Converse Shoes & Sneakers

All Stars for the Generations

With its iconic gum outsole, rubber toe cap and bold star emblem, Converse shoes are the undisputed all-stars of American footwear. In fact, these sneakers connect the generations. Converse shoes in women’s, men’s and kids’ sizes bring together what’s best about the human spirit by staying authentic with classic, unmistakable styling and honest value.

 

Hibbett | City Gear can connect you with these staple sneakers whether you’re buying your first pair of Converse Chuck Taylor shoes for your child or the fifteenth pair for yourself. We carry a wide inventory of time-honored styles and the latest fashion-forward releases, too.

 

Converse: A Brief History

 

Did you know that the first shoes made expressly for the hardcourt were Converse basketball shoes? It’s true. The Converse Rubber Shoe Company got its start in 1908 marketing a basketball sneaker with a rubber sole and canvas upper. The original sneaker name was “Non-Skids,” and the company advertised the shoe with features like a snug instep fit, roomy toe area and plenty of support.

 

One of the earliest champions of the Converse basketball shoe? A semi-pro player named Charles Taylor, aka Chuck Taylor. When he joined the Converse company as a salesman, he began making suggested modifications to the original Non-Skids for a more performance-enhancing basketball shoe. He recommended flexibility and ankle support and, as a result, the brand adopted the now-iconic All-Star logo at the ankle. Today, the Converse name is synonymous with Chuck Taylor and his legacy.

 

Subculture Kicks

 

Converse shoes may have been the first basketball shoe, but other non-basketball cultures co-opted the shoes as their own. As newer, flashier shoes with more advanced technology began rolling out in the basketball realm, thanks in large part to Nike and the rise of the Jordan brand, Converse shoes largely faded from the game.

 

Instead, the sneakers rose to prominence as a solid wardrobe staple. From the 1960s on, kids on the school playground were sporting Chucks, musicians took to the stage in high top Converse shoes for men, actors like James Dean rocked Converse shoes in photos, skaters liked the gummy grip of the Converse All-Star’s rubber outsole, powerlifters embraced the flat foundation … even David Tennant added the shoes to his on-screen "Doctor Who" persona.

 

Shoes for All

 

Converse shoes can go anywhere — your workspace, a concert, a sporting event, the playground or the park. There is no age limit to who can rock a pair of Converse sneakers, either. Wear them when you’re five months old, 15 years or 50 years.

 

Kids’, women’s and men’s styles range from the ubiquitous Chuck Taylor All Star Low canvas shoes to high cut leather Converse Pro options. The range of models includes a variety of classic white, black, blue and red tones, along with patterned prints. Whether high or low, leather or canvas, each sneaker retains some of the original flavor of the early 1900s Non-Skid.

 

Let Hibbett | City Gear fit your little ones with their first pair of Chucks, or stop by one of our locations to pick a pair that matches your own style. Shop in-stores or online for a wide-ranging inventory of the always-timeless Converse sneakers.

 

Converse High Tops | Black Converse | White Converse | Women's Converse | Green Converse | Pink Converse | Red Converse | Men's Converse | Converse Basketball Shoes | Kid's Converse