no more asymetrics?

[pka214]

what the heck? can anyone explain why adidas would stop making the adidas asymetrics when so many fencers rave about them, and so many are willing to fork out the obscene amount of money that they want for them?
anyone?

[CvilleFencer]

I did not know that they did. The new "Silver Bullets" are replacing the old Adistars and D'art lowtops. To my knowledge they are still selling/making the Asyms. It does get a bit hard to find out good info when adidas will not admit they make fencing shoes on their US website.

[davtsung]

eBay seller shoebacca seems to get a steady supply of the Asyms. But please don't bid on any 9.5 righties!

[cowpaste]

Dang, I wanted to bid on those 9.5 righties too! :P As for why they stopped making them, probably because the manufacturing cost was a lot higher since they had to take into account the handedness of the fencer.

[Artisan]

I like the Asyms...but the two pairs I've had have both blownout on the outside of the back foot. The design is flawed in the selection of material and lack of reinforcement at that spot.

[mifencer]

I like the Asyms...but the two pairs I've had have both blownout on the outside of the back foot. The design is flawed in the selection of material and lack of reinforcement at that spot.

I had a pair that did that too. I'm on my second pair now and waiting to see what happens. What I did notice and now I don't like is the angulated back foot. I believe that this caused me some knee problems. I'm happy that Adidas stop producing the Asym but I wish they would've picked more suitable colors for the new shoe.

[achilleus]

Adidas releases a new shoe every Olympics.

Adidas designed the assymetrics to last about 6 - 9 months. The did that to 'encourage' people to buy more and they could then make a profit on the shoe. Fencing is not a huge, profitable market like basketball...

Personally, the angle of the trailing shoe just felt off for me. It was great for sitting in you guard position, or lunging. Moving around, fleching, and walking (between rounds) however it just felt odd, and caused some discomfort in my knee and ankle.

I'm glad they have a symetrical design with cushion and support.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Adidas releases a new shoe every Olympics.

Adidas designed the assymetrics to last about 6 - 9 months. The did that to 'encourage' people to buy more and they could then make a profit on the shoe. Fencing is not a huge, profitable market like basketball...

Personally, the angle of the trailing shoe just felt off for me. It was great for sitting in you guard position, or lunging. Moving around, fleching, and walking (between rounds) however it just felt odd, and caused some discomfort in my knee and ankle.

I'm glad they have a symetrical design with cushion and support.

It would be better if the shoes lasted 4 years, and I could buy the newer model the exact moment my old ones went kaput.

[oiuyt]

It would be better if the shoes lasted 4 years, and I could buy the newer model the exact moment my old ones went kaput.

Better for you perhaps, but not necessarily for Adidas's bottom line (sole line?).

-B :)

[ReverseLunge]

I like the Asyms...but the two pairs I've had have both blownout on the outside of the back foot. The design is flawed in the selection of material and lack of reinforcement at that spot.

On the outside? Perhaps because you aren't rolling with the lunge? Some school of fencing teach that you should roll the back foot forward when lunging and some schools teach that you should keep you foot flat. Whichever school you come from is fine but the Adidas Asyms are made for rolling the back foot.

[glowstix]

I had a pair that did that too. I'm on my second pair now and waiting to see what happens. What I did notice and now I don't like is the angulated back foot. I believe that this caused me some knee problems. I'm happy that Adidas stop producing the Asym but I wish they would've picked more suitable colors for the new shoe.

thats not good news for me i just got a new pair from ebay ($75).

[telkanuru]

On the outside? Perhaps because you aren't rolling with the lunge? Some school of fencing teach that you should roll the back foot forward when lunging and some schools teach that you should keep you foot flat. Whichever school you come from is fine but the Adidas Asyms are made for rolling the back foot.

I'm guessing the "roll your back foot school" is the same as the "Make your ankles hate you school"?

[cowpaste]

Since when does this hurt you ankles? My ankles feel fine when I do this. It's my knee that ends up taking extra stress. I've seen top level fencers do both so I really don't see what's wrong with it.

[telkanuru]

I've been told by all (3) coaches I've talked to about it that it increases the likelyhood of your spraining it, and it takes longer to recover out of. I have seen it done by top level fencers, too, which confuses me, since one of the coaches *trains* top level fencers.

[ReverseLunge]

I'm guessing the "roll your back foot school" is the same as the "Make your ankles hate you school"?

Yeah but the asyms are made with a flap that protects your ankle. As I said, the asym are designed for you to lunge with an ankle roll.

[Stylothek]

Wait, are you guys saying that it is bad for the knee if you drag your foot behind you in your lunges? well, that would explain my knee problems..

[prototoast]

Yeah but the asyms are made with a flap that protects your ankle. As I said, the asym are designed for you to lunge with an ankle roll.

I disagree. I believe the Asymmetric shoes are designed to better support and protect the foot if one rolls the back foot, and it's designed to be more durable in case one rolls the foot, but I don't believe it is designed to promote rolling of the back foot.

[cowpaste]

Look, either method of lunging is fine, people. Obviously it does not keep people from winning or losing.

[mifencer]

I meant that when warming up and running around that the back foot, because of the angulation, makes my knee hurt.

Glowstick- I still use them, but I would HIGHLY recommend that you warm up with a pair of cross trainers and between rounds change into another pair of shoes. IMHO.

[oiuyt]

and between rounds change into another pair of shoes. IMHO.

No, just fence another weapon. Double-strip and that pesky time between rounds disappears really quickly. :)

-B :)