Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Classic Review

I was dying to get a pair of black on black Converse for my 10th grade winter formal dance. 

I thought I was the coolest kid. Truth is, I was not the coolest kid. 

But when my latest new Chucks arrived last week, I was slightly cooler. 

Well, now I’m basically a middle-aged guy and I’m definitely not cool. But that didn’t stop me from picking up a pair of white high-top Chucks. 

After wearing them in and getting a feel for them, my verdict is in. Keep reading to get my full thoughts. 

Converse Chuck Taylor Overview

The Converse Chuck Taylor universe is large. There’s the All Star Classic (what I’m reviewing here), the All Star Pro, the All Star CX, the Chuck 70, and a practically limitless number of custom options. 

When I decided I was going to get some new Chucks, I immediately became confused. So part of this review is going to clarify the differences between the variations so you can choose the right sneaker for yourself. 

But the Chuck Taylor All Star Classic is the basic and most common version of Converse. It’s probably the design you think of when you think “Converse.”

There’s a high top version and a low top version. 

In my opinion, high top is the only way to go. They look so cool. But back in my 10th grade winter formal days, I was all about the low top. 

And if you’re wondering, Chuck Taylor is the name of an actual basketball player from the 1920’s. He was a salesman for Converse, and these sneakers were basically the first celebrity endorsed shoe to ever exist. 

Things to Consider Before Buying the Chuck Taylor All Star Classic

The main reason to get Converse is for the style. They’re not particularly amazing shoes. They’re not bad, but it’s not like they’re popular because they last for decades. 

So when you’re thinking about which version to get, I would stick with whatever style you like the most. 

The All Star Classic is the most popular and common version. So if you’ve seen people wearing them and you decided you wanted a pair just like them, then the All Star Classic is most likely the version you should choose. 

However, if you have flat feet, I don’t recommend the All Star Classic. You can’t remove the insoles, so you won’t be able to comfortably add your own custom insert. Because these are flat soled sneakers, they don’t offer any arch support. So if you’re flat footed, there aren’t any good options for arch support, which can lead to a lot of knee or back pain. 

That said, if you have decent arches in your feet, I wouldn’t worry about the lack of arch support—you don’t really need it (though it can help if you stand on your feet for many hours a day).

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Classic Review

First Impression

Ah, these bring me back to my younger days. I mainly got these to wear in the gym (they’re actually pretty great for squats and deadlifts because of the flat sole).

But I’ve been wearing them pretty much everywhere. They match pretty much anything—I’d consider my style straight down the Millennial pipeline. My look is not very adventurous, but I choose high quality pieces that look great close up. 

I love wearing my Chucks with rolled up jeans—that’s my go-to. And like I said, I think they also look cool in the gym.

I also see a ton of kids wearing them in the gym too, and they’ve got the laid-back skateboarder/broke college student vibe, which I identify with. Like I said…brings me back to my younger days. 

Overall, there’s not much to say about the style of the sneakers—you already know all about it. They have the rubber toe cape, the red and blue stripes on the outsole, the All Star logo on the side, and the flat cotton laces up to the top. 

You either dig the style or you don’t.

Upper Quality and Care

The quality is quite good for a shoe at this price. I was surprised to find a fabric lining, which definitely is going to add several months of longevity to the shoe. 

I wouldn’t say the quality is exceptional, but it’s a basic canvas sneaker that’s well done. If you wear it every day, I’d bet you’d get a full year out of them.

The Chuck 70 is a boosted version: the canvas is thicker, the midsole is a bit higher so there’s more cushion, and the ankle patch is sewn on (instead of just printed). You can read my detailed breakdown of the Chuck 70 if you’re interested in the best quality version, though the style is a bit different. 

I’m not blown away by the quality, but I didn’t expect much from a $70 shoe. That said, I’m happy with how well they’ve held up.

As for care, I recommend Red Moose. Their Sneaker Cleaner is the best option if you have any color versions of the All Star Classic. But if you’re getting white Chucks, I recommend the Red Moose Sneaker Whitener. 

Try not to wash them too often—every time you add water, you’re rolling the dice. I’ve found that Red Moose does the best job at cleaning canvas, but it’s still best to try and keep them relatively clean without using any products at all. 

You can also throw your Chucks into the washing machine if you’d like. They’ll come out clean, but this is pretty tough on the canvas and isn’t something you should do every week. 

Sole

Converse really started as a rubber manufacturing company, so the sole is their bread and butter. 

The sole is a single piece of inch thick flat rubber. The bottom of the outsole is a different type of rubber—it’s a little more stiff, which is good for longevity. 

I like that the soles aren’t too squishy—to me, that makes shoes too unstable and ends up hurting my feet a lot more than if the soles have some substance to them.

I’ve been using my sneakers for squats and deadlifts in the gym, and they’ve surprisingly great for that purpose. But even after walking around for weeks, there’s practically no wear on the heel at all, which is usually where the soles on my other shoes start to fail first. 

You can’t remove the insole—it’s cemented in. That’s a bit of a bummer and makes the All Star Classic a no-go for anyone with flat feet in my opinion. 

If you have flat feet, I recommend another brand like Palladium or Cariuma (more about them in the alternatives section below). 

Fit and Sizing

Converse run a half size large compared to most sneaker and shoe brands. I’m normally a size 10.5 in sneakers (and I’m a 10.5D on the Brannock device). 

I got size 10 and they fit perfectly. 

Converse also offers wide fits as well, so if you have E or EE width feet, you don’t have to size up and get sneakers that are too long. 

You should have about a half-inch of space in the toe—this is especially important because the rubber toe cap can rub against the top of your big toe and cause some soreness in the toenail. 

So take a look in your closet and find your most common size of shoe. Then size a half-step down from that and you’ll be good to go. 

Read my Converse sizing guide for more details on finding the perfect fit. 

Break-in Period

There’s no break in period with these sneakers. The canvas does stretch a little as you wear them, but it’s not like you need to consider that when looking for the correct size. 

Converse are comfortable from the very first wear and you certainly shouldn’t be getting blisters or any discomfort. If you are, there’s a good chance you got the wrong size or you need to lace them a bit more snug. 

What do Other Reviewers Say?

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There are thousands of reviews for Chuck Taylor All Star Classics online, so if you want, you can spend hours reading what other people say. I’ve read a few dozen, and I can sum it up here:

People got what they expected—solid, comfortable sneakers at a good price. A lot of reviewers struggled with the fact that white canvas is hard to keep pristine. I’ll just say here: keeping white sneakers perfectly white is a losing battle. 

Converse Alternatives

Palladium

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To me, Palladium is like if Converse went super saiyan. They’re quite similar to Chucks, but they have more of a streetwear/military aesthetic because of the beefed up rubber lug outsole.  

I don’t think Palladium’s are necessarily better than Converse (they also started as a rubber company, but in France…oo la la). But they have a different style that’s worth considering. 

The Palladium Pampa is another go-to for me. I can’t wear them in the gym, but have gotten a lot of use from them. I still wear my All Star Classics more, but I like these sneakers equally. 

Cariuma

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Cariuma sneakers have a lot going for them. The quality is certainly better than Converse, plus Cariuma has an amazing sustainability mission. 

They offer a lot of bright and fun colors (I have a pair of the OCA Low in bright yellow, and they’re awesome), but you can opt for something more tame like white or black. 

With Cariuma, you’re not getting the brand name, but it’s a better and more sustainable sneaker, though it does cost more. It’s also more unique if you want a similar style, but don’t want the same exact shoe everyone else does. 

My Thoughts Overall On the Chuck Taylor All Star Classic

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