Vans introduced its high-top shoe model, the Sk8-Hi, in 1978.
The shoe originally appeared as Style 38 and followed the success of the Old Skool. It was Vans’ first high-top skate shoe, extending above the ankle to provide additional coverage and support for skateboarders. The design arrived as skateboarding was becoming more vertical, with riders tackling steeper ramps, pools, and bowls.
The Sk8-Hi was also the second Vans model to feature the brand’s now-famous Sidestripe, originally nicknamed the “jazz stripe.” Its higher padded collar, durable upper, reinforced toe area, and rubber waffle outsole combined practical skate features with a distinctive shape.
A frequent mix-up is placing the Sk8-Hi in 1977, the year the Old Skool debuted. Another is confusing it with the Half Cab, which is a later low-top skate model associated with Steve Caballero. The Sk8-Hi’s high-top profile and its original Style 38 designation are the clues that identify the 1978 model.