10 Best Converse Shoes For Men (Review) in 2020

The Chuck Taylor Ox or “oxford” version has been around for decades but only in recent years has it begun to get the attention it deserves. This is one of the most comfortable pieces of casual footwear you can buy and it also happens to be one of the most stylish and versatile. The Chuck Taylor Core Ox is perfect for casual day at work, riding your bike, lifting weights, playing some pickup hoops, walking on the beach, going to the club, hanging with your buds or working in the yard on the weekend. Try doing all that with your wingtips.

No matter how stressed and distressed your CT Ox footwear gets it will still lay down the style law no matter where you go. These are no here-today, gone-tomorrow delicate-as-a-rose-petal shoes either. Even with regular use in all kinds of conditions they’ll stand the test of time and more than justify their extremely reasonable price point. When you want more than just casual footwear you’ll want the Chuck Taylor All Star Core Ox. Our Best Choice. Be sure to also check out our list of the best golf shoes for more great items like this.

Converse high tops are the iconic American basketball sneaker so when in 2015 the company announced they were preparing to release a slightly updated version fans went understandably gaga. Within days of its release stores and online retailers were sold out with hundreds of thousands of back orders waiting to be filled. And it’s easy to see why. The new Chuck Taylor retains all the style cues of its predecessor but also incorporates a few new touches that can only be called icing on the cake.

A quick glance won’t betray any of the changes, and that’s the way it should be. If Converse had shifted away from the established style in any substantial way they wouldn’t be Chucks. Thankfully, modifications were subtle. They included an embroidered All Star patch on the inside heel, premium canvas used in the upper, thicker foxing on the rubber sidewall, a perforated microsuede lining to enhance moisture wicking and a bit more foam padding inside as well. Essentially they’ve ramped up all the material aspects of the shoe without sacrificing its much loved profile. Just what you want from an upgrade.

When Nike purchased Converse a decade and a half ago many were concerned the new owners were going to ditch the timeless style of the Chuck Taylor in favor of something hopelessly trendy. Thankfully, they left well enough alone and stuck largely to the original design game plan, introducing only minor tweaks such as this Unisex All Star low-rise sneaker.

The difference between this and the standard low-rise Chuck Taylor is so subtle as to be indistinguishable to most people. Essentially, this shoe has an ever-so-slightly lower profile, a slightly enhanced insole and marginally less robust foxing. That’s about it. Otherwise they are the same stylish, durable, comfortable low-rise casual shoes you and everyone else has come to know and love. For more durable footwear, check out our list of the best skateboard shoes.

Okay, so this is technically marketed as a shoe for women but the fact is with Chucks it’s almost impossible to tell the difference and these have enough going for them that they’re worth picking up. Even if one out of every 8.35 million people you encounter will say “Hey, aren’t those chick shoes?” They’re worth the investment if for no other reason than the Leather Ox Converse upper provides an extremely cool look (cool in the style sense) that’s going to go perfectly with your jeans and leather jacket.

These will also look and feel great when you’re riding your motorcycle, balling in the park, taking in the Met on a Sunday afternoon with the kids or just hanging out. If you’re looking for ankle support you’re not going to find it here. But that isn’t why you buy a pair of shoes like this. You buy them because they look great, feel great and they’ll go with everything from shorts to Dockers and beachwear. With the right socks, you can even wear them in winter. Our handy guide to the best Adidas shoes features more great products like this.
 

Sometimes when one company takes over another they gut the soul of the original product. And sometimes the new parent company finds new ways to get more out of an iconic brand without trouncing on its essence. When Nike announced they were acquiring Converse a lot of Chuck Taylor fans held their breath. Thankfully, Nike approached their new acquisition with requisite respect for both the brand and its countless fans.

The Converse Men’s Street Canvas Mid Top Sneaker is a slightly edgier rendition of the American classic that doesn’t change any of the essential lines. Instead, it explores the expressive possibilities within those lines and harnesses the power of material, texture, pattern and emphasis to create a 21st century version of the All Star that everyone from skateboarders to their dads are going to appreciate. Love these sneakers? Check out our review of the best Puma shoes for our top picks.

Nike took the right path after buying Converse. Instead of stripping down the entire brand and starting over they preserved the much-loved core styles and confined their experiments to the edges of the brand. The Unisex Chuck Taylor Leather Converse Sneakers are a perfect example. Simply put these are not going to appeal to everyone, just because they’re a pretty extreme departure from the iconic design. That said, what they’ll lose in core fans they’re likely to pick up in new ones.

The quilted side panels, oversized foxing, updated sole design and canvas stripe down the back are all departures from the norm which work beautifully in their own way. The shoe is also waterproof, which is both a massive departure from standard Chucks and a welcome touch you’re going to appreciate on those days you get caught in the rain or have to make your way through a couple of inches of slush. The blue eyelets at the top of the lacing course add a nice visual counterpoint and seal the deal. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best Reebok shoes.

John Varvatos made his name with the Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein menswear lines and in 1999 struck out on his own. His signature brand received much praise for its fusion of high and low, street and palace, rock and classical. In some ways he’s the prototypical postmodern fashion designer, freed of traditional boundaries, searching the landscape for expressive possibilities. In John Varvatos Converse high tops he’s found the perfect foil for his deconstructivist tendencies.

The Varvatos high top is a shoe straight out of central casting for a Mad Max or Blade Runner film. Funky, edgy and bold but also respectful of the source material without being slavish to it. It’s a neat trick to pull off and only someone with JV’s design chops could do it. There’s nothing here that feels gratuitous or ill-considered. Nothing that’s trying too hard (the cardinal sin of most street designers) and nothing that’s going to overtly offend the Converse cognoscenti. These are great-looking street gear that set the style bar for what athletically-themed footwear can be. And they’re our hands-down Premium Choice. Don’t forget to also check our Vans shoes selection for our top picks.

What do you get when you reduce the iconic Chuck Taylor profile to its absolute minimum? You get the Converse Slip On Sneaker, that’s what. This is a true unisex design that’s a great addition to anyone’s summer outdoor gear. Perfect for walks on the beach or in the park, riding your bike or just lounging by the pool.

As long as you don’t ask too much of them the Unisex Chuck Taylor All Star Slip Ons will be just what the doctor ordered for lightweight warm weather footwear. They’re a great alternative to sandals that you can safely wear while driving. And if you’re really intent on using them to play pickup ball just slip in some aftermarket insoles you’re good to go. Make sure to check our Etnies shoes review for more great footwear.

DC comics has the kind of gritty street cred Marvel can only dream about. As such it was a stroke of genius to bring together the DC universe and the world’s most iconic and authentic athletic footwear brand in one jaw-dropping hybrid of a sneaker. The Chuck Taylor DC Comics Batman Converse High Tops may not turn you into a Dark Knight but they’ll let you hit the court looking like a superhero.

With an all-canvas upper screen printed with a variety of DC’s most iconic heroes including Batman, Superman, the Flash and Wonder Woman the DC Comics Batman High Top says you know who the real superheroes are. All the design touches of the classic CT are here, including the signature rubber toe cap, striped foxing, over the ankle reach and lace closure. If you love DC you’ll likely then consider these the best Converse shoes for men. Our guide to the best Asics shoes features more great products like this.

If they wear sneakers in heaven they probably look just like the semi-angelic X Off-White Chuck High Top Sneakers from Converse. Make no mistake, these are not for wearing during a game of pickup basketball. These white sneakers are a serious (maybe a little too serious) fashion statement to wear on that sailboat in the Caribbean or while dining on Front Street in Hamilton.

The designer here, Virgil Abloh, normally struts his stuff for Off White, a well-known brand of street-oriented footwear. Here, he hasn’t tried to reinvent the Chuck Taylor wheel, he simply dipped the whole thing in a vat of bleach. The result is strangely appealing with a hypnotic quality that will have everyone in the restaurant gazing your way. The only downside we see here is that, while these are touted as citywear, you really don’t want to wear them in the city unless you put clear plastic bags over them. Because even the tiniest bit a dirt or grime is going to stand out like a sore thumb.