7 Best Canvas Trainers in 2024

How we test canvas trainers

Picking the best canvas trainers online can be stressful, especially if you haven't tried them out firsthand. Thankfully, here at RunRepeat, we have everything you need to know about each sneaker - the good and the bad stuff included. How? Check out below.

• We purchase every pair of canvas trainers that we want to test. We publish 100% honest and bias-free reviews.
• We test the trainers to their limits. While doing so, we evaluate their comfort, fit, support, durability, breathability, and all the other relevant features.
• We extend our testing to our lab. We cut the shoes in half and analyse all the parts. We also perform 20+ more tests, including the breathability test where we pump smoke into the canvas trainers to determine how breathable they are: super breezy for summer or somewhat breathable for most seasons. 

You can get the full details about our testing methodologies here.

In this guide, we talk a lot about canvas trainers. It’s important to highlight that we tag trainers as canvas as long as the majority of their uppers are made of canvas. That means that some smaller areas might feature other materials.

Why you should get canvas trainers

For some, getting canvas trainers may be an obvious choice. However, we prefer safe bets, so we’ll list a few things here that we think you should know.

• Canvas trainers can be quite lightweight if they are not heavily padded or sitting on platforms. If you prefer lightweight trainers, look for a flimsy upper and a low-to-the-ground sneaker. 
• Canvas is far more breathable than, say, leather. If you prioritise breathability, you may want to consider mesh uppers, because they don’t just breathe well but also dry quickly (on average). 
• Canvas is cheaper than other materials so, often, canvas trainers cost less than their competitors with leather, knit, or mesh uppers. 
• Canvas uppers can work wonders throughout different seasons, from spring to fall, as long as there’s no rainfall. Some canvas trainers are so comfy that they feel great when worn sockless.

Why canvas trainers might be a BAD idea 

• Canvas trainers are not warm enough for cold weather. Thick socks can only do so much. 
• Canvas is less durable than mesh or leather. 
• Canvas is not stretchy like knit, for example. If your pinky toe often wants to “escape” or you generally prefer stretchy uppers, canvas may feel constricting. 
• Canvas soaks it all in, stains included. While they may be removed with different detergents, canvas is definitely not a “wipe and go” sneaker, as a leather one would be.
• Canvas is not waterproof, so if you run into a puddle or run out of luck and it starts pouring, your feet will be soaking wet.
• Canvas trainers don't have any stabilising technologies, which makes them bad for those who (heavily) overpronate or have flat feet. The upper can’t be supportive because it’s only canvas.

We will cover all these features below in greater detail and back them up with our lab data.

Padding in canvas trainers

Padding thickness and position vary. In canvas trainers, it’s often placed behind the heel, in the heel collar, or in the tongue. It’s important to be aware of this because padded parts in canvas trainers are less breathable, could be more durable, and they make the sneaker heavier. 

Thicker tongues will make the sneaker breathe less. Even though we focus on the toebox when we discuss breathability, some tongues are so thick that they leave a sweaty imprint on the sock.

Durability of canvas trainers

To test the durability of trainers, we use a dremel which we press against 3 different areas: the toebox, the heel padding, and the outsole. Given that we’re focusing on the canvas as a material here, we’ll look at the toebox test. 

Depending on how big the damage is, we assign it a durability rating from 1 (the least durable) to 5 (the most durable). 

If you prioritise this, look for higher ratings in our lab reviews. 

How breathable are canvas trainers?

Theoretically, we know that the canvas breathes better than leather but worse than mesh. But, as always, there are nuances. Some canvas materials are thicker than others, mesh uppers can have multiple layers or no ventilation holes, and so on. So, we approach each sneaker from the start. 

To test the breathability of trainers, we use a 3-D printed cast to direct the smoke from our smoke machine into the toebox. Then, we look at where the smoke comes out and how fast 

Based on how much smoke goes through the upper and at what pace, we assign a 1-5 breathability rating to each sneaker, 1 being the warmest and 5 the most breathable. 

We also look at the upper under the microscope. This often gives a better insight into why some trainers breathe better than others. 

Keep in mind that some canvas trainers have a toebox covered with a non-canvas material like suede or even rubber. This significantly changes the breathability result. 

Weight of canvas trainers 

Canvas on its own is definitely lighter than, say, leather. However, canvas trainers may feature other materials as well, or thick padding, or a platform. All of this impacts the weight, so we can’t say that there’s a rule on how light the canvas trainers are. 

Best women’s canvas trainers

How are women’s trainers different than men’s? On average, they are narrower. They also feature different sizing (easy to convert to men’s sizes if needed), different labels for width options, often wildly different colorways, and rarely other details like a different stack height or a heel drop.

In case you have some specific needs when it comes to trainers, like finding wider-fitting sneaker (still in regular width), or a wide toebox, we recommend reading our guide Best trainers for wide feet where we showcase our lab tests, gel mould of sneaker interiors, and how we precisely measure the volume of the toebox (width and height) and the sneaker width. 

How to clean canvas trainers

There are many options here and we will list a few pros and cons to each. Some may work better or worse for you, depending on the dirt, what stained your trainers, whether you’re washing a fresh or an old stain, and so on. 

Before you start, it’s important to remove all the dirt you can manually. We’re talking about dried mud pieces that can detach easily, and such “bigger” problems that would interfere with a finer process of washing.

In the images above, you can see white trainers that had to be washed both in the washing machine and manually to make them white-white again.

Washing canvas trainers in a washing machine 

Many people throw the trainers into the washing machine and hope for the best. Whether this is a good or a bad idea depends on many factors, the quality of the sneaker being the #1. If they are not well made, the chances are, they will fall apart. If you do want to give it a try, here are a few notes: 

• The temperature should be low, 30 - 40 °C. Anything above, and the trainers will shrink, warp, or even fall apart. 
• Some stains may not disappear, and you will have to use stronger detergents and a brush to remove them manually.
• If your trainers are white, consider using detergents with optical whiteners which can significantly improve the whiteness, so to speak (as per this study). However, this option is not the best for the environment. 
• If your trainers are darker in colour, optical whiteners can lighten them, so choose detergents without those, or detergents with colour-saving properties. 
• It’s difficult to tell whether the colours will bleed. 
• Put trainers in a pillow case or in a case made for washing delicates. Add more things, like towels, to the washing machine to prevent trainers from clanging.  
• Do not put the trainers in a dryer. Let them air dry at room temperature. 

Washing canvas trainers manually 

There are a few options here and we will cover the pros and cons of such an approach. While it’s more time-consuming than the washing machine, manual washing gives us more options - to treat specific stains only with stronger detergents, to brush better and remove more stubborn stains, and so on. 

• Generally, it’s best to use a soft brush. It can be your old toothbrush for smaller stains that require a detailed micro application. If you’re washing the entire sneaker, choose a large one. 
• Detergents vary. Start with a mild one dissolved in water or a very mild dilution. If that does not work, up the ante: use a stain remover or a much stronger detergent. 
• Soda bicarbonate and vinegar can work wonders. If you choose this approach, know that it is a wild reaction; when you pour vinegar over soda, it violently bubbles and rises in the pot that you’re using. Let it finish and then dilute with water. (General advice is 1tbs soda, 2 tbs vinegar, 1 cup warm water.)
• Once done with manual scrubbing, wipe your trainers with a dry cloth and let them air dry at room temperature. If you’ve been washing your brush along the way, in order not to spread the staining, you won’t need to rinse the canvas. 

Washing white midsoles 

While many recommend using melamine sponges (Magic Sponge being the most famous among them) to make the white midsoles white again, we must warn you of their eco-unfriendly side. Instead, you can opt for a stronger brush, or vinegar and baking soda, as explained above. 

When used, melamine sponges break down into smaller pieces that release microplastic fibres (source). These fibers end up in our environment. Here are 2 alarming bullets from the researchers publishing in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology report: 

• The team determined that 1 sponge releases ~6.5 million fibres per gramme of worn-out sponge and assumed that all sponges sold, on average, are worn down by 10%
• The team calculated that 1.55 trillion fibres from melamine sponges could be released every month, based on 1 retailer only. So the numbers are likely much higher.

If you’re not familiar with microplastics and other Magic Sponge alternatives, we recommend reading this article. 

Consider the environmental impact of your washing tools of choice

Depending on how much you care about the environment, you may look for different options when cleaning your trainers. Here are a few notes to keep in mind: 

• Eco-friendly detergents (like this one, for example) don’t have optical brighteners. That’s why washing white clothing with them gives the clothing a subtle grey hint after a while. We love using them because of their 
• Detergents with optical brighteners have been shown to have negative effects on the environment, especially waste water systems and aquatic sediments (study) and are resistant to biodegradation. They can also cause irritation in people with allergies and increase sun sensitivity (read more about that here). 
• Washing your canvas trainers in a washing machine may use more water and electricity than if done manually. A combination of vinegar and bicarbonate soda, diluted with water, is quite a good, affordable, and eco-friendly alternative.