Toms vs Vans Shoes: Which is Better?

I choose Vans because the quality is high, and the design and style are versatile. Vans are also more durable than Toms.

Toms are more affordable though. In our daily life, we often pay attention to price, but ignore quality.

Toms vs Vans

I chose the Vans because it’s a brand that I like and I think they will go well with all my outfits and they’re really comfy, I think it’ll be good to skate in them.

And I chose what color I wanted for them because I think that they are cool colors that go well together.

We know that a pair of low-padding or minimalist-design shoes will not last very long, and it will be inconvenient when we have to change shoes frequently; the same thing about clothes.

If you want a reliable and comfortable pair of shoes, choose Vans.

Why is Vans better than Toms?

They’re both lightweight casual shoes. How then, did I end up buying both? It is obvious, isn’t it? Both are great shoes that fit my taste and lifestyle.

  • I chose the Vans because they are one of my favorite brands, also because they are really comfy, they are perfect to skate in.
  • But the reason why I chose navy blue for the shoe is that it is a color that goes well with all my outfits and it is a color that I like.

Okay, enough with the word plays. What I’m trying to point out here is… Vans are better because they are more versatile in every angle of shoe requirements.

The soles of the Toms mold themselves to my feet over several days of regular use; the soles of the Vans remain stiff and unyielding.

The only way you can tell how much time I spend running in my Vans is by looking at how much mud and dirt has accumulated on their soles. They are more made for serious business.

They can also be made in different colors as well. The shoelaces can also be placed in different places on the shoe, depending on how tight or loose they need to be tied in order to properly fit the wearer’s foot.

Vans are often designed in ways that allow the use of different kinds of laces. The laces can also sometimes double as decoration for the shoe itself.

Laces meant for dress shoes may be designed in bright colors and patterns that match or complement the dress clothes they will go with.

Differences between Toms and Vans

Toms vs Vans
Toms
  • Toms are lighter
  • The soles of Vans are more durable
  • Lacing systems abound in Vans
  • Different concepts of design
  • Toms use more foam for support
  • Vans have grippy soles
Toms Vans
Lighter weight Serious weight
Less durable soles More durable soles
No-lacing Lacing system (Except Slip-ons)
Minimalist design Sporty design
Padded shoes Supportive insoles
Less grippy soles Grippy soles

Toms are lighter

Toms and Vans are both great shoes. They are both good for walking around the city.

But the differences between them go beyond aesthetics and durability; they tell us something about how we can make trade-offs to suit our needs and preferences.

These shoes are good for casual wear, especially in warm weather. They’re also stylish; they’re popular among young people.

Toms are durable enough for everyday use, but if you take them hiking or if your work puts lots of strain on your feet, they may not be sturdy enough. Vans, on the other hand, will be heavier and sturdier.

So, they won’t be as useful for errands around town or for going out with friends, but they’ll be more comfortable if you do a lot of walking or standing up at work.

  • Vans are the shoes you see skaters wearing not Toms.
  • Shoes for serious activities need to be sturdier. You can’t get a pair of running shoes that will hold up to some serious squatting. Some people even have a separate pair of gym shoes for squatting.
  • The Toms have a lower heel-to-toe drop. This means that the sole of the shoe is closer to the ground in the front than it is in the back. For a given size, this also makes the shoes lighter than Vans.
  • The higher your heels, the more distance there is from your foot to your center of gravity, so a higher heel-to-toe drop will mean you have a higher center of gravity. In other words, you will be more top-heavy and harder to balance with Vans.

The soles of Vans are more lasting

The important thing in a shoe is not how long it lasts but that it fit when you buy it. If it fits, then none of the things that will happen to the shoe over time matter.

If you need a shoe that can stand up to being used as a sled when you are nine years old, then shoes with more durable soles and more weather-resistant leather will be better than shoes with less durable soles and more perishable leather.

But if like most people, your kids will use their shoes for walking and not sledding, then less-durable soles and perishable leather will be just fine.

Buy quality soles, and they will last longer than shoes of comparable price. They will also fit better.

Lacing system abound in Vans

Shoes with a lacing system are more comfortable, they protect your foot better.

Also, shoes without a lacing system or slip-ons like Toms can be more fashionable, you can choose any colors and shapes while the shoes with lacing are limited by their design.

Most Vans except for the Slip-On Specials come with lacing while all Toms brands don’t have one.

Vans too can also be difficult to put on and take off. But what is most important even though shoes like Toms are more comfortable, Vans protect your foot better.

Also, shoes like Vans can be used for sport or outdoor activities.

  • Toms are generally more comfortable than Vans.
  • Most shoes with lacing systems are made of canvas and cotton.
  • Most shoes with lacing systems are made of synthetic textile.
  • Toms are cheaper than Vans.

Different Concept of design

Toms are shoes that are thin and light. These types of Shoes are called Minimalist shoes. They don’t have thick padding to absorb shock, or thick leather to protect your feet from the ground.

They are based on the principle of barefoot running, which is that you run more easily if you run barefoot than if you wear shoes.

Or at least that’s true for most people most of the time; it’s not an absolute rule. But one thing the principle is definitely saying is that thin-soled shoes make running easier than thick-soled ones. But they are meant for running but designed for fashion.

Vans assume that if everyone were barefoot, they would run badly, but in fact, everyone isn’t barefoot.

The argument for motion control shoes is that people who wear them tend to run better than people who don’t because their feet are moving better for some other reason besides being in motion control shoes.

The idea is that if your shoes are rigid enough, they can control how your feet move, and therefore correct for certain kinds of bad running form.

  • Minimalist shoes are thin, thin shoes are easier to run in, thinness equals ease equals less injury.
  • The Vans sporty design is different. It’s based on the principle of “motion control.”

Toms use more foam for support

The major difference between shoes with padded shoes and shoes with supportive insoles is that padded shoes are more comfortable.

Vans are enhanced with either leather or rubber material which has been treated to be soft and pliable.

The soles are made of vulcanized rubber which is designed to hold the shape of the shoe. The padding of the Vans most padded shoes will be in the sole of the shoe to make it more durable.

These types of shoes are usually worn by people who work on their feet all day, but require them to be comfortable enough for them to work in all day long.

Toms are made of mostly foam and canvas. They are not as soft as padded shoes, but they are much more supportive.

These types of insoles can come in different styles, shapes, and sizes depending on the person’s needs. They will usually have a thicker heel with a thinner front half.

This helps with balance when walking or standing for long periods at a time.

Vans have grippier sole

The more vertical surface area of the sole, the better it will grip on loose surfaces. The most accurate way to say it is that the soles on Vans are less slippery. In fact, though, they are not slippery at all.

In both cases, there is a tradeoff between grip and friction. And also in both cases, you can cut down on slip by using more of the material.

The difference is just that you use different kinds of materials to get more grip, and different kinds to get more friction.

One way to think about it is that Vans are like springs: they stretch to absorb shock. The other kind of sole on Toms does not stretch.

When you put on your Vans, your foot gets less of an initial jolt when you step down, so you don’t lose as much energy bending your knees as much as you otherwise would have to. If you do something active; run or jump or walk.

Then at first, it might feel like you’re doing less well with them than with the others; but if instead, you’re walking on level ground at an ordinary pace, then your knees will end up bending slightly less than they would otherwise have had to.

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Similarities between Toms and Vans

Toms vs Vans
Vans
  • Both built of Canvas
  • Their soles are built of rubber

They are both built of canvas

In owning canvas shoes, there are two things you must not forget. First, they must be washable. They will get dirty, so they need to be washable in cold water without shrinking or fading.

Also, they must be stiff enough to stand up by themselves so that they won’t flop around on your feet when trying to walk in them.

Finally, the stitches must be small enough that they won’t rub blisters at the side of her heel when you wear them for a while.

Like Vans, Toms is built out of canvas and a variety of synthetic materials while the canvas part of Vans is made of cotton. The first thing I notice is that it’s stiffer than Toms shoes and also heavier.

Then I realize that this makes it feel more solid; like a pair of boat shoes. It doesn’t feel as delicate as the Toms though.

The texture of Toms’ canvas material is quite remarkable. Go outside to see how it feels on the grass.

This shoe is definitely comfortable than most shoes including Vans. The canvas is cozier, so my feet are sliding around inside the shoe more.

On the other hand, your Vans shoe is better at keeping out water because the canvas is not as thin as other shoes.

Their soles are both built of rubber

It is hard to find examples of products that have gotten much better over time. One example I know is Vans.

These shoes used to be hideous, clumsy things made of heavy rubber and with soles that would hold your foot like a vise if you stepped on a nail or got the dreaded “heel-lace jam.”

The first time I saw a pair of modern Toms shoes, with their lightweight and soft rubber soles, I was amazed.

I couldn’t figure out why every shoe wasn’t made like this. The answer: because we had never known how good slip-ons casual shoes could be.

They didn’t exist before and it wasn’t even possible to make them until recently.

  • The materials that were good enough to build a running shoe only became available after WWII, when synthetics began to replace leather as the material for making military boots.
  • It wasn’t until the 1980s that anyone figured out how to put those materials together into a running shoe.

Final words

I think the Vans are the best shoes for versatility and all-round performance. I choose them because they look good and they are cheap too.

The Vans have a lot of different models, each one with a different design, but I buy the Old Skools, which are simple and comfortable.

The first day I wore them I felt a little bit strange because they were new and because I was used to wearing “clunky” shoes, but after a few minutes of skating, they are perfect.

Toms are lighter, affordable, and super-comfy. They don’t give you blisters or any other problem because they have a special lining inside that prevents friction from your feet to the shoes. Also, they are very squishy and soft.

I think the most important point here is that Vans have affordable slip-ons similar to Toms too.

As long as you have as low as $40 or $50, you can get a new pair of Vans for immense skateboarding without worrying about ruining your shoes.

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