The Official Nike Shoes Thread

[1337]

geez looks like only size 8 and under now :\
im a little confused here..so at nike.com there $160...and some posts people sais they bought it for $128? and somthing about coupons..?
can someone update me here thanks!

[Pescados666]

Either they didn't make enough, or buying stock in Nike before these came out would've been a nice investment.

[erooMynohtnA]

I'm glad that Nike lowered their price to a reasonable (even downright affordable with coupon code) price, and they're going to sell a lot more shoes. Given all this, let's still be real. Every fencer in the world could buy a pair of these, and it might add a fraction (a small fraction) of a percent to their profits.

[sanovice]

HA! wow, see what 2 days between posting can do the price of the most anticipated shoe for a while! damn thing is im looking at the red ones for the 9.5s i feel like ordering. Considering i anticipate i'll get the discount everyone seems to be getting, plus hopefully free shipping (might buy 2 pairs) to my mate in seattle, i shouldnt be looking at more than any other shoe now once it ships to me in Aus. V excited! Know if theyre going to restock different colourways or if theyre only going to do a few runs of the shoe before they stop them? If i can put off and get blue and still get a discount, that would be ace...

[1337]

wat do u mean by discount?

[AndrewH]

I'd try the 13 Andrew....it would be a safe bet. I have a sneaking suspicion that says 12.5 to me though. However, I'm not a retail specialist nor have I discussed sizing with more than about 2-3 people (i.e. my sample size is way small and I'm not sure how wide everyone's feet are).

Yea, problem is the Ballestra apparently only goes up to 12... Maybe I'll try the 12 and hope for a miracle.

[sanovice]

back on page 11 or 12 on this threat theres a case sensitive coupon code which takes roughly $40 off the price of the shoe (20% or something)... dont know what the expiry date etc of it is but people seem to be using it to great effect at the moment

Edit: BACKTOSPORT on p12 seems to be the one...

[1337]

alright thanks, hope they come back in stock

[Empty Wallet]

HA! shipping (might buy 2 pairs) to my mate in seattle, i shouldnt be looking at more than any other shoe now once it ships to me in Aus. V excited! .

Just be a little careful with your joy.

The FAQ specifies not just a US address, but you must use a credit carded issued in the US with a payment address in the US.

[Empty Wallet]

I'm glad that Nike lowered their price to a reasonable (even downright affordable with coupon code) price, and they're going to sell a lot more shoes. Given all this, let's still be real. Every fencer in the world could buy a pair of these, and it might add a fraction (a small fraction) of a percent to their profits.

Still trying to find out whether it is possible for anyone else in the world to buy them because of the NikeStore restrictions.

Anyone from Europe or elsewhere been able to solve this (without onward shipping from US friends)?

[sanovice]

Just be a little careful with your joy.

The FAQ specifies not just a US address, but you must use a credit carded issued in the US with a payment address in the US.

Yeah, someone had brought that up in a post before. I'll make sure to deposit money in my seattle mates account and get him to order them. Sadly theyre all pretty much sold out (appart from the Granbassi ones) as i can tell, so i'll have to act quickly once theyre back in and get him ordering!

[bigyellowboat]

Well, we ordered them for my son on the first day they were offered. Now, days later we get this crummy message from NIKE. No shoes for us, no automatic backorder. In other words, even though we signed up for emails from f.net (didn't get the email) and ordered in first hours when they "were available", we have no shoes. The CSR at NIKE has no information when and IF there will be more Ballestra's availabld. We will be going back to the Leon Paul shoes.

See NIKE's fabulous email below:

From: "nike.operations@nike.com" <nike.operations@nike.com>
To: XXXX@yahoo.com
Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2008 X:XX:45 AM
Subject: Important Information About Your Recent nike.com Order #XXXXXXXXX

Thank you for your recent nike.com order. Unfortunately not all of your item(s) were available, and are not available for back order. Your order is being shipped with the exception of the following item(s):


Qty 1 - Nike Ballestra Men's Fencing Shoe, Obsidian/White-Light Photo Blue-Sport Red, size 9.5.

Payment Details:
Your credit card #XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX has been credited $231.00.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please visit nike.com again soon as styles and colors change often!

This email message has been automatically generated. Replies are not monitored. For questions regarding your order, return or refund please contact Nike Customer Service at 1-800-806-6453.

Sincerely,

nike.com

[bigyellowboat]

Never tick off parents. We just ordered the Adidas Adistars and they will be here tomorrow. It seems that the poor behavior of NIKE is having a favourable result with the alternatives.

But, to be completely honest, my Ballestras (not my son's) actually shipped yesterday. With my tiny little girl feet (no laughter, please, from those that know me) and the need to go pink I am not having a problem getting shoes. However, I am a terrible fencer so I really don't believe they are going to do anything other than make me look better on the strip.

But... I am still really mad at NIKE. This release just was not planned well (or possiblly not even understood by the NIKE staff). They should have taken pre-orders and modified NIKE.com for backorders.

[rgulot01]

Wait. so did you just order a really small men's size?
I'ma 6.5 or 7 in womens usually, so I tihnk mabye a 5.5 (mens) would work?

[darius]

Never tick off parents. We just ordered the Adidas Adistars and they will be here tomorrow. It seems that the poor behavior of NIKE is having a favourable result with the alternatives.

Wait, so a shoe company invests a whole ton of money into designing a shoe for a minor sport that nobody's ever heard of, in a market they don't understand, they underestimate the popularity of their effort, and you're going to take them to task for it? At least they refunded your money (there are plenty of companies that would try to keep it as long as possible), and hopefully they'll realize that demand is high and keep producing more.

But... I am still really mad at NIKE. This release just was not planned well (or possiblly not even understood by the NIKE staff). They should have taken pre-orders and modified NIKE.com for backorders.

The folks who program NIKE.com are almost certainly not the same people who put products up on the site for sale. It would be nice if their store had those features, but they're not moving as much product as amazon.com -- plus, if one makes their in-house online stores too nice, it offends one's retail partners.

I suspect they are probably trying to understand the niche channels; cut them some slack, and maybe we'll have some competition in the fencing shoe market. Lord knows we need it, since the apex of adidas fencing shoe design was in 2000.

darius

[bigyellowboat]

Wait. so did you just order a really small men's size?
I'ma 6.5 or 7 in womens usually, so I tihnk mabye a 5.5 (mens) would work?

Yep. I ordered a 5.5. I am a 6.5 or 7 as well.

[jesus_l11]

has anyone received a confirmation of shipping

[erooMynohtnA]

I received my shipping confirmation several days ago. I have recieved my shoes. I am on my way to pick them up now. I'll post about them once I get them.

[jesus_l11]

you get them for 220 how long did the shipping confirmation take since you ordered the shoes

[Roman Red]

My Ballestras just arrived and my first impression after trying them on is WOW! Theses shoes might actually be worth what I paid for them.

Sizing: I went to the local shoe store and tried on around 5 different pair of Nikes just to make sure of my size, and the Ballestra is true to Nike’s normal sizing. They do seem a little narrow, which is good for me because I have narrow feet. I have included a picture of my current Nikes which are a size 11, and the Ballestras, which are also a size 11. As you can see they seem to be very close.

Weight: The shoes weigh a little more than my Asic Tigers, but not much. The insole is sewn in and the inner lining of the shoe is similar to a sewn in mesh sock. It seems like it will be very breathable.

Comfort: After lunging in these just a few times, they seem to absorb shock pretty well. When Nike said they positioned the Zoom air for lunges apparently they were telling the truth. Of course lunging in them 5 times at work verses a whole day of fencing will probably be a different story, but I’ll just have to wait and see.

Flexibility: The shoe is mildly flexible, I hope it will get a little less stiff after I wear them for a while. Overall not a big concern, but just a note.

Construction: The shoe seems to be very well made. No glue spots showing, or thread hanging out. The laces are a little on the crappy side though, but otherwise very nice.

Grip: The grip on these shoes is amazing! I'm at work right now and we have both hardwood, and carpet. They stick to them like glue. Very, very nice, and this was a huge concern for me because I don't fence on metal strips that often.

Overall I am very satisfied with them. I will post back again in the next week or two after trying to break them in a little.

Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29339557@N06/show/

RR