Boxing boots for fencing?!?

[CvilleFencer]

Okay, wild and wacky idea here. Fencers and boxers can use some very similar footwork depending on the weapon. I am a larger than average fencer, and I wear a huge shoe. I have never actually found a fencing shoe that would fit.

Here is the point. I was looking at a pair of Adidas Asymmetric and a pair of Adidas Akrid boxing boots and the tread and sole are very similar, as are the reinforcement areas!

I was wondering if anyone had ever tried this before. Boxing boots are cheap (30-70 dollars US) and are a lot easier to find. I have been using basketball shoes for a while but they are to heavy and do not like to grip all the surfaces I fence on.

Any thoughts or input would be appreciated!

[Capt. Slo-mo]

At a third the cost of the asymmetrics, why not try a pair? We've also had folks tell us that wrestling shoes and volleyball shoes work well for fencing...altho I'd have some doubts about arch support in a wrestling shoe.

My son (at size 12.5) finds the Adidas high top basketball shoes to be the most comfortable he's worn...nice flat sole, good ankle support. $55.

[135711]

I've never had any luck with certain types of shoes, I can't wear those shoes that have velcro closings for example. Most fencing shoes have a rounded heel for footwork, so check for that when you shop, the running shoe thing works too, i like nikes for that, the new balance is a little heavier.

[Peach]

I tried wrestling shoes at one point. Way too little support in the sole for me, but then I have orthotics in my fencing shoes.

[damianip]

Update on this.

In my never ending search for shoes, I have recently tried a pair of Everlast low top boxing shoes (which are actually high tops: it's all relative).

First impressions:

Incredibly light
Cool and well ventilated (maybe too much, I may find an épée crashing through them in the near future).
Decent arch support.
Not a tremendous amount of cushioning.
Not as well made as a good fencing shoe, however, cheaper at 60 USD.

After fencing in them for one night, I found them to have excellent traction. They allow for excellent strip feel (probably because they are extremely low profile in the sole). I like them a lot.

We'll have to see:
1) How they hold up
2) How my feet hold up
3) How the rest of me holds up.

I'll probably stick my heel cups in them next time.

Promising, they are definitely more "nimble" than my old Adidas high tops and Estoc high tops but have less cushioning than either.

Paolo

[CvilleFencer]

Glad to hear that initial reports are promising! I will be getting my Adidas Akrids in the Mail tomorrow and will try them out at practice Saturday and will wear them to fight Foil and Sabre in tourneys next weekend so I hope to have a good report on them by then.

I agree that the heel cups are a definate good idea! I will proabably do that myself.