Chuck Taylor All Star FlyEase review

If you have dexterity issues, finding shoes that work for you can be a daunting task. The simplicity of Velcro has served as a stand-in for laces for decades, but good luck finding Velcro shoes that don’t exude the bland aesthetic of retirement home chic. Traditional sneakers like these still come through in a pinch when you need something cheap, simple, and functional, but recent developments in adaptive footwear offer new opportunities for persons with disabilities to tailor their feet stylings more naturally.

$75 at Foot Locker

Reviewed has critiqued adaptive shoes from the likes of Billy Footwear and Kizik alike, but the Chuck Taylor All Star FlyEase are one of the latest additions to the category. While all options offer cosmetic laces for a stylish look, the All Star FlyEase are advertised as the Converse brand’s first hands-free shoe attempt.

For a young man with dexterity and mobility issues resulting from moderate cerebral palsy, this sounded like a pretty lofty claim. Could I actually put on a pair of shoes that didn’t feature Velcro or zippers? I was admittedly skeptical, but my testing of the Converse FlyEase sneakers over about three weeks of wear yielded more than a few surprises. In short, our first Nike FlyEase review is a mostly positive one.

How do the Chuck Taylor All Star FlyEase shoes work?

The Chuck Taylor All Star FlyEase shoes are marketed as a hands-free, step-in shoe without need for zippers, laces, or straps of any kind. The key to that seemingly impossible feat is a flexible, elastic-like heel with a special FlyEase cage that expands as you put your foot inside the sneaker. Nike first introduced the FlyEase brand to the world in the middle of 2021, and Converse, as a subsidiary of Nike, has brought that technology to the storied Chuck Taylor All Star lineup.

The design philosophy of the All Star FlyEase is extremely familiar to the main draw of the Kiziks, so folks who’ve used those sneakers before should feel right at home. Simply step into the shoe while angled toward the hard plastic tab on the back of the CX-cushioned heel, and its stretch canvas opens wide enough to accommodate.

The Chuck Taylor All Star FlyEase shoes retail for $75 and currently come in a unisex design to fit men’s sizes 7.5 to 13 and women’s sizes 9.5 to 15, though sizing is limited. The shoes come in Black/Pink and White/Pink colorways. I tried the Black colorway in men’s 6.5 for this review, but that size is no longer available at the time of publication.

What I like about the Chuck Taylor FlyEase shoes

It actually works, even seated

With the hands-free gimmick placed front and center of the All Star FlyEase, the central question for most disabled folks is just how well that flexible heel actually works. Through my personal testing, you’ll be glad to know the base FlyEase technology is almost as good as advertised, if not a little better.

Given that it’s difficult for me to stand and get the proper foot positioning while using crutches, I had to put on the All Star FlyEase shoes while seated on my couch. This requires a little bit of dexterity to ensure your feet are properly aligned within the opening, but it’s totally possible to slide the shoes on and put a little pressure on the underside of the heel to push them the rest of the way. Much like a rubber band, the heel expands as the foot makes its way in. Once on, the sneakers felt secure on my feet without once falling off.

I imagine it’s just as easy to step into the shoes from a standing position, given that that’s the intended method, but it’s always a massive plus when adaptive tech accommodates for alternate scenarios. It may take some practice to get the hang of the process, as that hard plastic heel can sometimes unpleasantly scrape against your ankles if you’re doing it seated, but the central purpose of the FlyEase brand totally delivers for anyone seeking out a step-in shoe.

Cool CX comfort and even cooler style

Not only are the Chuck Taylor All Star FlyEase shoes a completely functional option for folks with limited mobility and dexterity, but they also look stylish and are extremely comfortable to wear thanks to an insert with CX foam, designed around the Converse CX comfort platform.

$75 at Foot Locker

For my testing purposes I selected the Black colorway, and they look every bit as sleek in person as they do in official product shots. Though I didn’t scope them out in person, the alternate White colorway appears to be a bit more traditional with its lighter hue.

They all look great to my eyes, but I liked the idea of seeing how some black shoes might complement my collection. It’s a bummer the Egret/String/Light Silver that was previously available at the time of this review isn’t currently being sold, but we hope to see that style, and maybe some additional ones, make their way to the collection.

I also greatly appreciated the small design touch of having two different insole graphics on the left and right sneakers as well. It may sound silly, but, when you’ve spent your whole life avoiding standard laced sneakers, it might be difficult to know which foot each shoe goes on. For a wearer who struggles with that aspect, the variable insoles offer an easy way to differentiate between shoes.

Alongside that awesome look comes a surprising level of comfort innovation technology that feels surprisingly great in use. I was initially worried that such a narrow shoe design would feel tight on my feet, but the CX foam cushioning on the insole is truly fantastic. Shoes can start feeling restrictive very quickly if you’re not very mobile in them, but I never felt compelled to take these off even after hours of use. I’m not a big sneaker head, but these are still the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn.

What I don’t like about the Chuck Taylor FlyEase shoes

Narrow design

As sleek as the All Star FlyEase is, its unabashedly narrow design may be prohibitive for some. If you’re in the habit of wearing leg braces or AFOs, for example, odds are you need a wide, bucket-like topline and insole to accommodate the extra equipment.

While it might be theoretically possible to go up an extra size to make the All Stars work for you, I personally think something like the Billy Footwear line, with its massive zipper opening, is much more appropriate for that specific use case. Nike also makes the Revolution 6 FlyEase, that combines zippers with FlyEase, but we tested those to mixed results.

Higher price than the accessible mainstays

Many products with accessibility benefits are expensive, and I would argue that’s somewhat true of the All Star FlyEase. These initially retailed for around $90, which remains cheaper than the flagship Nike Go FlyEase, but it was a hard sell compared to the Velcro Reeboks or zipper Billys that are often $60 or less.

The All Star FlyEase's suggested retail price has fluctuated in recent months, but prices remain high as supply runs low. All indications suggest these shoes have been discontinued by the manufacturer, so the cost dilemma remains in flux as their-party suppliers remain your only option.

Should you buy the Converse All Star FlyEase shoes?

Yes, if you're looking to be a stylish, easy-on sneaker.

There’s little doubt in my mind that the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star FlyEase shoes could be an absolute gamechanger for a certain class of folks in the disabled community or those who just want a sneaker with quick and easy entry. As long as you’re able to step in or use a little dexterity to put them on while seated, the FlyEase tech delivers on its promises.

Zippers seem like a much better option for working around orthotics or braces, but, as long as that’s not a concern for you, the Chuck Taylor All Star FlyEase shoes are stylish with the critical added benefits of ease-of-use, accessibility, and the CX suite of comfort innovation features that largely deliver on their promises. Provided you can still find a pair in your size, you won’t be disappointed. With supplies seemingly on the decline, we suggest acting quickly before these are gone for good.

$75 at Foot Locker

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.