Two popular high-top sneakers are the Nike Blazer 77 and Converse Chuck Taylor 70. What is the difference between the two and which one is better?
Unlike the Nike Blazer Mid 77, Converse Chuck 70 has cushioned insoles and arch support. The upper of Converse Chuck 70 is also made of canvas, whereas the upper of Nike Blazer Mid 77 is made of leather.
That said, there is more to this comparison than just materials used. In this post, let’s compare the Nike Blazer Mid 77 vs. Converse Chuck Taylor 70 sneakers.
Nike Blazer 77 vs. Converse Chuck Taylor 70 High Sneakers Comparison
The Nike Blazer 77 has a leather upper while the Converse Chuck 70 has a canvas upper.
You can buy the Chucks in leather, but for this comparison, I will use the canvas version because it is more popular. Here is the Nike Blazer 77 vs. Converse Chuck 70 comparison:
1. Appearance comparison
Since both sneakers are best worn for casual, day-to-day activities, it’s only right to first compare the appearance of both the Nike Blazer 77 and Converse Chuck 70.
Looking at the official website for both sneakers, the first thing you will notice is that the Converse Chuck 70 is called a high-top sneaker, whereas the Nike Blazer 77 is a mid-top sneaker, even though they both have the same height.
This may confuse some people, so to clarify, the only difference between the two in terms of height is only in their names, since they both cover the same amount of leg.
The next big difference between the two sneakers is the materials used. The Converse Chuck 70 High is made of canvas upper, whereas the Nike Blazer 77 is made of leather upper.
As a result, the Converse Chuck 70 is more breathable, and therefore, is going to keep your feet cooler, making it a better option for the summer. However, the canvas material also makes the Converse Chuck 70 less durable than the Nike Blazer 77.
The leather on the Nike Blazer 77 also means that it is much easier to keep clean because leather wipes down a lot easier than canvas. It’s no secret that canvas can be an absolute pain to clean, so this is something to keep in mind.
The build of the Nike Blazer 77 also has a lot more padding in it, so this makes the shoe bulkier than the Converse Chuck 70.
This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you are looking for in a high-top sneaker.
For me, the bulkier my high-top sneakers are, the more my trousers get caught on them, which can be annoying at times. This does not happen often with the Chuck 70 because the material is a lot thinner and it sits closer to the leg.
Sure, it’s not a dealbreaker, but I feel like it’s worth mentioning because the thickness of the sneakers has an impact on the choice of trousers that I wear.
Next, let’s move on to the toe box.
As you probably know, the toe box can make or break the shoes. Personally, I don’t like anything that is too bulky or too rounded because I think it makes the shoe a little bit clumsy, especially in a pair of high-top sneakers like these two.
Luckily, neither of these shoes have bulky toe boxes, however, the Nike Blazer 77 does have more rounded toe boxes than I would have liked.
The shape suits the model of the sneaker, though, and the extra suede detail at the front of the shoes definitely breaks up the toe boxes a bit and makes them look a little less rounded.
The Converse Chuck 70’s toe boxes, on the other hand, are narrower and more pointed, which does look really nice in my opinion. It’s got rubber toe caps at the front that offer the sneakers more protection and a bit more detail.
Both sneakers are very clean and simple, and yes, both are very versatile. In other words, both the Nike Blazer 77 and Converse Chuck 70 would go well with just about any outfit.
However, I feel like the Converse Chuck 70 can be more versatile than the Nike Blazer 77 because of the lack of branding on the Chucks. It makes them look like a blank canvas to work around. But it can also make the shoes more boring for some.
The Converse Chuck 70 does have a branding inside the heel, but it is very subtle and does not really stand out, especially if you have trousers that are covering the ankles.
On the other hand, the big “swoosh” on the side of the Nike Blazer 77 looks amazing, but because the “swoosh” stands out a lot more, it does become the focus in your outfit, making the shoes less of a blank canvas to work with.
Verdict: I like the look of the Converse Chuck 70 better than the Nike Blazer 77. A big reason why is the lack of branding on the Chucks, which makes them a lot more versatile than the Nikes. The “swoosh” branding is nice, but it becomes the focal point of your outfit.
2. Comfort comparison
Now that we’ve discussed the appearance of both high-top sneakers, what about the comfort of the Nike Blazer 77 and Converse Chuck 70?
For me, the Nike Blazer 77 is not the most comfortable pair of casual sneakers because there is little to no padding on the insole of the shoes. There is no arch support as well.
As a result, you need some time to break into the Nike Blazers.
Sure, you can fix the issue by adding cushioned insoles, but the most noticeable aspect in terms of comfort is the leather upper. it makes the shoes restrictive to walk around in.
The tough leather upper also makes the Nike Blazer 77 a pain to get into, not to mention, the long time it takes for me to properly wear the shoes.
So if you are someone who is always in a rush, the Nike Blazer 77 may not be for you.
There is, however, a positive to be had from the restrictive upper of the Nike Blazer 77, as they offer your ankles more support than the average sneaker. So if ankle support is something you are keen on having, then the Nike Blazer 77 may be the right fit for you.
But if you are looking for a sneaker to walk long hours in, it may not be the best. The Nike Blazer 77 is more suitable for casual wear.
The Converse Chuck 70, on the other hand, is far superior to the Nike Blazer 77 in terms of comfort because it has cushioned insoles and arch support.
Because the canvas material of the Chucks is much less restrictive than the Nike Blazer 77, it makes the sneaker a lot easier to walk in. The sneakers are also much easier to wear.
However, the downside is that the less restrictive canvas may not provide adequate ankle support.
Also, due to the narrower toe boxes, the Chuck 70 can sometimes cause blisters after long hours of walking because my pinky toes start to rub on the sides of the shoes.
Verdict: The Converse Chuck 70 is more comfortable than the Nike Blazer 77 because of the cushioned insoles, arch support, and softer uppers. While both sneakers fit true to size, you will have a better time with the Converse Chuck 70 than the Nike Blazer 77.
3. Value for price comparison
Now we also need to consider the price of both sneakers.
The Nike Blazer 77 comes at around $90, while the Converse Chuck 70 comes at around $70, so expect about a $20 difference between the two sneakers.
However, in my opinion, $20 should not dictate which shoe to go for. But since the Chucks are more comfortable than the Nike Blazer 77, the Converse is definitely more worth it.
Final verdict
WINNER: Converse Chuck 70
The Nike Blazer 77 stands out a lot more because of the iconic “swoosh” branding. But if I had to choose one, I would go for the Converse Chuck 70 because of its more subtle branding and less restrictive canvas upper. It goes better with more outfits too.
If you can afford to pick up both pairs, however, I highly recommend that you cop both the Nike Blazer 77 and Converse Chuck 70 because you are going to get a lot of wear out of them, and you’ll be glad to have both in your sneaker rotation.
And there you have it, the Nike Blazer 77 vs. Converse Chuck 70 comparison. Both sneakers are similar and deserve your consideration. I hope this comparison is helpful.
Reviewed by: Jason T.
