The "memory foam" was at one time a solid chunk of foam rubber meant for arch support. Players at the college level (i.e. Henry Bibby Playing for John Wooden) made special requests to avoid Converse and wear PF Fliers for that arch support.
This is correct. PF’s “Rigid Wedge” gave them superior arch support and their name. “Posture Foundation”. They are vastly superior in looks and comfort to Converse shoes.
From personal experience. All black Chucks lasted me about 9 months of daily wear. And all black PF Flyers lasted me about two years of almost daily wear. I wore both to PE in school everyday. With Converse they tend to fall apart about from the sides and soles they also fade from black to a blue greenish color. While PF Flyers fade to brown and the canvas tears from the sides.
The extra foam is for arch support,invented by B.F Goodrich which was the predecessor of both converse and p.f flyers,and used on their dress shoes. Later they used the same tech when they started releasing sneakers and even in military outfits. Pretty cool history imo
PF flyers are consistently well made. I've tried on converse where one shoe of the same pair looks different to the other. Never had that with PF flyers.
The made in USA version has a rubber toe cap,the body of the shoe that is normally canvas is all leather. They are very high quality shoes,but I personally prefer the canvas style as they are true to the look of the shoes in the 50’s and 60’s. They didn’t make them in leather back then.
Posture Foundation...First brand in the USA to have a proffesional sports endorsement. Originally owned by BF Goodrich...yes the Tire. Its revolutionary "rubber' sole Invented the "tennis" Shoe...but used for basket ball...
PF Flyers are my favs. They're roomie enough for a proper insole and last longer than cons. They're Made buy New Balance and their shoes are pretty consistently good quality for the price. I made the brand switch to the Flyers in 2010 and I've easily gotten 2.5-3yrs wear out of every pair.
I got a pair for my Benny the jet halloween costume one year and when I put them on I was amazed how comfy they were so I still wear them. Plus the placebo of making you run faster and jump higher is worth something in my mind lol. My only criticism is that they can be too hot to wear in the summer sometimes, especially the all black ones, but if you are playing a game of baseball or hockey in the street with friends there is nothing better. Great memories in my shoes :)
I got that pair of PF flyers over Christmas. One thing I like about them is the extra room in the toe box. With my last pair of regular converse, the shoe started to bend upward in the toe. To the point where I couldn't wear them anymore. The shoe practically made a half circle; it was crazy. I really like my PF flyers and I hope/don't think they'll bend up like my converse did.
Perhaps you had the wrong size Converse? I know the curling you're talking about though. I have 2 pairs of PFs, my old pair haven't curled up like any of my old Chucks. But if you're concerned get shoe trees, that will help retain the shape of your shoes.
i've had my converse for about a year, maybe a year and a half, and they have that same curling issue. i was wondering if anyone else had that issue (also sorry for replying to such an old comment haha)
I found the PF Flyers to be much more comfortable than my original Chuck's, but I have narrow feet so they didn't fit as well. Due to the fit the heal counters cracked and wore out before the shoes were really done. I think I will give the Chuck 70s a try next!
Yeah they put out special Sandlot editions on big anniversaries of the first movie. Did one for the 20th in 2013, and the 25th in 2018. I've got me a few different pairs of "The Secret Weapons" lol
I definitely prefer the old format where you cut the shoe in half first, and then go through the layers. That reveal shot where you pull the two halves apart is honestly why I subscribed in the first place.
Please do the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66, the iconic Kill Bill shoe!! Would also love to see (for milestones or whatever) more fashion boots, such as Maison Margiela tabi boots or Vivienne Westwood seditionaries boots, boots that are the same price or higher than work boots but are purely for fashion purposes.
My son has been wearing Chuck Taylor's for a year but he wears them out in about 6 months. I'm going to try the P.F. Flyers after this. Great video! Thanks!
Yeah no shit. I dont even like asmr too much but I like the sound of him cutting up the shoes lol. He should make an asmr compilation i reckon it would get good numbers. Like different shoes and materials etc.
I really enjoy your videos. I am disappointed in the quality of materials these companies use and the lack of support many of them offer. And on top of that their pricing for basically crap shoes. The shoe industry hides a bunch of stuff with their canvas and glue. Keep up the great job!
I am 62 years young , have worn all three. By far the better shoe overall is the PF Flyers. They feel more substantial and wear better. The Pf also has better support for the feet.
If you're wanting to compare different vans shoes, I would love to see you cut a Pro Skate variant in half. There are many differences, they are the highest quality, thickest material, most comfortable and durable vans, and are built quite differently. Love the video!
ngl, I kinda miss the whole "Reveal" part where he just cut the whole thing in half and showed it to the viewer in one go. Felt pretty signature to this channel and I would always skip forwards to see the insides when I wanted to remind myself of what was inside them. It helped me chose between getting a pair of redwings or sticking with my Timberlands for now. Kinda miss it.
I got lucky at a thrift store and picked up a brand new pair of the Made in USA PF Flyers from the final run when they reopened up the original Massachusetts factory right before they went out of business and they’re wayyyyy heavier built than the regulars. Leather (most likely pigskin) lined upper under heavy canvas. Leather over heavy canvas on the part that runs up the shoe for the eyelets, real leather toe cap, and a much thicker midsole and insole. The vulcanizing seems thicker and it’s got the black stripe hand drawn in the groove on the white outsoles. I would definitely buy more if I ever needed to but too because the wide toe box and flat soles make them the perfect leg day shoe but too bad they were such a limited run and the brand is gone now. One of those quality USA made products that makes you proud but sad because we used to make such high quality things
Looking forward for the stan smith video. Got one for my heavy everyday beater and the outsole got pretty compressed over time and got really thin, had to get a new one cause I like the looks of it.
The modern Stan Smith is nothing like the original. I have inspected a 1970s Made in France pair - it has much better leather and sole, both are more solid and thicker. It is also noticeably heavier and last for years.
It feels like the $120 SS have the same outsole, but I don't really like that it has a different color (not white as regular SS). Wearing Converse and Ecco sneakers, and occasionally white SS. If you have ever tried Ecco shoes - as for me they are the longest-lasting sneakers - I've been using them since 2013.
I heard the 70s are even stiffer one the bottom sole. My issue is what makes a shoe comfortable isn’t the inside, it’s the outer sole and how flexible it is, so that your foot isn’t fighting all these weird pressure points very step you take
I love your videos, I don't like shopping shoes and don't really care much about them but your videos just suck me in and I've binged a whole bunch of them since finding this channel
So stoked for the Palladiums! I absolutely swear by my Palladiums (I wear the "baggy" model with the fold over tops), I've never had a boot so comfortable or a boot that lasts so long!
PF Fyers were originally made by B F Goodrich, the American tire company. I wore them in grade school and started wearing them again 4 years ago. They are more comfortable and last longer than Chucks.
Fun Fact, the crew of the Nostromo in the scifi horror classic ALIEN wear (modified) all white PF Flyers. For a long time people thought they were Converse Chuck Taylors until high definition home video came along and people on the internet did some sleuthing and identified the distinct ridged toe bumper of the PF Flyer. But like a lot of off the shelf products turned props theyve been modified by the films costume dept (with metal D-eyelets) ...I thought that was an interesting bit of info anyway. Thanks for another great comparison video!
Would be interested in seeing a comparison to the cheapo $20 version of this shoe style that Walmart and other stored sell in their house brands. My wife loves the women's versions from Walmart but I've always been too skeptical to buy myself their men's versions.
Would love to see the new pf flyers once they relaunch. Hopefully it won’t be too much longer. Unless the company that bought them from new balance just doesn’t ever get off the ground
They are already taking orders for them on the website. The woman that owns the brand now is daughter of Jim Davis the owner and chairman of New Balance. As far as I know the center hi will be exactly the same as it was when New Balance made them. We’ll know for sure once they are released.
All us poor kids in the 1960s wore Converse or their knock-offs. The rich kids wore Jack Purcell tennis shoes even in gym class. We played basketball and the rich kids played tennis so there was a good reason for both choices. When I got my first job pushing an ice cream cart at age 14 I wore Converse and my feet hurt like crazy. So, I bought a pair of Jack Purcell's. Not only were they comfortable but they lasted the whole Summer too without hardly any wear and tear. A couple of years ago I tried on a pair of Converse at Sports Authority and I was appalled at how uncomfortable they felt. Kids wear them today for fashion but I cannot imagine that they do so for comfort without an additional insert.
I’ve got a pair of the PF Flyers Sandlot edition’s. I love those damn things. Ive only bought one pair of Chuck’s and they fell apart after about 2 months. Haven’t bought a pair since. I’ll definitely be buying more PF Flyers though.
I love my pf flyers I got the USA made ones and was very happy to see them from the sandlot . Also so wish I played baseball still they make cleats that are of flyers .
Had a really cool pair of brown leather *PFlyers* in ‘07 They used to have a much more varied range of styles + colours in the late 00s 👟🥾👞 A shame they don’t anymore.
I got PF Flyers because I tried Chucks and they were not as comfortable, however I must have tried the cheaper ones, because it's possible that the more expensive Chucks could be more comfy. But even then the narrow toe area is a problem. Also I wanted a brand that not everyone was wearing.
I do believe the PF stands for Posture Foundation and they were owned by BF Goodrich back in the day made with tire rubber. They're now owned by New Balance I believe
3:40 I think that extra layer is there so the shoes sole doesn't get deformed. I remember seeing people wear converse all the time in school and there feet would look all wacky because the soles to there chucks would wear out inward.
PF Flyers are still great quality. Better than my pair of Made in USA chucks. I would gladly pay $60 for PF Flyers, but you can usually get them for much cheaper. Chucks today are complete trash, but I live near an outlet so I really can get a pair of them for $25 if I need to.
I work at "Mark's" and we have some converse that are newer and they are more comfortable, and slightly wider. I have the classic low cut and have to wear the thinnest socks I can find with them, but the mid cuts I have, have some padding on the sides for the ankles and they are more comfortable.
I wanted to add that some of the earlier PF Flyers made by New Balance,the ones with the earlier inauthentic looking rubber logo on the sides,suffered from very poor quality control. The soles would separate from the body of the shoes,and often had slipshod alignment of the vent eyelets in the side of the shoes as well as deformed soles. I had returned two pairs for that issue and PF Flyers sent new ones and made it right. The last version they made before discontinuing them had thicker,higher quality canvas than the previous version of the MC2001 series. I hope the new company will strive for even better quality control and construction. Such issues are unforgivable in a canvas shoe costing $80
Would love to see a video on frye boots! They’re my go-to for leather boots and I’d love to know about their leather quality and construction from someone with the knowledge
Things might be different today but during the mid-60s PF Flyers were considered little kids shoes. I don't recall a single Detroit area High Schooler that wore PF Flyers in gym class. They weren't cool!
Great video! I have worn shoes from both brands and have to say that PF Flyers are the best by far. It's not even a close call. They are more durable and comfortable than Converse. My favorite style is the Grounder Hi. That's a really particular shoe with some rich history behind it. Maybe you can consider it for a proper review. Cheers!
Cut in half any jordans you can find like for cheap even if they are already used, any model i think would be really really cool to see whats inside of them
I wear PF for almost 2 years now replacing my Chuck.Yes,they re more comfortable in a toe area. Also I'm slightly over pronation so the little bump on a inner sole help a bit to support my foot.In term of durability I think Chuck & PF re almost a same.
I've been wearing normal chucks for years and I wanted something a bit higher quality but I also dont want to shill out the extra money for the 70s so my PF flyers are coming in monday lol
I am a fan of the PF Flyers, and have been for years. They run true to size (unlike the large Men's Chucks, which run really long) and can be found on sale often in some colorway of the Center Hi. I usually replace the included insole with a better one, and I suspect the raised padded arch is just an old school feature that is being carried on out of old time sake. I have only owned 1 pair of Chuck 70's, which I mistakenly ordered a size down and found they were too tight, but they did seem to have that edge in quality. So I'd also place the quality in the order (from lowest to highest) Chucks / PF Flyers / Chuck 70. I like the quality of Vans over those 3, but just not a fan of Vans in terms of fit.
Found out that the 'P.F' actually stands for 'Posture Foundation', and with a little research I found this little tidbit of info from an article on Heddels: "Looking to develop new applications of their vulcanized rubber technology, tire company B.F. Goodrich began experimenting with rubber’s pediatric applications in the 1920s. The “P.F.” in PF Flyers stands for “Posture Foundation,” a patented insole technology developed by Goodrich associate, Hyman L. Whitman. The new insole shifted weight to the outside of the foot, allowing proper of alignment of the foot’s three main supporting bones." Pretty cool and novel idea for the time! I wonder if it helps - I've never word a pair of P.F. Flyers but I love the look of the Grounder Hi's in the neutral colorway.
Take out my chuck 70's sole insert and put in my beat up Chuck allstars! A lot more comfortable and then put back in my black high 70s when I want to look more classy!
I like my Palladiums, I compare them to Chucks by discribing them as a Chuck Taylor combat boot. Their thicker soles makes them more comfortable if you're on your feet a lot.
i actually bought a pair of these because of this video! i always was a chuck taylor guy, but the PF's are every bit as good, and often just a little bit less monay on the line.
You've sold me on the PF's. Didn't like the narrow fit of both Chucks and Adidas Gazelles, not only requiring me to buy a size up but discard them not long after purchase. The appeal of any classic sneaker hasn't gone away.
so idk how exactly they stack up in build comp but i have now a pair of white all star chucks and a pair of pf flyers that are poth pretty badly worn down to about the same level. the chucks are failing in the heels and starting the "Vans Split" where the outsole meets the binding tape. the pf's are pretty heavily worn down with some sever overpronation slope in the back and its still holding together like a champ where the bottom of the outsole meets the binding, so kudos to New Balance for having the superior outsole on the PF's
You should cut in half CDG converse. I'm sure a lot of people would be interested in seeing how the materials there would hold up versus a classic or chuck 70 shoe. Keep up the great work!
So the sometimes called “action wedge” or rigid wedge is essentially the whole reason behind PF FLYERS. The P.F. Stands for “Posture Foundation” basically an inventor made an arch supporting midsole with a wedge of foam on the inner side of each sole. He invented the rigid wedge insole after concern that converse shoes didn’t have enough support since they’re made so flat. BF Goodrich then utilized the PF sole inside canvas shoes. The name P.F. Flyers came about as BF Goodrich wanted to market more heavily to children. This new name took off and eventually became its own brand. The rigid wedge is now a feature in all PF flyers due to its heritage to the brand, as New Balance has owned PF flyers since 2001 it make sense that it’s now made if memory foam.
Cool video. Back in the mid 60's PF Flyers main competition was Red Ball Jets where I lived. In the late 60's Converse was becoming a thing, and their main competition (at least where I grew up) was Bata Bullets. If nothing else, there were some pretty cool names for shoes back then. :-)
