A shoe that barely qualifies as such, which is what I wanted by the way. This is one of the best shoes for drumming I've ever worn. They're light, comfortable, the soles are so thin you can really feel the pedals, yet they're thick enough to give you protection. Anyone who's ever drummed in bare feet will know what I'm talking about. They almost feel like slippers and more importantly look cool especially if you're wearing a black leather jacket, blue jeans, t-shirt and your name is "something" Ramone. 4 stars

An old school shoe, with style. How did our feet survive these things? Oh, that's right, they didn't. 4 stars

When I first started buying them I had at least 4 different colors of the high-tops. I loved the broad spectrum of colors. However, about 3 years ago the company was bought out. The prices almost doubled. What was a cool shoe for about $20 is now $40-50.
They have no arch support, sometimes you can see the glue, the shoelaces are often not long enough to lace up the whole shoe, and they wear out pretty quickly (of course that's because I wear them nearly every single day) - that's not what I expect from a $50 shoe!
They also seem to be issuing them in fewer shades. I have had trouble in times past finding the right shade of green or purple.

I still love the shoe, and still own 1 pair of navy blue ones, but I find them hard to recommend to others.

I recently was in Thailand where they make the shoes and they were $21 in the stores. I was so excited to see them in the colors I want at the price I used to pay!... but it annoyed me to realize - I'm paying $19-29 each pair for the shipping costs + more markup for the American stores.... 3 stars

It is nice to slip in to a new shoe and get the feel of a firm but comfortable fit. Lots of value here for the money.
In my size they look like navy gunboats...and I love them! 5 stars

Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars are not just a fashion statement. Back in the day, they were my choice of athletic footwear -- following in my father's footsteps -- while starting center on the high school basketball team. For a 6'2" white guy with a moderate vertical leaping ability, I didn't have to worry about losing any spring in my step, and I always led stats in rebounds and blocked shots against players wearing the then-ubiquitous Adidas, Puma and Converse "Dr. J" hi-tops. In all fairness, and as a disclaimer, 80% of the opposing team members were white guys, too.

Still, though I have absolutely no vertical leap left (hey. I graduated 24 years ago), I still wear these shoes, just because. Like one reviewer pointed out, they're a great conversation starter. Plus, they're as comfy as a second pair of feet.

At the turn of the 20th to the 21st century, it appeared that there'd be NO Chucks left at all: The Massachusetts factory was closing down, and Chucks appeared to be going the way of acid-wash jeans. Fortunately (or, unfortunately, if you're a member of the garment workers' union), Converse went through some reorganization and now makes these overseas, presumably in China.

Well, I'm boycotting the People's Republic of China, an anti-labor country that has helped more American CEOs bust unions than just about anyone else. Its own people are slave labor. Fortunately, I thought ahead, so when Converse was on the ropes, I went out to every shoe store around and bought up all the size 12 hi tops I could find. To be exact, 143 pairs -- a closet full. I've got 'em in white, optical white, green, red, basic black, navy blue, yellow, orange, you name it. Set me back $2700, but was worth every penny, knowing that American workers made them.

I AM THE IMELDA MARCOS OF CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLOR ALL-STAR SHOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, if you're a newcomer to them, or missed the boat, I won't hate ya for buying these for yourselves. They are so cool, I'll look the other way.

I have to look the other way myself: I buy the toddler sizes for my two wittle one. Aw!!!! :) At least I help keep American shoe store employees employed, if not factory workers. 5 stars