My pair of chucks have been with me through thick and thin. I have attended concerts with them, went to dates, parties, hikes, and I have even driven with these bad boys.
Though not the most stylish, expensive, and luxurious pair of shoe, Converse Chuck Taylor All Star shoes allow you to drive carefully and comfortably.
I love how sensitive my feet are on the pedals when I wear my chucks. Thanks to their lightweight design, Converse shoes allow me to react much faster to the brake pedal more than any other shoe I have ever worn.
Hey, a pair of Converse shoes may not be the best driving shoes, but there is nothing to complain about them.
If you are planning to get a pair of chucks or have had them for a while and never used them to drive, go right ahead and tell me how was your experience in the comments section.
For those who are still not convinced, keep on reading this review and find out if the Converse is good for driving?
What Makes a Good Driving Shoe?
As a licensed driver, owning a pair of driving shoes is a must. A lot of us don’t take this into consideration when shopping for shoes.
However, if you spend a great deal of time driving, then for comfort and safety purposes, you need to have a pair or two of shoes that can be used for both driving and walking.
In the case of professional or rally drivers, the need for a quality driving shoe is more severe.
With the market filled with hundreds of shoe brands all gassing up their product’s versatility in terms of being used for both walking and driving, it can be difficult to know which is ideal for you.
The right pair of driving shoes should snugly fit your foot and be adequately narrow so that it doesn’t consume a lot of space in the pedal area.
The soles ought to be exceptionally thin so that drivers can easily feel the pedals. This ensures precise driving. The upper material of a driving shoe should be soft and flexible to allow easy movement when braking or accelerating.
Another crucial factor is the heel. A rounded heel is a better choice since it allows for smooth control when releasing and pressing the pedals.
The overall design of the shoe should shout comfort from a mile away. Comfort is paramount, especially for long-distance drives. A good driving shoe should have a well-patterned tire tread that can adequately grip the pedals.
For convenience purposes, the shoe should also be stylish and comfortable enough for one to walk with.
We don’t want a scenario where on arrival at your destination you have to change shoes. That would be an unnecessary bother.
Do Converse Shoes Qualify as Good Driving Shoes?
Now that we know what makes a good driving shoe, let’s see if Converse shoes can qualify as driving shoes.
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Snug Fit
I have owned 3 pairs of Converse shoes. My first pair was in white, the second and current pair are in black. I prefer black because it’s a versatile color and doesn’t get dirty easily. Back to driving shoes. All these pairs have fitted me correctly.
When it comes to Converse shoes, they do run true to size. There are some people who say that they fit bigger than your average shoes.
And even if this were the case, it would be an advantage since you would have enough wiggle room.
To ensure you always get the perfect shoe size, I always recommend that you manually measure your foot using the shoe size chart.
Because Converse fit perfectly, driving will be very easy for you. You won’t have to move your foot up or down in order to properly step on the pedals. Driving with a pair of well-fitting chucks is quite convenient.
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Adequately Narrow
Have you ever seen a shoe slimmer than Chuck Taylor’s? Probably not! Even though when coming up with this design, the objective was not to help in driving, this is quite a useful feature.
Due to Chuck Taylor’s slim design, it doesn’t use up a lot of space in the pedal area. One can easily move on foot from the brake to the gas pedal and still leave behind enough room.
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Relatively Thin Sole
The sole of Converse shoes may not be the thinnest, but it is thin enough to allow you to feel the pedals. It is very important for a driver to feel the pedals when driving, more so the brake pedal, because of safety purposes.
When you are in traffic, a miscalculation when braking could result in an accident. A pair of chucks however will ensure you are driving safely.
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Flexible Upper Material
Because there is a lot of movement associated with driving, the flexible upper material found on Converse shoes will make it easier for you to do so.
Converse shoes aren’t rigid. The shoe is quite flexible and you can curve it as you wish. This feature makes driving very comfortable and convenient.
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Round Heel
The round heel of the Converse shoe is responsible for providing smooth control when switching between pedals and well as releasing and pressing the pedals.
This is a level of convenience that you can’t get from wedges or cone heels.
As you can see Converse shoes do check everything that is on the list of features every good driving shoe should have.
Can I Drive and Walk-in Converse Shoes?
When finalizing the features of a good driving shoe, I did mention the importance of versatility in a shoe.
In that, a good driving shoe should also be used to walk and a wide range of other activities. And that brings us to this particular matter – can you drive and walk-in Converse shoes?
You need to know that Converse shoes aren’t adequately padded. So you can’t walk on them for long hours.
In this case, however, you are driving, aren’t you? So, chances are, you are going to walk for only a short while.
Converse are flat. This is a feature that I like about this shoe. Because of this design alone, you can walk for long without feeling any sort of pressure or discomfort on your feet.
Secondly, Converse is quite lightweight and flexible. This is the kind of shoe that lets you walk how you want without using up a lot of effort.
Not to mention, the ankle support provided by chucks allows you to walk for even longer distances.
Do People Still Wear Converse Till Now?
Yes, these shoes can be used for driving and walking. But are they still in fashion? I understand that as much as you want a comfortable driving shoe, it still needs to be fashionable. You don’t want to look odd.
For a shoe company that has been around since 1908, I don’t think that it’s ever going to be out of fashion. I have owned three pairs of this timeless piece of clothing; after graduating from high school, in college and now as an ‘adult’.
What most people love about Converse is that they are universal. Go to any part of the world and you will see men and women rocking a pair of Converse.
This shoe can blend with any outfit. And because Whiz Khalifa still wears them, you can expect everyone to do the same.
So, next time you are driving to ‘wherever’, don’t hesitate to put on your chucks in fear of looking old-fashioned.
How to Make Your Converse More Comfortable for Driving?
So far, I would like to think that we are on the same page. That is, Converse are good for driving. To better your experience with these shoes especially when driving, here is how you can make them more comfortable.
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Loosen up the laces
The goal is not to choke your feet to death. So, loosen up the laces all the way down. You will realize that your Converse will be more breathable when driving. Don’t over loosen them however, just create enough room.
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Wear them with socks
There is this trendy where people don’t wear socks with chucks. I find that weird. Socks play a pivotal role in shoes, especially chucks.
Remember when we talked about how chucks aren’t adequately padded? Socks will give you that extra cushioning thus improving comfort. They will also help absorb moisture when driving in hot areas.
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Wash Them Regularly
I never really understand why people don’t regularly wash their chucks. Let me not be so harsh because I have also been a victim of the same.
As much as you may not care about your chucks being dirtier than a teenager’s browser history, dirt makes the shoe’s fabric stiffer. This will take away the flexibility feature of a good driving shoe and may cause blisters.
To avoid all that, give your chucks a regular wash so that the fabric remains soft.
Driving is Fun, Only If You Have the Right Shoes
It may not look like the standard driving shoe, but Converse are well built to facilitate a comfortable and convenient ride.
This shoe makes you feel more involved with the driving process as it sends your feet closer to the pedals.
Its iconic shape is designed for both walking and driving. The added cushioning is there to offer support when driving for long hours.
