If you have been wearing Vans for years, there is nothing about this shoe that will surprise you as far as feel and look go. The upside to this shoe is that it looks better once you get it out of the box than in the picture. Another upside is that you will, most likely, be the only person on your block with a pair. Downsides... if you want to call it that... are that this is a suede shoe... so, it's not an everyday shoe. If it is your everyday shoe you will see it get beat up pretty quick. Suede needs to be cared for. If you don't take care of it with product and cleaning then you will see it stain easily and suede will also dry out and tear. Bottom line: take care of them and they are some real sweet Vans that not every one has!