Converse: Where to Buy, How to Size Them, and What to Avoid
Before you buy Converse, know this: they run about a half size large. Sizing down is the right move for most feet, and that one detail causes more returns than anything else in this category. Which model you pick and where you buy it decide the rest. This guide covers online and in-store options, how the classic Chuck Taylor compares to the Chuck 70, and which pairs are worth the money.
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What Converse Shoes Are and Who Should Buy Them
Converse is an American footwear brand founded in 1908 and owned since 2003 by Nike, Inc. Its best-known product is the Chuck Taylor All-Star, a canvas sneaker that started as an NBA-era basketball shoe and became one of the most recognized casual styles ever made. The Chuck 70 is the heritage-spec version. The One Star is a suede or leather low-top with a single side star. The Jack Purcell, named for the badminton champion, has the “smile” toe cap and a roomier fit.
Who should buy a pair? Students, musicians, people who lift, and anyone who wants a flat, low-profile wardrobe staple. Who should skip them? Anyone needing cushioning or arch support for long days on their feet. Chucks are famously flat, an advantage under a barbell and a liability on concrete.
Features Worth Paying For in a Pair of Chucks
Four things decide whether a pair is worth its price: upper material, footbed, height, and whether it is current-season stock or a collaboration. Everything else is color.
Upper material. The default is cotton canvas: light, breathable, quick to crease. Leather and suede uppers cost more and handle wet weather better, but break in slower. Canvas is the safe default unless you are buying for winter.
Footbed and cushioning. The classic Chuck uses a thin insole over a flat natural rubber base with almost no padding. The Chuck 70 adds an OrthoLite footbed and a thicker outsole. That padding is the entire practical difference between a shoe you can stand in all day and one you cannot.
High-top, low-top, or platform. High-tops cover the ankle and carry the ankle patch most people picture. Low-tops breathe better and slip on easier. Platform versions add stack height and change the fit, so treat them as a separate sizing question.
Outsole and toe cap. Every core model uses a vulcanized rubber sole and rubber toe cap. On the upgraded version the toe cap is larger and the midsole stripe is off-white, not bright white. That is the fastest way to tell them apart in a listing photo.
Season stock or collaboration. Standard colorways restock; limited editions do not, and resale prices on retired designs can sit above retail. Buy a collaboration during its release window, not on markdown.
| Model | Upper | Cushioning | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chuck Taylor All-Star | Cotton canvas | Minimal, flat | $50 to $65 | Everyday, lifting |
| Chuck 70 | Heavier canvas | OrthoLite footbed | $75 to $95 | All-day comfort |
| One Star | Suede or leather | Lightly padded | $60 to $85 | Retro streetwear |
| Jack Purcell | Canvas or leather | Lightly padded | Check current pricing | Wider feet |
Sizing and Fit: Why Almost Everyone Should Size Down
The brand’s own size guidance says the Chuck Taylor All-Star runs large, and dropping a half size from your usual sneaker number is the standard correction. Wide or high-volume feet are the exception and stay at their normal number.
The part most guides leave out: core Chuck models use a single unisex last, so the men’s number is the base and a women’s listed size equals the men’s size plus two. Get that backwards and you are two sizes off before the half-size rule applies.
- Start from your usual sneaker size. Use a pair you already own that fits well.
- Convert to the men’s scale for women’s sizing. Subtract two.
- Drop a half size. This corrects the long last.
- Stay at full size for wide feet. Canvas stretches sideways with wear, never lengthwise.
- Order from a free-returns retailer if you cannot try them on. A wrong guess then costs nothing.
One note unrelated to length: these shoes have essentially no built-in arch support, which is why replacement insoles are a common companion purchase. If you want structure under the arch, a supportive aftermarket insole is the fix, not a different size.
Ordering Converse Online: Where and Why
Four channels cover nearly every scenario: Amazon for breadth, the brand’s own site for the full catalog and customs, eBay for retired colorways, and Zappos or DSW when free returns matter more than sticker price.
Amazon
Amazon, the largest online retailer in the United States, carries the widest assortment, from plain white low-tops to collaboration drops. Prime delivery is usually fastest, though the shipping window depends on the seller. Buy from listings sold and shipped by Amazon or the official brand storefront, because a brand filter alone does not confirm a seller is authorized. Browse the selection on Amazon #ad to compare models and read verified buyer reviews.
Converse.com
The official site is the only place with the complete catalog plus the By You customizer, which builds a pair from base colors, prints, laces, and personalized text. Custom orders take longer and often carry different return and exchange terms than stock inventory, so read those before confirming. Buying direct removes any authenticity question.
eBay
eBay is the market for discontinued colorways, vintage pairs, and used shoes in good condition. Its Authenticity Guarantee routes qualifying sneaker listings above a price threshold through inspection, but it does not cover every item, so check for the badge. Prefer sellers who photograph the tongue label and outsole. Check current eBay listings for a retired design.
Zappos and DSW
Zappos ships free both ways and takes returns for a full year, the lowest-risk place to shop when you are unsure about fit. DSW stocks the core lineup, has a free rewards program, and takes online returns in store. Both carry men’s, women’s, and kids’ sizing.
Finding Converse Near You: In-Store Options
Trying a pair on settles the sizing question in a minute, which is the main argument for buying in person.
Walmart
Walmart, the largest brick-and-mortar retailer in the United States, stocks core models at the low end of the price range. Shelf selection is narrower than the site, so look up the model you want in their online catalog first and use the store-availability filter where it appears.
Champs Sports, Foot Locker, and Journeys
These three chains carry seasonal colorways and collaboration releases discount stores skip. Browse the Champs Sports brand page or check either of the others for store-level availability. Mall footwear retail has consolidated heavily, so confirm your nearest location is still trading before driving out.
Nike Factory Stores
Because the brand is a Nike subsidiary, Nike Factory Stores carry past-season Chucks below full retail, and nike.com lists them beside Nike’s own gear. Standalone brand-owned outlets have become scarce here, so the Nike outlet is the more reliable stop. Stock rotates, so call ahead for a wide width. Cross-shopping casual footwear? Our guides to Crocs and running shoes cover the comfort-first end of the same decision.
What Not to Buy: Common Chuck Taylor Pitfalls
Ordering your normal size. The half-size-large fit drives more returns than any other factor. Check the size chart on whichever retailer you use, then apply the men’s-base conversion above.
Paying Chuck 70 money for a classic Chuck. The two look near-identical in thumbnails. The premium version has the bigger toe cap, off-white stripe, heavier canvas, and cushioned footbed. Confirm the model name in the listing title, not the photo.
Counterfeit Converse on open marketplaces. Fakes are common wherever third-party sellers list freely. Warning signs: prices well under retail, stock photos only, new seller accounts, sloppy stitching at the toe cap. Buy from the brand, an authorized retailer, or a listing covered by marketplace authentication.
Assuming any pair works for walking. The flat sole is the point of the design, not a defect, but long days on hard floors hurt without an insole.
Skipping return terms on clearance and custom pairs. Personalized and final-sale orders often carry different rules than regular stock. Read them before checkout, not after the box arrives.
Top Converse Worth Buying
These five span cheapest to most comfortable, chosen on the spec differences above rather than marketing copy.
Best overall: Chuck Taylor All-Star Classic. The original canvas high top, sold in dozens of colorways. Around $50 to $65. Check price on Amazon
Best upgrade: Chuck 70 High Top. Heavier canvas, thicker outsole, OrthoLite footbed. The comfort gain is the whole reason to pay more. Roughly $75 to $95. Check price on Amazon
Best budget: Chuck Taylor All-Star Low Top. Same shoe, less material, usually the cheapest way in at about $40 to $55. See it on Amazon
Best for lifting: any classic Chuck Taylor All-Star. The flat, barely compressible natural rubber base gives a stable platform for squats and deadlifts, which is why it turns up in powerlifting gyms. Check price on Amazon
Best throwback look: Converse One Star. Suede or leather low-top with the single side star and a slightly padded footbed the canvas version lacks. About $60 to $85. See it on Amazon
If the flat sole is a dealbreaker, the usual cross-shops are PF Flyers, the other classic American canvas basketball shoe, plus the Adidas Samba and Reebok Club C, both near the same price with more padding.
Start with size. Take your usual sneaker number, convert to the men’s scale if you wear women’s sizing, then drop a half size. Buy Converse from the brand, Amazon, or a retailer with free returns the first time. Once you know your number, price is the only variable left.
FAQ: Buying Converse
Do Converse fit true to size?
No. They fit about a half size large, and the brand’s own guidance tells buyers to order down. Wide or high-volume feet are the exception. Core models use a unisex last, so subtract two from a women’s size to get the men’s number, then drop the half size.
What is the difference between a Chuck Taylor and a Chuck 70?
The heritage version uses heavier canvas, a thicker vulcanized outsole, a larger rubber toe cap, an off-white midsole stripe, and an OrthoLite footbed. The standard model is lighter, thinner underfoot, and roughly $20 to $30 cheaper. Both share the same silhouette and ankle patch.
Is the brand owned by Nike?
Yes. Nike, Inc. acquired it in 2003, and it operates as a subsidiary with its own design team and product lines. That ownership explains why the shoes appear on nike.com and in Nike Factory Stores, a useful place to look for discounts.
Are these sneakers bad for your feet?
They give very little arch support and almost no cushioning, which makes the classic model a poor choice for standing or walking all day. That is a design characteristic, not a defect: the flat platform is what lifters want. The cushioned footbed on the upgraded model helps, and an aftermarket insole helps more.
Can canvas pairs go in the washing machine?
The manufacturer recommends hand cleaning with mild soap and cool water, because machine agitation and heat can loosen the vulcanized rubber bond and warp the sole. If you machine wash anyway, use cold water on a gentle cycle in a mesh bag and air dry. Never soak suede or leather.
Where is the cheapest place to buy a pair?
Walmart and Nike outlet locations usually beat full-price retail on core models, and eBay is cheapest for used or discontinued colorways. Seasonal sales at the official site and at DSW close much of that gap. Set a target price rather than a target store.
Editorial review: wheretobuyguides.com team. Retailer links and prices last verified July 2026.