Matt Varga Skateboarding is one of the load-bearing pillars in modern footwear. So much so, it’s hard to imagine a world when the sport was but a niche interest of a select few, but if anyone does, Vans well remembers that period. While the Authentic remains their longest-standing silhouette and was quickly adopted by riders, the Era is where their bonafides in skating really began.
Tony Alva, a legend in his own right, was essential in developing the Era as the start of that performance journey. It’s a full-circle moment five decades later, as the California company brings the Era back to shelves along with a modernized partner, all with Alva at the center of a sprawling campaign. Joined by brand peers Shiloh Catori, Diego Todd, Dick Rizzo, and plenty of others, his co-sign branches onto the Skate Era WaffleCup, a retooled take on the OG said to “bridge past and future.”
Though the shape and low-profile silhouette of the Era remains, the comprehensive treatment of the Wafflecup is immediately evident: increased padding around the foot, SickStick rubber underneath, DuraCap anchoring to protect high-abrasion areas, and PopCush cushioning all ensure that the wearer gets a no-holds-barred tech experience as the Era franchise embarks on the second half of its 100-year journey. If the OG is still your style above all else, the imprint has also let the shoe loose into the catalog once more, previously absent since as far back as February 2025.
The Vans Era proper just hit the company’s site in four new colorways, each clocking in at $65. The Vans Era Wafflecup is available in three, clocking in at $75 each. Hit the link HERE to grab yours.
