ADIDAS D'Artagnan

[Chrisman321]

Hi im new to this site but not new to fencing. Ive been fencing epee for about 3-ish years now and i love it. I have been to many tournaments in and out of state so I know the basic stuff. In the past, ive been using just running shoes to fence but just a few months ago, i got these Adidas Classics with the Goodyear tire material on the bottom. I really like Adidas now and sooner or later i would like to buy actually fencing shoes. Ive been looking at the ADIDAS D'Artagnan because ive heard good things about it and many fencers near me have them. I just wanted to know if anyone has bought them online before or know any sites that gurantee that they will be new and unused, and if possible cheaper. Im fine with paying around $100 some but I would like to save as much as possible. And if you have or know anything about these shoes, I would be glad to hear you're feedback on them and things to keep in mind. And
what about the Adistars or Asymmetrics? Which pair of Adidas fencing shoes have you heard better from or know personally?
P.S. I just qualified for JO (Cadet)'s in epee this year! Yay! If theres anything thats worth buying or doing when i go down, that would be helpful too. Dumb question, but whats a vendor? Is it basically just like a store with fencing equipment or what? Sorry, its my first National/Global or whatever tournament so im excited and havent seen that kind of stuff before.

Thanks for the help!

[little_old_me]

Definition of Vendor: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...or&btnG=Search

Basically, it's someone who sells stuff. At most large tournaments (like JOs) equipment retailers will come and set up booths where they sell stuff. It's a good idea to postpone any purchases that you can until these events, as sometimes the vendors will run discounts at the event. Also, it's a great opportunity to try on any gear you may be interested in. Nothing worse than shelling out $600 for a uniform then realizing that it's cut to short for you (speaking from experience there :-P).

[Chrisman321]

I was also wondering for the vendors, if anyone knows around how much I could save buying one there and if they will have 1? If I do buy one there, should i buy it earlier and use them in the tourney or just use my old ones but still buy a new pair?

[Phaedrus]

Ive been looking at the ADIDAS D'Artagnan because ive heard good things about it and many fencers near me have them.

I have a pair of the D'Artagnan shoes that I used for about nine months. They fit me very well, but I ultimately found that they did not have enough padding or support for my feet. The foam in the soles is very thin and my feet took such a beating that I had to start taping them. Of course, I was fencing a couple of times a week for three to four hours at a time, so YMMV.

I currently fencing in a relatively cheap pair of cross-trainer style shoes that have a rounded heel and my feet are much happier.

[sionnach]

If you're an épéeist you might prefer a pair of tennis or handball shoes, they're used by an awful lot of épéeists. I'm an épéeist and splashed out on a pair of adidas barricades after watching a world championship DVD and noticing that every member of the french senior men's épée team was wearing a pair of barricades. I absolutely adore them. Other ones that seem popular are adidas stabils, adidas tirands and adidas accelerates

[wbowman]

I was also wondering for the vendors, if anyone knows around how much I could save buying one there and if they will have 1? If I do buy one there, should i buy it earlier and use them in the tourney or just use my old ones but still buy a new pair?

It depends. But discounts in the 10% range are not uncommon, and you also save on shipping costs. The biggest advantage otherwise, as little_old_me says, is the chance to try things on -- especially important where things like shoes are involved.
Whether you want to use a glove or a pair of shoes you just bought right away in that tournament is up to you. I've done it with shoes -- warmed up with a new pair just to see what they felt like and liked them so much I kept using them -- but I'd actually meant to get used to them in practice first.
BTW, (as has been said in a bunch of other threads) unless you take a really unusual shoe size, don't expect to find any of the Adidas asymmetrics. They don't make them any more and vendors don't have many (if any) left.

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

I have two pairs of the Adidas D'Art IIs and love them. I also own three pairs of their predecessors. My OWN opinion is that they are a very good fencing shoe for the money.

When it comes to vendors, well, I like different vendors for different things. I have found The Fencing Post to have the best prices on shoes...although I buy nothing from them EXCEPT shoes. You can find a link to their website on www.usfencing.org in the Vendor section.

Be aware, the supply of D'Art IIs is becoming thinner, so they may not have your size. If not, then check with Absolute (who I know carries them) or Craig here at Fnet. I'm not certain whether Craig carries the Adidas, but it's worth checking.

Also, look into the LP Hi-Tec shoes. Lots of people like them (I've never used them), and they certainly LOOK really cool!

[SJCFU#2]

Also, look into the LP Hi-Tec shoes. Lots of people like them (I've never used them), and they certainly LOOK really cool!

Bear in mind that the LP Hi-Tec's tend to run wider than Adidas.

[Chrisman321]

Sounds great. Well I fence in like 2-3 hour intervals generally so some of my shoes tend to wear out fast. So for the D'Arts, are they durable enough to be used for training or should i just use them during bouting time?? I think the supply of D'arts is still ok because I can find them on about any big fencing equipment site. Someone from my club uses the LP-Scimitars and they've had it for a year now and its looks great except they had to tape part of it. I just like Adidas shoes but ive never owned one of their fencing shoes. Generally how long do they last and are there any parts that I should know before buying one (like sole peeling or causing ankle pain, etc)

[jld]

I have a pair of D'Artagnan II fencing shoes and they're great. I got them as a gift so I dont know from who to best buy them from. I only use them for fencing and I don't fence often so they have lasted me a long time.

I suggest you check out a tournament (if possible) before your JO and see about buying them from a vender there when you can try them on.

Good Luck.

[Chrisman321]

True but I live in Minnesota and like I said earlier, Ive never seen a vendor before because the biggest tournament ive been to so far had about 49 people. I dont think ill be able to find a vendor at a local tournament before going to JO NC in February. So what would you suggest me to do? Buy it online and find a cheaper price or buy at vendor when Im at JO's a day or couple hours before the tournament?

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Sounds great. Well I fence in like 2-3 hour intervals generally so some of my shoes tend to wear out fast. So for the D'Arts, are they durable enough to be used for training or should i just use them during bouting time?? I think the supply of D'arts is still ok because I can find them on about any big fencing equipment site. Someone from my club uses the LP-Scimitars and they've had it for a year now and its looks great except they had to tape part of it. I just like Adidas shoes but ive never owned one of their fencing shoes. Generally how long do they last and are there any parts that I should know before buying one (like sole peeling or causing ankle pain, etc)

I have some which are 19 years old (I don't know if they were called D'Arts then or not...but they are very similar). The soles can wear down. I have always had a pair for practice and a pair for competition....I like to train in the same shoes I compete in, but I like my competiiton shoes to have as little treadwear as possible. I DO like the fact that the D'Arts have leather on the dragspot rather than rubber like some of the other fencing shoes. The leather just lasts longer.

[Chrisman321]

I see where ur getting at, and having 2 pairs 1 for training and 1 for practice would be nice but fencing shoes cost a lot so im most likely only going to be able to buy 1 pair

[Chrisman321]

Anyone know how long the D'arts generally last before ripping or need tape, etc??

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Anyone know how long the D'arts generally last before ripping or need tape, etc??

I've never had a pair rip or need tape. I've shoe-gooed a couple of pairs...a long, long time ago.

[Chrisman321]

So theyre durable? I think ill just buy a pair at JO's this year and see how i like em/try em etc. If i do buy one, ill just use it when im bouting, not footwork or drills.

[erooMynohtnA]

I've never had a pair rip or need tape. I've shoe-gooed a couple of pairs...a long, long time ago.

Yeah, the inside sole of the rear foot comes apart really quickly. It started about two months after I bought them. I gooed them once, and I've only had to do it once more in the two years since.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Be aware, the supply of D'Art IIs is becoming thinner, so they may not have your size. If not, then check with Absolute (who I know carries them) or Craig here at Fnet.

Or go for the newer Adidas 'En Garde' model which is, essentially, the same shoe -- but cheaper.

(This according to my clubmates who wears them -- I still have not worn my D'Art II's out after ~2 years.)

[Chrisman321]

Ahh yes the Adidas En Garde. I dunno, i might still get the D'arts because I like the looks of them better as well. Even if they are the same. So best place i could get one is at a vendor?

[fatfencer]

As others here have pointed out you are FAR better off as an epeeist with a court shoe like a Barricade or Stabils.

Footwork in epee is very different. Fencing shoes just don't cut it. Much better off with court shoes as they have better traction on gym floors as well.

Fatfencer