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Converse All Star Hi
by shopping_jem
In my house we have several pairs of Converse All-Star Hi tops. My husband has Khaki green size 11s, I have lilac size 4s, My son (4) has royal blue size 9 (junior), and my toddler has just grown out of her teeny size 5 (infant) ones. They have all been comparable in quality, style, durability etc.
The fit:
My husband ... loves his Converse, and says they fit very comfortably, except that when worn for a long time the hi tops can hurt his ankle a bit.
Mine have always been uncomfortable, rubbing my toes, despite the fact that there is room at the toes and that I am always a size 4 and find it easy to find comfy shoes. If I bought them again, I would try sizing up, but when I tried them in a 5 the shop they felt a bit clown-like - not a good feel. Maybe they are just not for me - as they are canvas with a rubber toe, there is no give so if they hurt at the start in my experience they will always hurt.
My son's fit great - they have a bit of growing room, and he can happily wear them for hours of play / walking. My daughter's toddler ones were great too, and provided good support for her ankles when in the first years of walking.
Practicality:
They have a reasonable rubber grip, which is great for day to day use / light sports but less substantial than classic trainers. The main problem in the UK is that they are no good in the rain, and there is often a chance of this. They get soaked through, and your feet get wet and cold. They also pick up the dirt quite a bit on the fabric. Some people machine wash them, but I find this makes the logo come off and knackers the belt of your machine.
They do take a bit of a long time to put on, as you have to loosen the laces around the ankle each time. Once on, they are practical for kids, but they are a right pain to get on / off if they can't do it themselves. I might try the zip-side ones next time, but I do prefer the look of these ones.
Durability:
They are great for durability. Over a long period (years of on/off use) they have worn down a bit on the sole at the back, where the All star logoing is in the rubber. They are never far out of fashion, so I find your can pull them out year after year.
Overall, as long as you are happy with the fit / comfort when you first buy them, they are a long-lasting fashion trainer for dry weather that can be worn by any age group and in a wide variety of styles.
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Converse All Star Ox
by Callee
As I wear high heels and skirts through the week for work in the office I always enjoy wearing casual clothes at the weekend and as such I was in need of a pair of casual shoes to wear with my jeans. My eldest daughter had a few pairs of converse and they always looked nice but I worried that as someone in their thirties they may not go ... down too well on me. How wrong I was, I got myself a pair of these in white from bank and I paid £29.99 which is very reasonable for the quality and fit. The first day I wore them they looked really smart with my jeans but I have found that with continued wear they now look a little bit dirty but I don't think that would be as much of a problem if I had chosen any other colour than white.
The material is a sort of soft canvas and the soles are a hard rubber which can be easily wiped down, I have actually put these through the washing machine and they survived but I wouldn't recommend doing this unless you have had them a while and don't mind them looking a little 'bashed up'.
Overall a really comfortable shoe that can be worn with many outfits and looks pretty trendy too.
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Converse All Star Trainers
by ktbainbridge
Introduction:
Converse trainers, have been THE brand to have for a number of years now. As with any fashion, they edged their way in, being most commonly worn by 'goths', 'emos' and 'skaters' for the first couple of seasons, before they became more mainstream, and are now worn by a wide variety of people. They show no signs of ... fading out of fashion at the moment, at least not this year. As the popularity has expanded, so has the range. This particular review is about the hi top version.
Price and availability:
Many shops now sell Converse trainers, as do most show shops, online and in store, for example Office, Soletrader, as well as the online shop ASOS. Price doesn't vary hugely, you are looking at between £42-47 for a pair of these. The only way you could get them cheaper, is by buying one of the slightly less popular colours, as they are reduced more often. I managed to get a pair reduced before Christmas when ASOS did a one day sale with 25% off everything. I would recommend shopping around for internet discount codes, as I really do think that is the best way to get a pair at a bargain price.
Actual product:
Converse trainers are primarily designer plimsoles. They have a rubber base which is quite flexible, and the rest of the trainer is made up of canvass. The sole is very flexible so very practical, but that is not to be confused with being sporty. They would not be suitable for the gym or running, as they sole is not contoured and does not give that sort of support. These trainers are however, incredibly good for running round doing chores and errands in, you can just put them on at the beginning of the day, be on your feet all day and them not be uncomfortable.
There are long laces in these trainers, and you have to undo them quite a bit to take them on and off, so they are quite time consuming to put on. They tend to be pulled quite narrowly when you wear them, but that does make them harder to pull your feet out of.
Conclusion:
Converse trainers are fabulous every day footwear. They aren't smart, but they are no scruffier than any other form of trainers. Because their style makes them appear quite long and thin, when you are wearing them it does feel like they are unflattering. When you look at them on other people you are quite reassured as they do not look like they are feel when they are on yourself.
I would recommend hi top converses, as a fashionable, every day wear shoe.
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