SDX3 Indoor Court Squash Shoes

This review was submitted by Ben.  Ben is a competitive sabre fencer, so use that as the frame of reference for the performance aspects of this shoe. 

Pros : This shoe had a few surprising benefits to offer.  First and foremost, comfort.  Excluding, perhaps, the Nike Ballestras, there has been a certain amount of introductory "Break-in" time associated with most fencing shoes I've worn.  The SDX3 were quite comfortable from the moment I put them on.  They were very protective - their solid construction contributed to a very impact-shielding heel, and no stitching/flex on the toe meant I was spared some of the abrasions I've suffered as a result of prolonged wear with some other shoes.  The grip and traction of the shoes is excellent, though that results in a bit of a Catch-22, as I'll explain later.  They also weathered the demands of fencing quite well - the shoes themselves stayed dry, and, other than some cosmetic damage, suffered no real wear-and-tear after a number of fairly abusive workouts.

Cons : The shoes are _quite_ heavy.  This also contributes to them, despite being well-ventilated and very breathable, being distinctly on the warm side.  After a fairly heavy day of practice, I felt a little like I'd been wearing sandbags on my ankles.  The front foot, particularly, suffers from a lack of fencing-specific construction, I think.  The solidity of the shoe results in a lack of flexibility which, again mostly on the forward foot, leads to some difficulty in lunging and recovery.  Similarly, the traction on the shoes is excellent, but does not contribute to the easy 'slide' that some fencers want on the instep of their back foot. 

Overall : The shoes are heavier than most fencing shoes on the market right now, but stack up very well in terms of comfort and durability with even the top level of shoes currently on the market.  I noticed that compared directly against my Nike Ballestras, while I was more fatigued after a workout, my feet were not blistered, sore, or really adversely affected in any way.  (The same can not be said for fencing in most typical track shoes, or even my former favorites - LP Blades.)  A few design issues ensure that they do suffer when compared to top-line fencing shoes - traction and flexibility most notably - but all in all, a solid alternative to fencing-specific shoes at a fraction of the going rate.

Weight Comparison :

• SDX3      - 382g
• Blades      - 346g
• Scimitar  - 342g
• Ballestra - 332g