Vans X OAMC Turns Skate Staples Into Rugged Trail Shoes

By Danial Martinus • 16 Mar 2026 in Sneak Peek

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Skate shoes and hiking boots don’t exactly come from the same family, let alone the same category of shoes. But the two vastly different worlds collide in a new collaboration between Vans and OAMC in the most surprisingly natural way.

The capsule reimagines two Vans staples, the Authentic and the Half Cab, and gives them a dose of rugged outdoor functionality beyond asphalt. Gone are their skate-focused treads, and in their place are trail-ready Vibram outsoles.

Known for its ultra-durable rubber used in hiking boots and mountaineering footwear, Vibram isn’t something you’d normally associate with skate shoes at all. But it’s this exact contrast that just makes the capsule work.

A match made for the trails (or just slightly uneven pavement)

OAMC, short for Objective And Meticulously Curious, was founded in 2013 by Luke Meier (former creative director at Jil Sander and Supreme) and Arnaud Faeh (former creative director at Carhartt WIP). Since then, it’s built a reputation on blending utilitarian design with refined fashion sensibilities.

That same philosophy makes itself known in this capsule. The Authentic, for instance, is traditionally known for its simple five-eyelet design. But this capsule has given it one of the most dramatic transformations in the silhouette’s history.

If anything, it now ironically leans closer to dress shoe than skate sneaker, despite its rugged outsole.

Crafted with rugged canvas and given a more structured look, the shoe gives Oxford vibes sans stitched leather soles. In its place is a seriously chunky Vibram outsole that gives the otherwise polished design a bold and outdoorsy foundation. It belongs on and off road, so to speak.

The Half Cab, on the other hand, is a silhouette that’s long been a staple in skate culture. In this capsule, it’s been given a new identity; one that effortlessly morphs into a proper hiking boot (owing to its mid-top height).

It’s got durable canvas uppers, oversized metal eyelets, thick rope laces, and other functional details that push the shoe into tactical territory.

In fact, in some durability tests carried out by Vans, it seems that both silhouettes in the capsule feature steel-toe constructions, barely deforming when bowling balls and bricks are dropped onto them. We can’t say for sure if this is actually the case, but it certainly looks like it:

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Beyond design quirks, the collaboration shows just how evergreen these two silhouettes’ legacies are, evolving with the times and with changing tastes.

The Vans x OAMC capsule is exclusively available at Crossover. Check it out here.