Vans Skate Half Cab Shoe Purple Licorice

Scissors and Duct Tape Built an Icon

Back in 1992 street skaters were finally fed up with bulky high-tops restricting their ankle movement. They grabbed household scissors, hacked their Steve Caballero Full Cabs down to mid-height, and taped off the frayed collars with duct tape. Steve and Vans took the hint, put the Half Cab into production exactly like that, and casually wrote the blueprint for one of the most important skate shoes in history. Over three decades later the shoe returns under the Skate Classics banner, tossing aside polite modesty in a monochrome Purple Licorice colorway. The upper pairs rugged suede with breathable mesh panels, reminding everyone that this shoe never asked traditionalists for permission.

Built to Outlast Crushed Shins

Beneath that saturated purple sits serious defense against fresh, abrasive griptape. Vans tucked hidden Duracap rubber layers right beneath the toe box and deepened the knurling along the front bumper so your kicks do not look like Swiss cheese after three sessions. Inside, elastic tongue straps and a molded heel counter lock your foot down where it belongs when landing sketchy. The PopCush footbed absorbs heavy concrete impacts to save your heels, while the vulcanized SickStick rubber waffle sole delivers the legendary board feel you know since 1966, now built significantly tougher.

The Facts

- Brand: Vans

- Model: Skate Half Cab

- Upper Material: Heavyweight suede with breathable mesh underlays

- Cushioning: POPCUSH energy-return footbed for impact protection and cushioning

- Reinforcement: DURACAP rubber underlays in high-wear zones

- Sole: SickStick gum rubber compound with classic waffle tread

- Fit: Molded heel counter and internal tongue lock-in straps

- Details: Woven Half Cab logo patch on side and tongue, tonal laces, checkerboard flag at heel

- Colorway: Purple Licorice

- Style Code: VN0A5FCDGRE1