Adidas Equipment fencing shoes

[sabreur]

[quote]Originally posted by oiuyt:
<strong>Sabeur- Are you sure you're talking about the Equipment shoes? Mine aren't wearing at ALL.

For those who haven't seen them the soles are completely different from the soles on the standard Adidas shoes. It's a harder rubber and doesn't have the hex patterning.

I like my shoes, one REALLY nice thing is that they AREN'T showing any signs of wear after a couple of years of use. I have a pair of Adidas Adistars sitting on my shelf that I got a good deal on for when I do need to replace my asymetrics, but it doesn't look like that'll be any time soon.

-B </strong><hr></blockquote>

No, I'm talking about the previous model--grey and white and black. I haven't split for a pair of the newest model yet.

MR

[ShdoMonkey]

ok people

the Adidas Equipment shoes (to clarify- assymetrical)are good to the general public. there are still many cases where it can effect knees and ankles, though those are rare. i stay away from them because think of it this way; did your mom ever tell you to not just put heel cups in one shoe and not the other? well this is the same thing. your feet are not hitting the ground the same, and trust me. thats horrible for your hips and for your back. anyone like me (16 and in great health) should know about that. it takes time, to get effected, but htink about it. put alot of tissue in one shoe. it really messes up the way you walk.
so be forewarned, and don't go runnin into the equipments just cause you saw gerberman with them. the D'artagnans are fine.

OH and if i may say another point- THE SHOES DON'T MAKE THE FENCER! a fencer at my club was saying that he saw all the top 4 fencers with the Adidas equipments. know, people, that its not because of the shoes that they are there. don't go out and buy them because you think they are gonna get you there or you just say the gold medalist wearing them. i won in reno. are you all gonna go run out and buy D'artagnans? <img src="graemlins/jawa.gif" border="0" alt="[Jawa]" />

[Shpaga]

I like both the black stripe and Equipment...but it depends on finances, and how important comfort is for you. I like the fact I can concentrate more on the guy opposite from me (oh, yes, I want to rip his head off---wait patience, patience... heheh...) and not on the shoes.

Btw, a good deal for equipments is at the fencing post ( <a href="http://www.thefencingpost.com" target="_blank">www.thefencingpost.com</a> ) *shameless plug* -- about $150

I originally didn't like their flashy appearance, but they are incredibly comfortable -- so that in itself is good, if it boosts your comfortability (maybe somewhat of a placebo effect, but, eh.)

[Peach]

I wear the asymmetricals but I have orthotics that I put in them. They are not magical; I find them lacking in support in the heel; but after trying all sorts of other cheaper shoes I went back to adidas because they last longer and I like the feel of the floor when I'm wearing them. When my arches/ankles/achilles tendons/various other areas are giving me trouble I wear running shoes to train; I'm finally at the stage where they don't turn me into Frankenstein on the strip.

[D'Artagnan1673]

Ok, that makes sense to me about the heel cups. Could you just put a heel cup in the rear foot to offset this?

[goldbaker]

I saw somebody recommending indoor soccer shoes in an earlier post. They're light, comfortable, and the traction is great on any surface.

However, when I was wearing them, I developed severe tendonitis in my back leg. While I am sure this partly due to my advancing age, I had never had any achilles trouble before. One of the problems with some shoes, including indoor soccer shoes, is that they are basically flat from heel to toe. Fencing shoes have a built up heel, which I think takes some of the strain off of the achilles tendon that is caused by lunging and fencing movements generally. Anyway, I've gone back to my old Adidas blue stripes with custom orthotics, and my heel's doing better. Of course, I've also been in physical therapy. Just an anecdotal warning about the soccer shoes. It's too bad, because they really did work well on just about any surface.

[oiuyt]

[quote]your feet are not hitting the ground the same, and trust me. thats horrible for your hips and for your back.<hr></blockquote>

Uhm, since when have ANY fencing motions been symetrical? My feet do very different things (from each other) while fencing. It's not like I'm going jogging in these things.....

-B

[Purple Fencer]

[quote]Originally posted by ShdoMonkey:
[QB] a fencer at my club was saying that he saw all the top 4 fencers with the Adidas equipments. <hr></blockquote>

Who was that, G? Dan S? Doesn't sound like Victor or Matt. I don't THINK it was me!


BTW...are your wife-beaters FIE?

[Sciurus Rex]

[quote]Originally posted by goldbaker:
<strong>I saw somebody recommending indoor soccer shoes in an earlier post. They're light, comfortable, and the traction is great on any surface.

However, when I was wearing them, I developed severe tendonitis in my back leg. While I am sure this partly due to my advancing age, I had never had any achilles trouble before. One of the problems with some shoes, including indoor soccer shoes, is that they are basically flat from heel to toe. Fencing shoes have a built up heel, which I think takes some of the strain off of the achilles tendon that is caused by lunging and fencing movements generally. Anyway, I've gone back to my old Adidas blue stripes with custom orthotics, and my heel's doing better. Of course, I've also been in physical therapy. Just an anecdotal warning about the soccer shoes. It's too bad, because they really did work well on just about any surface.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hmmm. Good warning.
I've been fencing in soccer shoes for three years now. Ditto with a couple of my friends. And no problems at all.
It might be a matter of individual body construction and/or fencing stance. Like just about everything else in life, one size does NOT fit all. To each his own... Whatever works best... Etc. Etc. Etc.

[foodle]

[quote]Originally posted by Puppet Master:
<strong>What other options?? Are the PBT shoes or any other fencing shoes wider than the Adidas?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I went with squash/racquet ball shoes instead of fencing shoes. They were much cheaper and fit my feet better than the fencing shoes. The heel is sloped and the sole wraps up just like "real" fencing shoes. Unfortunately the model I bought has been discontinued, but some digging in indoor court shoes can lead to some good finds.

[ShdoMonkey]

but everyone, keep in mind. yes, financially soccer shoes and running shoes are great for training cause you know, they're cheaper than getting real fencing shoes. and of course, you have your competition pair, which are the real fencing shoes. but bear in mind people, that you should train with real fencing shoes. i have 2 pairs of D'artagnans. you should train with what you use! if you train X hours a week in some 30 dollar nikes, and fence in 150 dollar assymetrical shoes. its a totally different feeling. i train at LEAST 25 hours a week and a normal week is about 32-35 hours. if i trained in some POS nikes or running shoes, it'd be really weird going to my fencing shoes when it counts. just keep that in mind.

and oiuyt, i know that feet don't land the same in fencing- i'm well aware. but you see your body knows that there are activites that do that. completely different shoes don't help.

and yes, i fence in FIE 300NW Wifebeaters.

[Fencing Angel]

have em.. and love em.. thats all there is to say..

<img src="graemlins/jawa.gif" border="0" alt="[Jawa]" />

[Purple Fencer]

[quote]Originally posted by ShdoMonkey:
<strong>
and yes, i fence in FIE 300NW Wifebeaters.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Show me the FIE label tomorrow, Chevy boy!

[ShdoMonkey]

ok, brb..

lemme go bust out my sharpie.

[Sabresque]

For those of you guys worried about ankle problems and are looking for more support I know that at least The Fencing Post (maybe others) are now selling the high top adidas (assymetrical design, or whatever the new snazzy ones are called).

I personally have loved my adidas, and they aren't wearing a lot. They are slippery on our salle floor (although all shoes are there) but #1 they doesn't wear out and #2 they're wonderful on copper strips. (My only problem wthere was once I'd get to an NAC I'd have to learn to stop over-compensating for the slipperiness)

[foodle]

<strong>but everyone, keep in mind. yes, financially soccer shoes and running shoes are great for training cause you know, they're cheaper than getting real fencing shoes. </strong>

But that's not my primary reason for going with alternative shoes. The fencing shoes that I've found simply haven't fit my feet very well. I believe that whatever advantages "real" fencing shoes have would be outweighed by my discomfort.

I agree that running shoes are not suited for fencing, especially the heel of the shoe. Some indoor soccer shoes are good, as are some indoor court shoes. They are shaped almost exactly like commercial fencing shoes.

<strong>and of course, you have your competition pair, which are the real fencing shoes. </strong>

uh, no. I still haven't found a pair of "real" fencing shoes that I like.

<strong>but bear in mind people, that you should train with real fencing shoes. </strong>

I think that your main point here is that you should train in the shoes that you will compete in. I agree completely.

[achilleus]

Personally I wear what's comfortable, and fencing shoes aren't for me, whether they are asymmetrical or not.

The armorer who mentioned the ankle problems to me was referring to a number of international competitors who were no longer wearing the shoes due to injury.

And it definitely isn't the shoes. There are many top level fencers who don't wear adidas fencing shoes. In fact most epee fencers don't.

[D'Artagnan1673]

Well, I've been having problems with my ankle for about 2-3 weeks now. That is the exact amount of time I've been fencing in my adidas assymetricals! I really noticed it last night. I guess I will call the company and tell them that I'm not satisfied with the product.

[DJ Apostrophe]

I also got a pair of the equipment shoes during addidas' 'oops' sale... lucky me... but I think they are wonderful. They will grab on most surfaces and I have no problem getting my back foot in the shoe with my ankle brace on (previous, non-fencing related injury). I haven't had any issues with the shoes to complain about, my back foot is sloppy, i tend to drag it and roll it on the side when i lunge. The shoes have held up wonderfully, there is a bit of noticable wear, but the soles are consructed into the shoe really well and won't peel away like I have seen the d'artagnans do. My only gripe is that I couldn't walk into a store and try them on before I bought them, but I'd rather guess at a size and pay $75 and exchange them if they are wrong then to pay $150 and have them fit nicely the first time.

[D'Artagnan1673]

The fencing post told me to try my old pair of shoes to see if my ankle problems go away. If they do, they'll cut me a deal on another pair of shoes.

Hope it fixes it.