fencing shoes

[glowstix]

are there any advantages to wearing fencing specific shoes as opposed to regular cross trainers??

are they required for competition??

[Fechter1]

Originally posted by glowstix
are there any advantages to wearing fencing specific shoes as opposed to regular cross trainers??

are they required for competition??

It is not a requirement to wear fencing shoes versus regular sneakers, but I think it's still a good idea, especially if you're going to fence on a regular basis. The wear and tear of competition fencing (read: metallic strips) can eat cross trainers quickly, especially on the inside of th back foot and the heel o the front foot (which is reinforced and cushioned in most good fencing shoes).
Definitely a good investment if you're fencing more than once or twice a month.

[Dan H]

I've found that fencing shoes make a big difference in how well your feet grip the fencing surface, which affects your distance and therefore your fencing. It's not such a big deal that beginners notice it right away, but I don't know of many really good fencers who compete without them. I personally haven't noticed that big a difference between expensive fencing shoes and slightly cheaper ones, but I don't have much experience with the cheap brands - so get someone else's opinion on that.

[Rolls]

I have to say that besides the fact that it will help your fencing performance slightly. It also helps GREATLY for foot pain. Before I got fencing shoes, I routinely beat up my feet to the point it was painful to walk some days. Particularly, I would bruise my weapon foot heel quite a bit.

Fencing shoes don't eliminate sore feet, but they sure do help them. Now, I have to really be hard on my feet for them to get beat up.

I believe there was an American Fencing article on the benefits of fencing shoes vs. non-fencing shoes.

Nicholas

[dunastor]

I found that fencing shoes made my footwork lighter as opposed when I was wearing sneakers...
I'd really recommend wearing fencing shoes...

[broncofencer]

on the spectrum of footware fencing shoes are your best choice and cross trainers one of the worst (excluding boots and dress shoes) cross trainers are not designed for fencing and are often a cause in most sport related injuries they are designed for cross training (weights light jogging etc.)not actual sports for competitions and practice spend the money get the proper footware.

[achilleus]

I've found that fencing shoes don't provide enough support or cushioning, and that translates into sore feet, knees and back.

Personally, my volleyball shoes feel much better, last longer (traction, support, cushioning, and uppers) and are cheaper.

[MikeHarm]

You can fix the cushioning, put in foot pads. I always put a pair in my shoes for fencing. Works great.

[Ky-Fi]

I think I read somewhere (maybe this forum) that indoor soccer shoes are similar to fencing shoes, and that's what I'm using at the moment--they can be found in most sport stores (Addidas Samba). I feel like they give me a better grip than my regular sneakers, and I don't get sore feet. I've never worn actual fencing shoes though, so I can't compare them.

[achilleus]

Originally posted by Rolls
I believe there was an American Fencing article on the benefits of fencing shoes vs. non-fencing shoes.

The study was done several years ago, before the assymetric design was introduced. It basically stated that the fencing shoes were horrible for the feet (they guy specifically told me 'not even sutible for walking') providing no support or cushioning. It did however show that a correlation between more consistant handwork when using fencing shoes (unfortunately, I don't believe that they tested elite level fencers wearing something besides fencing shoes, so I don't know how much of a correlation there is.)

Even though the researchers brought it to the attention of the athletes they tested that fencing shoes were inadequate, most preferred the fencing shoes due to the low to the ground feel, and the unihibited drag.

Except the epee fencers for some reason...

[Popper]

try using badminton shoes, they are cheap and great for fencing.

[sabreur]

I wear squash/racketball/volleyball (badminton?) shoes to train in, and fencing shoes for competitions--primarily because I wear the Adidas fencing shoes out really quickly. I do think that purpose-made shoes are superior--I just don't find the advantage to be that great that I needed it in training.

Hi-Tek used to make a squash shoe where the sole rolled up on all edges of the shoe... they cost about $40 a pair and were brilliant for fencing.

Naturally, they haven't been made for ten years.

Cheers,

MR

[Popper]

sabreur:

Badminton is a racket sport.. google it if you dont know what it is

In sweden you can get those shoes for about $30, in the US I dont know..

[sabreur]

Originally posted by Popper
sabreur:

Badminton is a racket sport.. google it if you dont know what it is

In sweden you can get those shoes for about $30, in the US I dont know..

I'm just a dumb sabreur, but I do know what badminton is--it is the newest pop sport in Germany.

Who makes the shoes you're talking about? Hi-Tek doesn't make them anymore--I would love to be able to find something similar again.

Cheers, MR

[Popper]

One brand of badminton shoe that you can try is Duratec. Victor Duratec Pro 3000 is a good one ($44 @ badmintonwarehouse.com).

check out http://www.excite.co.uk/directory/Sh...orts/Badminton for some more sites that sell badminton equipment

Cheers!

[JEC]

There are only three problems with the Adidas Fencing Equipment shoes (asymmetric):

a) too expensive (this is a problem of many fencing related items).

b) the eyelet of the backfoot shoe is just a perforated hole in the leather that can easily rip apart. A significant improvement for this shoe is could be to reinforce this eyelet. This is an specific problem of this fencing shoes.

c) the toes of the frontfoot are not well protected against hard epee hits. I previously had suggested to reinforce the tip of the shoe to prevent a black toenail (subungueal hematomas). This is a problem with all fencing shoes.

Interesting link:
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacing.htm

[mfp]

Originally posted by sabreur
I'm just a dumb sabreur, but I do know what badminton is--it is the newest pop sport in Germany.

Who makes the shoes you're talking about? Hi-Tek doesn't make them anymore--I would love to be able to find something similar again.

Hi-Tec renames, relabels & remarkets several of their court shoes designs variously as squash or badminton shoes. One of their popular (and cheaper) badmintion shoes is a based on one of their "squash" shoes except it's in a different color and has the word "badminton" written across the uppers.

Some of the Hi-Tec designs still have the sole rolled up on most of the edges, but not to the extent of some of their previous shoes. Now the side wrapping is more like a bumper of sole material than a continuation of the sole. The Hi-Tec court shoes are pretty nice for fencing and much, much cheaper than "fencing shoes".

[pkt]

glowstix,

have you read the reviews some of us posted in this site?
http://www.fencing101.com/reviews/ce...ils&itemid=131

Racquet sport [court] shoes won't last on a metallic piste. Besides, you'll have to have a heel cup for your leading foot but I won'fence without one in my fencing shoes anyway.

The Adidas Equipment fencing is not good on dusty hardwood floors but is excellent on the metallic psites. The compound is too hard for the former and you'll notice there is no tread on the fencing shoes.

If you're a sabreur you might end up competing on a hardwood floor I'd suggest you keep a pair of fencing shoes and a pair of court shoes.

I like Adidas court shoes better since they have a round edge on the balls of the foot.

I'd have suggested the Adidas Response but Adidas are phasing out that model. I have yet to see the replacement.

PK

[JEC]

Originally posted by pkt
The Adidas Equipment fencing is not good on dusty hardwood floors but is excellent on the metallic pistes.

That is why you need a wet towel next to a non-metallic strip. I also have found that the Equipment shoes are excellent if you need to fence on concrete flooring because it has more hard cushioning than other fencing or crosstraining shoes.

[Cerian]

I use Li-Ning fencing shoes. They're cheaper than other fencing specific shoes and are much better than the normal running shoes I initially used. I don't know how they fare in comparison to more expensive brands of fencing shoe or cheaper squash/badminton supplements.