Vans always equips wearers for adventures on and off the ramp, but the heritage footwear brand’s latest offering is its most versatile and progressive to date. The always-ready silhouette, the MTE Crosspath, is an all-terrain shoe that can take explorers from the city to the mountains and back, without sacrificing that effortlessly cool look.
Taking cues from other celebrated Vans silhouettes, the MTE Crosspath includes signature elements such as the classic Sidestripe and red Off the Wall heel tab, while incorporating new features, like an updated technically advanced build.
The MTE Crosspath and its higher cut variation, the MTE Crosspath Mid, are elevated by performance features that truly set the shoe apart from other all-terrain options out there. Considering sustainable materials, Vans crafted the shoe’s uppers from 100% recycled PET reinforced by seamless RAPIDWELD™ construction and a non-PFC DWR water-repellent coating. The model’s midsole is crafted from 50% bio-based EVA foam, derived from plants, while 31% of the outsole’s rubber is regeneratively-grown, pushing forth more considerate farming practices.
A roomy toe box and contoured insoles allow the wearer to live in the Crosspaths from day to night. While the inside of the shoe is made to maximize comfort, the outside is made to withstand rough traction and harsh conditions, implementing a new traction pattern for maximum surface area contact.
The MTE Crosspath and Crosspath Mid will debut alongside the second installment of the Crosspath story, as told through Vans Snowboarding team riders Ryo Aizawa, Jake Kuyzk, Jill Perkins, and Ivika Jürgenson as they explore St. Johns, Newfoundland — putting the shoe’s durability to the test.
Ahead of this release, Hypebeast spoke with Matt Nosbusch, Design Director for MTE, below about the shoe’s capabilities and some of its standout features.
Hypebeast: What makes this all-terrain offering different from other durable models Vans has released?
Matt Nosbusch: This new Crosspath offers a lighter-weight 4 season approach that offers max cushioning, traction, all-day versatility and All-Weather wearability. The outsole has been upgraded with a more robust set of toe-picking lugs, and braking lugs, and features a more radius lug edge around the entire perimeter to enhance traction on all surfaces.
How do you effectively strike the delicate balance between style and functionality with the MTE Crosspath?
The balance is the goal, we definitely turned up on all functional levels while always
focusing on creating an aesthetically pleasing, streamlined look and feel that pulls design cues from our skateboarding roots.
This shoe is also made for all-day wear — incorporating elements such as a roomier toe box. Tell us about some of the other comfort-maximizing features of the all-terrain shoe.
The Crosspath is built with a new upper shape that’s designed to wrap around the
bones of your foot while allowing for durable areas, flex and cushioning where needed. Also, it features a new Bio-Based EVA midsole for maximum cushioning and all-day comfort.
This shoe is also one of Vans’ most progressive all-terrain options. Can we dive into the sustainable considerations implemented into the MTE Crosspath’s Design?
This technical upper has recycled PET meshes and textiles with lightweight no-sew (rapid-weld) accents. The 50% Bio-Based midsole allows for lightweight cushioning.
What scenarios did you envision wearers getting into when wearing the MTE Crosspath?
Mainly for all-day wear when you are expecting a lot from your footwear. Perfect for a
trip when you are only taking one pair of shoes. They work well in the city and other
types of terrain.
As this shoe is one of Vans’ most technically advanced and weather-resistant offerings, how does it open up the door for more innovation to come?
The design team continues to push performance and style, and we are seeing that the next generation is ready for Vans to evolve its offerings. The Crosspath is exactly that, taking Vans to new levels of styling, performance and all-day comfort.
Explore the MTE Crosspath and the MTE Crosspath Mid at vans.com.
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