Two of Vans’ most popular styles, the Era and the Authentic are the shoes for both serious skateboarders and admirers of the sport. Despite being unique designs, they look confusingly similar to many of us. We’ve put together a handy guide to help discover the differences of these two icons.

The Authentic
Unchanged since its conception in 1966, the Authentic is exactly as its name suggests. The original skate shoe, the Authentic has less padding than the Era but is still a great choice for those practicing the sport thanks to its waffle sole. It is also ideal for those who just want to tap into the aesthetic side of skateboarding.