A while back we were asked to send copies of old BMX magazine covers to Vans as they were working on a special Syndicate project. It wasn't hard to find people riding Vans shoes on the covers of BMX Plus!, BMX Action, Freestylin', and R.A.D. It was the only shoe you would wear if you were a BMX-er or skateboarder.
![](//fatbmx.com/uploads3/200711/wk44/vans4.jpg)
It's hard to grasp now but believe me, if you saw someone in the streets wearing Vans shoes, it was either a BMX rider or a skateboarder. Anyway, Vans went back in time and made a few colorways that reminded of that era. To make them a bit more special, they added the RAD logo on the side of the sole. Several colorways were made and we received a sample of the Mongoose ones (Black/Yellow back in the early days) and the SE shoes. Well stoked. A reversible padset and checkered laces were added making these babies a collector's item from the start. Very limited quantities were produced just like everything else on the
Syndicate program.
BdJ![](//fatbmx.com/uploads3/200711/wk44/vans1.jpg)