Adidas "Equipment" Fencing Shoes

Adidas fencing shoes

All,



I've posted these views in another thread before but my opinion based on usage - i.e. for those who insists on it, my personal experience of these products - bear repeating.



I've been using Adidas fencing shoes since the 70s - I think that's when Adidas started. I remember my first fencing coah wore leather fencing shoes...



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The top-line Adidas fencing shoes, the 'Equipment', are an improvement over the previous generations of fencing shoes in the following ways:



1. Adidas have gone back in time to the dedicated right-handed or left-handed shoes, vs the previous universal non-handedness shoes done I suppose to reduce the cost of keeping inventory - SKUs for those in the know of retailing.



2. The shoes generally offer a better box - read support - for the feet than the previous Adidas Fencing shoes. This starts with a higher collar, as well as a more solid box. The downside of this is that it's more difficult to get into these shoes especially the non-sword-hand shoe with its ankle protecting flap. A strap to help getting into these shoes would definitely help. Otherwise keep a strong METAL shoe horn with your shoes.



3. The non-sword-hand shoe, i.e. the shoe for the rear foot has a higher collar than previous generations and an extra flap to protect the ankle from the inevitable roll-over of the rear foot. The whole innerside of this shoe is covered by synthetic leather to better resist the abrasive metallic piste surface.



4. The sword-hand shoe has better heel protection than previous generations of Adidas fencing shoes. That said, I still use a heel cup to offer additional protection to my sword-hand heel.



5. Adidas have wisely put in a softer shoelace to keep the shoe laces stay tied. The shoe laces on some of their other shoes have a round cross section and won't stay tied...imagine you're a marathon runner... not good.



6. The two compounds that make up the soles of the 'Equipment' -one blue, one white - are harder than previous Adidas fencing shoes. This is good for longer wear for fencing on metallic pistes but not so good on the typical hard-wood gynasium floors. The soles have very little tread - i.e. grooves - on them. In car tire lingo, they are almost like slicks. If you wear them on hardwood gymnasium floors, especially dusty gym floors which most of them tend to be, they do behave like slicks in the rain. For this latter application - on dusty gym floors, not in the rain - I do keep a pair of Adidas court shoes, specifically the 'Response' which were introduced in 2002 Nov. These are excellent on dusty gym floors. One can tell by the squeaks these shoes make on this type of floor.



Adidas may want to consider putting the holes in the soles which act as suction cups a la their fencing shoes circa 1970s. (Walk on a wet floor and you can actually hear the suctions cups working.) This would give the users better traction. It will reduce the material that go into each pair of shoes, thereby increasing Adidas' profit margin.



7. For my personal use, the toe boxes are too low, especially when one compares the 'Equipment' to the 'Response' court shoes that I use. The toe boxes are so low that they caused my toe nails to detach one time. I wore them for the whole day even when I was refereeing. Now I have to wear thinner socks than otherwise. The difference in the two shoes let me know that Adidas heard the complaints.



8. The colour scheme of these shoes are quite attractive. A combination of silver/gray, blue and white with touches of light brown and green. For the die-hard Adidas fans, the three stripes go around the whole shoe, from the upper to the soles. They alternate between blue and white in the soles.



9. These are the epitomes of fencing shoes. They do justice for the price Adidas charge for them.





Conclusion: These are excellent fencing shoes for the metallic pistes. But if you fence on hardwood gym floors a lot then these are not the shoes for you. But if you fence on metallic pistes, then go for them they are worth every pfennig Adidas charges.





There you have a two-inone review.



PK





__________________

You can defeat a man without taking away his dignity.

Nelson Mandela's father's sage words.



I am not young enough to know everything. ~ Oscar Wilde





Last edited by pkt on 07-10-2003 at 04:24 PM