I Love Chucks!

I feel the need to write a post about one of the constants in my life for well over 45 years: Chuck Taylor's Converse All-Star High Tops.

AKA: Chucks!

I have been wearing these classic gym shoes (yes, they are called 'gym shoes,' not 'sneakers') because they are timelessly cool, fashionable, hip as hell, and are, by far, The Most Comfortable Footwear in the History of Footwear. Wearing Chucks is the closest thing that you can get to going barefoot.

Also, really cool and amazing people wear Chucks, too.

One of my Facebook posts from January of 2021

So, in addition to the "Cool Kids" wearing them, they are very comfortable and stylish, and they are STILL pretty cheap, especially compared to other sports footwear.

I'm not a particularly fashionable guy (to say the least), and shopping for me usually consists of going online, finding my size, ordering some jeans and/or a T-shirt with some sort of image or line from a movie emblazoned across the chest, and waiting for it to arrive at my doorstep.

Simple.

When it comes to shoes, I have the necessary pair of dress shoes for weddings, funerals, and other functions that I hate. I have a pair of old-ass Doc Martens that I wear only if it snows a bit too much and gets a little too icy out there. And then there are my Chucks, which I wear ALL the time.

Recently, I noticed that my current Chucks were starting to wear down and had seen better days. The rubber soles had some holes, and the canvas was a bit worn.

Now, back when I was in my late teens and 20s, I would have bought a tube of that magnificent product known as "Shoe Goo," slathered it all over my High-Tops, and I would get another 6 or 7 months (sometimes a year) out of them.

The miracle product known as Shoe Goo!

I do miss those days, but at this point in my life, it's time to get a new pair.

My lovely girlfriend Julie was out of town, so I had a free Saturday afternoon, and I decided to head downtown to Chicago's Magnificent Mile and visit The Converse Store to get a new pair of Chucks.

I had never been to the Converse Store before, and Oh My God, what a heavenly, magical place it was. Nothing but gorgeous Converse shoes of every style lined the walls and filled the tables and shelves.

One of the many walls stocked with shoes at The Converse Store in downtown Chicago.

I was overwhelmed and thrilled. I felt like Robin Williams walking down the coffee aisle in "Moscow on the Hudson."

Once I got over that crazy fainting feeling, I browsed around and picked up a few really cool pairs to look at, but of course, I decided (as I always do) to go with the classic Converse All-Star High Top.

I've tried wearing the Low Tops, but they just don't work for me. I need that wraparound support for my ankles. Plus, High Tops are just cooler.

I had not been to a shoe store in years (seriously, years), so it was kind of fun and nostalgic to do the whole sit-on-the-bench-take-off-your-shoes-wait-for-the-clerk-try-on-the-shoes-walk-a-bit-look-in-the-mirror-put-your-old-shoes-back-on thing.

I went with the standard black High Tops.

Of course, I would go with the standard black (The Classic), but I also got the standard gray (The Classic). The clerk was very helpful and got my size from the back. I tried them on, they fit, and I purchased them. They were an old-school delight.

While I was there, I found out the Converse Store offers the ability to customize your Chucks. They provide interactive, in-store customization featuring personalized details, Chicago-love designs from local artists, specialty laces, and more. It's all done while you wait. Cool!

But I went with the basic black and basic gray because I'm 59 years old.

There it is! The Converse Store on Michigan Avenue.

The store is also located right next to the insanely popular, giant, hipster-and-tourist haven known as the Nike Chicago Store (fka NikeTown).

Compared to that behemoth, the little Converse store looks like a shy little cousin or the bastard stepchild of commerce, which makes the Chucks store all the more appealing.

All in all, it was a fun visit and a productive day of shopping. I walked out with two brand new pairs of Chucks that will last me until the next time I am tempted to buy a tube of "Shoe Goo."

Two new pairs of Chucks. A successful trip to The Converse Store.

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