In recent years, vintage sneakers have seen a major resurgence in popularity as thrift stores and second-hand shops have gotten them back into the sneaker market. For good reason, some of the most popular vintage sneakers have been the Vans Old Skools and Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars. Both sneakers meld well with a variety of different styles and pieces and, with their rise in popularity over the years, we have decided to host a sneaker showdown to see which one is better.
Before diving into the pros and cons of each shoe and seeing which one is better, let’s take a brief look at their histories. The Vans Old Skool was initially released in 1977 and designed by Paul Van Doren. The sneaker saw a fair amount of success during its release, especially among skaters and youth. While the Vans Old Skool saw success with skaters, the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star saw love from tennis players, weightlifters and basketball players alike. This was primarily due to its 1923 release—the market wasn’t saturated at that time, and the shoe had a few years to establish itself. The sneaker also saw success due to its design team, which consisted of members of the Converse company alongside Chuck Taylor, an American basketball player. Taylor helped improve the look and comfort of the sneaker and, with his basketball marketing knowledge, he was able to help the sneaker gain notoriety in the league.
Although the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star had more time to gain popularity, the Vans Old Skool still keeps up with them. The Old Skools have a simple design, made up of a solid canvas upper (suede depending on the colorway). The only thing breaking up the upper is the white side stripe, which matches the laces and midsole in color. This makes for a simple and effective design, which is complemented by its cushioning. The cushioning in the insole makes for a great wear, but the back ankle area does the opposite, scratching at the ankle and creating discomfort during an extended wear. The decline in durability over the years also contributes to discomfort after extended use, as the cushioning begins to wear. Don’t get us wrong, this does not mean the silhouette is all bad. It works well with a vast number of styles and pieces, ranging from skatecore and techwear to athleisure and vintage styles.
The Converse Chuck Taylor also works with a wide range of styles, but it gravitates more towards vintage-wear. Its simple design consists of a canvas upper, which is complemented by a white midsole and toe cap. All-Star branding is seen on the side ankle section of the shoe, letting onlookers know what type of shoe the wearer is rocking. While the design is simple, the comfort is lacking, which takes points away from the shoe. Due to the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star having a high top silhouette, it gets tight at the ankle, restricting movement and creating discomfort with extended use. This does not make the sneaker a chore to wear, but it still is not that comfortable. The shoe is not true to size either, making the wearer pick between a look that is too big or slightly uncomfortable.
Vans Old Skools and Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars are both great shoes in their own right. Since the Vans Old Skool goes with a wider range of styles while retaining its smooth look, and the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star isn’t too comfortable/doesn’t go with as many styles, the Vans Old Skool wins this round of sneaker showdown. Honestly, this does not mean the All-Stars are a bad pair of kicks. Based on comfort, range and design, the Vans Old Skool just come out on top.
If you want to get your hands on a pair of Vans Old Skools, click here. Retail: $60 USD
If you want to get your hands on a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars, click here. Retail: $55 USD
What are your thoughts on this sneaker showdown? Do you think that the Vans Old Skool triumphs over the Converse Chuck Taylor-All Star or do you agree with our decision? Let us know in the comment section. If you want more music and style content in your life, make sure to check out our Instagram @audiblwav and YouTube channel. On our Instagram, we keep your feed fresh with concert videos, daily song suggestions, music/style news, and more. We also work to provide you with video content on our YouTube channel. Don’t miss out, tap the links above.