Best Shoes For Rowing/erging?

[[old] hennmart]

<!--quoteo(post=58261:date=Mar 3 2006, 01:21 PM:name=ancho)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(ancho @ Mar 3 2006, 01:21 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Used tro erg with my old running shoes, lately I'm doing some barefoot. I like the more direct feeling.<br />Nevertheless, I will continue wearing shoes for short sprints and races.<br /> </td></tr></table><br />I always row with running shoes and it works for me <br /><br />Hennie

[[old] Byron Drachman]

I thought you might want to see my stylish rowing shoes. Not only do they help avoid heat build-up with the cutouts over the toes, but also they dry out quickly if I leave them on the dock, and they get splashed from the “wake of some motorboat driver who has been making our rowing lives slightly miserable,” as Xeno says.<br /><br />In addition, they make a fashion statement if I wear them in public. Quite often someone will say something like “My God, where did you get those shoes?”<br /><img src="http://www.math.msu.edu/~drachman/row/shoes.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /><br />Byron <br />

[[old] ancho]

<!--quoteo(post=58300:date=Mar 3 2006, 06:02 PM:name=Byron Drachman)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Byron Drachman @ Mar 3 2006, 06:02 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>...<br />In addition, they make a fashion statement if I wear them in public....<br />Byron<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Are you really wearing those in public?<br />Byron, you're great!<br />Shoes with airconditioning, gotta love 'em! <br />

[[old] Stretch]

Forget the shoes, that is one pimped-out erg!

[[old] hennmart]

<!--quoteo(post=58300:date=Mar 3 2006, 06:02 PM:name=Byron Drachman)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Byron Drachman @ Mar 3 2006, 06:02 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>I<img src="http://www.math.msu.edu/~drachman/row/shoes.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /><br />Byron<br /> </td></tr></table><br />What is the meaning of the yellow things at the end of the handle?<br /><br />Hennie

[[old] Byron Drachman]

<!--quoteo--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quotec-->What is the meaning of the yellow things at the end of the handle? </td></tr></table><br />Hi Hennie,<br />Those are the blades. I've gotten my C2 to give more of an on-the-water feeling. The thumbs go on the outside, and the wooden handles inside the D-grips rotate 90 degrees. I do a small tap down at the finish, then feather the blades to horizontal as I go around the corner. As the hands approach the ankles, I gradually start to feather the blades back to vertical. When I get to the catch, the blades are back to vertical, and I raise the hands a little so the blades drop into the water. I find that feathering on the C2 helps with relaxation during the recovery, and the stroke on the C2 feels more like on the water. That wooden dowel you see in front of the seat can be inserted between the two parts of the seat, so I have to sit with very good balance so that the seat doesn't wobble from side to side. It's a great ab and core workout and definitely helps develop balance. I find it has helped make the on-the-water blade drills easier. I mentioned it in a previous thread somewhere.<br />Byron

[[old] mimitap]

Byron,<br /><br />What I really like is the superhero mask you sit on! <br /><br />Marie

[[old] TabbRows]

WalMart sells slip on "Vans" style sneakers for $5-$7. Leave them on the footplates with the straps slightly losed and you just slip in and out. Buy them 1/2 to 1 size smaller than your running show size so they fit snuggly but not cramping the toes. If you buy them on the way home after wearing shoes and walking around all day at work, you'll get the right feel.

[[old] bw1099]

I wear Converse All-Stars (the low ones, not high tops). The lack of padding helps with direct transmission of force between my feet and the foot-stretchers. I've heard that some weight lifters like them for the same reason. I use them for erging and for carrying the boat to the dock. On the water, I just wear socks.<br /><br />Okay, the real reason is that when I started to row the coach said not to spend much on shoes. He recommended the cheapest canvas sneakers you could find. I got the Converse All Stars because as a child, I alway had the cheapest sneakers -- my parents thought that we could not afford high end sneakers like Converse. $35 in 2003.<br /><br />I've had them for 3 years now and they haven't quite fallen apart yet. Must be my cheapskate heritage, but I want to make them last as long as I can. I have my eyes on a pair of Converse All Star Primiere for the next pair. $50.<br /><br />bw

[[old] stuartg]

Nike: All Conditions Gear - slip on, no laces, no socks required, breath well, are light and relatively cheap.

[[old] ancho]

Just made a strapless-barefoot 60 min WP L4 (Level 4 from teh Wolverine Plan). Feels better every time!

[[old] dadams]

Barefoot all the way (with socks). You (I) get a better feel of the erg that way. A better connection, as it were.<br /><br />Dwayne

[[old] dgivnish]

I got a pair of Nike Frees last summer and loved them. They are supposed to simulate running in bare feet and they worked well. Unfortunately, they didn't last very long.

[[old] lintonwilson]

Wouldn’t there be a loss of energy with shoes that have cushioning designed for impact? I row with either "Nike Free" or old racing flats from my running days that have minimal cushioning. Always wondered if erging in a pair of leather sole wingtips would mitigate energy loss even further. Never tried barefoot.

[[old] Hal Morgan]

When I rowed in socks I had to stop because of a blister from the plastic heel strp. How do I avoid that?