The high-top is a shoe that extends significantly over the wearer's ankle. It is commonly an athletic shoe, particularly for basketball. It is sometimes confused with the slightly shorter mid-top. Examples of basketball shoes that are high-tops are Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars; Nike Air Forces 1, 2, and 3; Reebok Freestyle and BB 4600 and Nike Hyperdunks. Others include skateboarding sneakers, such as the Supra Skytop and Society and the Vans Vault Hi Fi LX.
High tops are mostly made with thick leather padding to last longer, thats why they have gone from an athletic shoe to skateboarders shoe