Are there any Chuck Taylors still made in America?

[lynchpatrickj]

Abort / Retry / Fail?

 

[BB1]

I highly doubt it. Converse is owned by Nike and it was my understanding that Nike does 100% of its manufacture outside of the US these days. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

Your only option is to buy from one of those companies that resell old "Made in USA" stock Converse for insanely high prices. I've seen some that have brand new ones (still in box) for sale.

However, I have also seen "Made in Japan" ones that are higher quality than anything Converse has ever made. They look about about 95% the same as the actual Converse ones-- most people would think they were just a "special edition" Chuck as opposed to a newer shoe that's largely a copy/clone. So if higher quality is what you're after (while still looking authentic), this is the route I'd peruse.

 

[givemefive]

I've been looking for black high tops on sale for ages. I refuse to pay $40+tax for a ************* shoe like the chuck taylor. The soles start peeling after only a few wears.

They are worth about $20 I think. Doesn't mean I don't want them. I just think 39.99 is steep.

 

[SLAB]

Originally Posted by givemefive

I've been looking for black high tops on sale for ages. I refuse to pay $40+tax for a ************* shoe like the chuck taylor. The soles start peeling after only a few wears.

They are worth about $20 I think. Doesn't mean I don't want them. I just think 39.99 is steep.
ha, in Belgium they usually retail for 60 euro!

 

[snake]

They've been making them overseas for awhile now; mine were made in Vietnam. Their prices are bit steep for something so generic and shoddily made.

 

[Becks23]

Converse Addict as somebody mentioned is the Japanese-based line. but they are ~$170+ USD (probably more now given the Yen) http://hypebeast.com/2008/10/convers...ct-collection/

 

[Robert]

Originally Posted by snake

They've been making them overseas for awhile now; mine were made in Vietnam. Their prices are bit steep for something so generic and shoddily made.


At the same time, if you like them, it's hard to justify an alternative. I've been hankering for a new pair for a while now, and I think I'm just gonna have to give in and get them in the Nike-made overseas child-labor produced variety at the big downtown shoe store.

 

[Get Smart]

last time I saw MIA chucks were back in 2002 or 3. we were at a rockabilly festival in Green Bay WI and there was a store in town that had tons of pairs of MIA chucks for $20 iirc and word spread quick thru the weekender and hordes of greasers went down to score a pair.

 

[Robert]

I still own a pair of MIA chucks. Purchased around 98. Of course, they're shot to hell, so I can only wear them when the weather's good.

 

[v0rtex]

Even the Varvatos line is made in Vietnam.

I sympathize with the guy in Europe who pays 60 EUR, I remember them being 40-50 UKP when I lived in the UK. Crazy for what's essentially disposable footwear.

New Balance is, according to their website, "the only athletic shoe manufacturer still making shoes in the US" and even then they admit only 25% are fully made here (the others marked "Made in USA" are 70% or more made on-shore). Ugly shoes, though.

 

[Robert]

As an old guy, I remember buying them for like 12 bucks in the 70s! That was the great thing about them. You could beat the hell out of them b/c it was nothing to pick up another pair.

 

[gwydion]

While on somewhat topic, what about PF Flyers? I read on Wiki that New Balance still produces most of their products MIA and that they own PF Flyers. So are they most likely MIA as well?

 

[deveandepot1]

Originally Posted by gwydion

While on somewhat topic, what about PF Flyers? I read on Wiki that New Balance still produces most of their products MIA and that they own PF Flyers. So are they most likely MIA as well?

I don't think they are.

 

[kiya]

Originally Posted by gwydion

While on somewhat topic, what about PF Flyers? I read on Wiki that New Balance still produces most of their products MIA and that they own PF Flyers. So are they most likely MIA as well?

New Balance does own PF Flyers.. NB produces a line, their Tier Zero line, in the UK.
They also have a line which they release twice a year which is made outside Boston, but the shoes are $250 and up.

 

[Cavalier]

Unrelated to OP or other discussions here: I wear Chucks and Flyers, just picked up a pair of HUF X Nike SB's which are similar style... SB's are generally constructed miles beyond other Nikes. http://hypebeast.com/2009/10/huf-nik...el-collection/ These are way more comfortable then Flyers and Chucks too.. Flyers > Chucks in terms of comfort and quality these day IMO, huge difference.