Got nowhere to be but found a new sneaker fav: VANS’ EVDNT UltimateWaffle
Like any person handling the quarantine like a champ, I have spiraled with great, dedicated speed into a pit of buying things. I’m aware some purchases won’t make sense until the pandemic’s over, but for anyone rationalizing their orchestrated joy via spending, this may be the point.
In 2020, I’ve sprung for five pairs of shoes. Do I have anywhere to be? Places to go? No and no. “Invest in the future,” I thought, whatever that might even look like. “What will you make the most out of when we’re back out?” Then the new VANS release, the EVDNT UltimateWaffle, came along and it cannot be ignored: I’ve met my new favorite sneaker.
Trying on the EVDNT UltimateWaffle, I knew getting the mileage out of it wasn’t going to be an issue. And an early conclusion: this is one of those perfectly timed releases. “Comfort first” not so much became a trend but a major lifestyle shift during quarantine (loungewear still going strong for this reason), something Vans obviously paid attention to.
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I don’t think I’ve stepped into a more comfortable sneaker. Like sliding into a pair of snug bedroom slippers modeled after a performance shoe, it’s the generous padding here (or the UltraCush insole unique to Vans) that immediately calls attention to itself. It’s a pretty prominent insole pad, notable for the way it mimics, say, one of those high-end mattresses your body sinks into before you turn in for great sleep. Secondly, it’s meant to provide ample support: that crucial impact absorption for actual skateboarders. It’s one of VANS’ more lifestyle-leaning sneakers but hey, still a skate shoe at its core.
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But skateboarder or not, there’s a lot to be loved. As someone used to stashing Band-Aids in her purse in case breaking in new shoes meant wounded heels, the EVDNT UltimateWaffle is a welcome surprise.
Christened at my next major supermarket run, this amazingly did not need to be broken in. I can’t say the same for the classic white sneakers I consider my go-to pairs, where breaking-in discomfort was always a given, so of course, wearing them to long days spent on my feet was never an option.
The cushioning really is where the magic happens with the EVDNT UltimateWaffle. It kind of hugs the foot for a sock-like fit, hence no tension at the toes, no resistance at the heel, no strain around the ankles. The second-best part: no “sauna feet” feeling after a long day of walking. Classic sneakers are supposedly as low-maintenance as they get, yet I stand corrected.
For fellow white sneaker enthusiasts, this fresh spin on the well-known VANS silhouette thankfully comes in that colorway. Though apart from the white and black variations, there's the in-between colorway: a nice icy gray. It can tie a variety of looks together the way the classic white sneaker does but has that something else to it. It’s an easy-on-the-eyes kind of neutral (as opposed to those stark shades of gray), so it’s worth adding to the sneaker rotation.
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When you meet your favorite new sneaker, during quarantine of all times, having nowhere to be really is besides the point. At least I know I have a new fail-safe shoe I can wear to the ground. Breaking-in pains not included.
In the Philippines, the EVDNT UltimateWaffle collection is available at these VANS stores: Trinoma, Greenbelt, Ayala Cebu, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Galleria, Alabang Town Center, Festival Supermall, Glorietta 3, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Fairview, Uptown and Market! Market!
For more information, follow VANS Philippines on Facebook and Instagram.
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Art Matthew Ian Fetalver
