Concept2 Forum

I'm new to indoor rowing and was wondering if there is a particular brand or type of shoe that best suits rowing?<br /><br />I have found my heels are getting worked over from the plastic straps and have endured some pretty good blisters.<br /><br />Any suggestions?<br /><br /><br />

i use indoor football shoes.<br />i use them because they have very little cushioning on their soles.<br />too much cushioning wastes power at the catch, i think.<br />never had any blisters on my feet from rowing on the erg.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

<!--QuoteBegin-chickenlegs+Mar 13 2005, 11:18 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(chickenlegs @ Mar 13 2005, 11:18 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->i use indoor football shoes.<br />i use them because they have very little cushioning on their soles.<br />too much cushioning wastes power at the catch, i think.<br />never had any blisters on my feet from rowing on the erg. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I use a pair of wrestling shoes. There is no padding in the soles and they are extremely flexible. I lace them a couple of eyelets from the (high) top. The higher tops also give me feedback when I'm going past vertical with shins on the catch - a nice bonus! No foot discomfort so far.

Good old fashion running shoes work fine as well...

I never had blisters, but rowing my first marathon I noticed that there was a blister on my right foot. I use running shoes to row.<br /><br />Are there rowing shoes?<br /><br />Hennie

I use low cut Adidas basketball shoes. They have a strong heal cup to resist the wear and tear and they don't compress like running shoes. Look for something cheap and non-fashionable as it will save you on price and provide few of the features which are unsuitable.<br /><br />Neil

I use some old sneakers with toes which are just about gone. Now after 12 million meters, the heels are just about gone too. You can get a lot more use out of shoes that aren't any good to anyone but a rower!<br /><br />Some people row without shoes. They wear socks so that they don't get blisters on their heels. I have rowed without shoes many times and it works fine. <br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack

I looked at my shoes this morning and realized they were Nike not Adidas. Still, the previous description is correct. If you use these shoes only for erging, they'll essentially last forever.<br /><br />As Paul mentioned, shoeless erging is done by many. PaulS has instructions for a strap that can save your heels. Alternatively, you can use padding for the heel cups. I've tried this briefly (with socks) and didn't like the feeling on the soles of my feet.<br /><br />Neil

I row barefoot, have done all rowing barefoot the last two years, currently around ~30km a day and never get blisters on my heels.<br /><br />I use the regular straps.<br /><br />Socks are too hot.<br /><br />Running shoes have high heel lifts and are no good for rowing.<br /><br />Just row barefoot -- say NO to shoes socks and heel straps.<br /><br />

Hi.<br /><br />On my D, I found barefoot was very wearing on my heels, the heel support is too flat and hard for my skin and I rapidly aquired painful broken blisters.<br /><br />I tried running shoes, which relieved the blister/pain bit, but my feet got too hot and sweaty.<br /><br />I took a trip down to the shoe shop and came back with some nice trendy leather sandals which had a heel support at just the right height. The have a padded leather insole over a firm synthetic sole, and a clip fastner. Been using them ever since. The padding has compressed down and they're not too hot and they protect my feet from the standard heel support.<br /><br />Mike

I use Converse All-Star sneakers - the low ones, not high tops. They were recommended by one of the coaches at my rowing club. (Actually he said to get the cheapest canvas sneakers you can find).<br /><br />I like them because they easily fit under the straps with no problem when I am erging (I have fairly big feet). Also, they are cheap so I won't feel too bad if they ever get lost when I capsize on the water. And, they are pretty comfortable for erging.<br /><br />A recent Men's Journal said that some weight lifters like Converse All-Stars (high tops) because "they get the soles of your feet as close to the floor as possible, for better balance and outward rotation of yor feet." I think the same basic idea applies to erging -- your feet are close to the foot stretchers, and you are pushing through only a thin layer of rubber. Running shoes, cross-trainers, etc. are designed to cushion and stabilize the feet during impact. Rowing is non-impact.<br /><br />bw