Costa Mesa, CALIF. (March 4, 2019) – On the heels of launching the brand’s latest footwear innovation, ComfyCush, this past week, Vans highlights the new ComfyCush Zushi SF in their surf collection, a low-profile practical style that meets the technical demands of the most creative surfers, while providing a timeless and versatile silhouette built on comfort. Revered for fusing innovative technology with classic design, Vans crafts the ComfyCush Zushi SF style by blending heritage facets with Vans ComfyCush. 

The New Vans new ComfyCush Zushi SF in a brilliant lapis blue.

Bold and bright in a lapis blue and true white for oceanic tones, the ComfyCush Zushi SF boasts an upgraded one-piece deconstructed upper, combining more stretch, a truly lightweight outsole, and added arch support for first-class comfort.

Revered for fusing innovative technology with classic design.

Vans’ ComfyCush technology offers sublime coziness, maintaining Vans’ commitment to long-lasting wear and reliable traction with the signature waffle rubber outsole construction. For the ComfyCush Zushi SF, Vans integrates a collapsible heel for easy on/off wear, medial vent holes for optimal airflow and a heritage sidewall that stealthily hides the lightweight co-molded ComfyCush outsole, a fit that feels like you’re walking on a cloud! The ComfyCush Zushi SF raises the bar, where vital comfort meets practicality.

To learn more about the Vans surf collection and to find an authorized dealer near you, visit Vans.com/Surf. 

About Vans

Vans^®, a VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) brand, is the original action sports footwear, apparel and accessories brand. Vans^®authentic collections are sold in 84 countries through a network of subsidiaries, distributors and international offices. Vans^® has over 2,000 retail locations globally including owned, concession and partnership doors. The Vans^® brand promotes creative self-expression in youth culture across action sports, art, music and street culture and delivers progressive platforms such as the Vans Park Series, Vans Triple Crown of Surfing^®, Vans Pool Party, Vans Custom Culture, and Vans’ cultural hub and international music venue, House of Vans.

Vans, “Off The Wall” Since ’66

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Vans Warner SPD Shoe Review

If you told me I’d be wearing Vans again after a 28 year hiatus, I’d say that would be a slim to none chance. But, as circumstance would have it, here I am writing about a pair of shoes by a brand that kick stated my love for bikes oh so long ago.

Vans Warner SPD

Product Tested: Vans Warner SPD Shoes. Size Mens 8.5
Materials: Synthetic leather uppers and rubber waffle soles
Lining: EVA Foam
Color: Black
Weight: 2 lbs 6 oz with cleats
Recommended Use: BMX / AM / DH
Retail Price: $94.95

Vans Warner SPD Soles

At first glance, the Warner SPD look like any classic pair of skate shoes– flip em over and that’s further reinforced by the use of the famous waffle vulcanized soles, but those skate shoe similarities stop when you attach a set of cleats and throw them on for a ride.

What I noticed right away is how easy it is to clip in. The wide cleat channels and the lack of spikes or fancy protrusions make it easy to engage and lock into the pedal. Once in, things feel firm and tight. The shoe body has a comfortable firmness I was use to from all my years of riding in Five10 shoes. The sole is stiff enough to provide the support you’d want for pedaling and flexible enough for those hike a bikes where you’d hardly notice the cleats striking as you walk. A bonus is that you can actually drive with them and leave them on if you happen to be meeting up for a post-ride pint at the local dive.

Vans Warner SPD Rear View

The Warners run a 1/2 size smaller than your standard sports shoe. They do provide a nice laced-up shoe feel without the pressure points I’ve noticed on traditional clip shoes. The velcro strap comes in handy for holding down those laces once tied but that’s about all they’re good for (and are removable as an option). The padded tongue floats freely and sits in place once everything is cinched up.

The construction of these shoes are very similar to any of their skate/bike shoes — very straight-forward and honest. Wear and tear on these would be similar to their skate shoes because the materials are similar. I imagine you can get through a solid season with these and have no worries as they have proven themselves on top UCI downhill courses.

GOOD: Classic skate inspired looks. Comfortable, firm and supportive. Easy pedal engagement. Soles are stiff for pedaling with enough flex for hike a bikes. Could be used for flat pedals as an option.
BAD: Ventilation would be an issue for long rides. Exposed laces could break down over time.

Reviewed by Qwan Pham

The Five Ten Karver shoes share some common characteristics with the Five Ten Impact 2 Low top shoes, so this review is somewhat of a follow up. I have a dozen rides on these Karvers. There are a few similarities, like the fit and feel but some of the new features deserve a closer look.

Let’s get to it…

DESIGN
The Karver looks like something straight out of the film Mad Max Beyond Thunder Dome. It has a beefy posture and topped off with lace shield protectors. They look like they’re about to crash through a brick wall. There’s no question these shoes were made to do battle on your favorite trail, jump track or gravity line. They are also equipped with the ultra-tech Stealth S1 rubber that will help you stick to your pedals like pine sap to your hands.

SIZING, FIT & COMFORT
Built on the Impact 2 type design and constructed with almost the same panels, they fit about the same. If you love your Impact 2s, these will be your huckleberry friend in no time. Your feet will have the same wrapped feeling with overall improved support.

Riding with Five Ten Karver. Photo Brian Roark.

FUNCTION & PERFORMANCE
I won’t go into how these shoes work (See Impact 2 review), but what’s different about these shoes are the new bells and whistles that make them even more desirable. Although I must admit at first, I wasn’t too thrilled about the Pollock paint swirls, but they grew on me when I got them out on a ride. The Karvers are better than I expected.

For those who like the high top shoes for their support and protection, the Karver’s inside mid-height ankle protectors also do the same thing. The beauty of this design is that you retain the flexibility of a low top but also gain the added protection for those occasional ankle clacks to your crank arms.

The lace shields are removable so you can wear the shoes without them, although what would be the point? The shields protect your laces from snagging on shrubs and branches as well as help keep dirt and debris out. This is really noticeable on dry and sandy trails. At the end of my rides, I take off my shoes and the laces are completely clean. This should help to prolong the life of the shoes as laces are the first thing to fail.

You can see the entire collection of mountain bike shoes on their site at fiveten.com.

GOOD: I didn’t think Five Ten could take one of their tried and true product and make it better, but I’m glad they did.

BAD: Weight is still possibly an issue but seldom do you find light weight shoes that will last as long. The Velcro on the shield may eventually wear out from repeated on and off.

Reviewed by Qwan Pham

Five Ten Impact 2 low

I’m not even going to beat around the bush with this review. If you use flat pedals and are looking for something grippy to help you stick to your pedals, stop reading this review now and just go buy these! I’m not even kidding.

Five Ten shoes are hands down, the best gripping shoes you will put your feet into. This company has its origins in rock-climbing, where the difference between staying on the rock and falling off is determined by how well you can stick to it. They’ve been doing this for a long time and probably know a thing or two about making shoes that perform and function as needed by its wearer.

I wore the Impact 2 low tops for a little more than 10 months, with 3-4 rides a week – doing some quick math (being conservative), I have about 120 rides on them. Retailing for around $95-$100, it breaks down to about 80¢ per ride. I’d say that’s a bargain for the kind of performance these shoes provide.

Here’s what I think about them:

SIZING & FIT
With any shoes you really need to go try them on first. Not all models fit the same. The models I have used – Impact 2 low, Impact 2 high, Karver and Nathan Rennies all run true to size. The fit is about the same on the Impacts and Karver (similar design construction) but felt slightly looser with the Nathan Rennie. I have thinner feet, so it just required a little more synching down on the laces.

COMFORT
If you are coming from a pair of skate shoes, the Five Tens will feel clunkier, stiffer and heavier than you’re accustomed to. I didn’t like them at first but was willing to tough it out (I heard too many good things). They just needed some break-in time. Do what I did and wear them to work for a week – just walk a lot in them so they’ll be great on those hike-a-bikes. And when the weekend rolls around, they will be feeling so nice, you’ll need to make room next to your Air Jordans for them.

Stealth rubber keeps you planted on your pedals.

FUNCTION & PERFORMANCE
What makes these shoes special is the Stealth rubber compound that offer an obnoxious amount of grip. So much so, that I’ve had to remove a few pins from my pedals so I can get my feet off quicker (as needed of course). Even in wet and muddy conditions, these shoes will stick. They are the closest you can get to being clipped in without going to cleat shoes. As an example, when you need to reposition a foot on a pedal. You literally need to lift your feet off the pedal and reposition them. It’s difficult to move them without doing this. The are that grippy.

The shoes are basically bomb proof, using synthetic leather, winbuck and rubber. The stealth rubber soles cradle the shoe body, wrapping around from the bottom to the sides, front and rear with more rubber used in the toe box area. If you’ve ever ridden through rocky trails, then you’ve experienced rocks flinging up and at your toes. This is one of the reasons why I love these shoes. Rocks just ricochet off them.

While they have a little heft to them, the benefits far outweigh any weight savings. Unique to the Impact 2 shoe design is the tounge; integrated into the inside sidewall of the shoe, is a continuous piece of material that wraps around your foot for additional ankle rolling support. The shoe uses a barrel lacing system that sits tucked under the shoe uppers. This design not only reduces pressure points but also keeps the laces protected as it is not on the surface of the shoe.

WARRANTY
After 10 plus months of use, the barrel lace eyelet gave out on one shoe. I contacted Five Ten inquiring about whether it would be covered under warranty… and not only did they replace them for me, but they let me upgrade to the new Karvers. That’s just a classy thing for a company to do. Check them out at fiveten.com or call customer service at 909.798.4222.


GOOD: In all categories, fit, comfort, support, durability, protection and performance; there is no equal. This will be the best money you’ve ever spent. Unbelievable warranty replacement program.

BAD: I may need to reclassify this as “not so bad”. If I could improve one thing, it would be to reduce the weight.

Reviewed by Qwan Pham