I bought the Vans Colony Wylie shoes because I tried a pair on in a retail mall shoe store and was stoked on their weightlessness and comfort. I always use the Air Jordan criteria for any pair of shoes that I might buy, and that is, the way they feel & fit the very first time you try them on. These shoes rated a 4.5 out of 5. This criteria has served me well over the years, so that's how I roll.
The price the store was asking was way too high, 75.00 for a new style Vans shoe, I think not. So, as soon as I returned home, I Googled the info and bought a pair from backcountry.com. As quickly as you could say Jeff Rowley has worn Vans his entire life, my shoes arrived at my doorstep. I have been wearing/skating them for a good solid month, and I still rate them 4.5 out of 5. My only complaint is the lack of glue used around the heel edge, so I need some Shoe Goo to fix that. It's a minor complaint, but, hey, you wanted the straight dope right.
Maybe you could send a tube to me for my product review. I will be buying another pair when these blow out, and props to Vans for going lightweight and stylish.
Yours truly, I Rep the East,
Mike Hefner
MK-ULTRA