe that we have wanted to actually wear around people without feeling awkward. 

Look, the MTB market for Vans is so small compared to the other genres they support so well, but this is their first (second after the Warners) foray into our sport, so more people need to spread the word and show them that we embrace what they are doing. It is simple, if you want a lightweight, good looking, stiff, durable, and super sticky shoe that your girlfriend wont laugh at...they are for you. They are now our DH shoe of choice and we plan to have it stay that way for years to come... Buy some TODAY!