Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

whtouche · 01-23-2005, 12:53 PM

I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience and if so perhaps this could serve as a warning to others shopping around for new fencing shoes. A couple of friends/team mates of mine recently purchased dartagnan II fencing shoes from addidas, and they both have holes in them already. One at the seam where the sole meels the rest of the shoe on the back foot, and the other is near the same spot, but not along the seam and more forward towards the toe. The latter is an epee fencer, the former sabre.
It may be a problem with their form that's causing such wear, but I don't know that they have burned thru shoes quickly in the past, and even if they did have the worst form ever I don't think the shoes should wear this quickly.

telkanuru · 01-23-2005, 01:40 PM

It's because I roll/drag my foot and the nature of the strips at Prise de Fer.

oiuyt · 01-24-2005, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telkanuru

It's because I roll/drag my foot and the nature of the strips at Prise de Fer.

You mean "the hottest new place to fence" has some problems?!?!??! :)

-B :)

Barry Paul · 01-24-2005, 06:35 PM

What are the strips made of/from?

prototoast · 01-24-2005, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oiuyt

You mean "the hottest new place to fence" has some problems?!?!??!

-B

Quiet, or else they'll just spam it some more.

telkanuru · 01-24-2005, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry Paul

What are the strips made of/from?

They're swiss-cheesed aluminum (lots of .5cm in diameter holes), and came in 1mx1m squares, I think.

telkanuru · 01-24-2005, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oiuyt

You mean "the hottest new place to fence" has some problems?!?!??!

-B

Nah, rather that my footwork has some problems. Or, many problems. Or why god why does it have such a vast multitude of problems comparable in number only to the biblical plagues of frogs and small flying insects.

Barry Paul · 01-25-2005, 09:57 AM

5.0mm dia holes that could be the problem, the hole sizes is too large. If only they had asked us we could have advised the correct/best hole size and coverage. Barry Paul.

DJ Apostrophe · 01-25-2005, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry Paul

5.0mm dia holes that could be the problem, the hole sizes is too large. If only they had asked us we could have advised the correct/best hole size and coverage. Barry Paul.

The strips were free... that is why they are there. They are the ones that used to be in Harvard University's fencing room. When they were replaced with the solid sectional strips, the old 'cheese grater' ones were given to David Blake.

I'm not sure that that is the exact size of the holes, but I will take a picture while I am there tonight and post it when I get home so you can see what they are.

-w

TheArmourer · 01-25-2005, 12:52 PM

To be honest, I doubt the floor has anything to do with it at all.
From what I've seen, fencers who rarely set foot on a metal piste have similar problems.
IMO the design of a lot of fencing shoes is at fault - the inside edge of the sole should be L-shaped in section, rather than being flat and attatched to the upper at floor level. It would mean a reduction in the strain put on the seam. And IIRC this is the problem with the d'arts.

cowpaste · 01-25-2005, 01:02 PM

It might be design, but keep in mind that it takes only one session on a cheese grater to grate the cheese. :P

whtouche · 01-25-2005, 01:08 PM

I wear the same indoor soccer shoes that I've been wearing for about a year on those strips and I don't have those problems. The strips aren't nearly as abrasive as they're being portrayed, I don't think.

telkanuru · 01-25-2005, 02:47 PM

I agree. As I said, my footwork is most likely to blame.

achilleus · 01-25-2005, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whtouche

I wear the same indoor soccer shoes that I've been wearing for about a year on those strips and I don't have those problems. The strips aren't nearly as abrasive as they're being portrayed, I don't think.

I've fenced on those kind of strips before. They really eat up the old style fencing shoes. I've found that tennis shoes last much longer than fencing specific shoes on those strips, so you're indoor soccer shoes lasting doesn't surprise me.

LUDICROUS · 01-25-2005, 04:55 PM

I also roll my foot when I lunge, so I think i'll put off buying fencing shoes untill thats fixed

I use a pair of New Balance crosstrainers I've had for years. Used them alot in tennis (tennis lost the favour war against fencing). They are starting to get a bit stuffed, but ahh well. Me rolling my back foot means that area of the shoe has interestingly gone grey, is cracking, and the sole is coming loose. Its also coming loose on the heel of my leading foot.

TheArmourer · 01-27-2005, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheArmourer

And IIRC this is the problem with the d'arts.

Had a look at a pair of d'Art II shoes last night and I take that back - the upper does not go right down to the floor, though IMO they would benefit from a bit more "wrap-around" of the sole.

beeyeelelwhy · 01-28-2005, 12:46 AM

Ahhhh the strips at harvard SUCK now. I'm really only talking about the way that they EAT shoes. It's probably my style as well that needs improving, but compared with all the other strips I've fenced on those are the worst (again, only in terms of shoe eating).

MHS Fencer · 01-28-2005, 02:12 AM

They're better than the strips from last year - I think you'll also find that they only eat your shoes when you roll your back foot - my shoes are still in good shape after about 2 months using them (well, 2 months fencing time).

It's really just your form, I'd guess - I know people who have 0 problems with the strips, but i also know one guy who got a hole in the side of his new addistars (i believe - the silver ones) the third time he wore them because he rolls his foot.