Edward
Bartender
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- London, UK
LizzieMaine said:They're similar to the traditional Chuck Taylor Converse shoes, but have a thicker sole and a lower ankle -- and are much more comfortable. Only sneakers I can comfortably wear, in fact.
I believe that's due to the patented "Posture Foundation" sole, which, reading the wikipedia entry, I see is much more significant than just the improved arch support as compared to the Converse models.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pf_flyer
FWIW, Jack Purcells were around back in the day, however, they were a PF Flyer model, not Converse. Converse, having bought out PF Flyer from original owners BF Goodrich in 1972, kept the rights to that model for themselves when they later sold off the rest of the PF Flyer rights due to antitrust concerns.
I was a big Converse fan right up until 2003 when Nike bought them out, which was the end of it for me, conscience forbidding buying a Nike product. PF Flyers appeared in the UK again around and about that time, and owners New Balance have an excellent ethical reputation as far as I can established, so I foresee several pairs of those on my horizon... maybe a pair or two for next summer, once funds improve and the weather for canvas footwear arrives.