5 Surprising Facts About The Two Holes On The Side Of Your Converse Chuck Taylors

Have you ever paused to look at the two small, metal-ringed holes on the inner side of your Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers and wondered what they are actually for? As of this December 2025, the debate between ventilation and lacing remains a popular curiosity, but the original intent is rooted in the shoe's history as a performance basketball sneaker, a function that is often overshadowed by its modern status as a fashion icon.

The truth is that these seemingly insignificant features—the two eyelets nestled near the sole—serve a dual purpose that speaks volumes about the shoe’s century-old design. While their primary, intended function is to provide crucial airflow to the foot, they also offer a little-known, practical lacing option that can drastically change the fit of your classic canvas footwear.

The Primary and Original Intent: Engineered for Airflow

The Converse Chuck Taylor All Star, originally introduced in 1917, was designed for a single, high-intensity purpose: playing basketball. This context is vital to understanding the function of the side holes, which are not just aesthetic quirks but vital components of the shoe's performance engineering.

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Why Ventilation Was a Critical Design Element

In the early 20th century, athletic footwear was rudimentary, and the high-top canvas design of the Chuck Taylor, while offering ankle support, also trapped heat and moisture. The two small holes, strategically placed on the medial (inner) side of the shoe, act as simple but effective vents.

• Heat Dissipation: The holes allow hot, moist air to escape the shoe, reducing the internal temperature.
• Moisture Control: By facilitating air circulation, they help to dry out the interior of the shoe, mitigating sweat buildup and preventing the canvas from becoming saturated.
• Foot Comfort: For athletes engaging in vigorous activity, better ventilation meant greater comfort and a reduced risk of blisters or fungal issues.

This ventilation system was a key selling point in early Converse advertising, with the company touting the shoe's ability to keep players' feet cooler during long games. The canvas material and the rubber sole naturally restrict airflow, making these small metal eyelets—or grommets—essential for a breathable environment inside the shoe. They are a testament to the fact that the Chuck Taylor was, first and foremost, a piece of athletic equipment designed for the rigors of the court.

The placement on the inner side is also intentional. This area of the foot and ankle often generates more heat and is where the shoe's canvas material is most compressed against the foot, making it the ideal spot for an exhaust vent.

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The Secret Lacing Technique: How to Use the Extra Eyelets

While ventilation is the primary and original function, the most compelling secondary use of the side holes is their application as alternative eyelets for lacing. For dedicated fans and sneaker customizers, these holes unlock a specific method to secure the shoe—a technique often referred to as "bar lacing" or "lock lacing."

Achieving the Perfect, Locked-In Fit

The holes are perfectly sized to accept a shoelace, allowing the wearer to create a tight, custom fit around the ankle and midfoot that the standard eyelets cannot achieve. This method was particularly useful for basketball players who needed their canvas shoe to feel like a seamless extension of their foot, preventing slippage inside the shoe during quick stops and pivots.

The most common lacing method involves:

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1. Lacing the shoe as normal up to the third or fourth eyelet.
2. Threading the laces through the two side holes, pulling the lace across the foot and through the opposite side hole.
3. Bringing the laces back up to the top eyelets or simply tying them off at the side.

This technique pulls the canvas fabric inward, creating a snug, "locked-down" feeling across the top of the foot and around the ankle. This is an essential feature for anyone who finds the standard Converse fit too loose or "sloppy," particularly in the iconic high-top silhouette. Using these extra eyelets can transform the fit from a casual sneaker to a more supportive athletic shoe, demonstrating a clever bit of dual-purpose footwear design.

This alternative lacing has been embraced by various subcultures, from skateboarders who need a secure fit for board control to fashion enthusiasts who use the side holes to create unique, customized lacing patterns and add a personal touch to their canvas sneakers.

From Court to Culture: The Evolution of the Chuck Taylor Design

The Converse Chuck Taylor All Star, named after basketball player and salesman Chuck Taylor in 1932, is one of the most recognizable and enduring sneaker models in history. The design, including the rubber toe cap, the All Star ankle patch, and the dual side holes, has remained virtually unchanged for decades.

Topical Entities and Design Legacy

The enduring presence of the side holes, long after the shoe transitioned from a primary basketball shoe to a casual staple, highlights the power of iconic design elements. These holes now serve less of a performance function for the average wearer and more of a cultural one, acting as a signature feature of the shoe's design legacy.

The shoe's journey has cemented several key entities into its history:

• Converse Rubber Shoe Company: The original manufacturer, founded in 1908.
• Chuck Taylor: The salesman and basketball player whose name was added to the shoe.
• Vulcanized Rubber Sole: The unique, durable sole that provides flexibility and grip.
• Canvas Upper: The breathable, simple, and lightweight material used for the shoe's body.
• High-Top and Low-Top Models: The two primary silhouettes, both featuring the side holes.
• Nike (Current Owner): The corporation that acquired Converse, maintaining the classic design.

Today, the side holes are a nod to the shoe's athletic origins and a source of perpetual curiosity for new generations of wearers. They are a subtle reminder that the Chuck Taylor was a product of performance innovation, not just a simple piece of casual footwear. Whether you use them for enhanced ventilation holes in summer or for a secure lock lacing fit, these small eyelets are integral to the shoe's identity and its incredible topical authority in the world of fashion and sports history.

Understanding the true purpose of the two side holes—ventilation for the athlete and an extra lacing option for a secure fit—adds a layer of appreciation for the classic design. It demonstrates that even the smallest features on an iconic product like the Converse All Star are steeped in history and practical function, making your sneakers much more than just a style statement.