Blog – Page 10 – Longboard Planet

Skateboarding shot into the mainstream consciousness during the 90s when it became part of televised extreme games. Coming up alongside the skateboard in popularity are the shoes that defined this lifestyle. Brands like Converse skate shoes became skateboarding icons in the 90s. Now, Converse skate shoes are making a comeback with a remake of its classic skate shoe, the One Star. This pair of Converse skate shoes still features the retro "one star" logo and suede skin, but is now made with modern materials and modern construction technology. What Are Converse Skate Shoes? Converse skate shoes are a shoe line geared towards skateboarding from the Converse brand. Skateboarding as a sport requires footwear with grippy rubber soles and a snug fit. Not to mention looks that exude swagger! Our featured Converse skate shoe is the classic Converse One Star. First released in the 1970s, it became widespread in the 90s when it became linked with grunge music (i.e. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain) and the emerging skateboard subculture. The 1996 skater movie "Mouse" by Spike Jonze cemented these kicks' status as skating world's holy grail. In 2017, Converse brought back the One Star with a barrage of marketing campaigns highlighting the shoe's golden past while introducing it to a new generation of skateboarders. The One Star line features sub-brands like the "Vintage", "Premium Low", and even "Hello Kitty" edition. COMPARISON TABLE [amazon box="B073C26VVP,B01LWV0H8B,B07D9DHYJV,B01JNAVB1Y" template="table"] Product Specs The new One Star is a modern classic, so to speak. This pair of Converse skater shoes retains the classic elements that made the shoes an icon—One star logo, suede skin, and, a vulcanized rubber sole. One Star Logo What is Converse One Star without the star logo? Embroidered on the shoe's sides is the iconic five-pointed white star surrounded by stitched borders. Suede Skin The choice of suede fabric for an active shoe line was considered strange at the time of its debut, but One Star's appeal made suede revolutionary. Today, the One Star comes in several colors and themes ranging from the classic one-tone colors to the vibrant colorways and prints. Vulcanized Rubber Soles Completing the look is the equally iconic white sole. It is made of vulcanized rubber. The toe of the shoe has a textured outer shell that wraps around the front area while the iconic mid-line stretches all the way to the heels. Pricing Converse One Star is a premium shoe with a friendly price. A pair can cost around $65 to $70, while limited edition collections can fetch from $90 to $100. A pair of Converse skate shoes can be bought from various online retailers and clothing and apparel stores. How It Compares Whether you're a pro thrasher, a skateboard enthusiast, or a street fashionista, you have your brand preferences. There is Converse One Star on one end, and then there are the other skating brands on the other. For this article, we are comparing the vintage Converse One Pro with the following skate shoes: Vans Skate Shoes DC Skate Shoes Huf Skate Shoes [amazon link="B073C26VVP" title="Converse" /] [amazon box="B073C26VVP"] We already talked about the design features of our featured shoe, the Converse One Star. Now, let's look at the specific criteria we considered when we took these sweet pairs out for a few days of kicks and tricks. Price COMFORT SKATEBOARDING RATING Design QUALITY At $65 (lowest), the Converse One Star sits on the average price point for skate shoes. It's a good deal, considering the status of these shoes. 4.0 of 5 stars Converse One Star was made for skaters. The shoe doesn't feel "new": when taken out of the box. The sole, the skin, and the inside cushion feel like it's already been broken in—no stiff or brittle feels. The internal lining feels soft and smooth, especially the heel part, which often rubs and blisters the Achilles tendon area. The low cut design allows the ankles to move fluidly but securely. The shape of the shoe fits snugly around the whole foot, so the risk of rolling the ankle is minimized. The cushioning is made of composite foam to withstand impacts and shocks, which is what every skater needs. The only drawback is the ventilation. The suede material doesn't offer great breathability, while the shoe doesn't have airflow channels. The shoes can feel hot and sweaty after hours of use. 5.0 of 5 stars A new skate shoe always feels awkward when worn out of the box, but the One Star gives you better board-feel the longer you use it. The sole becomes "softer" thus more flexible, allowing you to step on the board like you're barefoot. The vulcanized rubber sole has an engineered traction pattern to make you grip the board better. This also prevents slipping (which is dangerous when skating). Overall, One Star's vulcanized rubber material and "grippiness" allows you to string hundreds of kicks and flips together efficiently and comfortably. 5.0 of 5 stars The all-suede skin feels premium even after weeks of use. Interestingly, the shoe becomes more stylish the more worn-out it gets. The suede is a perfect complement to the stitched-on star logo and rubber soles. One Star established how a skate shoe should look , so it is also fitting that these Converse skate shoes earn a perfect score for design. Pros Classic design Premium material Comfortable fit Excellent cushioning Top-notch board-feel Great grip Cons Poor breathability Can be hot Shape may not be ideal for people with wide feet [amazon link="B01LWV0H8B" title="Vans" /] [amazon box="B01LWV0H8B"] Vans is another legendary brand among skaters. For this comparison to Converse skate shoes, we will feature Vans Old Skool, its signature model. Old Skool features the iconic "jazz wave", the curly side stripe trademark of Vans. It debuted in 1977 as Vans #36, the first model to incorporate leather panels for better support and durability. The Old Skool was released as a shoe for active people but it gained a cult following among skateboarders, especially with legends like Tony Alva, who would hang around Vans stores. The legendary thrashers were attracted by the shoes' vulcanized rubber soles featuring the equally iconic diamond pattern, or endearingly called "waffle pattern. Old Skool features a semi-hi cut canvas skin with a stitch design around the toe box, while the sole is a flat solid piece of rubber. More recent models have "toe bumpers": a layer of textured rubber at the toe area. Price COMFORT SKATEBOARDING RATING Design QUALITY Vans Old Skool fetches an average price of $60 to $70. As expected, limited edition prints and colorways are more expensive at around $75 to $100. 4.0 of 5 stars The canvas-suede fabric feels premium when touched and worn. The internal lining feels soft and comfortable. However, the padded heel collar may sometimes cause blisters, especially when worn fresh-from-the-box, so wear high socks when breaking in a new pair of Old Skools. The cushioning is soft, secure, and shock-absorbent. The shoe feels good during lipping and grinding and also during casual strolls around the city. The lack of an arch, however, may be a disadvantage to people with high-arched feet. Because of its canvas fabric, the Old Skool is relatively more ventilated than Converse One Star. The big eyelets also serve as airflow channels, so they help in ventilation and temperature control. 5.0 of 5 stars The infamous "waffle pattern" is what endears Vans to skaters. The diamond-patterned sole grips the board nicely to allow smooth execution of tricks. The pattern prevents slips and slides during hard landings. Both the sole and cushion are thick enough to absorb shocks but thin enough to feel the board. 4.0 of 5 stars The wavy side stripe gives Vans Old Skool its cool factor. This model comes in various colorways and prints, but nothing beats the legacy of the iconic "checkerboard", a literal black-and-white checkerboard print that became Old Skool's other signature style. The solid white sole adds a nice contrast to the black body, but it looks great as the same color. Pros Comfortable fit Excellent board-feel Great sole grip Classic design Good breathability Cons Soles can turn yellow sometimes Canvas material wears out easily [amazon link="B07D9DHYJV" title="DC" /] [amazon box="B07D9DHYJV"] Completing our "holy trinity" of skate shoes is DC. For comparison, we will feature the DC Net skate shoe model. You will know that a shoe is DC because of the logo splashed on the lateral side. Unlike the Converse One Star and Vans Old Skool, which both have a flat, feet-hugging shape, the DC Net is bulkier. This shoe is affectionately called "battleship" because of its bulky form including a huge solid toe box, a thickly padded tongue and collar, and a multi-layered leather-and-fabric skin. The sole is thick and flat, but it looks seamlessly attached to the main shoe. The white DC Net shoe is the most popular one, although it also comes in several color schemes. The classic DC Net skate shoes are made with nubuck leather, but recent models feature suede. Price COMFORT SKATEBOARDING RATING Design QUALITY The DC Net Shoe classic white can be owned for around $65. 5.0 of 5 stars DC Net skate shoes are more comfortable than Converse skate shoes. The thick internal lining gives a premium feel around the feet while the thick heel collar prevents chafing and blistering. This is why these shoes can be worn with low ankle socks. The heel and toe cushion absorbs shocks without sacrificing board-feel. Best of all, the shoe has excellent ventilation and wicking. The combination of fabric and nubuck leather allows the feet to breathe well even during the most intense of board sessions. 4.0 of 5 stars The soles of the DC Net shoe have unique scale patterns that provide a great grip on the board. The flat design lets you step and land on the skateboard comfortably. The thick cushion provides good support. However, the padding and sole feel too thick to let you sense the skateboard deck. 4.0 of 5 stars Bulky shoes aren't for everyone's preference, especially for people with short legs and small feet. But for those who prefer this design, then the DC Net may be the skate shoe for them. The shoes also look good for casual, everyday use. The shoe comes in multiple colorways so there are a lot of personalization options. Pros Comfortable Excellent feet support Good breathability Nubuck leather is durable Cons Too bulky Not so good board-feel Colorway choices can be daunting [amazon link="B01JNAVB1Y" title="HUF" /] [amazon box="B01JNAVB1Y"] Lying at the peripheries of Converse-Vans-DC trinity is the brand Huf. For our comparison, we will feature the Huf Classic Lo. As the name implies, it is a low-cut suede skater shoes with nice stitch accents and an iconic solid sole and toe caps. Price COMFORT SKATEBOARDING RATING Design QUALITY Huf Classic Lo is relatively pricier at $90, but you can buy it on sale from online stores. 4.0 of 5 stars The suede fabric feels premium and durable. However, the internal paddings are thin so the foot inside doesn't feel well-protected. The heel collar can also cause chafing and blistering, especially when worn fresh-out-of-the-box. The toe cap adds more stability and support to the toe, protecting the toe seams and thus keeping them from bursting during kickflips and other toe tricks. 4.0 of 5 stars The cushion is thin, around 2 millimeters thick, so don't expect a lot of shock absorption. The Huf Classic Lo is designed for maximum board-feel, hence the thick pads. Underneath, the sole has "wave" traction that offers a surprisingly solid grip on the board and floor. The shoe, especially around the heel area, is too low to fit snugly around the heels. Thankfully, the shoe keeps its shape well, thus preventing heel slippage. 4.0 of 5 stars Huf Classic Lo features a slim silhouette and it will appeal to people who like to keep their footwear low-profile. The toe caps may not be for everyone, but they offer a nice solid contrast especially in solid dark colors. Pros Slim form factor Excellent board-feel Good traction Breathable Cons Risk of heel slippage Poor cushioning Poor feet support CONCLUSION Not surprisingly, the Converse One Star is our top pick for a skate shoe from this list. It combines form and function well. Not far behind are DC, Vans, and Huf. If you prefer a slimmer profile, get either the Vans or Huf. But if you like your shoes big, then DC is for you. There have been several brands over the years and some of them make a decent shoe. However, the best overall will always be the Converse One Star.