No. 359 - PF Flyers

This morning while opening Christmas presents, I overheard my dad and father-in-law talking about sneakers. Apparently it was a follow-up conversation to one yesterday about Chuck Taylors. Specifically they were talking about PF Flyers. I cannot recall ever hearing about them before so I asked what PF Flyers were.

I learned that PF Flyers are similar to Chuck Taylors.

They were first produced by BF Goodrich in 1937, so Chucks came first. They had popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, but lost steam during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

The style most commonly associated with the shoe is the common canvas-duck sneaker, with cloth reaching above the ankle, and a patch that reads "PF Flyers." This common style is called "Center Hi."

I also learned that the 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 (promoted as the "magic wedge") that moves weight to the outside of the foor, 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."