Welcome to Talking Points, a series that looks at what makes certain products worth talking about, brought to you by Gear Patrol Studios.
If someone says the name “Vans,” you probably think of skate shoes. And why not? The brand counts plenty of iconic designs, like the Old Skool, Sk8-Hi and Slip-On, as part of its legendary roster.
But you might be surprised to learn that Vans makes more than just flats for shredding city streets, specifically under its MTE label.
Short for Made for the Elements, MTE shoes infuse outdoors features (like off-road traction and waterproof-breathable membranes) with the brand’s unmistakeable surf-skate style — a trick it more than lands with the all-new MTE Crosspath.
VansVans MTE Crosspath
VansVans MTE Crosspath Mid
A shoe at the intersection of style and function
Skate shoes are known more for their low-key styling than their performance features. Similarly, adventure-focused shoes tend to prioritize their all-terrain chops over, well, looking cool.
With the MTE Crosspath, Vans ticked both boxes — fashion and function — in a shoe that is just as comfortable on the city streets as it is in the great outdoors.
In other words, it’s the shoe that athletes like Ryo Aizawa, Jake Kuyzk, Jill Perkins, and Ivika Jürgenson have been dreaming of for trips that take them across every terrain imaginable.
Vans’ most progressive shoe to date
The MTE Crosspath, available in both low and mid cuts, comes with plenty of performance features. It was also designed with Mother Nature in mind — table stakes for a shoe designed for exploring the great outdoors.
The uppers, made from 100 percent recycled PET and reinforced with abrasion paneling, use seamless RAPIDWELD™ construction treated with a non-PFC water-repellent coating for a protective, lightweight and breathable fit.
VansAn updated toe box shape and contoured insoles ensure all-day comfort while a new outsole traction pattern provides even better grip than previous models by maximizing surface area contact with the ground.
Finally, its midsole is made with 50 percent bio-based EVA foam, partially derived from plants, while 31 percent of the rubber used to make the outsole is regeneratively grown.
This is the shoe for modern adventurers
Sure, haute couture has coopted the loudest, most absurd elements of technical outerwear. But just because gorpcore is cool among city-dwelling fashionistas doesn’t mean you have to settle for neon colors and overly technical aesthetics in search of performance.
That’s where the MTE Crosspath comes in, perfectly blending Vans’ low-key vibes with the always-ready, all-terrain features you need for your next adventure.
VansVans MTE Crosspath
Vans