Converse Counters Climate with Shield Canvas

Posted by Karlo Samson on August 22, 2016 in Style | Leave a comment

The basic design of the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star hasn’t changed much over the years, yet the shoe remains a well-loved bestseller around the world. Major changes were introduced of course, a couple of years back with the launch of the All Star II, which took the original shoe and upgraded it with a Lunarlon sockliner, the biggest change among several updates.

However, the longevity of the brand and its iconic sneaker can be attributed to both tradition – its silhouette remains the same – and innovation. Converse knows that the devil is in the details and that’s where they can play around and keep the All Star so fresh.

Case in point is the new Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II Shield Canvas, this season’s answer to one of my favorite Chuck models, the water-repellent All Star Rubber.

The Shield Canvas is designed to withstand inclement weather, you know, just like the storms and monsoons we experience here? Just like the Rubber Chucks, it comes with a gusseted tongue to keep the rain from trickling through the laces, and forgoes the medial eyelets, so that water won’t infiltrate your arches. They’re Chuck IIs as well, so the Lunarlon sockliner, non-slip padded tongue and micro-suede lining come standard.

Unlike its raincoat rubber-clad predecessor, the Shield Canvas is made of, well, canvas that has been specially treated to repel water. This makes the shoe a bit more versatile to wear, compared with the hi-top Rubbers which can easily come across as boots.

Weatherproofing aside, I also love the the reflective stripe that goes down the back of the shoe. They call it heel webbing, I call it fantastic. Matching that perfectly are the charcoal barrel laces with red aglets. Red! These match the shoe’s top eyelets and crimson micro-suede lining. The webbing and laces are there to make you more visible in low light, but I think they make your shoes pop even under the sun. Details are king.

Coming in at PhP 4,550, Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II Shield Canvas are available in both black and white. I think I prefer the white, mainly because of the contrasting colorway. I Just wonder how repellent the white is from mud and grime? Maybe I’ll pick up a pair and find out.

#CounterClimate #ReadyForMore