Shoe lifespan?

[Methix]

I'm wondering what people's opinions are on the lifespan of the asymetrical adidas. I currently have the PBT Fortuna and got about a season out of them. To give you an idea of the amount of wear my shoes go through, I fence 2-3 times/week (mainly epee). I've had my PBTs since nationals in sacramento, but they were showing some pretty heavy wear by the time greenville rolled around. I've worn through the inside of the sole down through the soft padded part on my front foot. As far as the rubber, my front heel has gone through the main layer and the toe on my back foot is starting to go through. They're still usable, but I'd consider them pretty much done after one season.

So, my question is this. How the the Adidas equipment shoes hold up over time? Could I expect them to last me 2-3 seasons or will they be done for after 6 months?

[Zelda]

I have seen people using them almost every day for a year and they dont show that much wear at all. Mine are still almost pristine but thats cuase I only really wear them for comps due to the fact I train on concrete.

[achilleus]

They'll last about a season of normal use. I've seen people wear them longer, I've also seen several of them tear and become unwearable after 6 months.

I've also heard that can cause some ankle problems on the trailing leg. Although, some people love 'em.

[Boo Boo]

Most people I know who use them, have had them last about a season (training pretty hard and doing loads of comps on metallic pistes).

I am on my first pair of the new style adidas boots (like the assymetrical in style, but they aren't assymetrical) and they seem to be lasting better than my old Adidas "black stripe" boots (I would be lucky if they lasted 9 months).

Boo

[mifencer]

I've been using mine for about 2 seasons. They show a little wear. I love them. No heel cups (note plural -- I had to use 2 of them), the tread looks great. I fence about 2-4 times a week. I don't fence on the 'cheese-graters' strips though. My old Adidas shoes used to last for only 1 season, these asymetricals look like they can go for at least 3. I'm very satisfied with them.

[afc fencer]

Well the front foot looks like brand new, but the back foot does not hold up well at all. Of course my club has the chease grater strips wich cuts down the life of any shoe. At every practice i have to duct tape them. I think im going to buy diffrent shoes in ohio.

[Inquartata]

Planned obsolescence---if they made them more durable, they'd sell fewer shoes...

I have a good pair for competitions and wear raquetball shoes for practice. Less than ideal according to the train-as-you-compete theory, but cheaper by far.

[Peach]

I lost my adidas (I think they fell out of the car into the street or something) and have been fencing in my running shoes, which a few years ago would have totally destroyed me. It doesn't make much difference now and I'm not sure why. I think it's partly because my game is far less athletic than it used to be what with all the stupid ailments I developed last year, and have mostly recovered from now.

I'm still going to get another pair of adidas in Columbus--the asymmetricals because I've had two pairs and they don't hurt.

[ReverseLunge]

Well I don't wear the asymetrical ones. I wear the Adidas D'Artagnan, Black Stripes. I've had them for 4 months and I fence 3-4 night a week. The soles are pretty fine but I have worn a big hole on the inner sole on my thrusting foot right at the point where the balls of my feet meet the inner sole. Has anyone here ever needed to just replace the inner sole? If so then did you take it to a shoe repair place or did you do it yourself?

[achilleus]

Originally posted by ReverseLunge
Well I don't wear the asymetrical ones. I wear the Adidas D'Artagnan, Black Stripes. I've had them for 4 months and I fence 3-4 night a week. The soles are pretty fine but I have worn a big hole on the inner sole on my thrusting foot right at the point where the balls of my feet meet the inner sole. Has anyone here ever needed to just replace the inner sole? If so then did you take it to a shoe repair place or did you do it yourself?

Been there, done that. Many fencers have. You can get it professionally fixed, or you can buy insoles.

Whenever I wore the older style fencing shoes, I would rip out the insole and replace before I ever wore the shoe.

[ReverseLunge]

What do you use to glue the insoles in? Shoe goo? Rubber cement?

[achilleus]

Originally posted by ReverseLunge
What do you use to glue the insoles in? Shoe goo? Rubber cement?

I don't use anything. I used to buy over the counter insoles, and they fit just fine.

[sean]

I've had my adidas for about 2 years now, and they're still in good shape. That's fencing 2-3 times a week, usually on copper. So far the only wear that's evident is evidence of my bad habits (turning front foot in, rear foot dragging, etc). When these do finally wear out, I'm planning on getting another pair. I've been pretty satisfied with them.

[Chris]

Originally posted by Inquartata
Planned obsolescence---if they made them more durable, they'd sell fewer shoes...

I have a good pair for competitions and wear raquetball shoes for practice. Less than ideal according to the train-as-you-compete theory, but cheaper by far.

I think, one way to look at this issue is to compare them to race-car tires: race car tires are design for specific performance characteristics; endurance is usually pretty low on the list, and they are not expected to last all season. (or even the whole race, for that matter.)

(Of course, SOME people just want to get what 'the good people' have...but,)
A lot of people want a fencing shoe that is light in weight (so it won't slow them down), that gives them a 'good feel of the strip'. These two things tends to translate as 'thin sole', so ('cheese graters' notwithstanding,) it shouldn't surprise us that the life of these shoes is a bit short.

As for the 'train as you compete' theory, since most people practice more than they compete,
this is certainly a valid concept, but it can certainly be bent a little.

I suggest that since people DO train more than they compete, that is were the repetitive use injuries will most likely occur, so SOME consideration should be given to protecting the feet/ankles/knees during a good portion of the training. TRANSLATION: Consider having a pair of training shoes bought for that purpose, that have thicker soles/more cushioning. (i.e. do NOT demote your old broken down competition shoes for training, and expect them to protect your feet.) You still want the sole geometry (contours, and tread) to support the activity, but the weight (or lack thereof) should not be so important.

(In some sports, they purposely practice the activity with weighted gloves and/or shoes to develop specialized strength/endurance. Not that 1 1/2 oz. in the shoe will make that much difference...)

HOWEVER, you should still do SOME practicing in your competition shoes (whatever they may be), and certainly practice in comp' shoes the 'day before' any competition.

As always, NEVER go to competition in brand new shoes: best case is you probably get blisters, worst case, you 'catch an edge' and go down hard.

Have fun!
Fence!

[Purple Fencer]

Originally posted by Chris

As always, NEVER go to competition in brand new shoes: best case is you probably get blisters, worst case, you 'catch an edge' and go down hard.

Waaaaayy too late for that...sabre against Alex Krul about three years ago...his father caught the fall on video. I DID, however, take a swing at him on the way down...didn't land. tho.

[counter riposte]

know the feeling of catching an edge... ouch. i've had my asymms for almost two seasons now, and they are still in great shape. (thats fencing twice a week) although i am preparing to demote them to training shoes i still plan on getting new asymms for comp. just don't expect them to run for further thn two seasons, shoes are just like tires, it depends on how you drive that will determine the wear and tear on the shoe. examine your wear spots on your old shoe, and you may get some indications of where to improve. I have a tendency toroll my back foot, so there is more wear on the inner track where there shouln't be. I also don't expect to keep the old shoes for more than another season or so, as with tires, the main wear on the front foot is the heel laqnding on the deck first. The padding around that portion will wear quickly.

[S. Fisher]

I have a pair of Estoc Competition shoes that are about 7-8 years old and they have not let me down yet. I fence about 10-12 hours a week. I wear a standard pair of Adidas low-tops with blue stripes at meets. They are still like new. I bought them for the nationals back in 1999.

[Sara]

i have had my adidas shoes for bout a year and a half, and i use them nearly everytime i fence, and they are still in good condition. they hold up really well.

[Sabresque]

My assimetrics are really good (for the amount of wear and tear I put on my fencing shoes). I had a pair of I think it was estoc (my first fencing shoe) and they wore out in about 4-7 months. Then I ended up getting the assim.'s and they last me for almost a year (unless I find some way to fix them- DUCK TAPE! ). Keep in mind that I fence at least 5 days a week, 3-4 hours a night, and I also wear the same shoes at all the tournaments I go to. The only problem I have with the assim.'s is I tend to develop a gaping hole on the insole of my trailing foot (I drag my foot when I lunge). I have trouble fencing with tennis shoes, because the edge of the shoe always catches on my back foot when I lunge.

Actually, I just thought of another problem with my Assimetrics. They don't provide a bunch of ankle support, but now the vendors are selling the high top assimetrics so that should fix the problem. I just wear an ankle brace.

[earlie]

Minnasota squash shoes are the identical and not assymetrical but good close and there are Minnasota tennis shoes and standard Minnasota sport trainer shoes. Minnasota shoes is the well known shoes for a sporting star including only all sport and also the fencing.