Snowboarding Exchange

There are a lot of factors that weigh in when you decide to make a new purchase. In the case of a snowboard boot, fit and cost are the probably the biggest factors. Well I suppose to some it is the style and hipness of the boot that might override the comfort and cost of the boot.  Nonetheless, if the boot doesn’t mould around your foot like butter there isn’t much you can do but keeping looking and trying on different boot brands and models. But let’s say you did find two or three boots that were within your price range and all felt really good on your feet. All the said boots locked your heel into place, fit snugly around your toes without cramping, had the perfect amount of support for your arch and sported a quick lacing system that got you out of the parking lot and to the lift while your friends still fumbled to boot up. What would tip the scale in favor of one boot or another?

The small things can sometimes be the ones that make or break a deal. So what if one boot company showed a greater commitment to the environment and sustainable boot design than the rest? Feeling good about supporting a company that does its part to create products with low impact on the environment might the tipping point. Here we’ll look at Vans and how Vans Snowboard Boots are working to minimize the impact they make on the environment.

Let’s take a step back and look at how Vans get started. If you aren’t old enough to be able to say you were a proud owner of the famous checkered Vans kicks back in the day then here is some history. Paul Van Doren is the main man behind Vans and decided to start up his own business after having worked in the industry during the early 60’s on the east coast. He teamed up with and investor named Serge D’Elia and another guy with show manufacturing experience named Gordy Lee. They opened up shop in Anaheim in 1966 and started the Van Doren Rubber Company.

Vans really got its first spike in popularity when skateboarding was emerging as a widely adopted sport in the early 70’s. Vans worked with pro skater to make shoes that were colorful and bold. They came out with the slip on in 1979 and that took California by storm. Vans also started penetrating the BMX scene around this time and positioning itself as the hip shoe in the actions sports scene. When Fast Times at Ridgemont High came out and Spicoli sported the checkered Vans the popularity of the shoe picked up again.

If we are going to talk about determination and a “failure is not an option” attitude, then Vans is strong contender for the “resiliency” title. They went through a rocky beginning including Bankruptcy in 1984, deportation of its illegal workers, and competition from knock off companies and slipping sales due to recession. One thing to note is that the company initially really tried to keep production on US soil until it just wasn’t viable anymore based on their competitors all going overseas.

Where Vans Snowboard Boots comes into the picture is the introduction of the boot line 1995 when the line brought the company to profitability within a short one year’s time.  Vans has been a staple in snowboard boots every since. But what exactly does the company currently do on the GREEN front?  Let’s have a look at some the companies’ current efforts to go green.

The most notable things Vans is doing is attempting to cut down on waste in the manufacturing process and also using materials that produce less toxic byproducts and are more easily recycled.  Vans recently partnered with Protect Our Winters (POW) to design the new Men’s Cirro and Women’s Veil boots with more sustainable materials. “The boot uppers are constructed using 100% recycled PET textile, 50% recycled PET synthetic and nontoxic water-based solvents,” says Jared Bevens of Vans. PET stands for Polyethylene Therephthalate. This material is used a lot in beverage packaging but is making its way into other products. What makes this material so desirable is how well it recycles. So when you purchase the Cirro or Veil you are not only getting exceptional performance in a snowboard boot, but also an eco-friendly boot.

Aside from these efforts in manufacturing of the Cirro and Veil, Vans is also donating part of the proceeds from these boots to POW. POW was formed in 2007 and is the brainchild of veteran snowboarder and legend Jeremy Jones.  It is a tax exempt, non-profit organization that is working to reverse the global warming crisis by getting the winter sports community together with that goal in mind.

So there are a few notable things Vans snowboard bootsis doing to promote sustainability and eco-friendly boot design. If in the near future you find yourself on the sales floor with a stack of snowboard boots candidates, remember that Vans has your back when it comes to the environment.

Look at our full selection of Vans snowboard boots here.

For more information on POW please visit www.protectourwinters.org.
For more information on the Vans company history please visit www.answers.com/topic/vans-inc.