Cheap Shoe Review: C9 Champion Limit Cushion Fit Performance Athletic Shoes

Once upon a time, shoes from department stores like Target, Walmart, and Kmart had a stigma attached to them.  They were cheap shoes that were uncomfortable, poorly made, and prone to fall apart at the worst time.  When I was growing up, there was actually a stigma attached to Kmart shoes.  They marked the wearer as a poor person.  Now, times are changing.  Are inexpensive shoes from Target really as bad as they once were?  A recent household move gave me a chance to put a pair of Champion tennis shoes or sneakers to the test.

Back in the beginning of March, we moved from one third floor walk-up apartment to another third floor apartment on a different side of our city.  A couple of nights before the move, I realized I could use a new pair of shoes because my old ones wouldn't be up to the challenge.  I selected a pair of Champion Limit tennis shoes in basic black from my local Target store.

The shoes were basic black shoes with a lightweight breathable upper and very minimal design detail.  According to the Target website, the upper is constructed of polyurethane and polyester.

The soul of each shoe was a fairly solid piece of white rubber.  The tread design had some channels for water.  However, these are not particularly grippy.

These are basic tennis shoes with a very understated design.  I'm not into flashy shoes so I was really drawn to the basic black design.  The insoles seemed fairly well cushioned, but not spongy or bouncy.  There is no gel pack or anything to crush in these shoes.  Unlike some shoes that have a metal spine in the back of the shoe to keep the shape and support the back of the heel, these Limit shoes have a soft back.  While it's not very supportive or stiff, it also makes these shoes comfortable for long drives.  If you've ever been lazy and shoved your feet into shoes for a quick shuffle around the house with "flat tires," then you'll like these shoes.

The test was a household move that involved literally dozens of trips up and down concrete stairs.  I'm a big guy weighing nearly 400 pounds and, over the course of our move, I burdened with plenty of heavy boxes, bins, sundries, and valuables that we wanted to move ourselves so that the movers could focus on heavy items like furniture.  I was up and down stairs continuously for nearly a week.  It was hell.  But, my shoes seemed to take it in stride.

Comfort.  The Champion C9 Limit Athletic Shoes were generally comfortable throughout the entire move.  At one time, I thought that the shoes were a little tight over the top of my toes.  However, this tightness loosened up over time.  My feet hurt due to the intensity of the move, but not the shoes themselves.  The shoes didn't cause any blisters or chafing.

Champion C9 Limit Shoes after the Move from Hell and Nearly 2 Months of Wear

Throughout the move and almost two months of continuous wear--often without socks--these shoes held up.  The heel and the insoles show fairly serious wear, but nothing to warrant discarding the shoes. 

Champion C9 Limit Athletic Shoes after nearly 2 months hard wear!

The shoe laces, the lace eyelets, and the seam between the shoe and the soul all held up well and show no signs of impending failure.  I'm surprised to report that the insole has not shifted and the shoe bed is still supportive.  In many respects these should still look new to a casual observer.

Well-worn Champion C9 Limit Athletic shoes after wear with "flat tire"

Overall, these Champion C9 Limit Athletic shoes are the best shoes that I have ever bought at a Target, Kmart, or Walmart.  In a couple of months, they've taken quite a bit of abuse and they are still holding up quite well.  I can heartily recommend these shoes for casual wear.  If you like them, you can probably find them on Target.com or at a Target store.  For convenience sake, check these similar Champion C9 shoes out on Amazon.