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When it comes to footwear, there’s no shortage of options to choose from. Whether you’re looking for the best weightlifting shoes to boost your strength-training workouts, running shoes to keep you comfortable on the road, or something versatile enough for both, you’ll always have plenty of choices.
This is a double-edged sword, as choosing the right shoes can quickly become overwhelming. While we love testing all of the latest shoes on the market, sometimes the old-school classics are all you need to get the job done.
In this Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Review, I’ll be reviewing these legendary shoes that have been a fashion icon since 1922. Even though the design of the shoes has remained mostly unchanged for over 100 years, they’re still commonly worn in gyms all over the world, and in this review, I’ll tell you exactly why.
Hands-On Testing From a Team of Experts
Here at Garage Gym Reviews, we don’t write a single review without plenty of hands-on testing. Our team of expert testers, which includes CrossFit athletes, Olympic weightlifters, certified personal trainers, runners, and more have tried all sorts of footwear over the years.
Any time we test a pair of shoes, we always score them using our equipment testing methodology, which looks at specific aspects of a given shoe, including:
- Adjustability and Comfort
- Versatility
- Construction Durability
- Appearance and Design
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star
Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars
Product Highlights
- Sturdy rubber outsole
- Minimal heel-to-toe drop
- Minimalist design
- Budget-friendly
- Lace closure mechanism
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Flat heel is perfect for deadlifts
- Can get them in low-tops and high-tops
- Minimal midfoot cushioning won’t flex under heavy lifts
Cons
- Minimal heel-to-toe drop won’t help with back squats
- Narrow through the midfoot
- Canvas construction isn’t highly durable
Bottom Line
A classic shoe that performs well on the powerlifting platform and the streets.
A Quick Look at the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star
Converse, a brand now owned by Nike, first introduced the Chuck Taylor All-Stars in 1922, featuring the same iconic design most of us are familiar with. Converse named these shoes after Charles Hollis “Chuck” Taylor, as they were initially released as basketball shoes. Just like Nike’s line of Air Jordans, many people simply refer to these as Chucks or Chuck Taylors, even if they aren’t aware of the inspiration behind the name.
These days, you’ll often see a pair of Converse Chucks worn as fashion shoes, skate shoes, or, as we’ll see in this review, lifting shoes.
Not only do the shoes have an iconic design that comes in 19 colors (and custom designs), but they’re quite affordable at $65, which helped them win the title of best budget shoe in our guide to the best gym shoes for men. Converse All-Stars have a flat, durable sole, which helps keep your foot firmly anchored to the ground while lifting weights.
While Chucks may not be designed specifically for the gym, they’ve become a cult favorite among strength athletes, and they’re versatile enough to wear all day long. For the price and versatility, it’s hard to find a better option if you’re looking for a shoe that can handle (nearly) anything.
Before You Buy
- The flat sole makes the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star an ideal shoe for most kinds of strength training, but there’s no heel lift, which many weightlifters prefer.
- While they aren’t quite cushioned enough for long-distance running, many users find them very comfortable to wear throughout the day.
- The canvas upper isn’t as durable as thicker materials, but they’ll still last quite a while, and at $65, it’s not the most expensive shoe to replace every couple of years.
Is the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Worth It?
While these shoes are extremely affordable, versatile, and useful for those who enjoy strength training, the low cost of $65 doesn’t make them an automatic purchase for all types of users. Depending on your training goals and preferences, you may need to choose something else, but these are a good fit for most people.
Great for:
- Those who want a flat, stable shoe to wear in the gym
- Anyone looking for shoes versatile enough to wear all day, not just in the gym
- People who want to purchase their first pair of lifting shoes without emptying their bank account
Not recommended for:
- Runners or endurance athletes who need more cushioning
- Olympic weightlifters or those who prefer to squat with a higher heel
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Specs
| Price | $65 |
| Size Range | Men’s 3-16, Women’s 5-18 |
| Upper | Canvas |
| Midsole | OrthoLite Cushioning |
| Outer | Rubber |
Workout Experience With the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star
For this review, I’m using my own personal experience as a strength coach and personal trainer who exclusively wore Chucks for my training for about 4 to 5 years when I was focused on powerlifting and loved wearing these for all sorts of deadlifts.
To be fully transparent, it’s been a few years since I’ve worn a pair and we always want to use recent notes. To help me out, I spoke to several other colleagues and veteran product testers who’ve been wearing Chuck Taylor All-Stars both in and out of the gym for many years, to add their recent feedback and thoughts to this sneaker review.
This review is focused on the classic, canvas Chuck Taylor All-Star, which is available in both high and low-top options. Converse also makes the Chucks in several different materials and styles, including suede and leather, but this review will focus on the canvas shoes.
When it comes to working out in Chucks, the first thing to note is that while there is some cushioning and the sole is thick, it’s still very flat and there’s no heel lift, which you would find on something like the adidas Powerlift 5.
Even without the heel lift, many powerlifters love wearing these shoes, as they provide a sturdy, flat surface for deadlifts, squats, and other exercises.
RELATED: Training Shoes Guide
If you’re a lifter who prefers a raised heel, you may need a pair of dedicated lifting shoes, and runners will need running shoes. However, many find that Chucks are perfectly fine to squat in, especially if you prefer squatting with flat heels, and these are significantly cheaper than nearly every other lifting shoe on the market.
Appearance and Design
Considering this is one of the most iconic shoe profiles of all time, it wouldn’t be fair to give the Converse Chuck Taylors anything less than a 5-out-of-5-star rating. This retro, timeless design is still popular, and there are plenty of ways to style Converse Chuck Taylors with all sorts of outfits.
They’re available in high-top and low-top options, a variety of materials, and 19 colorways for the classic All-Star, with the option to customize your own pair by selecting the canvas, sole, and lace colors.
Chuck Taylors are versatile enough to be worn nearly anywhere, not only in the gym, and some even prefer them for long-distance walking over regular lifting shoes. Jill Zwarensteyn said she can comfortably walk for 3 to 5 miles in them and prefers them for city walking as they’re comfortable and more stylish than her regular gym shoes.
Durability and Construction
For durability and construction, the Chuck Taylor All-Stars earn a 4-out-of-5 rating.
The sole is very firm, with enough cushioning to keep your foot comfortable, but not quite as much as running shoes. The rubber outsole provides traction on most surfaces, though not much arch support.
The upper is made of a durable canvas material, making for a lightweight shoe, but that canvas is where you’ll probably see the first signs of wear and tear.
I’m giving this a 4-star rating because I owned the same pair of Chuck Taylors for 5 years and never had to pick up a new pair, but I primarily wore them in the gym, so your mileage may vary if you’re wearing them for more activities.
Stability and Performance
When it comes to stability and performance, the Chuck Taylors earn a final score of 4 out of 5. They’re quite stable, with a durable sole that keeps you anchored securely to the ground, even though the midsole has a bit of cushioning.
Many lifters use these shoes specifically during squats and deadlifts for stability, like Nichole Mondshein.
“I’ve been weightlifting for over 7 years now and wear my Chuck Taylors for the majority of my workouts except for HITT, pilates, or more cardio-intense days,” Nichole said. “They are a staple in my gym bag, and I will not work out in anything else for lower-body days. I love how flat they feel when I’m deadlifting or doing RDLs, as they just feel more stable and I can ensure all my weight is properly aligned and weight isn’t unevenly distributed, which sometimes happens in running shoes or other forms of shoes.”
RELATED: Best Shoes for Deadlifting
Versatility, Adjustments, and Comfort
Versatility and comfort matter, as spending hundreds of dollars on a shoe that can only be used for one specific activity is a tough pill to swallow. Thankfully, the Chuck Taylor All-Stars earn a 4-out-of-5 for versatility and comfort.
They can be worn for a training session, running errands, or when you’re going on a weekend adventure, and while everyone has different preferences, many users find them to be quite comfortable.
Livvi DiCicco said, “They’re currently my go-to shoe if I have to do a lot of walking, which is also my preferred exercise. I’d say they’re comfy but also stylish. My favorite thing about Converse, though, is that there’s no break-in period (in my experience). I tend to blister easily and I’ve rarely had problems unless I’ve been walking for 5+ hours, but then that’s true for all shoes, for me.”
RELATED: Best Walking Shoes
One issue worth calling out is the narrow design, as some with wide feet may find these shoes a bit narrow. I have wide feet myself and never had any issues, even when ordering a half size down as Converse recommended, but they’re certainly more narrow than something like a pair of Vans.
Also, the original All-Star design features a cushioned sole, but if you want even more cushioning, the Converse Chuck 70 has a nearly identical design, with a bit more cushioning.
Price and Value
For the price and value, Chucks earn a 5-out-of-5 rating. The shoes cost $65 for the high-top option, and $60 for the low-top, which is one of the most affordable options out there for shoes.
Sure, you may need to replace them every few years if the canvas rips, but compared to pure lifting or running shoes, which can easily cost $150 to $200, Chucks are a great deal.
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star vs Feiyue FE LO 1920
Feiyue FE LO 1920
Feiyue FE LO 1920
Product Highlights
- Super affordable
- Very flexible
- Great traction
- Great for strength training
- Order a half-size up from what you usually wear
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lightweight and flexible
- Rubber sole for extra traction
- Great for recreational athletes
Cons
- Not the most durable shoe
- If you’re a serious CrossFitter or powerlifter, look elsewhere
- If you wear a half size, round up to the nearest full one (so if you’re a 7.5, go for an 8)
Bottom Line
The Feiyue FE LO 1920 is a lightweight, minimalist shoe that was originally designed for martial artists, but can work for nearly any type of training. This is a very durable shoe for most kinds of lifting, and is priced to fit any budget.
If there’s one shoe that may be a better deal than the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star, it’s the Feiyue FE LO 1920.
Both share a similar, minimalist design that features a canvas upper and rubber sole and don’t have a ton of excess padding that you may expect to see in a running shoe.
RELATED: Best Running Shoes for Beginners
If you’re looking for an all-purpose, minimalist shoe without a heel lift to wear both in and out of the gym, both are great options, though the Feiyue FE LO 1920 is just over half the price at $35. It’s only available in a low-top or mid-top option, however, while Converse offers a full high-top option.
Overall, the All-Stars are a better choice if you want the high-top design, or prefer the style, while the Feiyues are a better choice for those who want to spend as little as possible on a great shoe, and don’t mind the low-top design.
For more, check out our Feiyue FE LO 1920 review.
| Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star | Feiyue FE LO 1920 | |
| Price | $65 | $35 |
| Size Range | Men’s 3-16, Women’s 5-18 | Men’s 4-14, Women’s 4-12 |
| Upper | Canvas | Canvas |
| Midsole | OrthoLite Cushioning | Comfort padded insole |
| Outer | Rubber | Ripple-plate sole |
Customer Experience
Chucks are available at all kinds of shoe retailers, so for this section, I’m only going to rate the experience of ordering directly from Converse, which earns a 4-out-of-5 rating.
Converse offers a 30-day return policy, or a 45-day return policy if you return the shoes to a Converse retail store. You’ll need to reach out to customer support to get your free return shipping label, and you can do this via chat or phone.
Ordering the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star
Ordering from Converse is very easy, and you can split your order into four payments with Klarna at checkout. You can also sign up for emails from Converse to receive 15% off your next purchase and 20% off a purchase during your birthday month.
Shipping is free if you spend $75, otherwise, your shipping rates will vary depending on your location.
Customer Reviews
Overall, the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star has very strong reviews, with a 4.8-out-of-5 score on the Converse website based on 4,772 reviews, and a 4.6-out-of-5 score on Amazon with over 22,000 reviews—I told you they were popular.
Most reviews say they’re very comfortable and enjoyable to wear, although a few users mention the sizing challenges, which can be confusing. Chucks feature a narrow design, and Converse recommends ordering half a size down, but some find they need to order a whole size down.
Final Verdict of Our Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Review
Overall, Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars are a great option for those who regularly lift weights, and want a shoe that’s versatile and stylish both in and out of the gym.
They may not have enough cushioning for runners, and there’s no heel lift, but for all other purposes, they’ll get the job done at a price that fits nearly every budget.
Full Rating
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star
A classic shoe that performs well on the powerlifting platform and the streets.
Product Brand: Converse
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 60
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.46
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star: FAQs
Why are Chuck Taylors so popular?
Chuck Taylors are one of the most versatile, affordable shoes worn by athletes, celebrities, influencers, and shoe enthusiasts for over 100 years. The classic chuck design has become an iconic shoe silhouette that’s inspired many competitors to create similar options, and the versatility is hard to beat, especially at an affordable cost.
Why are all-stars called Chuck Taylors?
The Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star was originally designed as a basketball shoe and named after Charles Hollis “Chuck” Taylor, a basketball player from Indiana born in 1901. Chuck Taylor joined Converse in 1921, becoming a professional shoe salesman, and the brand eventually added his name to the iconic design.
Are Converse Chuck Taylors still in style?
While style is subjective, yes, Chuck Taylor All-Stars are still in style. They’ve inspired many competitors to release similar styles, and are one of the most popular shoe designs of all time.
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