looking for a good pair of shoes. any ideas?

[TonyLiuV]

looking for a good pair of shoes for forms and sanshou training as well. i was looking at a pair of ISBA savate shoes but still shopping around. if anyone has any good recomendations please feel free.

[GeneChing]

Feiyue shoes! (http://www.martialartsmart.com/shoes-feiyue-shoes.html)

:cool:

[Golden Arms]

Vivo Barefoot shoes. They hold up to punishment and regular use well, I haven't gone back to wearing any other shoes since I found them 2 or 3 years ago.

[TonyLiuV]

Feiyue shoes! (http://www.martialartsmart.com/shoes-feiyue-shoes.html)

:cool:

i love my feiyue shoes but sadly they are ripped to hell and after a recent injury i need something with abit more toe protection unill i become proficent in iron toe qigong :)

[EarthDragon]

I LOVE my 5 fingers vibram for kung fu they are the best thing next to bare feet and they grip you have individual toes gripping the ground and you use individual muscles as you work out nothing beats them

[Lucas]

I like in door soccer shoes myself. The bonus side of them is the reinforced toe and heal. there are all kinds of styles for all kinds of feet. they are light weight, flexible, and tough as nails. they are made for kicking in and not falling apart.

[MasterKiller]

looking for a good pair of shoes for forms and sanshou training as well. i was looking at a pair of ISBA savate shoes but still shopping around. if anyone has any good recomendations please feel free.

Don't wear shoes for San Shou.

[Syn7]

I wear uncleated soccer style shoes. Velcro, no laces. low profile, very simple and really not much shoe when compared to your average running shoe.

I don't like feiyues. I feel there are a million better choices out there. I think people around the world wear Feiyues because it's trendy in MA's. I think Chinese people wore them originally because they were cheap, fairly durable for the price, good enough and easy to find.

It is a fact that "better shoes" make your feet weaker. In that respect Feiyues are better than Nikes.


I must say tho, I love my Nike wrestling shoes. Not the best for doing forms and stuff tho.

[Syn7]

I like in door soccer shoes myself. The bonus side of them is the reinforced toe and heal. there are all kinds of styles for all kinds of feet. they are light weight, flexible, and tough as nails. they are made for kicking in and not falling apart.

Word to yer moms!

[Lokhopkuen]

Puma tt super
http://www.6pm.com/puma-tt-super-cc-black-white?zfcTest=mat%3A1

[Punch.HeadButt]

I don't like feiyues. I feel there are a million better choices out there. I think people around the world wear Feiyues because it's trendy in MA's. I think Chinese people wore them originally because they were cheap, fairly durable for the price, good enough and easy to find.

You don't think affordability is a desirable trait outside of China? :p Considering I can get a pair of Feiyues for about $14, I definitely prefer them over shoes that cost $50-150...especially considering what I'm gonna be using them for.

[Syn7]

My issue isn't really the price. I don't like them cause they suck as far as durability is concerned. I can turn a legit pair of feiyues into lil bits of fabric and rubber in less than 4 months. To me, this is unacceptable. I would rather just throw down the cash for a durable pair of shoes. Not only that, but I see these things upward of thirty dollars when we all know they are only worth like 7 bucks, and even that is a MASSIVE markup. So yeah, **** cheap shoes that get popular and increase the price by like 40,000 %.

[Punch.HeadButt]

I have yet to find a shoe that will last longer than a year. Feiyues tend to last 3-4 months, like you said...but at my price point, I'm still spending less on them annually than I would on the more expensive shoes.

Besides that, I find them to be comfy. :D

[Syn7]

Fair enough. My point is that I would rather spend 100 bucks to not go through the "end phase" 3 or 4 times a year.

I find them very uncomfortable the first few weeks and then for like that last month. It's just not worth it to me. And the prices just keep going up up up as if it's a legit shoe for that price. If I really loved em I guess I would just grab like 5 pairs a year through the mail. Buy em straight from the source.

[Punch.HeadButt]

Different strokes.

I will say that if the amount I have to pay for a pair ever goes up significantly, then I may look at alternatives. Until then, they're just too good for the money.

[GeneChing]

Actually, were we to do the math, this forum is probably funded mostly by TKD belts (http://www.martialartsmart.com/ranking-belts.html). :o

[Kellen Bassette]

Actually, were we to do the math, this forum is probably funded mostly by TKD belts (http://www.martialartsmart.com/ranking-belts.html). :o

They are the most commonly given away freebie in martial arts. :rolleyes:

[GeneChing]

Oh I know. But even freebees have to be purchased from somewhere (https://www.tigerclaw.com/home.php) initially. ;)

[Syn7]

Sorry, was I being sacrilegious? :p

[Lucas]

Word to yer moms!

all three of them?

[GoldenBrain]

I like the two that are linked below. For elastic ankle cuff pants go with the Sambas and for loose cuff I go with the Stingray. Also asics makes an all black all leather wrestling coach model that are pretty excellent. My Asics are buried in a box somewhere so I couldn't tell you the model.

Addis Samba
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00347923W/ref=mw_dp_sim_ss4?pi=SY125

Otomix Stingray
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AXDDKVU

[JamesC]

I don't really get the whole barefoot shoe thing. Don't get me wrong, I own some vibrams for hiking, and I wesr minimus for running, but why not just go without shoes more until your feet don't need the protection?

People have been going barefoot forever. If you take care of your feet you won't end up with huge calluses.

[Lucas]

Its a good idea to always keep your shoes on when you can in case you ever find yourself in a sky scraper in the winter thats being invaded by terrorists and you end up in an office that has glass shattered all over the floor and you're in a gun fight and have to run.

[Raipizo]

My issue isn't really the price. I don't like them cause they suck as far as durability is concerned. I can turn a legit pair of feiyues into lil bits of fabric and rubber in less than 4 months. To me, this is unacceptable. I would rather just throw down the cash for a durable pair of shoes. Not only that, but I see these things upward of thirty dollars when we all know they are only worth like 7 bucks, and even that is a MASSIVE markup. So yeah, **** cheap shoes that get popular and increase the price by like 40,000 %.

How are they in comparison to Converse?, or you never tried. I've been wearing a pair for about 4 years now and they're still in pretty decent shape.

[Raipizo]

I don't really get the whole barefoot shoe thing. Don't get me wrong, I own some vibrams for hiking, and I wesr minimus for running, but why not just go without shoes more until your feet don't need the protection?

People have been going barefoot forever. If you take care of your feet you won't end up with huge calluses.

I like that but running alongside the road obviously you can run into broken glass, nails or just little bits of gravel, where shoes at least protect you somewhat. I usually go barefoot a lot in the summer when I can.

[GoldenBrain]

Okay, I found the Asics I was referring to in the above post. The model is Asics Wizzer but it seems they are very rare now a days. I punished mine for a few years and they held up nicely with only minor repair needed to the soles edges on the toe and heel. Below is one of the only places I could find them listed for sale. I believe they were intended for wrestling coaches and judges so they have a little less tacky and thicker sole which work great and are a bit more forgiving when performing forms on padded mats.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/rare-NIB-ASICS-****ZER-MT-LE-black-wrestling-mens-unisex-leather-light-shoes-new-/400253907167

[JamesC]

I like that but running alongside the road obviously you can run into broken glass, nails or just little bits of gravel, where shoes at least protect you somewhat. I usually go barefoot a lot in the summer when I can.

Right. I'm the same. Not saying you have to be like Cody lundin, but just going barefoot more goes a long way.

[Raipizo]

Right. I'm the same. Not saying you have to be like Cody lundin, but just going barefoot more goes a long way.

I thought of him too lol. Yeah I wish I could do that lol.

[EarthDragon]

I cant believe some of you are suggesting asicis or otomix wrestling shoes, these are designed to force your ankle and your body into a forward position not good for TMA when you lean back or go low they pinch the Achilles and put strain on the ankle.

5 finger vbirams for me personally are the best.

[GoldenBrain]

You make a great point EarthDragon and I really should have elaborated on that point. Other than the Sambas I just never found anything as tough as a wrestling shoe and I'm pretty stoic so I just kind of ignored the pinching I guess. I really like the Sambas the best because they don't pinch at all. I may give those five finger vibrams a try but man do they look funny. Yeah, I'm in it for the looks...just kidding!

[Lucas]

Onitsuka ~ Tiger, is a shoe i've really enjoyed. there are a few different models of this shoe, including mid/high tops.
http://www.tigertrainers.info/images/m66/Mini-Cooper-Onitsuka-Tiger-grey-black-red.jpg
http://www.onitsukatigermexico.org/images/Onitsuka-Tiger-Mexico-66/Onitsuka-Tiger-Mexico-66-Black-Red_3.jpg

Adidas rio is a shoe that, in my experience, is tough as nails, full leather, massive reinforcement.
http://www.uk-trainers.com/acatalog/adidas-rio-grande-black-big.jpg

[Syn7]

I like the rios. They kick ass for B-Boyin' too. The toe support makes a huge difference with glides.

[Oso]

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01645/kiss-boots_1645222i.jpg

[EarthDragon]

GOLDEN,
its just that shoes are designed around the sport intended, lord knows you don't feel light on your feet with high top air Jordan basket ball shoes, and you dont feel the support in the ankle with low tops when your playing basket ball so for me personalty the closet thing to natural barefeet is the vibram 5 fingers, they make look funny but get them in black hardly stick out and i swear they are th most comfortable thing you have ever put on your feet.
I wear them all summer, your feet actually feel more comfortable than they ever will because the muscles in the feet are allowed to stretch and guide you as you walk or run, trust me

[jimbob]

Earth Dragon

How is the breathability with those shoes?

I love my Feiyues (ok - if they were a little wider I'd love them even more) and they're cheap enough that I don't mind buying a few pairs a year.

But they don't breathe much - and my feet get very sweaty when i train. Nothing worse than pulling on a pair of damp shoes the next day to train in again. I've worked around this simply by alternating pairs - but if there's something else out there with more airflow I'd be interested to give them a try.

[Raipizo]

I think they have mesh tops, kinda like those beach shoes ya know?

[Lucas]

I like the rios. They kick ass for B-Boyin' too. The toe support makes a huge difference with glides.

its nice being able to soccer punt a concrete wall with the tip of your toe if you want to also.

[GoldenBrain]

GOLDEN,
its just that shoes are designed around the sport intended, lord knows you don't feel light on your feet with high top air Jordan basket ball shoes, and you dont feel the support in the ankle with low tops when your playing basket ball so for me personalty the closet thing to natural barefeet is the vibram 5 fingers, they make look funny but get them in black hardly stick out and i swear they are th most comfortable thing you have ever put on your feet.
I wear them all summer, your feet actually feel more comfortable than they ever will because the muscles in the feet are allowed to stretch and guide you as you walk or run, trust me

EarthDragon,
These things are great! I just couldn't resist buying a pair, mainly because I'm a gear junkie but also because I think your advise is sound. I haven't had them for more than a couple of days but so far I think they breath well while running and exercising and feel just like you're bear footed but with protection. You're not kidding about the comfort and I can even wiggle my toes...:D

[viper]

I prefer barefoot for training but I now use my feiyues for oly lifting comps to keep a little more rom and its the closet to bareffot i can afford atm.

[slink]

I would recommend to take a look here (https://www.martialartsmart.com/). They are selling mostly female fashion staff, but there are some nice trainers as well available on the site. Once my wife has purchased it, and she is extremely happy with the quality!