Concept2 Forum

I need to replace my old sneakers, but I usually purchase shoes based on my running needs, slip-soled, curved last, with cushioning, but I no longer run, and wonder what other people prefer to row in. I have used my casual biking shoes, which are somewhat like the shoes on footrests, but even these are a bit beat....

Any suggestions would be helpful.

hi,
I asked this same questions a few years ago, one of the posters mentioned Nike free's. I bought a pair at "norstoms rack", a discount shoe outlet in San Jose, ca. [ Norstom may be spelled wrong] I have found them great for rowing. There are the most flexible and lightest shoe I have every owned and have found them very comfortable for rowing

To paraphrase what Gold Hat said in 1948 film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, "Shoes, we don't need no stinking shoes."

Move the foot stretchers up a hole or two and row in socks.

If you really need shoes contact our very own Yankeerunner , Rick Bayko owns a shoeshop.

For rowing, you need the least cushioning possible, you don't want anything absorbing energy that you're trying to apply to the stretcher.

A few people I know, including Anna Bailey, row in football boots with the studs taken out.

Micromonkey wrote:A few people I know, including Anna Bailey, row in football boots with the studs taken out.

Brian, of course, means soccer when he says "football".

Why do we not use "clip ons" in rowing. Like the cleats cyclist wear?
They seem to be more efficient than straps when using bikes.
Is it just because the ergs don't come equipped with the clip ons or is there some other reason?

Just wondering.

Jim

ulu wrote:Why do we not use "clip ons" in rowing. Like the cleats cyclist wear?
They seem to be more efficient than straps when using bikes.
Is it just because the ergs don't come equipped with the clip ons or is there some other reason?

Just wondering.

Jim

I remember seeing an 8+ with clip-in Time (i.e. the brand name) cycling shoes a number of years ago. Didn't seem to catch on. Probably because it is an unnecessary expense. I would think the same would be the case for the erg.

H2Row shoes seem to be the standard for boats these days. They are not too expensive, but they have several features that are unnecessary for an erg (veloco straps and holes for tie downs in case of capsizing, and bolt holes for attachment).

Any relatively thin shoe without too much padding would be fine. I doubt much energy is lost in the shoe. I would only be concerned about the energy lost if I was racing.

These day's I don't pay too much attention to my shoes. I row in what ever sneakers I'm wearing, or sometimes in Acorn slippers (leather bottom and sock-like tops).

I have a pair of Vans skateboard slipons more or less permitantly strapped in on my Model B. Wear a simlar pair down to the boats, lie flat under the foot stretchers. Also a bottle of water can tuck nicely into the fore part of one of the shoes so it doesn't roll around in the bilge.

I've worn an older pair of Adidas racewalking shoes on the ergs in the past. But mostly wear Asics Gel Trainers when working out at my gym or elswhere. Can't get the straps down far enough to just wear socks, also, sock or barefoot, I feel the ripples in the foot stretchers on Model Ds.

I recently bought two pairs of casual shoes, one pair of Puma Mostro and one pair of Ontisuka Tiger. The Tiger's are like old-style track trainers I ran in 35 years ago, and although I bought them for caual weekend wear, they so far have been great as erg workout shores. No padding, no support, and very comfortable....

I always row barefoot, which is fine when the foot plates are flat as mine are.

But for the regular plates, as your feet are not able to rest flat, I'd use shoes with as hard of a sole as possible.

I use to row barefoot for distences up to 1 hour.
Then, the sweat gets on my heels, and the heelcups get slippery (John, you sure know the feeling!).

For longer rows I use sport shoes that are as little cushioned as possible, but I'd never buy special erging shoes.

Rowing in socks seems impossible to me, as the heels slip out of the heelcups, although I know there is a simple and cheap solution for that on http://www.ps-sport.net/, the 'Swing Sling'.

ancho wrote:I use to row barefoot for distences up to 1 hour.
Then, the sweat gets on my heels, and the heelcups get slippery (John, you sure know the feeling!).

The flex feet raise up in the middle, which causes the heel cups to bend backwards, even when trying to keep the feet flat the whole time. That's where shoes and having the straps tight make a difference.

However, I've found it easier to have the straps quite loose, so I only use them for the first part of recovery.

This way my feet keep more of a right angle to my legs, and the straps provide a slight leverage to the cups.

I wear Converse All Stars when erging - the low cut ones, not high tops.

I used to think it didn't matter and used my latest used-up pair of NB running shoes. Recently I used a pair of boat shoes and noticed a big difference in that when I come up to the "catch" I can get up on my toes more with the more flexible sole. This probably increases the stroke length a bit. So, basically any shoe that is flexible (less cushioning) and protects your feet from the hard plastic of the foot rests will work.

Just realized - boat shoes should be appropriate for erging!