Viktoria vs. Blades

[Qbranch]

I know that shoes have been discussed in previous threads so I'll keep this specific. I'm in the market for shoes and I am currently considering Viktorias and Blades. The latter I find really pricey but come highly recommended. The Viktorias (based on what I can see in the fencing.net reviews) are also recommended but seem to fall a bit short in terms of durability (like Li Nings?). Both have their merits but I'm not sure which is worth the investment. Thoughts?

[FoilyDeath]

Which viktoria model? Frankly, I hate the blades, but I have not tried the new Viktoria low tops yet.

[Craig]

I've only seen the older Viktoria shoes and they weren't a good quality for the retail asking price. Haven't inspected the newest model though.

Craig

[academe]

Which viktoria model? Frankly, I hate the blades, but I have not tried the new Viktoria low tops yet.

Specifics? What did you "hate" about them? Did you use them, or did they just not feel right. If you've posted your summary elsewhere, let me know.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I've tried on the new viktorias.

I don't know about durability, but they felt absolutely awesome.. very light.

Dartanagn II are to Adidas Stabils what Viktorias are to Dartanagn II... weight wise.

[JayhawkPawn]

(Removed by user.)

[FoilyDeath]

I've only seen the older Viktoria shoes and they weren't a good quality for the retail asking price. Haven't inspected the newest model though.

Craig

I got the last of the stock of the old ones from Negrini for under 50$, god I was pleased with that. The new ones are ludicrously expensive though. I want to try on the high top li-nings from enlighten though before I invest in those...once I go through the 5 viktorias I have left.
On a random note, the li-nings are only 40$ from ggg.com.hk

The blades and/or scimitars are nice, but are also very hard to tighten if your feet dont fit them perfectly.

[GypsyScot]

The Li-Nings have been discontinued, if you want to get some I'd buy now.
The Victoria are really expensive, they're great if you have a narrow foot, but for people with wider (what I call normal) feet the Blades are amazingly comfortable, the Scimitars even more so they're uh... Awesomely comfortable!

[Qbranch]

First... thanks for the replies! As anticipated some strongly divided opinions. I saw JayhawkPawn's post in the trade section and figured there would be a response on the Blades. The comments are helpful and I am much obliged.

I've now had a chance to explore the matter a bit further. My vendor mentioned that he was getting the Viktorias at the end of the month (so I'm assuming that they're the new version). In any case I now think I was under the wrong impression regarding price (since I was going on old info). I've since checked out the price at Absolute....

Sweet Jethro Pugh.

At $200 a pop I can only imagine what they're going to run up here once he has heard back from Negrini! Price (as well as comfort) could also be a determining factor in the end... in which case I may need a third option (assuming the Li Nings are out).

[fatfencer]

for those Viktoria new hightops.

Those are the sh@@ on the piste.

I only wish someone would have them at the Tucson NAC

FF

[mrbiggs]

The Li-Nings have been discontinued, if you want to get some I'd buy now.

Seriously? Bummer!

I've had a pair for two years now with a fairly high amount of use and they're just getting to needing replacement.

[FoilyDeath]

for those Viktoria new hightops.

Those are the sh@@ on the piste.

I only wish someone would have them at the Tucson NAC

FF

The old ones were also the sh@@t....and they were a hell of a lot cheaper too! Still. Will see.

[fencerchica]

The Viktorias and the Blades (well, ok, actually the new "Scimitars", the updated Blades) are the 2 pairs of shoes I use. :-)

Viktorias: Don't grip all that well, but are wonderfully supportive, good for people like me with weak arches. Shoes with bad support can leave me with knife pains in my feet after an hour or less.

Scimitars: Grip the ground like superglue. Less supportive than the Viktorias though, so if I'm going to be fencing on cheesegrater strips, I pull out the Viktorias instead. Can't beat the Scimitars for slippery gym floors, though. Also, they're much more supportive and fit me better than the D'Artagnans, my old shoe.

I haven't had the durability issues other people describe, with either of these shoes. My usage is on average 2 or 3 nights a week for about 3 hours with the Scimitars, and a tournament every 3 weeks or so with usually the Viktorias (although I also used to use them as my weekly practice shoe too).

[Barry Paul]

The Blades, for many fencers are a decent quality shoe, but not worth the $100 they're asking. The 'abrazone' material on the side of the shoe isn't attatched well enough, and fencers with long lunges will rip it off, the large grey plastic piece on the side of the foot can, and will cut into your feet, and they have a break in period of forever. .

A little confused, Blades do not have a abrazone area. We have not yet seen the wrap round sole becoming detached on a blade shoe. Jayhawkpawns expericience is not typical and the feed back after 3000 plus Blade shoes sales has been 99% positive. However from our point of view the down side is the shoes are not wearing out quick enough.

[Gav]

Having used Blades, Viktorias AND Scimitars I feel I can weight in on this.

The viktorias are cheap and that is their best point. They are light as well. The problem I have is that they provide no cushioning and are very basic trainers. They also wore through very quickly.

I liked the blades but mine wore out.... The main problem I had with them was that the insole perished and they ended up smelling really bad.

The scimitars haven't had that problem yet. I've also not had to use sorbothanes in these or the blades.

Best trainers I ever owned were french squash trainers. Brilliant. No idea where I got them from but they lasted 3 years.

[JayhawkPawn]

(Removed by user.)

[Qbranch]

A little confused, Blades do not have a abrazone area. We have not yet seen the wrap round sole becoming detached on a blade shoe. Jayhawkpawns expericience is not typical and the feed back after 3000 plus Blade shoes sales has been 99% positive. However from our point of view the down side is the shoes are not wearing out quick enough.

Most of the comments I've received (from this thread, reviews and word-of-mouth) have generally been positive with respect to the Blades. My general impression, based on the info I've gathered about both shoes, reads as follows:

Blades: Great grip, slow to break in, good for wide feet, expensive.
Viktoria: Good grip, really comfortable, better for narrow feet, very pricey

I had originally asked about durability but I think the question is now moot since the new design for the Viktorias remains to be tested in this respect. For the most part durability has not been an issue with the Blades.

Here in Canada the price on shoes (as with most equipment) tends to be quite a bit higher so I am welcoming as much feedback as I can get before I take the plunge. As always though I appreciate all of your thoughts!

[seven6ty]

As always though I appreciate all of your thoughts!

I like ice cream.

[FoilyDeath]

Try ordering from Negrini...even with shipping, it might come out cheaper, for the Viktorias at least.

[Peach]

I had two pairs of the Viktorias. They felt wonderful and wore out with incredible speed (the sole was like cheese). I bought them from Absolute and Amanda was disinclined to offer anything but sympathy when I complained. I bought a pair of the Absolute training shoes, which look like little pillows tied to my feet but are okay. I bought a pair of the Scimitars but there wasn't enough room in the toe box and I've developed Morton's neuroma in my front foot. So I'm back to my old back-up pair of Adidas Asymmetrics, which at least never hurt my feet and which don't seem to wear out, ever.

Any recommendations for the next pair to try? I appear to be working my way through the catalogue of possibilities.