Best Fencing Shoes?

[InsaneEpeeist]

This conversation has been going on for a long time and it's really old. I now have my fencing shoes so no one has to respond to my old entries.

Pru Reardon

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by InsaneEpeeist

This conversation has been going on for a long time and it's really old. I now have my fencing shoes so no one has to respond to my old entries.

Pru Reardon

What kind did you get? How do you like them?

[The0ne]

Adidas Asymetricals are the best shoes I have ever fenced in. . . Well worth the 160 price tag!

[InsaneEpeeist]

Well I bought some Adidas wrestling shoes from Academy. They look like the Pretero except they have a velcro strap that goes over the laces. I believe they're called Tyrint. They're good for ankle support, but I made the mistake of buying shoes that were a little too big (the reason I needed to buy new shoes in the first place was because my old pair were getting too small, so I bought bigger than I should have). Anyway, they're cheaper than some "fencing" shoes so I like them.

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

I'm pretty amazed this thread was started on April 22, 2003. I like any Adidas fencing shoe.

[cowpaste]

I know a guy who fences in those $5 water shoes designed for swimming in rocky areas. I hope you guys know what I'm talking about: those water sock thingys that protect your feet?

Anyway, someone try them and post results. Only $5! I bet they give good traction, but poor cushioning.

[Windsor]

Originally Posted by cowpaste

I know a guy who fences in those $5 water shoes designed for swimming in rocky areas. I hope you guys know what I'm talking about: those water sock thingys that protect your feet?

Anyway, someone try them and post results. Only $5! I bet they give good traction, but poor cushioning.

Goodness...I don't think I'll be trying that any time soon...

[InsaneEpeeist]

LOL That's funny. Yeah I know what you're talking about. Fencing with water shoes.. that's the closest thing to being bare foot. Well, I know someone that likes to fence barefoot. I don't recommend it though, especially if you're doing Epee You want your shoes to be light, but still have enough cushion and support. I used to fence with Nike running or walking shoes, which are okay but the Adidas are still better.

[gojujay]

Originally Posted by CvilleFencer

As to shoes I use a pair of Adidas Akrid Boxing Shoes! They have the same powerline soles as the Asymetrics but they wiegh less and only cost about 50USD. The only thing I have needed to do to them is add a pair of sport gel inserts to soften the inpact on my shins and knees.

I think they are pretty great and the price is hard to beat! I am able to squeeze out a couple of extra inches on my lunges and my footwork is a little better compared to basketball or running shoes because of the light weight.

If you are interested the cheapest place I have found is www.boxingshoes.com.

Good luck!

Gotta agree with you there but all I use is a foam heel cup. You can feel the ground like never before. Only problem is they can be unforgiving to a misplaced long lunge... (so that's what a groin pull is )

[BubbaM]

CS12 Adidas D'Artagnan, New 2000 Low Top Shoes $99.00

I've had good luck with these folks. Good price. Good service (twice with shoes - I've had to send them back to get the right fit and they were very accomodating).

www.thefencingpost.com

Cheers

Bubba

[Sisyphus]

My brother purchased a pair of Asics volleyball shoes for Christmas for me and I think they are great. I have always had a problem with shoes slipping on the surface of the fencing strips with my Adidas. These Asics grip like high performance tires - on dusty rubber strips, wooden floors, as well as those pesky copper strips.

On a side note, I remember a coach telling me if your footwork is great, you should be able to fence on any surface in any kind of shoes, even heals!

[InsaneEpeeist]

Well I could run in high heels if I had to.. but I do think that having good shoes can improve your fencing.

[Masterurethane]

I use the vans off the wall geoff rowley model.

Old style skate shoes are tight fitting and responsive, and affordable.

Also, any shoe that can survive a couple of months of being dragged and kicked over industrial grade sandpaper, can withstand a good deal of whatever you can throw at it on piste.

[JAySE SUiCiDE]

vans are great shoes. (I wear the Greco 2's all the time)

true, any skate shoe shoe be great for fencing-the things you need for skating are mostly the same things you need for fencing: great padding, but you can still feel the floor..great grip..

the only problem i got when i tried footwork in them were that the heal isn't rounded-on the Grecos they aren't, but on some skate shoes they are) and when i lunged i guess it didn't have enough lateral support? if my ankle were to roll over, it didnt really "flow"..not sure how to describe it.

but hey, thats just my 2 cents on the subject. whatever works for all you guys is great.

~Jes

[CourtNet85]

I know this thread is old, but I've found it helpful as a new fencer looking for shoes. I haven't ever fenced in an actual pair of fencing shoes, but I can add my two cents' worth on volleyball shoes. I've got five pairs of volleyball shoes, ranging from $60 to $100- Asics gel Skeet and gel Mercury, Kaepa Team Dig and Assault, and Nike Zoom Air Pivot. I've found that my new pair of NB running shoes is more comfortable than any of them, but I've been reluctant to destroy them, so I've mostly been wearing one of my Kaepa pairs (Assault, but with an extra insole). I find that my feet still hurt with all of them, but those feel the best (Kaepa shoes are also cheaper than Asics). The Team Dig are more comfortable, but the Assault hold up the best. I haven't been fencing in them very long, but they've all withstood at least one volleyball season (three to five hours a weekday for three months). www.spikenashbar.com and www.eastbay.com are both good places to find volleyball shoes. Eastbay often has some very good deals.

[achilleus]

Thought I would just add some extra info I learned a short time back while looking for shoes.

I found this great tennis website that provided indepth reviews as well as user feedback.

Currently, some of the top fencers prefer the Adidas Barricade II or the Adidas Feather.

Check out:

Barricade

Feather

The reviews I found to be very helpful in determining what to purchase...

[sreckiki]

I just bought the new Adidas Stabil 5 (actually, for the ones who are interested, you can find them on the adidas US on-line store in the volleyball section... )

I have also the Adidas fencing Equipment (asymetric ones) since 1 year and half. After one fencing night with the new Stabil, I can say, I really prefer the fencing models rather than the Stabil one. It's definitely more confortable and more efficient in the footwork. I think I have to use the Stabil one or two more times to really be sure of my opinion.

But anyway, even if the Stabil shoes are less confortable and less efficient, I can use them to train and keep my fencing shoes for competitions... In this way, I can destroy a cheaper pair of shoes (and when I say cheaper, it's really cheaper...) and make my fencing shoes last longer. I think, it's an interesting trade-off...

[cowpaste]

The Stabil 5 looks sooo cool. I want to yellow ones really badly. Anyway, you might have been spoiled because you used the Asymetrics. Those things have a slanted heel and stuff, so they are very idea for fencing. If I had both, I would choose the Stabils of course since they look cooler.

[achilleus]

Originally Posted by cowpaste

The Stabil 5 looks sooo cool. I want to yellow ones really badly. Anyway, you might have been spoiled because you used the Asymetrics. Those things have a slanted heel and stuff, so they are very idea for fencing. If I had both, I would choose the Stabils of course since they look cooler.

Yeah, I always choose my fencing shoes based on how cool they look rather than how they perform...

[achilleus]

Originally Posted by sreckiki

I just bought the new Adidas Stabil 5 (actually, for the ones who are interested, you can find them on the adidas US on-line store in the volleyball section... )

I have also the Adidas fencing Equipment (asymetric ones) since 1 year and half. After one fencing night with the new Stabil, I can say, I really prefer the fencing models rather than the Stabil one. It's definitely more confortable and more efficient in the footwork. I think I have to use the Stabil one or two more times to really be sure of my opinion.

But anyway, even if the Stabil shoes are less confortable and less efficient, I can use them to train and keep my fencing shoes for competitions... In this way, I can destroy a cheaper pair of shoes (and when I say cheaper, it's really cheaper...) and make my fencing shoes last longer. I think, it's an interesting trade-off...

One thing I've discovered, is that switching back and forth between shoes does me no good, unless the shoes are very similar. Going between a fencing specific shoe and any other shoe, doesn't work.

The fencing shoe is great in that they are light, low, and the back foot slides easily in the lunge. Most other shoes aren't as low, and none slide as much as a fencing shoe. Consequently, when switching to the court shoe, the shoe feels clunky and heavy. Once you get used to 'em, this feeling disappears.

I have found that wearing good court shoes is easier on my joints. So, I choose the court shoe.