Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

EnduringDusk · 10-01-2008, 09:45 PM

Hey guys, I couldnt find much on Search about the soles of these shoes.
So Yeah.

I have D'art II's right now, and my feet are starting to hurt like hell.
Especially my heels.
I recall someone saying how using these are like "fencing in driving slippers", totally agree.

So, do the Hi-Tech shoes have better soles?
I was thinking about buying a pair.
And I'm not sure about which, either the Blades or the Scimitars.
The Scims look a bit more bulky (I dont like bulk) than the Blades, but they are supposedly "Lighter, Stronger, Better"

So my questions are...
-How much better are the soles of the Hi-Techs? (Are they both the same?)
-Which of the two Hi-Techs do you prefer?

MyrddinsPrecint · 10-01-2008, 10:45 PM

When did you get the D'arts? Shoes are a consumable, and while many aren't happy with the D'arts for various reasons, it might just be that they've lots whatever it is they had in the first place.

... Heel pain is often the first sign of planter fasciitis. Which is rather common in fencers, and something to avoid. I suggest getting some sort of shoe insert-- some people favor heel cups, some favor a full foot insert. PF is to be avoided at most costs. Less than $15 at CVS is an amazing bargain.

And since I emotionally incapable of posting in any shoe thread without evangelizing, if you do end up buying a different fencing shoe and still have pain, try the Stabils or some other court shoe. Their slightly larger bulk is an adjustment at first, but the support and cushioning easily make up for it for people who need that sort of thing.

rory · 10-02-2008, 06:30 AM

+1 for the heel cup.
Doesn't matter which shoes I wear, I need that £2 worth of plastic eggcup.

erooMynohtnA · 10-02-2008, 02:14 PM

The Dart IIs are known to be a pretty poorly padded shoe, so based upon that alone, I would say the Blades and Scimitars would be better. However, I also know a guy who likes the feel of the Darts, but just can't take the lack of cushioning, so he switches between the Scimitars and Darts. He likes them both, but uses the Scimitars for long days of fencing for the superior cushioning.

So, yes, the Hi-Tec shoes have better midsoles.

parrythis · 10-02-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnduringDusk

I have D'art II's right now, and my feel are starting to hurt like hell.

Especially my heels.

Note my comment in another thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrythis

I cannot comment about the LP shoes, but I can say that the D'art II's should be avoided. I had a pair and the soles were too thin and they actually collapsed. My feet were in terrible pain until I discovered the cause.

Take a look inside the shoes. Look for areas of the sole that might have developed permanent depressions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

... Heel pain is often the first sign of planter fasciitis.

Absolutely true. Been there, done that. I tried heel cups, but they only masked the problem temporarily - and not that well. The thing that finally worked for me was arch supports - in ALL of my shoes. Even though the PF is about 97% gone, I still wear them in ALL of my shoes.

MyrddinsPrecint · 10-02-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrythis

Absolutely true. Been there, done that. I tried heel cups, but they only masked the problem temporarily - and not that well. The thing that finally worked for me was arch supports - in ALL of my shoes. Even though the PF is about 97% gone, I still wear them in ALL of my shoes.

Lucky. I had the PF problem after I was already wearing custom orthotics that I switched into every pair of shoes I ever wore. The problem was that I took a break from fencing and wasn't stretching enough (ever).