The Converse Chuck Taylor All Star is one of (if not the) most recognizable sneakers ever. Originally released in 1917, the high top basketball sneaker featured a canvas upper and a rubber toe cap, which has become a the trademark look of Converse shoes to this day. Back then, it was normal for professional athletes to also have regular nine-to-five jobs, not multi-million dollar sneaker deals like today. Taylor’s job just so happened to be at a sneaker company that would go on to sell hundreds of millions of pairs over several generations, thanks in part to his influence and innovation. And now the sneaker has taken on its newest form: The Converse Chuck II Shield Canvas, a shoe built to take anything that’s thrown at it.
Call them what you want—Chucks, Cons, or All Stars—it’s likely that you, your parents, and your grandparents have all owned a pair at some point. After being in production for nearly a century, everyone has pair. Just one year after Converse breathed new life into the established classic silhouette by way of the Chuck II (a sneaker that is technologically leaps and bounds ahead of the original All Star), the brand is continuing to push the envelope, this time making it into a weather-and-lifestyle-proof version with the Chuck II Shield Canvas.
Stepping away from the court and onto the streets, the Chuck II embodies an active city lifestyle. It’s the perfect sneaker for young creatives who are always on the move. If the Chuck II was a modern take on a classic, then the Shield Canvas Chuck II is the future. Continuing to utilize elements of the Chuck II—a lightweight but strong canvas, memory foam-lined interior, and a Lunarlon insole—the Chuck II Shield Canvas takes design and function a step further. As part of Converse’s all-new Counter Climate Collection, the sneakers incorporate water-resistant Shield Canvas and a gusseted tongue to keep your feet dry. Additionally, the two prominent ventilation holes typically found on the sides of Chucks are removed to keep your feet completely protected from the elements.
While the sneakers are built to survive any weather condition, it’s the hustle and bustle of city life that tends to put a strain on people’s feet and sneakers. We’ve all been to festivals, concerts, and sporting events and left with tired feet and trashed sneakers. Someone spills a drink, your socks are soaking wet, and now the night is ruined. Even as performer, whether you’re a singer, rapper, or comedian, being on stage and traveling from venue to venue can take a toll on your feet. But the Converse Chuck II Shield Canvas is designed to keep them safe from the elements.
Aside from being durable enough to last you countless wears while protecting your feet from everyday struggles, the Chuck II Shield Canvas is also fashionable. The standard Chuck IIs closely resemble the original All Stars by maintaining simple one-color designs, but the Shield Canvas steps out of the box. The sneakers incorporate a solar red memory foam sockliner with a contrasting all-white canvas upper and reflective 3M accents on the black rope laces and heel. The sneakers will not only keep you visible, but looking fresh.
A work of art in its own right, the Chuck II Shield Canvas is ideal for artists—graffiti and street artists or traditional painters—that are constantly on their feet and on the move. After all, the sneaker itself is a blank canvas and what artist doesn’t love that?
No matter what you find yourself getting into, the Chuck II is rugged enough to protect you and comfortable enough so you can stay on your feet all day and night. That's something you can't afford to pass up.
For more exclusive content on the Chuck II's, check out the video above and head over to the Converse Chuck Weather Hub.
