new shoe design

[Sciurus-Rex]

It's a minor design issue, but if you're going to use traditional laces to close up the shoe, the final one or two eyelets should be very durable. The trailing foot, especially, can put a lot of strain on the lace system when you're in a lunge and rolling your rear foot forward.

[Orangeaholic]

I like the idea of having an orange and black shoe, where would these eventually be available?

~Orange

[Man-Sum]

It would be great if the new shoe offers sizes that fits people with extra-extra-extra wide feet.

[Chafunkta]

Isn't it a sign of bad footwork if your rear foot rolls over when you lunge? I'm not perfect, and I do it a little bit too - but it seems like most fencers here try to do it...

[Cerian]

Definitely a lot of reinforcement on the inside of the back foot. That's always what has worn out the most for me on a shoe. Also cushioning in the heel, perhaps just in the from of a good insole or a heel pad, is good for the front foot .

[fatfencer]

Originally Posted by Orangeaholic

I like the idea of having an orange and black shoe, where would these eventually be available?

~Orange

I havent figgered out where I cn get leather paint in bright colors yet. Or at least order sheets of orange leather. The first few pairs will be handmade just so as to satisfy my curiosity and to make prototypes for the factory to mass produce.

I'm a cordwainer(cobbler) hobbyist and have made some 30 pairs of boots or shoes in the past and so I've got most ofthe equipment to do this on a custom basis; I know this isnt the most cost-effective way to go about it. But until I find a factory willing to contract its what ill have to do.

Wont charge more than $200.00 though. I dont know what Ill charge yet but I can guarantee you they will be indestructible or damn near. The real problem with shoe making isnt the upper. Its the outsole. Theres two types for sport shoes... carbon rubber(hard but still grippy) for the pivot points, and BLOWN rubber which is the main grippy parts of the bottom of the shoe. My uppers will last forever... the soles will have to be durable enough for roadwork, fencing classes in gyms and they those cheese grating metal pistes. Oh yeah AND the cloth strips.... the soles have to be SMOOTH enough to gliss across the cloth. This part is the hardest part but Im trying to solve it. If any of you know where I can get this type of rubber in sheets that would be great.

However, I still will make them on a custom basis even after I have a factory make them due to sizing irregularities like extra wide or size 16's or something.

As for the eyelets. the leather that holds the eyelets will be cowhide with a glue impregnated nylon reinforcement. I use it for an army type boot I made.

the medial(inner) sides of othe shoes will have a leather reinforcement for the dragging issue.

As soon as I solve all the supply issues Ill be making them on a custom trial basis. From there I'll be looking for a small, one off mass prod company. Well see anyways

Fatfencer

[dreamer90024]

One of the problems I've had with the Dart I is that my foot is wider than the sole of the shoe (something that I found suprising because I don't have wide feet). Because of this it is very easy for my foot to roll to the outside and it has caused a couple turned ankles. a slightly wider sole would be nice.

[fatfencer]

This is a problem on a lot of adidas shoes. soles that are narrower do cause problems
Here'a a quick fix: Get a rigid orthotic like the 'Walk Fit' or Phase4(same company) Orthotic. What that will do is lift the bones of the foot into correct alignment. By lifting them you'll have better balance and your anlke wont be in pronation.

Using full foot rubber or foam insoles dont work because invariably they will be wider than the adidas sole creating a ridge that will aggravate you.

[Cerian]

A pair of shoes I got once had metal eyelets that seemed really durable. I don't know how feasible that would be on a fencing shoe but maybe you should consider it.

[dreamer90024]

Originally Posted by fatfencer

This is a problem on a lot of adidas shoes. soles that are narrower do cause problems
Here'a a quick fix: Get a rigid orthotic like the 'Walk Fit' or Phase4(same company) Orthotic. What that will do is lift the bones of the foot into correct alignment. By lifting them you'll have better balance and your anlke wont be in pronation.

Using full foot rubber or foam insoles dont work because invariably they will be wider than the adidas sole creating a ridge that will aggravate you.

Thanks for the advice, but I already use a custom orthodic for my (very) flat feet. In fact because they are wider than the sole they are probably adding to the problem. However I can't fence without them, so I guess I'll just have to find better shoes or wear ankle braces.

[dilznik]

Here's a good shoe design:the Adidas Equipment. You need to make that exact shoe, but with a little more arch support. It has just about everything everyone has mentioned that they're looking for. I bought up all the size 10s I could find when they were discontinued and stashed them under my bed so that I'd have fencing shoes for the coming years.