Inside Look at the CONS Weapon 2.0 (KICKS)

The Converse Weapon is a basketball legend. It’s a silhouette so iconic that we paid homage with its inclusion in our book that dropped last year, SLAM KICKS: Basketball Kicks that Changed the Game. Over the years, the Weapon evolved from a hardwood classic to hood favorite.

Fittingly, the Converse CONS Weapon 2.0, which drops today, is the next evolution in the Weapon line. Infused with modern innovation and style but with some of the classic cues from the original joint, the Weapon 2.0 is a lightweight low-top shoe that goes with anything—just no longer with a basketball. Scroll through the photos above to get a closer look at the new silhouette.

To learn more about the CONS Weapon 2.0, we reached out to the Dave Cory, Global Director of Product: Converse CONS. Here’s what Dave told us:

SLAM: What is the overall concept for the Cons Weapon 2.0?

Dave Cory: Our consumer is always looking for more, for something new. We wanted to create a sneaker that focused on simplicity and comfort, while also staying true to the roots of the original Converse CONS Weapon that knows us for.

SLAM: Can you talk about the basketball roots of the Weapon line and how they still live on in this silhouette?

DC: The Weapon may have come on the scene as a basketball sneaker but it was immediately embraced by the lifestyle and street culture world. It’s been a sneaker of choice by sneakerheads for over 25 years. When creating the CONS Weapon 2.0, we kept certain iconic elements of the original Converse CONS Weapon, like the “Y-Bar,” and created an retooled sneaker based on modern needs. To the eye, it looks like a different style completely, but to any sneaker enthusiast, it pays respect to the original.

SLAM: Design wise, what are the biggest new innovations in this shoe?

DC: With the CONS Weapon 2.0, we were focused on the sneaker being comfortable and lightweight. New innovations in the CONS Weapon 2.0 include a uni-body construction that forms to your foot, a 3-D external heel clip, as well as asymmetric stitching on the forefoot for an anatomical fit. A drop-in EVA midsole is another key update that ensures that dynamic comfort, along with a marble EVA sockliner. A thin web-rubber outsole using Cons Traction Rubber helps achieve the lightweight feeling.

SLAM: Summed up in a few words—what makes this shoe hot?

DC: It’s a modern update of a classic sneaker. Despite the updates, that original look and feel of the CONS Weapon isn’t lost—it’s just evolved to keep up with the consumer.

Head over to Converse.com to cop the CONS Weapon 2.0 now!