Gola Classics’ Badminton Plimsolls Are the Lightweight Summer Sneaker You’ve Been Looking For

It may be because I grew up in Britain, where the word “plimsole” (as we spell it) is perfectly normal, but I have a huge affection for plimsoll-style sneakers. I’m sad to say that my beloved Dunlop Green Flash are increasingly hard to find*, and so I tried out a pair of Gola Classics Men’s Badminton Plimsoll Sneakers. My feet were not disappointed.

* I did, at least, give my final pair a Viking funeral, since the last time I wore them was when I was set on fire for a magazine story in 2006. The combination of gasoline, smoke, and silty lake water sadly made them unwearable. Still, it seemed a fitting tribute.

Gola Classicsu2019 Badminton Plimsolls

$85.00 from Gola $80.00 $48.00 from Amazon

The Unboxing

The shoes arrived neatly packaged in an eye-catching black and orange box. Inside were the shoes, wrapped in tissue paper. There were no additional laces or any other extras, but the shoes themselves were in perfect condition.

The Design

The Gola Classics Men’s Badminton Plimsoll Sneakers are technically a re-release of the original 1970s version of the shoe, although, as you might expect, they’ve been given an update to make them more appealing to the average (non-Badminton-playing) consumer. Rather than being used as an actual sports shoe, it’s intended for general day-to-day use, with a more forgiving sole, although the actual silhouette is remarkably faithful.

The available color options are mostly designed to lend themselves to the sort of summer activities you’ll likely be wearing these for (e.g., casual walks around town), with the majority being off-white with different shades for the classic Gola wingflash. There are darker options available, though, so if you feel like plimsoll-level comfort with your fall wardrobe, you’re covered there, too. (I don’t recommend wearing these in the middle of winter if you live anywhere wet, as the canvas upper isn’t waterproof.)

The Experience

On the whole, these sneakers are comfortable, sturdy, and pair well with any casual outfit. One thing that did surprise me was the number of customer reviews saying that they tend to run small, and to go up half a size when buying. Having ordered my regular size (12), I found the that to be the case, with the toe box and the section of the upper under the laces feeling snug enough to be noticeable. It was easily resolved with an overnight application of my trusty shoe-stretcher, but do bear in mind when you buy that the sizing is a little hard to predict.

My only other complaint is a bit more esoteric. As someone with, let’s say, uniquely-shaped feet, I generally have to wear custom orthotic insoles, especially in shoes with thin soles. This is fine when a shoe’s insole is easy to remove, but an absolute pain in the, well, fingers, honestly, if they’re not designed to come out. The Gola plimsoll insole is well and truly stuck in place, so you’re not going to get it out without a fight. Fortunately, after wearing them as-is over the last few weeks, the support they offer has been up to the task, so I haven’t had to have that particular battle.

Gola Classicsu2019 Badminton Plimsolls

$85.00 from Gola $80.00 $48.00 from Amazon

The End Result

The Gola Classics Men’s Badminton Plimsoll Sneakers are well worth trying if you want a summer shoe that’s lightweight, low profile, and with a little bit of vintage British charm. A refreshing alternative to the ubiquitous Adidas Samba or Puma Speedcat, and a solid replacement for the Dunlop Green Flash (RIP, for all intents and purposes), they’re comfortable (once you find the right size!), stylish, and ideal for a casual warm-weather hang.