New Adidas Shoes

[uhl-mann]

They look cool but i still like the look of the old 2004's. The shoes don't look like traditional fencing shoes thought. like said they look like indoor court shoes. That's the same with the D'arts. I would like to see the shoe more "fencing shoe lookish". I like them but it looks different.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

They look cool but i still like the look of the old 2004's. The shoes don't look like traditional fencing shoes thought. like said they look like indoor court shoes. That's the same with the D'arts. I would like to see the shoe more "fencing shoe lookish". I like them but it looks different.

Do you want them to LOOK like traditional fencing shoes, or do you want them to have the functional properties of traditional fencing shoes??

[uhl-mann]

half and half they just look like tennis shoes and not like the asymetrics and the en gaurde the adistar and the d'arts.

[seven6ty]

The new Adistars look fookin sexy! I never really cared for the previous, silver and black ones. Way too gaudy looking for me, but these look sleek... I like!

I'm a bit disappointed that the new D'arts are trying so hard to look like the Stabils. :-( I always loved the thin, low profile that almost all Adidas fencing shoes have had, but it looks like these are trying to be more like basketball shoes or something. Ho hum. Between the new Adistars and the new Nike's, it'll be a tough choice, hm.

[Pescados666]

The new Adistars look fookin sexy! I never really cared for the previous, silver and black ones. Way too gaudy looking for me, but these look sleek... I like!

I'm a bit disappointed that the new D'arts are trying so hard to look like the Stabils. :-( I always loved the thin, low profile that almost all Adidas fencing shoes have had, but it looks like these are trying to be more like basketball shoes or something. Ho hum. Between the new Adistars and the new Nike's, it'll be a tough choice, hm.

Get both and wear one Nike and one Adistar!
Or wait for the Nike's to actually come out so that you can see reviews and whatnot.

[seven6ty]

I don't need no stinkin reviews!

[Pescados666]

You do when you don't have a job like me. I'm not quite sure how I bought everything I have... o_O

[telkanuru]

There's a good reason the new fencing shoes look like tennis shoes. It has to do with the fact that the design of 'classic' fencing shoes sucks rancid monkey balls.

[seven6ty]

Wow, can't argue with that well thought out piece of verbal elegance.

[telkanuru]

Obviously you can't handle the truth.

[Barry Paul]

As an ex-world class fencer I find in some what strange that in most of the post regarding fencing shoes the writers seem to dwell on the colour, finish, size of the logo, rather than what I am interested, in the technical aspects of the shoe, do they give good grip, comfort, support, likely life and heal cushioning.

[Pescados666]

As an ex-world class fencer I find in some what strange that in most of the post regarding fencing shoes the writers seem to dwell on the colour, finish, size of the logo, rather than what I am interested, in the technical aspects of the shoe, do they give good grip, comfort, support, likely life and heal cushioning.

That's hard to tell by a picture, and what the company says is a tad bit biased. I don't think anyone here actually has a pair yet and fenced with them. If they have, they're selfish bastards for not sharing with us D:

[MyrddinsPrecint]

There's a good reason the new fencing shoes look like tennis shoes. It has to do with the fact that the design of 'classic' fencing shoes sucks rancid monkey balls.

And, ladies and gentlemen, this is how he plans to catch up to me in rep!

[erooMynohtnA]

Well, Telk does have a point.

I think the shift in the Nike and Adidas shoes looking more like court shoes and less like Onisuka Tigers is reflecting a change in fencing shoes being good for your feet.

Those companies aren't just making a shoe that you put on, do a few lunges, and think "oh yeah, this shoe feels great." They're looking for a shoe that you can take off after a night of fencing and think "this shoe feels great" even at the point of sacrificing that initial low to the ground "I can definitely move in this" feeling.

I, personally, am a little unhappy about that, because I like that low to the ground, not a lot of padding feeling. However, I also don't like foot and knee pain, so I'm sure I can adjust.

As to the heel being higher than the rest of the foot, it's fencing, that's where you need cushioning. It's not like you're going to be walking around in them all day. I'm sure it's fine on the back.

[clonardo]

I hope they're as grippy as the old Adistars (and more durable)! I appreciate being able to change direction quickly on a dusty gym floor, and the current Adistars I have give me better traction for my style of footwork than the other shoes I've tried (Scimitars, PBT Fortuna, Li Ning).

[seven6ty]

I think the shift in the Nike and Adidas shoes looking more like court shoes and less like Onisuka Tigers is reflecting a change in fencing shoes being good for your feet.

Really? See, I think the Nike and Adidas look very similar to "classical" fencing shoes. (And again, I just think that the Tigers are crap shoes, and aren't really a very good point of comparison.) Both of these new shoes are low tops, low to the ground with a minimal sole, slim fitting, etc. The new D'arts, in the second link, are looking more like the Stabils and other squash and related shoes that you see more of... Thick soles, mid-tops and squared soles. Frankly, i don't see how people can stop from tripping over their own feet in these, but obviously lots of people love them.

[D'Artagnan1673]

As an ex-world class fencer I find in some what strange that in most of the post regarding fencing shoes the writers seem to dwell on the colour, finish, size of the logo, rather than what I am interested, in the technical aspects of the shoe, do they give good grip, comfort, support, likely life and heal cushioning.

For people like me, about the only way I can compare and contrast equipment is by item description and cosmetic appearance. I live in an area that has no local vendors and my circumstances in life are such that I have never attended a national level tournament where I could see the vendors' wares first hand.

That being said, your post is well put for those who do have the means to scientifically compare and contrast various pieces of gear.

[D'Artagnan1673]

With regards to shoes, I am using a pair of Nike Air Copius' at the moment. Our club uses a church gymnasium that rarely gets waxed. My first generation d'Artagnans lack the necessary traction to be effective on said surface. This standard nike shoe (I think it's a running shoe) feels fine on me, and I do bounce a bit (remember I am an epee fencer at heart).

[erooMynohtnA]

Really? See, I think the Nike and Adidas look very similar to "classical" fencing shoes. (And again, I just think that the Tigers are crap shoes, and aren't really a very good point of comparison.) Both of these new shoes are low tops, low to the ground with a minimal sole, slim fitting, etc. The new D'arts, in the second link, are looking more like the Stabils and other squash and related shoes that you see more of... Thick soles, mid-tops and squared soles. Frankly, i don't see how people can stop from tripping over their own feet in these, but obviously lots of people love them.

I think of Tigers, Stars, Dartagnans I & II, or Li Nings as classic fencing shoes. Thin sole that curves up into a round heel, minimal padding, low and narrow profile, flat on the bottom, and a little roll protection along the inside. I see a lot more padding in the heel, a thicker midsole all around, a wider sole in front, and a bulkier upper in the new Adistars than in the shoes I listed. (Plus it has a bridge between the forefoot and heel.)

I agree with you that the new Dartagnans look almost exactly like racketball shoes.

[will4vaio]

I just received my adiStar fencing shoes - I had them overnighted so I could get them before I leave for the nationals.
Up until today, I have been using a badly worn pair of 2000 Adidas Equipment (the "asymmetrics").

My initial impression is that they are a very high-quality shoe. They are not asymmetrical, however, the inside of both shoes features a surface very similar to that which was found on the inside of the asymmetrics, except with a new bubble pattern on it: picture.

One thing which had lead me to cling to the asymmetrics was the low-to-the-ground feeling. This feeling is partially absent in the new adiStar's - the front shoe feels good, but when lunging, the back shoe feels slightly higher off the ground than I would like, but I am sure I will get used to it. The reason for this new height is the added cushioning , especially under the heel.
With my asymmetrics, I would grimace before a long lunge even with gell inserts in place.
Although the closest thing to fencing I have done in these shoes, so far, has been 15 minutes of footwork, I can tell you that the cushioning in the heel is excellent. Despite this, it is still pretty low to the ground.

One thing that surprised me was how lightweight the tongue and the outside panel are. They are a pretty lightweight mesh which will be wonderful for ventilation, but I just hope it lasts a long time...

I have not yet had a chance to fence in them, so when I get back from the Nationals, I will update this review.

In the meantime, here are some pictures to satisfy your curiosity:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/will4la...7605963643381/