Memories - Pro-Keds Sneakers

Early Pro-Keds Sneakers

This picture shows a pair of Pro-Keds sneakers of unknown (but early) vintage.
 

Comparison: Pro-Keds vs. the Converse "Chuck Taylor" All Star

Pro-Keds were a canvas basketball sneaker that competed for market share with the Converse "Chuck Taylor" All Star shoe. At least in the Midwest, Chucks were much more prevalent when I was a kid.

There are a large number of detail styling differences between Pro-Keds and Chucks:

 

FEATURE	CHUCKS	PRO-KEDS
Upper design at heel	Peg-topped (upward fabric projection)	Flat across
Rubber wrap trim	Contrast strip across the middle of the rubber wrap	Red and blue diagonal rubber decoration (close to little toe area)
Toe cap trim	None	Across back of toe cap
Heel stitching	Matches predominant color	White
Toe area reinforcement	NO	YES
Sourced from (2003)	China; Vietnam	China

Pro-Keds, like Chucks, had many and varied uses for Baby Boom Boy athletes.

Which is the REAL Pro-Keds Logo?

Does the real Pro-Keds logo look like choice #1?

Or, does the real Pro-Keds logo look like choice #2?

Or, does the real Pro-Keds logo look like choice #3?

Or, does the real Pro-Keds logo look like choice #4?

Hey! This isn't a fair question!

That's because EVERY ONE of these logos have been used on Pro-Keds over the years!

Pro-Keds in 2002/2003....

Pro-Keds have returned to the market in 2002. Distribution was very limited at first. This picture shows one of their 2002 models: a white low-top version of their "Royal Canvas" basketball shoe.
 

The "Royal Canvas" low-top was also made in various colors not shown here, including black and red.
 

The 2002/2003 models also included high-tops in multiple colors.
 

Pro-Keds in 2004....

New colors introduced for 2004 but not shown include pink and Carolina blue.

Pro-Keds also introduced the Royal Storm, a water-resistant style featuring rubberized construction, no Buick portholes, and a tongue gusset. Other men's' colors include green/yellow and black/white. Other women's colors included all black, pink/maroon, orange/white, and red/white.
 

This is a view of the inside, showing some of the construction details.
 

This is the similar pull-on Royal Lightning style.
 

Pro-Keds in designs and patterns...

This is the limited-edition Pro-Keds high-top that features the art of Derrick Hodgson.
 

Other artist designs include:

• Andrew Kuo - multicolored print
• Bast - collage of human heads
• Faile - black and white cartoon
• HKG Division - multicolored print
• Jakuan 360 - spotted print
• NYC LASE - multicolored "head-like" spots
• Paul Frank
  • brown camera in low-top and high-top
  • "Julius" (monkey) black low-top, blue low-top
  • "Skurvy" (skull) black low-top, black high-top, pink low-top, and pink high-top

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Last Updated: 18 April 2012 11:32

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