The Converse Blog's Friday Flashback: Chany He: Helium Skate Shoe.

There has been all kinds of stuff going on the last few days. I've been emailed pics from the Open Gym in Philly, there is a new Converse contest with Eastbay, plus I am working on something new for the blog. However, all of that will have to wait, at least for today. Why? Because today is Friday, and Friday's are for Flashbacks. Today's Flashback is the Chaney He: These were the only Converse Helium skate shoes that were released, and they were signature shoes for Chany Jeanquenin.


The first colorway, is the black/blue/grey colorway. These actually are in my collection, although I've never been a skateboard. As you can see in the heel area, Converse Helium provided the cushioning for these.

They also featured Converse ABS, which to best of my memory was a technology used make the materials more durable. This was applied to the cage looking material on the outer side of these shoes. Below are the two other colorways that were released. I am extremely jealous of anyone that has the White/Blue colorway. I always thought they looked the best.

You can see the Helium logo on outsole of this shoe here. The logo is combination of C for Converse and He: for the periodic table's symbol for Helium.



Here is a Converse for the Chaney He:
Skate Commercial for Converse featuring Chany, Felix, and Kenny


Before I sign off for today, I want to talk about Converse Helium. This is by far my favorite Converse technology. I still say to this day the best basketball shoe I've ever had was the Converse He:01. Converse Helium really came at a terrible time for Converse, in the 99-01 range in which the company fell into bankruptcy.

To me, Converse Helium had the most potential to take Converse to the next level. At the time when Converse Helium was announced, Basketball, Training, Running, and Skate shoes were promised. I even went as far as to pre-order a pair of the running shoes from Hibbit's. However, the running shoes were all canceled except one pair. The training shoes never came out here in America and the skate team died out shortly after. Basketball was the only catagory to continue on the Helium line. It was two years after the initial release before Helium found its way to a Converse team shoe.

I've always wanted to see a full length Converse Helium shoe would look and perform. Hopefully someday Converse Helium will return. Until then, I'll have to live in the past, and in what could've been. Thanks for stopping in, please take a second to vote on the way out.

The Converse Blog's Weapon Wednesday: Paint Splatter

These Weapons are out of control. I recently saw them on Converse China's website. Recently like yesterday, a research day. For lack of true name, I am going to call these the Weapon Paint Splatter. That's pretty much the best description of what you'll see below. I wish I had better, larger pictures, but these were the only pics I found.

They really could have gone over the top with these. However, they look more like the stuff you'd lay down on the floor when you're painting, which is a nice change of pace. I doubt we'll see these over here, so if you're over in China for the Olympics you might want to pick these up. What? I am just saying.

I am tossing around the idea of doing some personal profiles for Converse fans. I'd need a picture of you wearing Converse and answers to a few questions. I'll try to come up with some more solid by Friday. Thanks for coming over to the Converse blog.

The Converse Blog: Converse, When you're out to beat the world.

As you can probably imagine over the 100 years of Converse there have been a countless numbers of Commercials, Print Ads, Posters, and other advertising tools. I've decided that I am going to feature some of these ads here at the Converse Blog. Today's ad is full of foreshadowing for the future of the Converse All Star. It reads, "Basketball Pro? No. Just a guy who likes the feel of the worlds greatest basketball shoe." That's pretty much where we are for the All Star, the last NBA player to wear a Canvas Converse shoe was Tree Rollins in 1980. This ad came out way before 1980, though I am not sure when. It probably was not in the 70's because there is no Eltra logo anywhere. Which more than likely puts this ad in the 60's.

Below are some close ups, but I couldn't get the last one any bigger, so I typed out what is says and I'll post it below.

Yes, Converse All Stars, both high cuts and oxfords, appear on a lot of famous feet. Most pro, college, and high school basketball players, for instance. Every Olympic team since 1936 (When basketball became an Olympic event). A great many leading club squash, badminton, and handball players, too. In fact, Converse All Stars are specified by more coaches, worn by more players than any other shoe specifically made for basketball. But…there are many other great guys who won’t drive down to the store in anything else but Converse All Stars. Around-the-yard men who like the feel of the great shoe. And leisure time athletes everywhere. So why not get a pair for your closet? Wherever sporting goods are sold. For your nearest dealer call anytime free (800) 243-0355. In Conn. Call collect 325-4336. You’ll also find world-famous Converse tennis shoes and the new NS-1 for yachtsmen. Converse Rubber Co., Malden, Massachusetts 02148

Converse. When you’re out to beat the world.

Over the years the All Stars have become the everyday shoe, for everyone, anywhere. Whoever made this ad could see the future and tried to promote them as a shoe that everyone needs. Well that's just a taste of some of the ads that I am going to bring to you in the near future. Thanks for checking out the blog and remember to vote on the poll on the way out.

The Converse Blog's Friday Flashback: React 2 Team shoe.

Today's Flashback is dedicated to React 2. This was the technology that Converse used between the original react when it sprung a leak and the full implementation of Helium. Below is a team shoe that used React 2. I believe that this is the first shoe that Karl Malone wore when he returned to Converse.

As you can see in the heel, React 2 was an exposed gel and not a juice like gel of the original. I haven't been able to find much info on React 2, at least like I found for Energy Wave and React Juice. There are some more exciting shoes featuring React 2, including the All Star Smooth, but I decided to save them for another day.

Well that's it for today, thanks for checking out the blog and remember to vote on your way out. Enjoy your weekends!

The Converse Blog's Not So Weapon Wednesday. Megan Whitmarsh Pro Leather.

I know what you're thinking, it's Weapon Wednesday, where are the Weapons? Well once I found some pictures of these Project (Red) Pro Leathers I had to get them on the blog. This shoe happens to be number 14 of the 1Hund(RED) artist series. Megan Whitmarsh from Los Angeles designed these. You can learn more about these at Converse.com. All of these pics come from TaoBao.com. Enjoy these simple yet compelling Pro Leathers, nothing like a change of pace for the middle of the week.

When these drop they will be in limited numbers, so be on the look out. Thanks for coming to the Converse blog, enjoy the rest of your Wednesdays.

The Converse Blog: Converse in the NBA Playoffs and REM eyewear.

Through the first week of the NBA Playoffs there have been some amazing upset wins and some boring blowouts. However, today I am going to focus on Converse in the NBA Playoffs. Two of the Converse Players with the best PE edition sneakers this season have been the two rookies that Converse signed. Acie Law from Atlanta and Alando Tucker from Phoenix. Acie is the only one of the two that has logged minutes in the playoffs. Below he is seen wearing a PE edition of the Converse 099.

No Converse player has had a bigger impact on his team this year than Andre Miller, who is without question the MVP of the 76ers. For most of the season Andre has been wearing the Converse Game Time seen in two colorways below.



I wasn't exactly thrilled when Maurice Evans got traded from the Lakers to Magic. For one he was going to a team with another Converse player and we wouldn't be seeing any more Laker PE's of the Converse Hops. However, since joining the Magic, Maurice has earned the starting SG position which would have been hard with the Lakers. Here he is wearing the Converse Hops.

I was thrilled when Kyle Korver got traded to the Jazz. There would be another team in the NBA with a Converse player and they would be some interesting PE's to match the Jazz jerseys. Korver nor Converse has disappointed since the trade. Korver is wearing PE Converse Hops.


Finally, Jameer Nelson has returned to the Converse 099 after a few weeks of wearing the Converse Hops and even the Wade 3.0 which was nice to see someone wearing them on the NBA courts. Jameer is enjoying a productive first round with the Magic and it looks like they'll be taking the show to the next round of the playoffs soon. He'll be doing it in the 099's with that patent blue toe cap that has been with Jameer for the better part of the season.

Hopefully all of the Converse players will make it into the second round, but only time will tell. The playoffs are sure heating up though and before long it will be so hot we'll need sunglasses to shield our eyes.

Hey, speaking of Sunglasses and other eyewear related topics, did you know that Converse and REM eyewear have had a partnership since 1988? I've had two pairs of Converse glasses and one pair of Converse sunglasses. Well today it was announced that Converse and REM will continue their partnership. Under the new contract, REM will produce Converse eyewear through 2012 and hopefully beyond as well. You can read more it here and view the products here.

Before I go, all of the pictures are from Yahoo sports by way of Getty Images. Thanks for checking out the Converse blog. Please take a second to leave a comment and vote in the poll on your way out. Thanks, enjoy Monday's you only get one a week.

The Converse Blog's Friday Flashback: React Flashback Accelerator 3

Hello all, and welcome to the Converse Blog's Friday Flashback. Today's post is about the Converse React technology. React was used in different years, from the initial React Juice to double stacked React called RAW (React at Work), which actually leaked. This resulted in a more solid React and eventually to React 2 which was not capsulized, think Asics Gel. Below is a little information about the technology.

Converse will introduce its React System in 1992. According to Mr. Bell, React incorporates a "responsive gas-charged fluid" that flows through compartments within the shoe. The system includes an ankle wrap that adjusts to fit an individuals ankle and a heel module to stabilize against shock.

"Technology is the missing link we needed in basketball," Mr. Bell said. "We had great price, great ads, but we were missing technology." From Mickey Bell, executive vice president of Converse in 1992 when this article was written.

Also, In the heel, Converse's REACT technology uses a proprietary visco-elastic compound to disperse the shock of impact. From this article.

Also I was able to find the patent for React, you can view it here.

Today's shoe is the Converse Accelerator 3. The Converse Accelerator 1 made a comeback of sorts during All Star weekend when Bill Laimbeer rocked them during the shooting stars competition, or whatever they're calling it these days. I've never seen pictures of the Accelerator 2, but they must be out there somewhere. Regardless, these come in a cool grey, black, and blue colorway.

In this last picture you can clearly see the React Juice in the heel of the shoe in all of its neon yellow glory.


I am headed home for the weekend, so I am posting this and getting out of here. Thank you for your continued support of the Converse blog, before you go take a second and vote in the poll.