Vans Alternatives: The 6 Best Running Shoes for Vans Classic Fans

What started as a humble skateboarding shoe has become a cultural icon. Vans are everywhere from feet of yoga moms in the carpool line to the highest reaches of pop culture. Simple and versatile, their appeal transcends age, class and all sorts of demographic barriers. The only thing this great unifier can't do? Keep you cushioned and speedy out on a run. Here's why it's not a great idea to run in Vans and six performance running shoe alternatives.

First Off, Can You Run In Vans?

While Vans are great for skateboarding and general swag, it's not a great idea to use them for any sort of serious running. Vans have a flat, minimally cushioned platform that's designed for keeping your feet planted to a board, not repeatedly pounding the pavement and toeing off. In contrast, dedicated performance running shoes have cushioning to protect your joints from impact, outsoles to grip the pavement and some degree of rocker geometry to help your foot roll along. While it's not necessary to have all these elements in a running shoe (this is why minimal running shoes exist), they help make the experience of running more enjoyable and can reduce injury risk.

If you like the way that Vans feel on foot with their simple construction and flat platform, you can consider a zero drop shoe from a brand like Altra, one of which we've included below. Or if you're a fan of Vans patterns, we've rounded up options for you as well. Here are the six best running shoe alternatives to your trusty old Vans (which, again, are great for everything and anyone except you while running).

Best Running Shoe Alternatives to Vans

Whether you're after the style or the fit, there are Vans dupes and inspo shoes across the wide world of performance running.

1. Atreyu Base Model: The No Frills Soul Sister to Vans Slip On

The Atreyu Base Model is a spiritual sibling to a classic pair of Vans. It's low-cost, no-frills and looks clean. Atreyu is a direct-to-consumer running shoe brand built on the principle of honoring simplicity. In this model, they do that by offering a stripped-down shoe at an affordable price point (affordable in a world where everyday running shoes start at $130…). It has a low stack of 21.5 mm of supercritical EVA in the heel, so it's a good option if you like Vans low-to-the-ground feel. If you'd prefer something with moe cushion, though, consider the next two options on our list.

2. Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 ($170): For Fans of Vans Authentic & Fun Patterns

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is like the Vans Authnetic of the running world. It's a crowd pleader, and can be dressed up or down, i.e., fast or slow, depending on the occasion. The Speed 3 has Saucony's bouncy and responsive PWWRUN PB beaded PEBA foam, plus a nylon plate for extra stability and pop. They're great at everything from aerobic base building runs to intervals—and even race day if you don't want to run in something with a carbon plate. They also come in a range of special edition fun patterns if that's your thing.

3. On Cloudmonster ($170): If You Just Want Something Cool

Let's face it: Vans are cool, and they make a statement. If you want people to know you're cool when running as well, look no further than the On Cloudmonster. This max-stacked cruiser is the trendy new kid on the block from Swiss running house On. It features a bed of oversized CloudTec pods which you can feel compress and expand on each stride. The Cloudmonster excels as a daily trainer and for slower long runs. You'll also get street cred in these from runners and Whole Foods passersby alike.

4. Asics Magic Speed 3 ($170): For a Clean Look in an Uptempo Package

If you like Vans for their sparse simplicity and want a fast shoe, then look no further than the ASICS Magic Speed 3. A competitor to the Saucony Endorphin Shift 3, the Magic Speed also uses the formula of putting a plate in a non-marathon racer. Here, we see a full-length carbon fiber plate sandwiched between two layers of ASCS' Flyte Foam Blast Plus Eco, a cushioned yet responsive compound also seen in other top-tier training shoes from the brand like the Gel-Nimbus 25. Previous version of the Magic Speed were on the firmer side, but this latest iteration dials it in with the perfect balance of firmness and give. Based on the plated midsole and overall feel of the ride, the Magic Speed is best for uptempo training runs and can also be used for race day.

5. Altra Vanish Tempo ($170): If You Like the Flat Platform 

If you like how it feels to walk in Vans, not just their style, then consider the Altra Vanish Tempo. Altra's brand is built on delivering shoes with a zero drop platform, meaning the forefoot and heel foam stack are the same height. According to Altra, this helps the foot land in a more natural position and improves foot strength and running form. The Vanish Tempo is the best training option from the brand. It has a bouncy supercritical TPE foam midsole and a comfortable upper. It's similar to the brand race day shoe, the Altra Vanish Carbon, but ditches the carbon plate and shaves $70 from the ticket price. 

6. Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro ($250): For a Checkerboard Dupe on Race Day

If you're a diehard checkerboard Vans wearer and looking to take your game to the next level on raceday, the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro is the shoe for you. Bespeckled in black and white paint splatter print that looks like a dead ringer for the iconic Vans pattern if you squint hard enough, the Wave Rebellion Pro is as fast as it is bold. It has a dual-foam midsole of Enerzy Lite (supercritical TPU) and Enerzy Lite Pro (PEBA) that provides a bouncy, responsive and cushioned platform, plus a carbon-infused nylon plate for the power and pop.