Re: Shoes for fencing? Grippiest?

Thom Cate wrote:
>
>
> Or try http://www.villageshoes.com/marcecko.html
>
> These are bar-none the GRIPPIEST shoes I have ever used. In fact my
> first lesson in them exhausted me because I had to work my legs so
> correctly! I love them and am thinking of buying another pair for
> when these die.
>
> And at $48, you wont' find a better shoe in the US.
>
Just a thought for consideration (not questioning the above)
but are the "grippiest shoes" that desirable for fencers?
I pose the question as in my experience I have found
that on some surfaces shoes that grip all too well have had
a tendency to crab in a retreat. Most particularly if the edge
comes down first. You are extending the leg rearward, to
bring yourself backward and an edge touches and rolls under.
Realizing that in a perfect world you would of course maintain
the foot perfectly parallel to the surface and there would be
no problem. But reality and perfection being somewhat different
I've found a little slide to be desirable.

My favorite fencing shoes are indoor soccer shoes.
The made for fencing shoes don't seem to give me
the support or handle inserts that my flat feet necessitate
whereas the indoor soccer shoes seem to be just a bit more
substantive. Also general purpose/cross training shoes
and many running shoes are made with glued soles which will
separate when subjected over time to the inevitable dragging
of the rearward foot in a lunge.

J.