Product Review: Fei Yue High Tops

[sha0lin1]

So I originally got a pair more as a novelty but I have worn them through our classes and I found that I really like them. The biggest benefit they give is some ankle support. This can be good for people with ankle problems or beginners that have weak ankles. They are about a half inch to an inch lower than most high tops and if they were to heighten the top part, the ankle support would be even better. A little ankle support is a good thing especially in our classes where we do a lot of running and jumping, flying kicks, and acrobatics.

[GeneChing]

From us (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45-35hk34.html)? There was a snafu with the inventory shipment. I was told they weren't shipping yet.

Man, they don't tell me anything around here. I'm running to the warehouse now to grab a pair.

[Nebuchadnezzar]

From us (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45-35hk34.html)? There was a snafu with the inventory shipment. I was told they weren't shipping yet.

Man, they don't tell me anything around here. I'm running to the warehouse now to grab a pair.

Gene's holding out! :eek:

[GeneChing]

I just got mine!

There was an inventory discrepancy in the shipment, so everything got withheld for a few days. They were so supposed to notify me when these were ready to be shipped so I could "field test" a pair. I've been holding out since I've worn through the right heel of my present pair of original Feiyues (http://www.martialartsmart.net/4535k.html) - it's been that way for a few weeks now.

Feiyue Hi-Top Black (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45-35hk34.html)
Feiyue Hi-Top White (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45-35hw34.html)

[Songshan]

hmm, may have to try a pair. Interesting point, my Fei Yues wear out at the same spot....the heel. I added a small thin heel gel cushion I bought from the store and it seems to extend the life of them a little. May want to give that a shot. :D

[Blacktiger]

Mine always wear from the big toes right through.

But this time they did not even get to that stage - they split on the top where the toe of the shoe joins with the fabric...ha ha

I love them - would not train in anything else..

[richard sloan]

I go through fei yues like a hot knife goes through butter.

In Vienna temple they hang them from the roof beams. Not a sole intact, lol...

Duct tape can help a little.

[sha0lin1]

Gene, one of my instructors says that Fei Yue's also come in other nifty colors, I'll have to check out their website. The only bad thing I can say is that 44's usually fit me like a glove, these are a little loose.

[GeneChing]

The school was closed last night - MLK day. Just because we don't have it off, doesn't mean that others don't. :o

Feiyue does come in other colors but we don't stock them. Keep in mind, for us to stock a different color, we have to stock hundreds of shoes to cover all the sizes. We're not confident that the other colors are that marketable. You don't see too many different colors in martial arts shoes. Our community doesn't really support that.

For example, we know pink (http://www.martialartsmart.net/90530p.html) doesn't sell. :p

[Blacktiger]

I saw some gold ones when up in Shaolin in 07- very bling!!

[TaichiMantis]

I just got mine!

There was an inventory discrepancy in the shipment, so everything got withheld for a few days. They were so supposed to notify me when these were ready to be shipped so I could "field test" a pair. I've been holding out since I've worn through the right heel of my present pair of original Feiyues (http://www.martialartsmart.net/4535k.html) - it's been that way for a few weeks now.

Feiyue Hi-Top Black (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45-35hk34.html)
Feiyue Hi-Top White (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45-35hw34.html)

I just had a discussion about shoes last night with a couple buddies from class. One says his high-top wrestling shoes are on their last legs and he needs to get a new pair. I wonder how these would compare?

...looking forward to your field test report!:cool:

[TaichiMantis]

Gene, one of my instructors says that Fei Yue's also come in other nifty colors, I'll have to check out their website. The only bad thing I can say is that 44's usually fit me like a glove, these are a little loose.

The nifty colors are here http://www.feiyue-shoes.com/pages_uk/collections_show.php?id=5

...but not many left :(

[GeneChing]

Pop those fancy colored Feiyue prices into an online currency converter. They range from 43.00 € for kids to 90.00 € for the Hi tops...

I'll bust them out at practice tonight and let y'all know my thoughts tomorrow.

[NJM]

****! Those shoes are EXPENSIVE.

And I always liked Feiyues because they were dirt cheap. What a shame, some of the fancy ones looked pretty cool.

[NoOneBetter]

****! Those shoes are EXPENSIVE.

And I always liked Feiyues because they were dirt cheap. What a shame, some of the fancy ones looked pretty cool.

I would be so down for the black with green stripes or just all black.

[sha0lin1]

I just had a discussion about shoes last night with a couple buddies from class. One says his high-top wrestling shoes are on their last legs and he needs to get a new pair. I wonder how these would compare?

...looking forward to your field test report!:cool:


Thanks for the link TaichiMantis. I think I will wait until I go to China in June to pick up some of the other styles. I am from Port Huron, MI originally, I see you guys are finally having a winter up there this year.

[GeneChing]

This is funny - it's really hard to find anything beyond standard white Feiyues in China, even in Dengfeng. This is especially difficult if you have large feet. It's true. One of our contributors, David Wei (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=746), has an article in the upcoming issue. He wanted to be compensated in Feiyues. He's now at Wudang. He can't find Feiyues in his size, in any color, so I have to frigging ship Feiyues into China!

As for the different colors, I've never seen those in China (although I confess it's been a few years since I've been there). I've only seen them on that website above. If you're really into fancy schmancy Feiyue colors, that's what sharpies (http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Home/default.html) are for...;)

P.S. I did field test the Hi tops (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45-35hk34.html) last night and will report this afternoon. I have an appt. at DMV I have to go to now...

[GeneChing]

...:rolleyes: Now you all know that I'm a strong Feiyue advocate. I was instrumental as the first importer of Feiyues through WLE and MAM, and I've written two (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=527) (count 'em - two (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=546)) informercials on the product. I learned of the HiTops via the forum here (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50035).

The comment I hear most about Feiyue HiTops is that they aren't "true" HiTops. That's true. They aren't 'true'. They cover my ankle bones, but aren't as high as say, Converse HiTops.

I tried them out last night at practice and since they are new, well, I got the new shoe blues and I'm here to tell ya 'bout 'em. :cool:

When Feiyues are brand spanking new, the soles are a little too sticky for me. I like the soles to get a little worn, so they're smoother. Plus new shoes are always a little uncomfortable at first; it takes a few sessions to break in. I'm really going to have to wear these for a month or so before I can give you all a more complete report. That'll give me a chance to ttt this every once in a while.

You can really lace into the HiTops, which I feel gives better ankle support as well as arch support. A lot of people have problems with original Feiyues because they are so low. They get 'flat tires' or loose them in high kicks. I've never experienced that personally, except in sweeping drills. I've seen it happen to others. The HiTop design completely eliminates that. These babies aren't going to come off your feet. You can lace in really securely. Since the upper is canvas, I didn't feel any impediment to my low stances like xiebu, dingbu or pubu (truth be told, only my dingbu is that low anymore). The canvas is soft enough to yield, while still providing some ankle support.

I totally stuck my first recital of qixing last night. That has become my fav Shaolin form lately. Immediately after, I was thinking "these shoes rock!" My second recital wasn't nearly as good and that was the peak moment in my workout, so I came back to earth pretty freaking quickly.

There's a definite coolness factor to being the first in the school to rock HiTop Feiyues. Several of my classmates commented.

My main downside is that it takes more time to put them on and take them off. You have to fiddle with the laces more. I like to be able to take my shoes off quickly. You never know when you need to drop trou super fast, or maybe throw them at a former president.

Overall, the jury is still out for me personally. I'm confident that this is a decent product and that some people will really love them. I'm still pretty attached to my original Feiyues, but I've blown out the right heel of my last pair (typical. Songshan, both Songshan Shaolin & BSL have a lot of right heel stomps so you always blow the right heel first). I'll keep wearing these HiTops until they wear out.

On last note: when I was at Shaolin, I'd wear Feiyues constantly, even when not practicing. I almost never wear Feiyues outside the Wuguan nowadays. I'm not sure why exactly. Maybe it's hold over to my old fencing coach, the late great Michael D'Saro, who'd yell at us if he caught anyone on the team wearing their fencing shoes outside the Salle D'Armes. I also feel a little exposed in Feiyues, perhaps some latent fear of flat tires or something. However, I am considering wearing these HiTops on the street. I think they would be fine.

[sha0lin1]

Gene, your review is right on the mark. I have worn mine for almost a week in class now and like Gene said they take a little time to break in. Now that the President is back in Texas, if I threw shoes at him, they wouldn't be my new Hi Tops, besides he can move pretty fast when he is ducking.

[richard sloan]

This is funny - it's really hard to find anything beyond standard white Feiyues in China, even in Dengfeng. This is especially difficult if you have large feet. ...

size 13- I had to go everywhere. Finally I just stopped in a store, and asked for them to do the running around for me. 20 minutes later, I had 5 pairs, and I would have bought 10.

[sean_stonehart]

size 13- I had to go everywhere. Finally I just stopped in a store, and asked for them to do the running around for me. 20 minutes later, I had 5 pairs, and I would have bought 10.

OT... when I was in Xian in '01, a buddy of mine wanted a cover robe like all the cool HK Shaw Bros guys wore (Da Guo??). We were in the night market in the Muslim quarter & he described for this kid what he was looking for. The kid motioned us to follow & took through some shady looking back alleys to his dad's joint. He told his dad what we were after I guess. His dad rattles something off to him & he takes of down the street while he showed us around the rest of his shop. 10 minutes later the kid came back with this blue robe in his hands.

Can't beat that for service!

[Pk_StyLeZ]

high tops?
pshhh the low tops are just fine and perfect...i even play basketball in them!
people call me crazy and think i will beak my ankle wearing those low top feiyues to play basketball, but i do just fine
=)

i remember back in the days when i use to train like 5-6 days of the week..i would go through a pair of feiyue in 2-3 months....now that i have over 20 feiyue in my closet..and i rarly train now..i go through a pair a year......

back than i would wear these suckers everywhere i go, school, mall, movies, class, restaurant, anywhere. they so comfortable!

[DeHui702]

Well it's one thing if you were all over China having trouble finding fashionable Feiyues, but when you say "even in Dengfeng" like it's some kind of metropolis I got kind of a laugh. Shaolin students are pretty uniform so I doubt any coaches there want someone kicking around with pink and green shoes clashing with everyone else in the class. It would probably go over much better outside of DengFeng, right?

I bet you can get them in Hong Kong and a boatload cheaper than the UK shop was trying to jack people for. Just a hunch.

[GeneChing]

Pk_StyLeZ, you are so going to eat those words as soon as you slip on a pair of these babies. They are really growing on me. ;)

I may have to get a street pair.

As for Dengfeng, DeHui702, there was a day when you could buy monk robes in every color of the rainbow in Shaolin village - everything from traditional orange and gray (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45001.html) to shockingly hot fluorescent pink. Those were the days.

[sean_stonehart]

I'll post a report on them later in the week after I've had a chance to put them to it.

[richard sloan]

As for Dengfeng, DeHui702, there was a day when you could buy monk robes in every color of the rainbow in Shaolin village - everything from traditional orange and gray (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45001.html) to shockingly hot fluorescent pink. Those were the days.

pink. I'm glad i never noticed that lol...

[DeHui702]

Pk_StyLeZ, you are so going to eat those words as soon as you slip on a pair of these babies. They are really growing on me. ;)

I may have to get a street pair.

As for Dengfeng, DeHui702, there was a day when you could buy monk robes in every color of the rainbow in Shaolin village - everything from traditional orange and gray (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45001.html) to shockingly hot fluorescent pink. Those were the days.

One of my friends went over the year the black feiyues were hitting the market but all of the students were just wearing white. I suspect its a uniformity thing. I'd like to see hot pink robes:) I know some girls that would kill for pink or purple robes..lol:)

[GeneChing]

Back in the days of Shaolin Village, you could get all sorts of crazy stuff. The best stuff was always behind the counter tho. In terms of uniformity, the fashion variations get more abundant right before festivals. During the festivals, you might see a group of hundreds of students attired in pink robes. The Traditionals (http://www.martialartsmart.net/dvd-gc001.html) and the Olympics threw the festival schedule off a bit, but they're allegedly on the way back. At least, that's what Abbot Yongxin told me in our most recent Shaolin special. (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=797)

But back more OT, I'm not sure that those designer Feiyues are available anywhere in China. From the looks of them, they may be strictly for export. You might be able to find a black market truckload of them somewhere, but I doubt you could get them through anyone except that web vendor listed above.

[UK MONK]

i stayed at wudang for 1 month and i couldnt find a pair of feiyues anywhere espesually in size 13. then me and my friend went to dengfeng for a month and we had a suit case full of them to bring back for all the students at wudang lol.

has any one noticed the prices of feiyues is rising every year? 3 years ago i could get feiyues for 10rmb in dengfeng. now they want 25rmb :eek: but my feiyues last me a long time. i would train every day in dengfeng and these lovely shoes would last me 6 months. iv still got my original pair back at home for good memories all blood splattered, torn and black all over lol.

P.S im wearing a pair as i speak :D

[DeHui702]

I'm impressed enough with Feiyues that I'd try out the high tops. It's a good martial arts shoe, proven so in hundreds of martial related sports. Wearing them myself, I get a good 6 months out of them wearing the 2 hours a day for 4 or 5 days a week. I wear Merrill Chameleons as my daily shoe..just a slip on all terrain hiking shoe. My running shoes are Nike Shox, so really, all of my shoes are cut really low..the high tops would definitely be a different experience.

[GeneChing]

The price of everything in China is rising every year. I've been going to China since '91 and there's been an increase in costs for everything with every trip. The only thing that went down was that as I got to know more people, I got better prices - which is to say I got a reduction on the laowai price. But I expect the prices to continue to rise.

[Pk_StyLeZ]

Pk_StyLeZ, you are so going to eat those words as soon as you slip on a pair of these babies. They are really growing on me. ;)

I may have to get a street pair.




Want to ship me a pair and let me demo one free of cost? I will write a very good review either way if it good or not =p
hehehe other than that...i don't think i be trying some anytime soon, unless you can get rid of the 20 pair of feiyues i have in my closet rite now!!

btw..happy new years gene and best wishes to you and your business!!

[GeneChing]

The hi (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45-35hk34.html)-tops (http://www.martialartsmart.net/45-35hw34.html) will sell themselves. It's a good product. We won't need to be bribing anyone for good reviews.
:cool:

[DeHui702]

I tried on my Shifu's hi-tops tonight. DIdn't realize we were the same size. I laced them up and they definitely hold firm on the ankle. I couldn't decide if I felt supported or inhibited at first. I blew through the first half of Wuxingquan with them on was very aware of the extra tension holding my ankles. It was supportive. I think these will be very popular, especially with casual trainers who are used to wearing wrestling shoes. Shifu is thinking about ordering some for the students. I'm fine either way if he makes them officially the uniform.

I did some deep stances like PuBu and wasn't inhibited in any way from doing the stance correctly, but I could feel the tension the extra canvas brings. If I had weak ankles I would have appreciated that extra hold.

Overall a good shoe. Worth twice what whites cost? That's all up to whether you need the support. If you think you'd benefit I'd say get them in a heartbeat.

[Kansuke]

OT... when I was in Xian in '01, a buddy of mine wanted a cover robe like all the cool HK Shaw Bros guys wore (Da Guo??). We were in the night market in the Muslim quarter & he described for this kid what he was looking for. The kid motioned us to follow & took through some shady looking back alleys to his dad's joint. He told his dad what we were after I guess. His dad rattles something off to him & he takes of down the street while he showed us around the rest of his shop. 10 minutes later the kid came back with this blue robe in his hands.

Can't beat that for service!


I hope you got something to eat while you were there! Good eats in the Muslim quarter (and generally cleaner).

[Shaolinlueb]

**** i want these!

[masherdong]

So, Gene, after a month now with them, how are these hi-tops?

[GeneChing]

I may never go back.

[kwaichang]

I bought a pair the shoes are great but I feel the heel needs to be wider to prevent rolling and less rounded for the same reason KC

[masherdong]

I just ordered mine the other day. So, hopefully next week I will get them.