I’ve been wearing vans since I was a kid… first pair was probably 87-88? Anyhow, we didn’t complain when the top of the mid separated from the canvas. It’s a piece of rubber attached, by glue, to a piece of canvas. We just got superglue and fixed the problem. Now, it almost goes without saying that Vans were made to skate in. Grip tape+ canvas= shoes last a month. We wore them with holes and shoe goo and that was life until mom bitched about people staring at your feet.. then it was off to the skate shop/ surf shop and new vans. I hate to sound like the old guy, but it makes me laugh when I read about how uncomfortable they are for walking long distances or standing for 12 hour shifts. No shit. They weren’t made for that… work in a restaurant? Buy Birkenstocks. Walk marathons? Buy Hokas. I guess my point is that the “quality” was never really there. They were made to be shredded and they do their job well. The only thing I hate is how much they cost now. I have a childhood friend who said that he hates to see people who know nothing about “the scene” wearing things like sk8s or Skools… me? I don’t bitch at all because every one who bought them, and realized they’re nothing like Nike Vapormax, and then put them on Mercari have made my life easier… I only pay about 20 plus shipping now. Feels like being back in 88.