How Does One Definitively Improve the Most Iconic Sneaker Ever? Converse Found a Way

After over a century in production — and more iterations than you can shake your fist at — this Chuck Taylor may be the best yet.

Close-up of brown and black Converse All Star sneakers with white laces and rubber soles on a dark surface.

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By Sean Tirman

Published January 3, 2026

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Unless you’ve been living in a bunker for the last century, you’ve almost definitely got some measure of familiarity with Converse’s Chuck Taylor. It’s arguably the most iconic piece of footwear of all time.

Over the course of its lifespan — going on 109 years, 103 with the Chuck Taylor moniker — it has seen many, many iterations. That’s important, as the Converse Chuck Taylor First String might be the finest of all of them.

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Black high-top Converse All Star sneakers with white laces and soles, worn with black pants, resting on a light-colored surface against a plain beige background. — Every tiny detail has been pored over to make these the best Chuck Taylors ever launched.

This isn’t just a simple redux or a material swap, either. It’s a ground-up reimagining for the modern era. It initially launched in three distinct editions: one with a premium leather upper, another in heavyweight canvas and a third in a Japanese knit fabric. But more have since been released, including a furry leopard pony, vintage canvas and a brown premium leather.

Alongside those uppers, all three have seen their outsoles swapped for trusty, grippy, high-end Vibram — a major upgrade from the brand’s traditional “fuzzy” outsole. And they all get an Ortholite insole for additional sink-in comfort and cushioning.

A person with shoulder-length brown hair is sitting on a blue carpeted floor against a light blue wall. They are wearing a white buttoned jacket over a black outfit and white sneakers with black soles. The person is looking down and slightly to the side. — That Vibram outsole truly makes a world of difference in these sneakers’ overall grippiness.

But it doesn’t stop there. The sneakers also have had all their other, smaller details pored over. The linings are now made from fine leather; the foxing tapes are more refined; even the iconic toe cap has been reimagined — shorter and wider for a more contemporary fit.

There are a couple of drawbacks, however. They’re among the most expensive Chucks, as well, starting at $225. Worse, they’re damn near impossible to get your hands on because, well, sneakerheads.