Common Items ACHILLES Low Top Sneakers Review

Common Projects Achilles Sneakers have been around for as long as I can remember, and whenever I browse my favorite online retailers, I’m always bombarded with their latest color and design picks! I always promise myself that one day I’ll give the low-top versions a thorough test drive, allowing me to compare them to my beloved Saint Laurent Court Classics (which bear a striking resemblance).

The pair I’m going to review is a style I’ve been watching closely since I first entered the store last year, and instead of my usual impulse buys, I held my ground until they were discounted to a more manageable price price point! This isn’t the first time I’ve owned a pair of Common Projects, I used to be the proud owner of multiple pairs of their high tops (back when I was obsessed with skinny jeans!) So, let’s get down to business. So, let’s get back to business and get on with the review.

Design and Shape
There’s no doubt that the Common Projects Achilles are ideally shaped! Their worldwide popularity proves how perfect the design of this shoe is. They’re sleek without looking too aerodynamic, but they still have a pointy shape compared to the more common rounded toe of many of their competitors. Personally, I prefer this sharp design, which creates an attractive silhouette for clothing. Overall, Common Projects is flawless from an ascetic perspective, this model has been a brand winner for a long time and I see no reason to dispute that!

These sneakers are always available in a wide range of colors, offering almost a full range of colors. However, despite this, they are always tasteful and rarely vulgar or fancy. This Italian brand produces a few limited edition shades each season, as well as more classic and timeless colors. For this review, I chose a pair of beige “off-white” shoes made of very soft nubuck leather.

Abrasion resistance and comfort
With their classic and understated design, the Common Projects Achilles sneakers can be easily paired with almost any outfit! My personal preference is one of my favorite looks – an aviator jacket and skinny jeans for a cool street style suit!

Unfortunately, when it comes to comfort, the shoes are a bit wobbly. They wore well and didn’t have any issues at first, especially on the sides of my feet (one of the first telltale signs of impending pain). However, it wasn’t long before the infamous irritation started to show up on the back of my heel. Initially, it was a relatively minor problem, but within a few hours, red marks began to appear on my skin and the discomfort began to rear its ugly head. Your mileage may vary if you wear thick socks, but I always wear low-profile socks and often choose not to wear socks at all. Nonetheless, it’s still something to be aware of.

Sizing.
As usual, I went for the standard shoe size for Common Projects, which is EU 42 / UK 8. As expected, they fit perfectly as do all of my sneaker collection. The brand actually recommends that you go one size smaller than your normal shoe size. However, in my experience, most designer brands adhere to the principle of smaller shoes and if you have owned a quality pair of sneakers before, I would wholeheartedly recommend that you choose the same size.

Packaging
These shoes are securely packaged inside a strong, sturdy and shiny white box. The top of the lid is stamped with a separate logo, and the rest of the box is sparse and plain (except for the mandatory size and model label taped to the short side of the box). Inside, you’ll find plenty of protective thin paper to ensure that each shoe is safely separated from one another. There’s a large dust bag inside (though I prefer two to store each shoe individually) and it’s very high quality.

Value for money.
In recent years, £300+ seems to be the current benchmark for many quality sneakers. When it comes to value for money, a lot depends on whether you can justify this high price point, especially when it comes to simple, minimalist designs. These shoes are manufactured to a very high level with high-end Italian production values. Many high street stores offer similar shoes at a fraction of the price, but in my experience they soon start to show their faults and in some cases fall apart in almost no time at all. You may have to pay more, but they certainly offer a longer lifespan compared to their budget competitors.

Conclusion.
For my final conclusion.