Travis Barker x Vans Old Skool: Punk Goes Classic

Blink-182’s stickman is back behind the wheel with , giving the a full-throttle makeover drenched in punk energy. Long before arenas and Grammys, Travis Barker was skating in battered Vans, so the linkup is not particularly surprising.

The pair keeps it raw and recognisable: black canvas uppers, crisp white Jazz Stripe and checkerboard sidewalls that carry flashes of Barker’s own tattoo art. Barbed-wire motifs snake around the foxing, while ‘Dues Paid’ is etched across the toes in Old English lettering – a fitting nod to the grind that got him here, as well as the title of the new track he's been teasing. The heel patch swaps the classic red for a custom ransom-style logo lifted straight from his drum kit, giving the shoe a stage-ready edge.

Shot through the lens of legendary photographer , the campaign merges skate energy with rock-show chaos – mosh pit meets half-pipe.

For those not routinely grinding empty storm drains, the Old Skool made its debut in 1977 (originally as Style #36) and marked a turning point for Vans. It was the brand’s first low-top skate shoe built specifically for board riders, incorporating leather panels for added durability and introducing what would become the now-iconic ‘Jazz Stripe’ (a spontaneous design flourish by Paul Van Doren) down the side.

The Travis Barker x Vans Old Skool releases October 23, 2025, via Vans.com and select retailers, with a small in-store drop at Vans’ flagship in Los Angeles.

Of course, the Vans Old Skool has a long sonic history – especially in Los Angeles, where punk, hip hop and skate culture have always shared the same pavement. For more on that legacy, make sure to check out our into the city’s sound and the Old Skool sneaker connection.