For any dummies like me who couldn't figure out what the plastic bit in the sole was these pics show. Unfortunately I'm now off these as they look like what Id call ankle breakers.(shoes where your heel sits really high on a narrowish sole and isn't really cupped in)
This is/was my main complaint with the classic Cortez model (and the contemporary Adidas model; the Country) that these were based on, and also my reluctance to actually try these. Something about the heel design for me; it's like there's a seemingly built-in/designed tendency for ankle rolls especially once they are broken in. For me, they (the Cortez) are comfortable for chillers though - walking in a straight line - on an even surface. I also like the aesthetics of the OG model.
I mean, the OG Cortez has for sure withstood the test of time and has remained in their line-up forever so maybe we're in the minority opinion.
But the designers, IMHO, for some reason put in a lot of hard, straight lines, and angles and those upset the simplicity of the original shoe. It's like a bizarro-world version of the Cortez.
At least they stayed true to the ankle roll in the original design? lol. IDK.