Anybody remember wearing Topsiders Captains oxfords?

Folks used to say they looked like bowling shoes but were the rage in SoCal in the 60s and 70s. About the time that vans and converse were coming into vogue.

I started wearing Vans in the mid 70s, I was skating & racing BMX and that was the shoe. I would get teased about my Red & Blue Vans at school, it was 3 or 4 more more years before before they got popular in FL. at least my area. I still wear Vans today:cool:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242607244.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242607322.jpg

I even custom ordered a pair for Prom:cool:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242608063.jpg

Man, I wanted a pair of the original blue and red ones in the worst way.:(



I was reading the BMX magazines at the time and they would have improved my riding immensely or so I thought.

Converse and vans are ok but when I was growing up the sneaker of choice were Pro-Keds

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242614254.jpg

And a Red Rider was the BB gun to have;) right...

They did grip the pedals better:D What kind of bike did you ride?? Do you still ride?? BTW, I still have the high tops in the picture:D

They also stick to walls...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242618010.jpg

Smiths and Sambas (Adidas)...

I still wear Sambas

I use my Chuck Taylors as driving shoes. The thin sole end the flexibility of the shoe makes heel-toe downshifts so enjoyable.

+1

I have about 30 pairs of Chucks in various colors and patterns.

The OP should have created a poll.

Sambas and Gazelles

Vans are still cool too.


Taylors--no way.

Docs.

The kids wearing Docs were stealing the bikes from the kids wearing Vans and Chuckies :D

Isnt that an oxymoron? cool geek?

80's fashion pwned by 70's photographic technology...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242607244.jpg

What??? We're on the third page of this thread and there's no mention of PF Flyers yet?
:eek::rolleyes::D:cool:

http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u...american-3.jpg
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u...pfflyers22.jpghttp://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u...l/pfflyers.jpg

ok, now were dipping into the 50s!

I used to wear PFs, I recognize the heel label. Mine were usually worn, dirty, and had dog poop in the crevices. I had one pair, when they were all worn out, I'd get another. The first day with shiny fresh new sneakers, I felt like the Bionic Man.

Yep. PF's were the hot ticket. :)

Add another one for PF's. Very comfortable and great cushioning for this style of sneaker.

http://www.pfflyers.com/img/shoes/be...nter-lo-02.jpg

For Converse, I prefer the "Jack Purcells" to the "Chuck Taylors".

Chucky Ts and Vans are 90s. Pumas are tha game now wont wear anything else.

i have been buying both since i was 12 or 13. now 37 and i still have both and use em all summer. keds are cool too

The problem with Vans, at least with the slip-ons, is the quality. I find them to be garbage.

There is always a layer of fabric inside the toe that falls apart and makes me nuts by bunching up and catching on my toe. I still buy them though. They are so cheap that I just toss em and try again

either way, your 100% guaranteed some very smelly sneakers after the first hour of use if not wearing socks and of course youll look like pee-wee herman if you wear socks

i have these too. in red. bought new not too long ago

only problem with em is, at my old age of 37, i find it difficult to bend over to pull them on without removing all the laces :eek::eek:

i wear basically only vans...alway have (i do have some nice sixsixone high tops though)

I had some vans as a kid in the 70s, but as a teen in the 80s mostly wore the Puma Clydes, and these, in both low and high top:



http://www.geeksneakers.com/wp-conte...blue-red-1.jpg

Puma Clyde, blue suede!

http://www.coolhunting.com/images/puma-clyde-navy.jpg

Converse all the way.

In middle school I would buy two pairs- one red and one blue- then wear one of each together. (Yes, I was cool.) I still wear black hitops (*Thanks Paul!) and see no reason to stop.

Used to wear Vans..
I wonder where I can buy a pair... I haven't seen them in years!

Vans slip-ons. I like shoes that don't need to be tied. Plus I live in SoCal, they're sort of an institution here. :cool:

I can't believe this topic has gone so long without the "vans song".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxGd8h1Yla0

btw: how do you embed youtube videos, I honestly tired to search and figure it out but came out empty handed.

Early 80's, I think.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242719369.jpg

Somewhere in Northern Germany, playing on the train tracks. :rolleyes:



<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AxGd8h1Yla0&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AxGd8h1Yla0&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

To the right of the video - "Embed" Copy code and paste.

Puma Clydes rock!! I still wear mine!

Ha...thats funny. I did think of that song, but figured I was the only one on Pelican that probably listen to them. That song is from their first CD. I saw them at the Vans Warped tour in like 96 or around there.

vans rule

You can order them on-line from here.

http://shop.vans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/topcategory_10001_10101

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242772456.jpg

Oh man, I'm definitely buying a pair of these. Where did you get them?

i grew up wearing Chucks...my 73 yr old father still wears his all the time.(not with black socks)
started wearing the newer Vans when i lived in So Cal in the 90's. never was into them in jr/sr high in the 80's.

both just dont last long enough for me...

now i love my Adidas SAMBA's
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242774074.jpg

In high school my daily wardrobe consisted of black and white checkered VANS, a long sleeve T shirt with some surf shop's name on it (usually a Robert August), and whatever color plaid bermuda shorts I managed to find at the thrift store.


Now I wear regular baggy shorts, bowling or hawaiian shirts, and flip flops.
Life was simpler back then. ;)

When Vans came out, Converse was a shoe company. Vans was a style company.

I've never owned either. I never thought they were good for the feet.

I remember my favorite sneaker in high school was the old green and white Adidas "Country". All the cross country runners wore them. The track guys wore Nike waffles, when they weren't in spikes. Looks like they still sell the Country, maybe I'll get a pair.

When I was playing tennis, we wore these weird "Bata" shoes because they were cheap and the sole extended over the toe, allowing them to wear longer. Later I switched to K-Swiss which were more comfortable.

Athletic shoes are over the top today. I went shopping for a pair of tennis shoes this weekend. Most of the models looked ridiculous. I don't want my shoe to look like a bobsled or a hydraulic prosthetic, dammit. Uh oh, did I just sound like an old fogey?

Jack Purcell's

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...5L._AA280_.jpg

I didn't get my first pair of Nikes until 7th grade, (white canvas with blue swoosh).

I remember wearing Keds or , egads, JCPenney shoes.


ok, did any of you wear hightop Nikes and tuck your pants in them so the tongues were out? On the same note, did you NOT lace them up so as you had to drag your feet to walk?


Any of you guys wear rocker boots? With the heel clickers?:eek:

I had a pair of these, in black I think... Great novelty, pain in the rear to put on , take off.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242784243.jpg