Another Brand Name Fencing Shoe?

[parryDoh]

I havent heard of these being available before but found em on the web today.

Onitsuka Tiger "Fencing LA" Classic Fencing Shoe

Onitsuka Tiger is a brand owned by Asics. Anyone tried these before?
They have a great price too. The color isnt the best unless your a Kill Bill fan.

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/classics...asi-73195.html

[parryDoh]

Ordered some, with shipping was around 66 bucks.

[achilleus]

Thread.

Yeah, the description is accurate. The Japanese team wore in the 80's. They were available in Japan for some time after that. Every fencing I know who had them, loved them. Then again, I only saw them in hi-top and all white...

[cfaustus]

These are my favorites.. they are inexpensive, last forever (1-2 years of constant wear - I fence 5-6 nights a week), and look cool:



http://www.converse.com/zproductdeta...d=3&sku=1J854#

[Craig]

These are my favorites.. they are inexpensive, last forever (1-2 years of constant wear - I fence 5-6 nights a week), and look cool:



http://www.converse.com/zproductdeta...d=3&sku=1J854#

Chucks look good, but are a "walking around shoe" not an athletic shoe. They provide no real support for your feet and are not good for fencing. There's a reason why nobody wears them playing basketball anymore.

[cfaustus]

True, I always have to put an in-sole in for arch support and as a cushion for the heel... but after that my feet are pretty happy.

[cfaustus]

True, I always have to put an in-sole in for arch support and as a cushion for the heel... but after that my feet are pretty happy. Plus, there is no flanged profile for my feet to catch and roll on when I lunge... my backfoot stays nice and flat. Modern athletic shoes (non-fencing) are good for running with both your feet pointed infront of you. However, for the perpendicular foot placement of fencing and the need to keep the back foot flat on the lunge, the extra material they add for support in running, just gets in the way...

[jip3]

I bought a pair of these for regular sneaker use before i started fencing, ironically, and when i did begin fencing i was pleasantly surprised at how nicely suited to the sport and relatively inexpensive they are. Only recently did i find out that theyre actually made for it!

[prototoast]

True, I always have to put an in-sole in for arch support and as a cushion for the heel... but after that my feet are pretty happy. Plus, there is no flanged profile for my feet to catch and roll on when I lunge... my backfoot stays nice and flat. Modern athletic shoes (non-fencing) are good for running with both your feet pointed infront of you. However, for the perpendicular foot placement of fencing and the need to keep the back foot flat on the lunge, the extra material they add for support in running, just gets in the way...

You seem to be suggesting that the only options are Chucks or running shoes. There are a wide array of fencing shoes, and other assorted court shoes, which will provide more support and a better feel.

[achilleus]

You seem to be suggesting that the only options are Chucks or running shoes. There are a wide array of fencing shoes, and other assorted court shoes, which will provide more support and a better feel.

I was thinking the same thing. I mean tennis shoes are made for lateral motions, and the lunge. That's why they have rounded heels, toe drag, and great arch support for the trailing foot.

[sabreur]

I was thinking the same thing. I mean tennis shoes are made for lateral motions, and the lunge. That's why they have rounded heels, toe drag, and great arch support for the trailing foot.

The biggest problem I have with classic tennis shoes is that they tend to have a pretty abrupt transition from the sole to the side of the shoe--i.e., no roll-over. And when you do roll them over, it is hard to get back. Also, the soles of most tennis shoes are not designed for the kind of roll-over and drag you often get on your back foot when fencing--so they delaminate.....

MR

[Larrison]

Hmm... I've been avoiding tennis specific shoes as fencing shoes in general. The reason is most tennis shoes are designed for forward and back motion (charging the net, and returning to the line), and left-right lateral motion (moving to return a ball), but are not designed for lunging either left right. The left right lateral motion is flat-footed, and a lot of shoes are specifically designed to avoid rollover (which means sharp corners). Tennis shoes in general are padded more, and higher off the ground because most tennis is played on concrete courts.

Volleyball shoes are designed usually for wooden floors and short dashes in any direction. They do usually some rollover capability for dives to return a hit, but not much. They also have significant padding since they are cushioning the foot for jumping to block or spike, which I don't like in general since it raises the foot off the floor.

Racquet ball shoes seem a reasonable compromise -- designed for short dashes or lunges in any direction, designed for lateral motion as well as back and forth (but with some rollover allowed), and designed for typically wooden floors, but not a lot of jumping. Low shoes, with rounded edges, with good lace support and not high off the ground (low padding since usually little jumping up and down to protect from).

Having said that.. my usual method of finding new fencing shoes (and I'm like only on my 4th or so pair of fencing dedicated shoes... not like I buy multiple pairs per year), is to go down to the local sporting goods store with the largest selection of shoes and start looking, usually in the "court shoes" aisles, but also including the "indoor soccer", "cross training" and "boating/ deck shoes". I'm looking for a gum sole (not hard plastic) since I think that gives me better traction on a wooden floor, reasonable support (I tend to low arches), lightweight/ breathable, good lateral and toe support/ lacing, comfort/ fit (each brand uses a slightly different last to make the shoes on), and price. I can find something that works pretty well for usually $40-50, that I can try on before buying. As I noted, racquetball shoes seem to work pretty well, but other "court" shoes are right up there depending upon the specific make and model, but also I've looked at indoor soccer shoes and a friend of mine swears by cheap deck shoes for boating because he claims they have the best "grip" of any shoe on a wooden floor.

[achilleus]

The biggest problem I have with classic tennis shoes is that they tend to have a pretty abrupt transition from the sole to the side of the shoe--i.e., no roll-over. And when you do roll them over, it is hard to get back. Also, the soles of most tennis shoes are not designed for the kind of roll-over and drag you often get on your back foot when fencing--so they delaminate.....

MR

Take a look at some of the recent high end tennis shoes. You won't run into that problem.

My favorite pair of Nike's from years past was the Nike Court Motion, specifically made for lunging. Way better than any fencing specific shoe I've worn.

[achilleus]

Hmm... I've been avoiding tennis specific shoes as fencing shoes in general. The reason is most tennis shoes are designed for forward and back motion (charging the net, and returning to the line), and left-right lateral motion (moving to return a ball), but are not designed for lunging either left right. The left right lateral motion is flat-footed, and a lot of shoes are specifically designed to avoid rollover (which means sharp corners). Tennis shoes in general are padded more, and higher off the ground because most tennis is played on concrete courts.

Volleyball shoes are designed usually for wooden floors and short dashes in any direction. They do usually some rollover capability for dives to return a hit, but not much. They also have significant padding since they are cushioning the foot for jumping to block or spike, which I don't like in general since it raises the foot off the floor.

Racquet ball shoes seem a reasonable compromise -- designed for short dashes or lunges in any direction, designed for lateral motion as well as back and forth (but with some rollover allowed), and designed for typically wooden floors, but not a lot of jumping. Low shoes, with rounded edges, with good lace support and not high off the ground (low padding since usually little jumping up and down to protect from).

Having said that.. my usual method of finding new fencing shoes (and I'm like only on my 4th or so pair of fencing dedicated shoes... not like I buy multiple pairs per year), is to go down to the local sporting goods store with the largest selection of shoes and start looking, usually in the "court shoes" aisles, but also including the "indoor soccer", "cross training" and "boating/ deck shoes". I'm looking for a gum sole (not hard plastic) since I think that gives me better traction on a wooden floor, reasonable support (I tend to low arches), lightweight/ breathable, good lateral and toe support/ lacing, comfort/ fit (each brand uses a slightly different last to make the shoes on), and price. I can find something that works pretty well for usually $40-50, that I can try on before buying. As I noted, racquetball shoes seem to work pretty well, but other "court" shoes are right up there depending upon the specific make and model, but also I've looked at indoor soccer shoes and a friend of mine swears by cheap deck shoes for boating because he claims they have the best "grip" of any shoe on a wooden floor.

That's why I like tennis shoes. My front goes forward and back, like a player charging the net, and my back moves laterally, like I'm moving to return a ball.

Also, the tennis shoes I've seen (meaning the high end ones) are made to lunge in any direction.

Some are high off the ground, but quite a number are low slung. Especially the clay court shoes.

[Moses]

Here's another name brand fencing shoes for ya:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ayphotohosting

The "Puma Parry"

Anyone ever heard of these things?