You’ve seen them everywhere. On TikTok, in the skatepark, and probably on that one guy at the coffee shop who looks like he stepped straight out of a 1998 Warped Tour lineup. I’m talking about the all black new skool vans, or as the box technically calls them, the Knu Skool.
Honestly, calling them a "new" shoe is a bit of a stretch. They first crawled out of the Vans design lab back in 1998, a time when everyone wanted their shoes to look like they’d been inflated with a bicycle pump. But then they vanished. For nearly two decades, the slim, refined Old Skool reigned supreme. Now? The pendulum has swung back hard. The chunk is back, and the triple black (monochrome) version is currently the heavy hitter of the bunch.
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What Are They, Exactly?
Basically, the Knu Skool is the Old Skool’s older, beefier brother who spent the last twenty years lifting weights and listening to Limp Bizkit. While the classic Old Skool is sleek and minimalist, the all black new skool vans are unapologetically loud, even in a colorway that’s meant to be "stealth."
The most obvious thing you’ll notice is the "Jazz Stripe." On a regular pair of Vans, that’s just a flat piece of leather or canvas. On these? It’s a 3D-molded, puffy side stripe that sticks out. It gives the shoe a weirdly satisfying depth. Everything else follows suit: the tongue is massive and overstuffed, the collar is thick enough to protect your ankles from a stray board, and the laces are those fat, wide ribbons that were the gold standard of Y2K skate culture.
The Construction Breakdown
- Upper: Mostly sturdy suede. The triple black version uses a tonal mix where the suede meets the 3D stripe.
- The "Puff" Factor: A heavily padded tongue and ankle collar.
- Heel Pulls: A practical addition for those of us too lazy to unlace properly.
- The Sole: Classic rubber waffle outsole, but with a slightly chunkier midsole height.
The Reality Check: Are They Actually Good for Anything?
Here is where I have to be a bit of a buzzkill. If you are planning on using these as your primary technical skate shoe, you might want to rethink that.
I’ve spent a lot of time looking into how these actually perform. Most skaters will tell you that the "board feel" is... well, it’s not great. Because the sole is thick and the interior is so padded, your foot feels a bit disconnected from the grip tape. They’re heavy. If you’re trying to flick a triple kickflip, these might feel like you’re wearing cinder blocks.
But for walking? They’re surprisingly cozy. Unlike the standard Old Skools, which can feel like walking on a flat piece of plywood until you break them in, the all black new skool vans have a lot of internal "squish."
Expert Note: Don't confuse these with the "Vans Skate" line. The Knu Skool is a lifestyle-first shoe. It doesn't usually come with the PopCush insoles found in the professional skate models, so if you have high arches, you might still want to swap the factory insoles out.
Styling the Void: How to Wear All Black
The beauty of a triple-black shoe is that you can’t really mess it up, but the silhouette of the Knu Skool presents a specific challenge. Because they are so wide and "chonky," wearing them with skinny jeans is a bold choice. It often results in the "Mickey Mouse" effect—tiny legs, giant feet.
If you want to actually look good in these, you have to lean into the volume. Think baggy.
- Loose Fit Denim: Baggy, light-wash jeans that stack a little bit over the tongue are the classic look.
- Cargo Pants: The extra pockets and wider leg opening balance out the shoe's mass.
- Monochrome Goth-Lite: Go full "all black" with a black oversized hoodie and black work pants. It’s a mood.
People often ask if they can wear these to a wedding or a "nice" dinner. Kinda? Since they’re all black, they blend in better than the white-stripe version. But at the end of the day, they're still giant, puffy skate shoes. They aren't replacing your Oxfords.
Why Everyone is Buying Them Now
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. We’ve spent the last five years obsessing over "dad shoes" and 90s tech runners. The all black new skool vans fit right into that Y2K revival.
There’s also a durability factor. Because they are mostly suede and have that extra rubber reinforcement around the toe, they tend to last longer than the canvas Authentics or Eras. They can take a beating. I’ve seen people use these as their daily "beaters" for a year, and aside from some salt stains and a bit of heel drag, they hold their shape remarkably well.
One thing to watch out for: The "Triple Black" version (VN0009QCBKA) can sometimes be harder to find than the black-and-white version. When they restock, they usually go fast because they appeal to the "workwear" crowd—people who need a black shoe for a job but don't want to look like they're wearing orthopedic nurse shoes.
Making the Final Call
If you’re looking for a slim, breathable summer shoe to wear with shorts, these ain't it. Your feet will sweat. They are thick, insulated, and take up a lot of room in a suitcase.
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However, if you want a sneaker that makes a statement, feels substantial on your foot, and doesn't require you to worry about getting a white side stripe dirty, the all black new skool vans are a solid investment. They're usually priced around $75 to $80, which, in a world of $200 Jordans, feels like a steal.
Actionable Next Steps
- Size Up? Maybe Not: Most users find these run true to size, but the "puffiness" can make them feel tight initially. Give them three days of wear before you decide they’re too small.
- Weatherproofing: Since they are suede, grab a can of water-repellent spray. Suede hates rain, and all-black suede turns a weird chalky grey if it gets soaked and dried too many times.
- Lace Check: If the "fat" laces are too much for you, you can swap them for standard width laces, but be warned: it makes the shoe look a bit disproportionate because the tongue is so wide.