08-24-2007, 02:55 PM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston
Posts: 200
| Shoes?
I need new shoes, but I have never, ever, bought shoes for any other reason than comfort and price, and looks (usually on the plain, non-garish side). I don't think I am to the point where I want to spend the money on proper fencing shoes, are there good alternatives in the regular sport shoe lines? Or should I suck it up and spend the ~$150 on something from Craig's excellent shop?
If I ever compete, I imagine I will pony up the cash for the proper footwear, but that too is a ways off. So for now, I was hoping I could go down to the local sporty shoe shop and get something, but when I was there, the selection was a little daunting.
Apologies in advance if the Armory is the wrong place for this question. | 
|  | | And now for this message... |
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08-24-2007, 03:09 PM
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#2 | | Super Shoebie
Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: VA
Posts: 1,083
| What kind of shoes do you use? fencing shoes
-some seriously old school threads, possibly useful resource, but I'm sure you'll get plenty of responses as shoes are a hot topic...
Hey, can shoes be considered a Martial Art?... | |
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08-24-2007, 03:15 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston
Posts: 200
| On a related note, my searches for some reason rarely actually give me those kinds of detail answers :/
At least I was able to find the answer to "how to get a rating" without looking like a moron and asking 
Those look like good places to get my answers though, thanks!
Last edited by EdGardner; 08-24-2007 at 03:19 PM.
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08-24-2007, 03:34 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Venice Beach, CA
Posts: 1,308
| I <3 shoes. :-D
You can get some decent shoes for 60-80 bucks, which may not be too terrible?
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08-24-2007, 03:38 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston
Posts: 200
| Yeah, those linked threads have a bunch of options, will head out to the mall in a bit and face the scorn of the athletic shoe salesman who will probably say "Fencing? Why would you need court shoes to put up a fence? Wouldn't you rather these nice steel-toed boots?"
I love the mall. | |
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08-24-2007, 03:48 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: calgary,ab,canada
Posts: 2,415
| Quote:
Originally Posted by EdGardner  Yeah, those linked threads have a bunch of options, will head out to the mall in a bit and face the scorn of the athletic shoe salesman who will probably say "Fencing? Why would you need court shoes to put up a fence? Wouldn't you rather these nice steel-toed boots?"
I love the mall. | lol! are you serious?? 
in a perfect world, i'd get the assymmetrics but unfortunately, they're not made anymore..  i've tried cross trainers (in the beginning), then cheap fencing shoes, then court shoes (they suck as far as i'm concerned, others like them though). now i'm using the slightly less cheap li ning low top fencing shoes. they look good, feel good so far. time will tell how durable they really are though,  | |
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08-24-2007, 04:22 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,285
| For the time being, you probably could do with any high quality shoe - running or court. I wore whatever running shoes I had for the first four years I fenced with no problems. If you plan on doing anything else to get into shape besides your fencing class - warning once you starting fencing it makes you want to exercise more - get a pair of shoes you can use for both.
I love AISICS, it is one of the most confortable shoes I have worn to run/work-out in for a long while. They are great, really helping to protect your knees and back with thier fit and stabilization. Truthfully, if you are still working to get into shape and get stronger, a shoe that provides you with more stablization would be better. When you are stonger, then get a narrower shoe or one designed for fencing. | |
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08-24-2007, 04:42 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Northern California
Posts: 380
| Check the Equipment reviews here at Fencing.net. There aren't always enough useful reviews, but I just checked the shoes section and there seem to be some reasonably priced shoes that got multiple good reviews.
Check it out! | |
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08-24-2007, 05:09 PM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: USA
Posts: 1,260
| You heard it here first... but the new best fencing shoe is a badminton shoe from Yonex. Either the SHB-99 or SHB-100. They run $80-$110 and are worth every penny. Blows away anything including the Scimitar and Stabil.
Rick
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"Some people are born great fencers, some people achieve fencing greatness, and some people have it thrust upon them."
My pet Monkey on an IBM selectric
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08-24-2007, 05:15 PM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,537
| I'm a big fan of volleyball, tennis or indoor soccer shoes.
My current shoe... (not great for basketballish courts though) http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/sm...i-2054947.html
Asics gel rockets... (another good shoe, not good for concrete) http://www.weplay.com/Asics/volleyball/Gel-Rocket/III/
Adidas Top Sala (Nice for indoor surfaces, really hard though. Durable as hell) http://www.soccer.com/IWCatProductPa...duct_Id=271670
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"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. And from this side only! The flight of a half-man, half-bird. Dinosaurs nuzzling their young in pastures where strip malls should be. Cookies on dowels. All those moment, lost in time. Gone, like eggs off a hooker's stomach. Time to die" -Phil Ken Sebben
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08-24-2007, 05:44 PM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: MD
Posts: 314
| I fence sabre and use Li-Ning low tops. They are wide, very lite and low cost. Not the best padding so I use inserts. Other brands like Adidas are to narrow for my foot. IMHO court shoes like Adidas Stabil 5 are to heavy for sabre fencing.
Last edited by sheck; 08-24-2007 at 05:54 PM.
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08-24-2007, 06:04 PM
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#12 | | Super Shoebie
Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: VA
Posts: 1,083
| Quote:
Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken! | I picked up some Top Sala 2's for $8 on consignment. I use them for small field indoor soccer, but I found they were good in our salle, also. Nice and sticky, but with some padding. | |
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08-24-2007, 06:30 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: USA
Posts: 1,260
| Quote:
Originally Posted by sheck IMHO court shoes like Adidas Stabil 5 are to heavy for sabre fencing. | IMHO they are too heavy/clunky for any fencing (Stabils in particular and court shoes in general). The Yonex are an exception, although like any non-fencing shoe if you drag your back foot you will be SOL (some footwork drills or a good cobbler can fix that). A number of us that miss the Asyms are going over to them, or using them for training and keeping/preserving the last remains of our Asyms for comps, until someone comes out with a decent shoe.
Rick
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"Some people are born great fencers, some people achieve fencing greatness, and some people have it thrust upon them."
My pet Monkey on an IBM selectric
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08-25-2007, 12:35 AM
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#14 | | Member
Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Midland, TX
Posts: 73
| I tried cheap fencing shoes and they just didn't offer the heel support I need. Insoles didn't stay in place. I started fencing in my running shoes but I hated the uneven wear on my expensive runners. Someone here recommended the Addidas Samba. I got a pair and they have enough support, light weight and they stick like glue.
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In an intense situation you will not rise to the occasion. You will default to your level of training. | |
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08-25-2007, 03:37 AM
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#15 | | Épéeist Hive Queen
Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sweden
Posts: 12,754
| Ah shoes, our favourite subject. (Well, one of them.) Quote:
Originally Posted by EdGardner If I ever compete, I imagine I will pony up the cash for the proper footwear, but that too is a ways off. | This is so wrong. Footwear is always important, no matter your 'level' of fencing!
Do check out other shoe threads, lots of good advice there.
Personally I use a pair of Adidas D'Artagnan II (fencing specific shoe) and a pair of Asics 'Gel Beyond' (volleyball/handball type of shoe) and I love them both. I always bring these two pairs of shoes so that I can alter according to floor etc.
Others praise the Adidas 'Stabil' (handball shoe) but personally I've found them to be way too heavy and stiff for my liking. (Besides that I think they're dead ugly, but that's another matter entirely.  )
Happy shopping!
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Fencing is my only PvP. | |
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08-25-2007, 03:57 AM
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#16 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Back in Buffalo!!! (sort of...)
Posts: 141
| I have the Stabil 5s, and they are clunky and awkward, but I have gotten used to them over time.
I bought Asics volleyball shoes, but they just "don't feel right." I just can't get them to lace-up comfortably. They are always either too loose, or they cut off the circulation in the top of my foot. It is probably just me/my feet.
Fencing shoes are too thin-soled for me. Of course, if I dropped several pounds.....
The best shoes I ever had were Head tennis shoes. Sadly, Head doesn't make shoes anymore. | |
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08-25-2007, 10:01 AM
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#17 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: MD
Posts: 314
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen This is so wrong. Footwear is always important, no matter your 'level' of fencing! | Totally agree. | |
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08-25-2007, 10:15 AM
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#18 | | Feline Groovy
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tidewater VA
Posts: 693
| Quote:
Originally Posted by piste off You heard it here first... but the new best fencing shoe is a badminton shoe from Yonex. Either the SHB-99 or SHB-100. They run $80-$110 and are worth every penny. Blows away anything including the Scimitar and Stabil.
Rick | Those look pretty interesting! How heavy/light are they, relatively speaking? | |
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08-25-2007, 12:33 PM
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#19 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: USA
Posts: 1,260
| Quote:
Originally Posted by VorpalCat Those look pretty interesting! How heavy/light are they, relatively speaking? | They are very light and extremely comfortable. Great support. I fence with the best in the country and a number of them are moving over to them.
Also, they have almost zero break-in period. You can pretty much fence with them 100% out of the box without any trial period. I friend of mine, who is probably one of the fastest/most mobile guys that I fence - wore them in a A4 tournament last weekend and won. It the first week that he wore them, and he was raving about them too (moved over from the Adidas Asyms).
Rick
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"Some people are born great fencers, some people achieve fencing greatness, and some people have it thrust upon them."
My pet Monkey on an IBM selectric
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08-25-2007, 03:46 PM
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#20 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: MD
Posts: 314
| Quote:
Originally Posted by piste off IMHO they are too heavy/clunky for any fencing (Stabils in particular and court shoes in general). The Yonex are an exception, although like any non-fencing shoe if you drag your back foot you will be SOL (some footwork drills or a good cobbler can fix that). A number of us that miss the Asyms are going over to them, or using them for training and keeping/preserving the last remains of our Asyms for comps, until someone comes out with a decent shoe.
Rick | I agree but I do see a good number of epee fencers using them or something similar. I bought a pair of Stabils online which turned out to be a mistake. I didn't even try to fence in them.
I will have to try out the Yonex. Is the weight <= to Li-Ning low top? How are they width wise? | |
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