Converse Step Into the Future with the Chuck Taylor All Star CX FlyEase
Comfort, style and shape have long been key features in the world of footwear. In recent years, however, accessibility has grown in importance as well. Nike, Inc., the corporate umbrella housing , and , is all about solving problems for all types of athletes, so they've led that charge with their adaptable tech.
Created by Tobie Hatfield (yes, brother), FlyEase is a fully hands-free entry-and-closure system, made to serve the needs of individuals who benefit from the increased accessibility of the line. In the seven years since it was introduced, FlyEase has morphed from sophisticated zip-and-strap assemblages that can be opened and closed with a single hand, to an advanced, springy heel system that requires no hands at all! It’s also become a fashion statement, as the striking technology it uses gives FlyEase-equipped sneakers a unique look.
Now, for the first time ever, FlyEase has made its way onto a Converse sneaker: the , a shoe that combines classic Chuck style with ultra-comfy CX foam and an accessible FlyEase fit.
In some ways, FlyEase’s arrival on the Chuck seems like a natural progression. The Chuck Taylor All Star makes a strong claim to being the most iconic piece of athletic footwear ever – what other sneaker has managed to remain cool for over 100 years? It spans a wide gauntlet, with roots in basketball, skateboarding, punk rock and many other culture-shifting movements. The Chuck is at once extremely specific to many subcultures and incredibly broad as everyone has their own Chuck Taylor story, no matter if they’re an athlete, a street urchin or a designer. The Chuck Taylor All Star CX FlyEase continues that inclusive ethos with an accessible fit that’s stylish, functional and comfortable – striking an artful balance between ‘need’ and ‘want’.
was a major push for Converse in 2021, and the brand brought some of its most notable footwear models into the modern-day by adding CX foam, a single-density polyurethane that Converse has tuned to provide maximum comfort and impact protection. On the Chuck Taylor All Star CX FlyEase, CX foam is loaded in the midsole from heel to toe, working with a PU leather sockliner to provide impeccable comfort! You can even see this foam in the heel, thanks to the midsole’s two-tone mix of translucent and opaque foxing tape.
From a tech standpoint, the Chuck Taylor All Star CX FlyEase looks like a futurist conceptual artist’s take on a hoops classic: the main helping of its ‘Chuckiness’ is provided by a rubberised toe cap and a knurled toe bumper. The rest of its upper is low-cut and made of stretch canvas, with the step-in FlyEase cage that gives it its name on the heel.
The genius of this thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) cage is in its simplicity. It’s got an elongated lip towards the rear, and to get your foot into the shoe, all you need to do is step down on this lip and push forward. When you put your body weight on this heel piece it flattens out, allowing you to slide your foot into the shoe. As soon as that weight leaves the heel, the cage immediately snaps back up to its unfurled position, locking your heel in place. Taking the Chuck Taylor All Star CX FlyEase off is just as easy as putting it on as well – all you need to do is use your other shoe or foot to apply pressure to the heel, causing the locking mechanism to drop down again, enabling you to remove your foot in a hands-free fashion. Yes, there are laces in the front, but you don’t need to use them – they’re there to help lock in a little bit of classic Chuck style! The tongue is fixed in place as well, ensuring it won’t get in the way of entry or removal. It’s also a fashion statement of sorts, a highly technical embellishment that upgrades the look of a classic sneaker!
Good feels? Check. Good looks? Check. Ease of use? Check. The Chuck Taylor All Star CX FlyEase takes one of history’s greatest sneaker designs and uses it to begin a new, hands-free chapter – one with all the classic comfort, style and attitude you’d expect from any product with Chuck Taylor in the name. It's available in two colourways – and via now.