My sister absolutely loves Vans, whereas I with my poor sensitive feet need a bit more comfort and support! I didn't realise that she'd actually bought men's shoes (that would explain why they are a slightly different shape and a bit long in the toe), but she did and she didn't care. To be honest, these are unisex really - as long as they fit then it doesn't matter as these are black and white checked.

The shoes themselves don't have a particularly thick sole and it's made out of white rubber. She's had them for a good few years now and worn them often, and the sole is still good. The top part of the shoes is made out of a rough, thick canvas/cotton fabric, and the black and white checked pattern shows no sign of wear - another plus point. However, the white checkered bits do get dirty after a few wears (or maybe she's just careless??), and they will start to go a bit yellowy unless you wash them.

As detailed in the name, these are slip on shoes, so they are very easy to take on and off without bothering about laces, fastenings and so on. Because of this I would say that, washing aside, they are quite low maintenance and ideal for teenagers and people who don't really look after their things.

The shoe slides on fairly comfortably, and each side has a small elasticated bit to extend the opening of the shoe whilst you put it on. I do find that these shoes feel heavier than you might expect on your feet (despite the fact that I generally wear trainers and boots), and I think the canvas layer does feel tighter on my feet than I would like.

The other disadvantage of these shoes is that the top layer doesn't provide a whole lot of protection, so if someone stands on your foot then you'll feel it almost as much as wearing no shoes at all! I wouldn't say these shoes are particularly waterproof either - they are more a fashion and style statement than anything else.

The shoes have a 'cotton on EVA' insole, from which I've gathered means it's cotton but not extremely soft! You won't feel like you're walking on air with these shoes, but they will get you from A to B.

Basically, you're paying for the Vans name and appearance here, because there's nothing especially remarkable about these shoes. They are a classic in the Vans range though, so if you know someone that's a fan they would probably be happy to receive a pair of these slip-ons, whatever the design!

Current prices on the internet are £35-£40 (reduced from £50), which isn't too bad if you're expecting to buy them for the style and the brand name above comfort. They will last a few years assuming they aren't worn every day, and they are quite unusual in design.