The Era has long held a special place in the timeless Vans lineup.
Back in the mid 1970s, the #44 Deck Shoe – now known as the Authentic – was everywhere in Southern California. Skaters had flocked to the kicks since their 1966 debut thanks to their rugged good looks, sticky gum rubber outsoles, and wallet-friendly price point. Naturally, Vans-sponsored skaters (and soon-to-be legends) Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta donned the #44 when they were smoking the competition and catapulting the sport into a bona fide worldwide phenomenon. However, Alva and Peralta quickly realised they needed something better – something created specifically for skateboarding.