The LP versus Stabil Poll!

[Epee Scherma]

YOU MAY ONLY VOTE ON THIS POLL IF YOU HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WEARING The Leon Paul fencing shoe AND the Adidas Stabil 5/6.

Here it is! The poll I know you've all been waiting for! I've waited a long time to put this poll up, because I want those who have worn the LP shoes to break them in a little. Which one do you like more?

[Gav]

The Stabils seem hard to get hold of - I think you are going to get a lot of "I haven't tried both".

[Epee Scherma]

Yeah, I'm aware of that. That's why I crafted the third option, knowing people love to vote in polls and say things are invalid. Then my poll can be bumped up to the top of the page all the time. I'm a genius!

Anyways, hey all you losers who have worn both and voted, can you AT LEAST explain why you chose one shoe over the other?

[Alex_Paul]

I know that my opinion is biassed but we used a number of shoes to test along side the various development models of the Hi-Tec.
I think that the main advantage that the Hi-Tec have is the more rounded leading edge of the trailing foot and the associated protection zone.
The Stabil are a good shoe but at the end of the day they are not designed specificly for fencing so I hope that we have done better with the "blade" shoe.
(crosses fingers!)

[ReverseLunge]

I know that my opinion is biassed but we used a number of shoes to test along side the various development models of the Hi-Tec.
I think that the main advantage that the Hi-Tec have is the more rounded leading edge of the trailing foot and the associated protection zone.
The Stabil are a good shoe but at the end of the day they are not designed specificly for fencing so I hope that we have done better with the "blade" shoe.
(crosses fingers!)

Are you willingto say that you think your shoes are better than the Adidas fencing shoes? One of my clubmate bought your shoes and he says they are good.

I would buy your shoes if you could change the design. Can you make them in black and white? The silver and red just looks gay and doesnt match the white uniform.

[LUDICROUS]

Surely it can't be that hard to make fencing shoes in more than one style...


Curse you Adidas!

[telkanuru]

The rolled inside of the foot (or lack thereof) is not actually noticable. I find the Stabils much better for epee because they keep me on my toes. The wider toe area of the LP shoes is nice, but it's still not quite the same. IMHO the LP shoes are like an unholy mating of the D'Art IIs and the Stabil 5s, but they take too much from the former and not enough from the latter for my liking.

[sabreur]

The Srtabils seem hard to get hold of - I think you are going to get a lot of "I haven't tried both".

Amazon.com sports and outdoors has a couple of different suppliers for the Stabil 6, and one for the Stabil 5--some major price deltas too....

MR

[achilleus]

I know that my opinion is biassed but we used a number of shoes to test along side the various development models of the Hi-Tec.
I think that the main advantage that the Hi-Tec have is the more rounded leading edge of the trailing foot and the associated protection zone.
The Stabil are a good shoe but at the end of the day they are not designed specificly for fencing so I hope that we have done better with the "blade" shoe.
(crosses fingers!)

It's funny, I've been using the Stabil 5's for over a year, four days a week of hard practice, plus tournaments, and they've held up better than any fencing specific shoe I've owned. Better traction, better support, and the inside area has held up much better to the wear and tear of various strips.

I've tried on the Blades, I don't think that really qualifies me to give an indepth analysis, but the Blades felt like pretty good fencing specific shoes. The Stabil's on the other hand have great cushion and support (I never forget that the NAC's are held on concrete floors. Ugh.), and for me, that's what I prefer and why I avoid fencing specific shoes.

[Morion]

I abstain!!!

I haven't tried either shoe, but that does not mean the poll is invalid.

[Inigo_Montoya]

The rolled inside of the foot (or lack thereof) is not actually noticable. I find the Stabils much better for epee because they keep me on my toes. The wider toe area of the LP shoes is nice, but it's still not quite the same. IMHO the LP shoes are like an unholy mating of the D'Art IIs and the Stabil 5s, but they take too much from the former and not enough from the latter for my liking.

I agree that the Stabils feel better for epee than the LP shoes. The LP shoes don't feel like they have much support or cushion while the Stabil's give plenty of support and cushion.

[Orestes]

Here's my vote...

Anyone want to buy a pair of Stabils, gently used?

[klauver]

I have worn varying incarnations of ADIDAS shoes, but not Stabil's, and the BLADES blow them all away.
They actually come in 1/2 sizes above size 12! No one else does that. They fit like a glove and feel like they have a built in heel cup.
The only complaint is that the toe area takes a while to break in.

[achilleus]

I have worn varying incarnations of ADIDAS shoes, but not Stabil's, and the BLADES blow them all away.
They actually come in 1/2 sizes above size 12! No one else does that. They fit like a glove and feel like they have a built in heel cup.
The only complaint is that the toe area takes a while to break in.

Wow, where do you shop?

I've always been able to order 1/2 sized fencing shoes larger than 12. Not often at a tournament, but usually mail order, or dropping by the store...

And if you go to Adidas.com, they sell the Stabil in large half sizes...

[klauver]

Wow, where do you shop?

I've always been able to order 1/2 sized fencing shoes larger than 12. Not often at a tournament, but usually mail order, or dropping by the store...

And if you go to Adidas.com, they sell the Stabil in large half sizes...

Here is the result when you try to find fencing shoes on ADIDAS.COM
"We're sorry, but our selection does not include fencing products. Please check back because we update our selection frequently."
I live in Orlando, FL and there are several ADIDAS outlets where I can occasionally find last years models at significant discounts and actually try them on.

I had given up buying shoes online until I spoke with Craig at the Miami NAC and he and several others said that the LP's actually fit just like normal US sizes so I tried it and they fir perfectly. I have always found the ADIDAS shoes to be too narrow and I am just a "normal" "D" width.

[achilleus]

Here is the result when you try to find fencing shoes on ADIDAS.COM
"We're sorry, but our selection does not include fencing products. Please check back because we update our selection frequently."
I live in Orlando, FL and there are several ADIDAS outlets where I can occasionally find last years models at significant discounts and actually try them on.

I had given up buying shoes online until I spoke with Craig at the Miami NAC and he and several others said that the LP's actually fit just like normal US sizes so I tried it and they fir perfectly. I have always found the ADIDAS shoes to be too narrow and I am just a "normal" "D" width.

Right, the Stabil is on Adidas.com, the fencing shoes I used to get through distributors like The Fencing Post, Blue Gauntlet, etc...

But hey, if the LP's work for you great, but when I wore fencing shoes, I never had an issue with large 1/2 sizes...

[Dax]

I have tried on a pair of Stabils when I was lucky enough to find an outlet with them in tennessee. Mind you I didn't break them in but I tried them on in the store and also did a little bit of foot work (yes, I got weird looks). I am an epeeist and to me they felt a little blocky or clunky, but they were a very comfortable shoe. They were on the top of my list whilist I was shopping for shoes, and then I saw the Blades shoes at a tournament (a vendor was selling them). I tried on a pair and got a pair shortly after. All I can say is I love these shoes. The do indeed feel like the have a bulit in heel cup, and it kind of grips your heel and the shoe overall fits like a nice glove. I agree that at first the sole of the shoe feels a little unpadded, but once you break it in you don't notice it at all(and if you switch out the insole to a Dr. Shoals the comfort is amazing). The traction on the shoes is incredable and I love how you feel like you almost glide on the strip. I've had them for about 2.5 months now and I love my Hi-tec Blades. I fence around 4 days a week and have had no problems with them.

Also, before I bought them I spent around 6 or 7 months looking at shoe options, so it was a well educated buy. These are great shoes and I would recomend them to anyone. It would also be cool if they were made in different colors *hint hint* but for now the Black, silver and red look cool.

[mackillian]

I got the size I was supposed to for LPs according to the chart and they're too big. I suppose I'll be selling this pair (used for a grand total of 20 minutes) and getting another.

[twisterfencing]

I got the size I was supposed to for LPs according to the chart and they're too big. I suppose I'll be selling this pair (used for a grand total of 20 minutes) and getting another.

mackillian:
I am pretty sure that if you contacted LP, they would be happy to help you out getting the correct size.

[Craig]

I got the size I was supposed to for LPs according to the chart and they're too big. I suppose I'll be selling this pair (used for a grand total of 20 minutes) and getting another.

If you got them from us, just give a call. As long as they are still in "new" condition an exchange will be easy.

Craig