Converse Chuck Taylor II Expected To Hit Store Shelves Late July, Upgrades Expected To Provide Better Comfort

Converse’s Chuck Taylor sneakers have been a mainstay in the footwear industry for 98 years, remaining relatively unchanged and minimalist in their composition. On July 28, Converse will release the Chuck Taylor II, a follow up to the iconic shoe, including upgrades to increase comfort for the wearer.

From the outside, shoe aficionados will see little difference between the current Chuck Taylors and the the Chuck Taylor II’s, but on the inside, the changes will be significant. The next generation of Chucks will still feature the canvas exterior, available in multiple colors and designs, the rubber toe cap, and the iconic “All-Star” logo. However, on the inside, the wearer will notice a padded tongue, a suede lining that includes perforations so the foot can breathe, and Nike’s Lunarlon Foam for extra comfort upon the arched support, according to FOX 6 Now.

The major change comes during the Converse Chuck Taylor’s 98th year of manufacturing, retaining the iconic look of the sneaker while providing comfort upgrades. Matt Powell, author of Sneakernomics, shared that the shoe industry has seen significant change in recent years, with only Chuck Taylors remaining behind the curve.

“There’s been a very silent revolution in the industry. It’s not sexy technology or even visible to the eye, but shoes are remarkably lighter and more comfortable than a decade ago — with the exception of the Chuck Taylor.”

The Boston Globe reported that the classic Chuck Taylor will still be available starting at $50. The Chuck Taylor II will begin selling on July 28 and will start at $80 per pair.

When the Chuck Taylor’s fame began to soar, it was considered to be at the cutting edge of shoe technology. However, that has drastically changed since then. It was not until Nike bought out the dying All-Star brand that the shoe saw an insurgence of sales.

Podiatrist Dr. Lloyd S. Smith is happy to see the popular shoe catch up with the times, especially since it became a popular choice once again.

“It’s not designed to give very much support at all, and it also doesn’t offer very much cushioning. The technology in that shoe is more than 50 years old. It was a state-of-the-art shoe at its time, and it’s certainly not anymore.”

Changes to Converse’s Chuck Taylor have met strict criticism in the past. E.C. Frederick was a consultant that assisted in making a better Chuck Taylor in the past. He recalled that even slight changes were met with resistance. One specific situation occurred when Converse changed factories in Japan, resulting in a more consistent product.

“That was the first time I ever encountered a situation where people didn’t want you to make a shoe better. We also experimented around with different sock liners and different insoles, but people didn’t really think that was necessary.”

[Photo By Mario Tama / Getty Images]