Champion Originals Leather

I’m’ walking a 5K in Oct. It is time to retire my 12 year old Champion Origianl and break in a new pair. Well, my 3rd time out just doing errands proved to me that these are not only poured fitted but they have hurt my foot so much I had to go to a Podiatrist. He looked at my foot etc, then added “and I’m sure your right hip and side hurt also.” Yes, but I never dreamed it was from these shoes. He said the best thing I can do to these shoes are to trash them and do not donate even though they still look very new. 3 days after not wearing them my foot still hurts. I hope I have learned a lesson and listen to others and not trust the past. Not everything should be changed. I would love to return them but I don’t see that happening since I’ve worn them. Why was the concept of changing the Champions done? I have bought ove 30 pairs of Keds....many different styles and colors and not a one was made as poorly as these. Is this what we can except from Keds now? I’m not going to be the one to test any more. I’ll find another brand.

My last pair of champion leather I bought from 2015 lasted me 3 years of almost everyday use. I loved everything about it back then, I wore it till the sole fell apart, seems like a common problem reading other reviews. I loved the old so much, I got my relo to bring me a new pair back from the States. It’s disappointing to see what they’ve done to it now. I put my old one side to side to this new one to compare. Firstly, leather used back then were way better quality, this new one looks and feels cheap, and because these leather aren’t as good, the heels actually felt a little loose, cos it isn’t as structured anymore. Then the stitching and shoelaces were wider and slightly thicker back then. They’ve changed the eyelet to silver from white, which I also think looks cheap. The keds logo on the tongue is also different, use to be blue and white letters, now it’s the other way around I don’t think it looks as good. They used to round off the leather on the upper shoe, now the edge of the leather is exposed. What happened, keds????? People who buy the leather version of the champion wants the luxe and more refine version of it. Can you go back to the old design and quality please? I would gladly pay a much higher price for the old design. The one and only pro is the ortholite sole is slightly softer on the feet than the old one. I think this is likely gonna be my last pair of champion leather unless the quality improves.

I love the style of this shoe. They look great with any outfit, and the leather is far easier to clean then canvas. I was so excited to purchase because of the reputation of the quality. I told all my friends how much I loved them. Unfortuntely, after only a few wearsthe soles are splitting from the shoe. I thought maybe it was a fluke and purchased a SECOND pair. Same thing! The leather stretches a bit so it seems to be fine I just look more casual and sloppy versus the clean look i was going for. Would like to think that perhaps a wide would fit me better as they run narrow, but they do not offer it in Canada. Regardless, the reviews seem to tell the same story.

Shoe “leather” has separated. I live Keds, wear a wide. So my choices are limited. Like leather. Purchased several pairs of cloth in Med. They are ok. The champion leather has separated. THIRD PAIR!. Only a few wearings store etc. Not well so no difficult terrain. Worn Keds since childhood. Very Very disappointed.

I work in procurement for a well-known luxury tourism company and I had hoped to make this shoe part of our uniform, which would give our uniform a more polished yet dynamic look while still being comfortable, affordable and durable. I bought a few pairs as sample pieces and I was so shocked to find that how cheap they looked. I may as well go to Payless for quality like this. The leather puckers right out of the box and it looks like pleather - so much so that the woman who sold it to me at the third party store INSISTED it wasn't leather. I'm fine with it not being leather - but you can't advertise it as leather and have me pay $60+ ($70 in Canada) and then have it look cheap. I chose keds as a brand for our company because it is classic, well-respected and well-known - just like our company but I am so disappointed. According to these reviews, I have every right to be. :(