Shoes

[old] Oaktree · Post by **[old] Oaktree** » August 1st, 2004, 4:52 pm

I am rowing now more than a year but I havn't find shoes which fits perfect yet. Is there such thing as specific rowing shoes? And what are the best shoes to erg and row with... Nowadays I am rowing with normal indoor (soccer) shoes but they are'nt sitting well all the time....(and they are to broad on the heel, so I don't fit into the flexheel sometimes) Please advise me.... Grtz

[old] bgood · Post by **[old] bgood** » August 1st, 2004, 8:58 pm

I’ve started using Wrestling shoes. They have high tops, lightweight and are very flexible. I also put Petroleum Jelly on my feet (with socks) and have totally eliminated blisters. Heal blisters have reduced my high meter days (not to mention work, vacation, and my son wanting to row). I’ve never rowed on the water so I don’t know if it’s different.

[old] bergie · Post by **[old] bergie** » August 4th, 2004, 7:32 pm

My shoe of choice is an all leather Vans "Half Cab". The shoe is about cross-trainer in height, completely flat super grippy soles, not much cush, and plenty of protection against scraping heel & foot straps. I have the benefit of feet toughened by years of hiking & backpacking - never had a blister problem. The shoes go on right before I row, and come off right after I'm done, so as to avoid leaving too much sweat in them. I had read on an archived post that some elite rowers will wear the old style of Keds sneakers. Cheers, Gary

[old] John Rupp · Post by **[old] John Rupp** » August 4th, 2004, 7:46 pm

Barefoot going on 2 years.

[old] RowingDad · Post by **[old] RowingDad** » August 11th, 2004, 2:09 pm

The problem I have is that I wear though the back of my running shoes to the hard plastic (or what ever that material is made of). It's when I get to that part, that I get blisters. If I go bearfoot the straps bother my feet. The vasaline did work well last year during the holiday challenge. I did a little over 500K. Before each row i'd shmear it on. It sure ruins socks though. Do those "vans" have anything hard in the back of the shoe once the material starts to wear out? Currently I use old saucony's when they are blown out from running in them. Thanks for the help. I'd appreciate anything.

[old] Cran · Post by **[old] Cran** » August 11th, 2004, 5:39 pm

Just wear whatever trainers look good Seriously, it isn't gonna make much difference unless they are the wrong size or something... They have to fit, but apart from that just get a pair of trainers that are comfortable and look good. If you are getting blisters (unless you only started rowing in the last few weeks) there's something wrong with your technique.

[old] Cran · Post by **[old] Cran** » August 11th, 2004, 5:43 pm

make sure you aren't over compressing. Shins should not go forwards past vertical.

[old] John Rupp · Post by **[old] John Rupp** » August 11th, 2004, 8:31 pm

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (RowingDad @ Aug 11 2004, 11:09 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> If I go bearfoot the straps bother my feet.  </td></tr></table> Try wrapping the straps with duct tape. The plastic provides a friction-free surface. Sometimes a drop or two of veggie oil helps too.

[old] bergie · Post by **[old] bergie** » August 11th, 2004, 9:25 pm

The vans do not have a plastic cup in the heel, just some solid suede leather on the outside with a soft lining inside. I've only had my model C for four months & 700K, and I can see the start of wear marks on the heel. I suppose there are a couple of ways to approach the shoe wear issue. The Red Green approach is to wrap the shoe upper with the handyman's secret weapon - duct tape - and re-wrap it every 200K or so as the tape wears through. The other approach is to concede that periodic shoe replacement is inevitable, and that finding the right shoe is a matter of balancing your subjective needs for performance, comfort, and durability. I figure this pair of shoes will last me 2000K. I was reading somewhere that runners are supposed to replace their shoes every 300-500 miles or so. I figure that 3 times the wear that a runner would get from a pair of shoes is a pretty good deal. Gary

[old] RowingDad · Post by **[old] RowingDad** » August 12th, 2004, 1:15 pm

I appreciate the info. I'm going to check out a pair of vans. As for the general response that there must be something wrong with my form...everyone's feet and body are different. Lance Armstrong gets saddle sore...is he riding wrong or just pushing himself hard? Anyway guys, thanks for the time of the responses. I will also try wrapping the strap with duct tape

[old] ehagberg · Post by **[old] ehagberg** » August 12th, 2004, 2:43 pm

Regarding the wear issue: I've got 3.5 million meters on my current pair of shoes so far and haven't seen any wear that would cause mine to be replaced anytime soon. They are New Balance shoes - I forget the model number but they were a cross-training model. Maybe the amount of wear (and blisters?) depends on one's particular form/technique?

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