Andy Mangold

I was on the prowl for some new sneakers a couple of weeks ago. I wanted something simple and unique, comfortable and humbly stylish. I decided on P.F. Flyers, and thought I would share my thoughts on them, along with some background information.

History

P.F. Flyers were originally introduced in 1937 by BF Goodrich (yes, the tire people). Today, New Balance owns the brand and produces Flyers sporadically. Though the market is littered with name-brand, player endorsed shoes these days, P.F. Flyers were the first shoes to be officially endorsed by a pro athlete, basketball player Bob Cousy.

“PF” stands for Posture Foundation. Developed in 1933, this patented insole technology set a new standard in sneaker comfort. The insole technology was first used in BF Goodrich shoes. It involves a wedge-like insert that moves weight to the outside of the foot, evenly distributing weight, reducing leg strain. As the success of the sneakers with the Posture Foundation insole technology grew in 1937 it became the basis for the brand name, “PF Flyers.”

I’m not sure about all that weight-distribution talk, a lot of the original advertising is full of glorious, old-fashioned hyperbole. Check out this Jonny Quest spot:

You may also recognize P.F. Flyers from the critically acclaimed film, The Sandlot.

The Good

Overall, I am very pleased with the shoes, so there is a lot of good to talk about: They are beautiful, simple, and comfortable to wear. (Although, do note that I have very flat feet, so if you have some crazy arches, these will provide very little support to you and may not be the best choice) The little bits of green found on the back of the sole, inside, and bottom really give the kicks a classy feel, and set them apart from their direct competition, the Chuck Taylor All-Stars from Converse. On top of all this, the shoes are well made, with no hanging threads or exposed adhesives. The lace holes are elegantly and cleanly grommeted, and should withstand as much wear-and-tear as I can throw at them. I will be sure to keep the review updated as the shoes age.

Something structurally that sets the Flyers apart from some similar shoes, is the fact that the sides of the shoe are split down the middle, with a pair of lace holes on the back bit, which wraps around your ankle. Personally, I think this is one of the best bits about the shoes. I have only the grommets on the front laced up, with the two on the back unencumbered. This allows me to slip the shoes off and on very easily, something I am prone to do. However, if I need them laced up nice and tight, for a game of basketball, or biking to work, I simple untie and re-tie the shoes with the top-most lace holes included: no need to tighten the laces all the way down as with most sneakers. This seamless transition from lazy slip-ons to all out sneaker is priceless.

The Bad

While I do love the P.F. Flyers, there are a few problems that I must bring up. The unfinished canvas that the uppers are made out of, while beautiful, is far from an all weather material and marks up quite easily. My pair is in natural, and I fear it is only a matter of weeks until the shoes are gently scuffed and marked beyond repair. I will be waterproofing my pair with either wax or bottled waterproofer before I wear them all over the place, but it would have been nice if they had come with a waterproofed finish.

Also, as mentioned above, these sneakers do not have the same kind of arch support found in most modern shoes. This happens to work out perfectly for me, as I am pretty much completely flat-footed, but be aware if you are accustomed to supportive shoes.

My biggest gripe however, is with the price. Seeing as I only buy new shoes every year-and-a-half or two years, I don’t mind spending a little bit of money on them. These set me back around $75, including shipping. The reason that bothers me is because it makes the shoes into a fashion statement, instead of what they really are, which is simple, reliable, old-fashioned sneakers. I just wish they had the simple, reliable, old-fashioned price tag.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a solid, simple vintage sneaker, and want to stand out from the ever growing Chuck Taylor crowd, the P.F. Flyers are a solid choice. Make sure you look into waterproofing them before you go trouncing through any mud puddles though! Don’t forget to read up on how to lace and tie your shoes.

Further Reading

• Official P.F. Flyers Website
• P.F Flyers on WIkipedia
• P.F. Flyers on Amazon