What kind of shoes do you wear when you go on a trip? Tough boots if you want to go outdoors, or leather shoes if you want to enjoy walking around town in style. The shoes you wear will depend on your purpose. However, if you are a seasoned traveler, you should always carry a spare pair of shoes in your travel bag for light walking. This is because they are sure to come in handy when it suddenly rains, when you want to relax, or when you need a change of pace. The new Converse sneakers and sandals released this time are equipped with such functions that come in handy when traveling. We asked some of our traveling creators to try them out and give us their impressions.
Even if it rains suddenly while you are shopping, you can feel secure on your feet because of the waterproof design.
Michihiko Kurihara / Vintage Buyer Born in 1977. Freelance vintage buyer. After gaining buying experience at the vintage store "Lost Hills" in Harajuku, he started his freelance career in 2011. With his aesthetic sense and wide connections, he is known as one of the best vintage buyers in Japan, and his name is also known overseas.
Mr. Kurihara uses the large duffel bag in the back when buying. He packs the vintage clothes he buys into this bag and drives to his destination. Rainwear and a spare pair of sneakers are also essential items in case of sudden rain.
Michihiko Kurihara has been visiting the U.S. to buy vintage items for more than 20 years since he was 18 years old. He is an expert traveler who still spends half of the year abroad. He spends about one month per buying trip. During that time, he drives more than 10,000 km to acquire high quality vintage wear.
What do you wear when you go to the U.S. to buy?
chestnut fieldI like to dress as comfortably as possible while buying, so I tend to wear a rough style, like a T-shirt, shorts, and sandals. If I dress too nicely, I worry about being spotted by robbers or pickpockets (laughs).
I feel a little nervous about going around buying in sandals, though.
chestnut fieldOf course, I also bring sneakers. Whenever I make a purchase, I always bring a pair from Japan and keep them under the passenger seat of my car so that I can wear them immediately at any time.
When would you wear sneakers?
chestnut fieldI often wear them when it rains suddenly because I enter the flea market early in the morning, or when I work in a dusty warehouse. If anything, I wear sneakers to protect my feet.
In that sense, the Gore-Tex® Jack Purcell I chose this time will come in handy.
chestnut fieldIt's really stressful when your feet get wet while buying, so I appreciate these completely waterproof sneakers. And the fact that they are made of Gore-Tex® fabrics is also a great point for me as a vintage lover.
The famous GORE-TEX® fabric, a waterproof and breathable material, is used for the lining. While preventing water from entering the shoe, it also expels moisture from the inside. In addition, since the upper is seamlessly connected to the upper, there is no need to worry about water seeping in through the gaps between the shoe and upper.
It is surprising to see Gore-Tex® footwear with this look.
chestnut fieldI like that the outer fabric is canvas. I have always worn Jack Purcell in black or navy canvas, so this will fit in nicely with my everyday styling. The inner lining is GORE-TEX® fabric, which is molded into a sock shape, so it is perfectly waterproof.
Indeed, I have the image of Mr. Kurihara wearing Jack Purcell a lot in the past.
chestnut fieldI own about 150 pairs of vintage Converse from the 40s to the 90s, but I like Jack Purcell the most and collect many of them. Personally, I don't wear long-length pants very often, so low-cut models like Jack Purcell are very useful.
Do you also wear non-vintage sneakers?
chestnut fieldOf course, it's not that I only wear vintage shoes. As with my everyday attire, I am attracted to updated current models that have design and functionality not found in vintage models, such as this model. The form of recent Jack Purcell is getting better and better, and I also think they are genuinely cool.
Adopts Converse's own high-performance cup insole system "REACT". Low resilience that wraps around the foot, lightweight by EVA, etc. are realized.
This model is more functional than it looks.
chestnut fieldI was amazed at the cushioned comfort that the old Converse did not offer. Thanks to this soft cup insole, they look comfortable when traveling long distances. Next time I go on a buying trip, I would definitely like to make them my traveling companions (laughs).
Kurihara's travel style is to travel all over the U.S.
The wide silhouette Canadian army military pants are paired with a zip-up sweatshirt by Takahiro Miyashita The Soloist, with a T-shirt by Tintin as an inner layer. He says, "I tend to wear outerwear that opens in the front because I take it off and on a lot. The T-shirt is cotton with the word "mouton" printed on it, which is useful because it is often a conversation starter for Americans (laughs). I usually wear black canvas sneakers, so these Jack Purcell's will serve me well too."
A pair of rainy day specs guarded by Gore-Tex® fabrics.
JACK PURCELL GORE-TEX ® ¥15,000+TAX
This pair retains the neat design of the Jack Purcell, but is made waterproof with a GORE-TEX® fabric lining. The Gore-Tex® is securely applied under the insole to block water from entering the shoe. Available in black and white, they are easy to use and will be on sale in March.
(Left) Casual textured canvas is used for the upper, but it has a water-repellent finish that repels water well. Combined with Gore-Tex, the water resistance is outstanding. (M) The iconic Jack Purcell toe smile and heel mustache are still present. While enhancing functionality, the DNA has been firmly inherited. (R) The low-resilience material makes them comfortable to wear, and the EVA material makes them lightweight. In addition, the shoes are equipped with countless air vents that allow air to circulate inside the shoe to release heat and moisture.
Rain-resistant sneakers clad in raincoat material.
ALL STAR 100 STUTTERHEIM HI ¥10,000+TAX
This model is a collaboration with the Swedish outwear brand "Stutterheim. The upper is made of the same material used for the brand's clothing, and is finished with a gusseted tongue that prevents water from entering. Therefore, they are more resistant to water damage than ordinary canvas sneakers.
(L) "STUTTERHEIM" is an outwear brand started in Sweden in 2010. The logo is printed on the side. The color is a calm color close to the body color, which gives the overall impression of simplicity. (M) On the inside, the All-Star icon is printed in the same color. The unpainted top hatchet accentuates the look. (R) The original "traction sole" used in the "ALL STAR 100" series. It provides a reliable grip.
