Assymetricals (no dead horse needed)

[Moses]

I have the opportunity to get my hands on the Assyms. I'm in desperate need of good cushioning and the Equipments appeal to me. A little problem has presented itself, though: I can only get them in size 9.5 US. I'm a size 9 US, and I've read that the equipments run a little big. Also, my feet are somewhat wide. Do the assyms stretch out at all? Are they worth purchasing (cost is not an issue) considering my sizing questions?

Thanks!

-Da Mose

[prototoast]

I have wide feet. I have the shoes. They run really narrow, but they might be a little long. Even though my feet are wider than the soles, they are still comfortable.

[CvilleFencer]

I would go ahead and get them. All of my fencing shoes have come from Europe somewhere, so they are actually a half size larger than I would normally wear. I have not tried the Assyms but on the other 3 pair of Adidas that I have had they have all fit fine despite being a half size to big technically. On the old Adistar boots I did end up putting in a set of sports insoles for extra cushioning and to make them fit just a bit better.

[DJ Apostrophe]

Anyone have (or know of someone who might have) a pair of new asyms... here's the kicker... size 13 ... left handed.

I asked around at the NAC in Kansas without any success...

-w

[veeco]

You might want to check eBay from time to time, they have Assyms for sale very cheap. Most of the time they are left handed ones, that the vendors couldn't sell, so they are usually good deals.

[reddphoenix]

Does it make an obvious difference if you get left-handed fencing shoes instead of right-handed ones? I have just been sent some second hand D'Artagnons (free from a lefty ex-fencer) and I won't be recieving them for a few days... but it's the Assyms I really want. Unfortunately, the companies I've e-mailed so far only have left-handed ones.

So, will having the 'wrong' shoes have any bad effects on my feet or my fencing; and does anyone know of any company in the world where I can get the Assyms in a size 6?
I'm checking eBay twice a day now... hehe, I'm desperate.

Ta v. much.

- Natalie

[glowstix]

Originally Posted by reddphoenix

Does it make an obvious difference if you get left-handed fencing shoes instead of right-handed ones?

YYYEEESSSSSS!!!!!! the left/right handed pair has extra support on the right/left shoe for lunging and stuff. it makes a difference. i got a pair from ebay that was advertised as left handed but turned out to be right handed..didnt' work, had to return it.. still don't have a pair of asymmetrics and they look sooooo good. its just stupid that they don't make them anymore.

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by reddphoenix

Does it make an obvious difference if you get left-handed fencing shoes instead of right-handed ones? I have just been sent some second hand D'Artagnons (free from a lefty ex-fencer) and I won't be recieving them for a few days... but it's the Assyms I really want. Unfortunately, the companies I've e-mailed so far only have left-handed ones.

So, will having the 'wrong' shoes have any bad effects on my feet or my fencing; and does anyone know of any company in the world where I can get the Assyms in a size 6?
I'm checking eBay twice a day now... hehe, I'm desperate.

Ta v. much.

- Natalie

Makes a huge difference. They'd be pretty horrible if worn backwards... though at regionals, I did notice Tim Hagamen was wearing a new adistar high top on his back foot and an old back-footed assymetric on his front foot. It seemed quite odd.

[reddphoenix]

Fair enough. I'll have to get rid of my D'Artagnons, then (when they come). I know that there's different supports on each shoe, but I figured they can't be that different. Excuse my stupidity. :P

I know this is OT, but what is the difference between lefty and righty kit (all kit)?
I know that there is that differing supports to favour one side over the other, but what would the wrong kit actually do to a fencer? Pull something, sprain something...?

Obviously there's a reason for the two kits... ohhh - I'm just making excuses. I just want some Assyms.

- Natalie/Gnat

PS- I'm still interested in the answers to my questions though.

[Stylothek]

Originally Posted by reddphoenix

Fair enough. I'll have to get rid of my D'Artagnons, then (when they come). I know that there's different supports on each shoe, but I figured they can't be that different. Excuse my stupidity. :P

I know this is OT, but what is the difference between lefty and righty kit (all kit)?
I know that there is that differing supports to favour one side over the other, but what would the wrong kit actually do to a fencer? Pull something, sprain something...?

Obviously there's a reason for the two kits... ohhh - I'm just making excuses. I just want some Assyms.

- Natalie/Gnat

PS- I'm still interested in the answers to my questions though.

You shoudl be fine with D'Artagnans, as they are not normally left or right handed. They are normally symmetrical providing skid layers on the inside of both shoes. In general, the difference between leftie and rightie gear is the place of the zipper on your lame and jacket. In some older cotton jackets you can still find some extra padding for the weapon arm. But of course, since FIE rules demand full body 800N protection, you might aswell forget that extra padding. Oh yes, of course the plastron has to protect the underarm of your weapon arm.

[barticus]

I have a pair of size 9 US Right Hand Assymetrics for sale. They have been used for about 3 mos and are in great shape. Not new, but still have years left in them. A medical condition requires that I switch arms, so I obviously need a LH pair. Send me an email if your interested.

Thanks,

Bart

[Moses]

Where O where were't thou,
Barticus, a day
And a fortnight hence,
When, bereft of shoes
Was I, and in my
Desperation, bought
A pair of Assyms,
9.5?

...when actually I'm a 9 at most. My front foot moves around a bit when I lunge. I suppose I could put in a heel cup to take up room. It might be better this way, because I have wide feet, and need the squeeze room.

Great shoes still though! Retreating and lunging have never felt so natural, back-foot-wise.

-Da Mose

[Artisan]

Originally Posted by Moses

I have the opportunity to get my hands on the Assyms. I'm in desperate need of good cushioning and the Equipments appeal to me. A little problem has presented itself, though: I can only get them in size 9.5 US. I'm a size 9 US, and I've read that the equipments run a little big. Also, my feet are somewhat wide. Do the assyms stretch out at all? Are they worth purchasing (cost is not an issue) considering my sizing questions?
-Da Mose

My take on the assyms:
They are good shoes, and a great idea if you have ankle or foot problems for which the angled insole of the back foot will help. But....

Although the AdiWear soles themselves wear very well and provide great traction especially on metal strips or textured floors, they can be just as slippery as any other shoe on a dusty gym floor. The uppers actually suck quite badly - the two pairs I've had both blew out identically on the outside top of the ball of the back foot. The material failed and the reinforcement they designed is inadequate. The failure occured in about ten weeks of 2x-3x week fencing. The front heel cup is well built up and provides some shock absorbtion, but the insole is a flimsy foam and cardboard thing that offers no real cushioning, and quickly wears away or through altogether onder the ball and big toe of the back foot. They do stretch quite a bit too. I normally wear a 9.5 in any other Adidas, but my 2nd pair of assyms were 9.0's and I still wear 2 socks and have the laces pulled almost together because they just kept getting wider and wider.
Are they worth the money? Yes...if you can afford to replace them every 6-8 months.

That said, I just bought a pair of the new Adistar (Athens?) silver and black ones - which cost even more than the Assymetics. Why? I'm hoping that they've improved and learned from the mistakes in the design of the Assyms - and I believe that by supporting the new models Adidas as well as other manufacturers will continue to experiment and improve fencing shoe technology. I'm also hopng that my legs have become stronger and my form has improved so the ankle woes that compelled me to buy the assyms in the first place are resolved.

[Moses]

Most people I've heard from say the Adistars, grip-wise, are a major improvement over the Assyms, though apparently (hearsay, I know) they aren't as durable. Interestingly, I hear great durability stories from the Assyms. Maybe Adidas decided that they needed higher turnover with the Adistars?

Meh, speculation and 3rd party info, all around.

-Da Mose

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by Moses

Most people I've heard from say the Adistars, grip-wise, are a major improvement over the Assyms, though apparently (hearsay, I know) they aren't as durable. Interestingly, I hear great durability stories from the Assyms. Maybe Adidas decided that they needed higher turnover with the Adistars?

Meh, speculation and 3rd party info, all around.

-Da Mose

From what I've seen, the adistars have a better sole, but don't have as much protection higher up to protect against people who roll their feet. If you roll your foot a lot, the assyms will hold up better, but if you slide more than the adistars may hold up better.