Converse is a durable shoe that’s high-quality and great for walking short distances or playing sports.
Sneakers will last a certain period of time depending on what they’re made of and used for.
Then, anytime past that will depend on the habits and footfall of the people wearing them.
How Long Does Converse Last?
A pair of Converse will typically last 18 months on average.
They have been reported to last longer if they aren’t worn on the daily or if the wearer’s footfall is not severe in any way.
For example, pronation or supination of the foot or any footfall impression that is over-pronounced will cause the sole of the shoe to wear faster in that area than the rest of the shoe.
This can cause holes to form and tears in the canvas sometimes.
How Durable Are My Converse Shoes?
They are durable enough.
Each style of shoe from any company will have its idiosyncrasies.
After a while, some Converse shoes will begin to pull the canvas from the sole along the heel.
This is a quick fix with Super Glue, Gorilla Glue, or the best, which is E-2000 Glue.
There are many reasons for holes and tears.
Most of them have as much to do with the wearer as the shoe.
As we stated, the footfall and usage will dictate where the shoe will falter first.
In saying that, Converse can take quite a beating.
How Do I Know If My Converse Shoes Are Genuine Converse?
You’ll know your Converse shoes are real by inspection of the shoe for all the logos, word markings, toe caps, and more.
Like anything else, every brand has fakes, commonly known as brand knock-offs.
You must make sure you are getting your Converse from a reputable dealer, especially online.
If you can’t walk into a Foot Locker or whatever reputable shoe store is licensed to carry the brand, you must make sure that you are paying for the real thing.
While Converse will put their shoes on sale for great prices, it won’t be all styles, so be a bit leery of prices that are too low for many styles of Converse.
- Converse has an official website where you can be sure to find the real Chucks. Do be sure to look at the URL of the website and click on the lock to make sure that URL goes to the Converse label and is marked as safe. Why? Some ads will come up when you are searching and in email, etc. There are too many scams out there, and that URL is one way to be sure that you are at the right place.
- Nordstrom Rack is a licensed seller of Chucks. They can go as low as 75% off for authentic Converse shoes in many styles. Otherwise, if you are checking out retailers online, original Chucks sell for around $50 and the high-top version for $55. If you see them priced lower than that, take it as a red flag.
- The packaging is a dead giveaway. Not that counterfeiters can’t create and print boxes, but it’s unlikely. The original Converse box is black with brown stripes on the bottom half. The name should be seen on the top, the front, and the right side of the lid.
- Knowledge of why the logo patch was put where it was will allow you to spot a fake in a second. The logo patch was made to protect the player’s ankle. It is on the inside ankle, not the outside. The logo patch wasn’t made to show off the name as much as it was to protect the wearer. Also, examine the patch itself. It’s made out of rubber, and the company has never changed that. It’s a white patch that is round with red lettering that says, in all upper case, “CONVERSE ALLSTAR”. Then, beneath that, there is a five-pointed-star and beneath that, the signature of Chuck Taylor.
- The only time the logo changes at all is when it’s on the black Converse. At this point, the red, white, and blue are turned into the same color as the shoe and the logo wording, star, and signature are three-dimensional, raised to the touch.
- On the Converse All Star sneaker, the label is on the tongue. It’s a white rectangular label right on the top of the tongue. There is a red background strip on the top of the white rectangle with “Converse” stamped on it. On the white part underneath, you have All Star with the five-pointed star in between the words “All” and “Star”.
- On the heel will appear the same as the logo patch on the tongue. The only difference is there is no red strip with white All Star letters. It is just a white background with red Converse and blue All Star, again, with the five-pointed star in between the two words.
- The color of the patch will always depend on the color of the shoe. If the shoe is green, then the lettering on the patch on the heel will also be green. Check for any excess
- glue. There should be none and the patch should mold perfectly to the curve of the sole.
- The tongue should have a small sewn-in patch underneath. Next, move to the toe caps which should always be all rubber. The Chucks that are all one color should have matching toe caps to the color of the shoe just like the rubber 3-D logos are.
- Toe guards should have the correct molding design: diagonal lines at the top, a diamond-like shape in the middle, and then crossed dotted lines underneath to form three rows of patented design. As always, check for excess glue.
- Lastly, the Converse name will always appear in navy blue on the insole of the shoes except in the single-colored ones. That means if the shoe is black, the insole Converse stamp is white, and in the white shoes, the Converse stamp is navy blue.
Why should you know or care if your Converse shoes are real or not?
Especially if you’re getting a great deal, who cares where the patch is or if it’s all fake?
Here’s a very good reason.
When you pay for a shoe, you want quality.
It will cost you just as much or more to continue replacing a shoddy shoe that is going to fall apart so much quicker.
If you paid $20 for a rookie knockoff high-top Converse, and it lasts you a month, you have to replace it.
Get another fake for $20, and hey, why not spend an additional $20 for when the second pair falls apart?
You’ll have then invested 40 to 60 bucks in two or three pairs of shoes that last far less time with no durability.
It would make more sense to spend the $55 and get a couple of years out of them, wouldn’t it?
How Do I Make My Converse Last Longer?
You can make your Converse last longer with simple steps and proper care.
Hand wash them and never, ever put them in the dryer.
Even the lowest setting will completely destroy them.
If not the first time, the next time, they’ll have weakened integrity.
Remember that rubber doesn’t take well to direct heat.
If you live in a very hot climate, don’t just set them out in the hot sun after washing.
To wash your Converse sneakers, mix one part baking soda to one part laundry detergent.
Mix with an old toothbrush until you’ve made a paste.
Then, start scrubbing.
Rinse thoroughly with warm water, not hot.
Canvas shrinks and hot water may cause pulling of the canvas from the rubber sole or toe cap.
The last step is to put a shoe form or some kind of balled-up paper like a newspaper in the shoe from toes to midsole, or all the way across from toe to heal if you can.
As the shoe dries, this will hold the shoe in its proper form.
The laces should also be undone when the shoe is not on your foot.
Shoes lose their shape when you kick or pull them on and off.
This also happens when the laces have them pulled tight all the time.
Let them breathe a while, too.
Have a spare pair of shoes.
Yes, they can be Converse!
Wear them every couple of days, instead.
This way, the stink will leave the shoe, and your foot sweat won’t rot them.
Yes, that is a thing.
Is Converse A Good Walking Shoe?
No, Converse is not a good walking shoe.
Converse was never made for walking long distances.
If you mean walking for exercise, then for sure, they’re not appropriate.
They aren’t bad shoes at all, but they are made for specific purposes.
One is sports, like basketball with short, swift jumping motions.
They really have zero shock absorption, so walking for any real length of time, apart from getting from point A to point B and running, is not the forte of this shoe.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Chuck Taylors?
Pros
The price is fantastic, and it’s an affordable shoe for most folks just trying to look good.
People customize their own Chucks by using, yes, a magic marker, or they go to the Converse website and customize their own Chucks, and that includes the laces!
They have been seen as a badge of rebellion and a sort of modern-day extension of the Punk Rock era.
Cons
The classic design has had to be redesigned to give added support.
That’s a pro that’s developed out of a big con.
This con can be fixed simply by the aforementioned solution of switching out the shoes and giving them a rest.
The issue is the classic shoe, as it was originally created, is not good for long-term wear as your primary shoe.
Some podiatrists report that those wearing them as such suffer from everything from tendonitis to stress fractures, and plantar fasciitis.
They have also been known and reported to shape the foot instead of the shoe forming to the foot.
This is what causes some of the orthopedic issues with the shoe if worn for more than sports or any short-term walking.
People who like high-tops often wear them in place of other, more protective and waterproof footwear when the weather turns bad.
This is also where Converse can fail, in whatever style you love them, to protect your feet from the elements.
No one likes wet socks and the squish of wet canvas shoes.
Bottom Line
The Converse shoe collection is a brilliant, classic line of footwear.
They may not be the best for walking long distances or as your primary all-day, everyday footwear.
However, there is something to be said for the fashion and even social statement they make.
They have that one special positive in that you can express your own individuality by decorating your shoes to express who you are.
The brand will probably stay around for quite a long time.
They seem quite adept at keeping the classic feel while adapting to the needs of their customers and the times.
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