Going Further
At the time of writing this, my basement is flooding with rain water.
It is a cold and stormy Autumn morning in New York City and we are getting the brush of a historic storm ravaging the South East and Caribbean. The water that is dumping on my backyard is seeping through windows and door cracks and absolutely soaking my beloved faux-bear rugs and various paraphernalia that dots the purposely slippery floor of my sex dungeon (shh, you didn’t hear that). What is a man to do when his most precious little room is invaded by the brutish outside world?
My toes are an inch and a half (that’s sixty-ish millimeters for you Euro freaks and Australians) in the dirtiest New York back yard flood water imaginable, sloshing about in all kinds of filth - and not the good dungeon kind. Or, at least, they would have been, were it not for the God-sent Vans Crosspath XC as part of their new collection with VIBRAM of all-weather, all-occasion foot- and outerwear collection, Going Further.
I quite fuck with this collection, not only as a freak, but as a guy who is frequently uncomfortable due to wetness and cold chills. Created and tested by Vans’ world class athletes, the bits from Going Further is composed of the brand’s most progressive all-weather essentials engineered to withstand the elements, from cold conditions to warm days.
What I’m currently wearing as I mop up the biggest storm of the year is the very thing that leads the collection - the Crosspath, which mixes all-terrain tech with classic Vans design DNA. The shoe’s upper is built with GORE-TEX invisible fit technology for guaranteed waterproofing and breathability, and added RapidWeld™ and ripstop reinforcement in critical areas. The custom Vibram outsole provides trusted traction on any terrain, and the speed-lacing system is always ready to go. An accompanying Sk8-Hi® GORE-TEX is also warm and dry in the harshest weather conditions with waterproofing, Duratherm insulation and an All-Trac rubber outsole.
What does all that mean? Whether I’m trotting across some coral tidepools or hiking off-trail to find snow that hasn’t been cracked open by a twelve-and-under ski class, I feel good, and I look good, too. In addition to the Crosspath XC GORE-TEX, the collection encompasses the Infuse and Luna Pro. Embraced by the next generation of riders, like Cannon Cummings and Jill Perkins, the Infuse remains one of Vans’ most popular snowboard boots. The Hybrid Plus BOA® lacing system delivers a reliable, custom fit. With a waterproof zipper shroud, TNF FlashDry™ liner and V3 SuperEnduro outsole, the Infuse is designed to perform in any terrain.
On tour or post-session, skaters, snowboarders, and surfers alike all tend to bond over their passions and the tools they use to perform them. ‘Oh yeah, I don’t wear that anymore, rips too easy,’ someone will offer up. ‘Have you tried this?’ another will inquire. ‘This is the fucking move for sure, trust me dawg.’ is the real closer. Since a month-long camping trip throughout the contiguous United States way back in 2019, I’ve heard a lot of big talk about Vans’ all-terrain equipment. Around camp fires, long hikes, blistering desert, New York basements, and Malibu breaks, it turns out, it wasn’t all talk.
But enough about shoes, what about the rest of my frail self? My body, it lies exposed to the elements. Bless the High Country 3L Jacket and Pant, grounded in simplicity but packed with essentials needed on the mountain. Zippered vents, taped seams, adjustability and storage. From preseason to deep winter, the High Country apparel is ready to handle a variety of winter conditions.
I may be wiping up a brisk Autumn, but I’ll soon by trudging through a thick winter before retreating back home to Honolulu for a nice warm trot across the sand and stone. With me through all of it, I’ll be wearing the right gear and Going Further.
Learn more and go further, here.
