Head shoes or Asics shoes more duable than yonex?

[crazy_smasher]

I broken my third yonex shoes within a few months (AR95, 2Ar85s) , they are surely comfortable but breaks so easily.

So i wanted to buy a more durable one. i am thinking of ASICS or HEAD shoes coz they look pretty robust.

What do u think about those 2 brands? Are HEAD shoes only meant for squash?
Anyone have any feedback or recommendations for those 2 brands? I never tried Mizuno brand.

Which good place can i buy non-yonex shoes like ASICS, HEAD or mizuno in Singapore?

Thanks

[Dill]

I would suggest the new hi-tek range, they have an extra piece of plastic sewn into the shoe where you would drag the trailing foor so that they don't wear through easily. They also give you superb grip, so much so that the other night where my Yonex would normally slide a bit the hi-tek just stuck to the floor causing me to sumersault over because of the momentum.

Hi-tek 400:3 Viper

[avaya]

I agree with you, so easy to broken for yonex shoes. I like ASICS.

[bluejeff]

I have both ASICS and YONEX, and I think ASICS is very good and it's very durable.

PS: The two I have are Yonex 89MX and Asics Gel Rocket

[timeless]

My favourite badminton shoes are Asics volleyball shoes. They have great cushioning, support, and quality. Far better than Yonex in my opinion. I don't know about Head though because I always found them too heavy, so I've never bought a pair. Mizuno is also a really good quality company. Their volleyball shoes would also do just as well for badminton as Asics. More or less just personal preference.

[timeless]

These are my newest pair of Asics. I haven't even tried them on the court yet :).

[timeless]

These are my current pair of Asics. I've used them for about half a year and they still look new. The tread is holding out really well and the only parts of the shoe that is really showing any wear is the inside. I wear orthotics and I'm really harsh on the inside of my shoes so it's no surprise to me. I'm still waiting for them to wear out so I can use my new pair... might be a long time though :).

[bambini]

i own a pair of yonex shb95 which is a good shoe but not that durable. even though i alternately use it with 3 other pairs, it looks worn out. i bought it oct '02. just recently purchased an asics gel hunter. very light and has a good traction on matted surface.

[crazy_smasher]

Hi Timeless,

What are the newest model and the current model of ASICS u have attached the pictures of? Their approx. price?

The newest i know of is the GEL BLOCK which is supposed to be their Premier court shoe offered. As seen in the picture, ASICS pay special care in reinforcing the areas which is prone to wear and tear.

I think it is true that HEAD is heavier than other brand and not likely to be comfortable, but it is sturdy and cheaper. I will have a look at the asics models this week and try them.

I realise that in 3-4 months i break 1 yonex shoe Ar85(around SGD$45 here), so in 7-8 months, i break 2 shoes, so i think i am better off with a more expensive one.

One more thing, does the gel thing provide good cushion?

Thanks

[timeless]

Hi Crazy_Smasher,

The first photo I posted is their latest 2004 top model here in North America (and most of the world). It's called the Asics Gel Typhoon. It retails here for about $170-$200CAD (Canadian). Definitely not cheap by any means. But like I said, it's their top shoe. There are less expensive, toned down, versions of it as well though with just less features. The Gel Typhoon, as with all the top of the line Asics shoes, has every Asics technology integrated into it which is why it's so expensive. Lower models might not have certain things you don't need such as their special ventilation system.

The second photo I posted is the Asics Gel 5000V. It's their top of the line shoe for 2003. It also retailed initially for about $170-$200CAD but now it's a bit less since the 2004 models have come out.

Keep in mind that in Singapore, the Asics shoe models might be named differently than here. In europe they sometimes sell them under different names so I don't know about Singapore. They might not even sell the same shoes in Singapore as they do here.

As for wear and tear quality, there is no comparison between Yonex and Asics. Personally, I think even the bottom of the line Asics volleyball shoes sold in N. America exceed the quality of even Yonex's top models. Before I bought my 5000V and Typhoon, I used to have a pair of Asics 2002 Gel Modesto's. They only cost $80CAD. To this day they look quite new except for a small tear near my smallest toe. That's after wearing it for almost a year, playing 4-5 days a week.

Gel technology doesn't really provide cushioning. It's a common misconception. What it actually does is disperse impact force horizontally away from the point of impact (the bottom of your feet) which is even more important. Cushioning is actually just the action of absorbing and reflecting the impact force back up your feet and legs. Any decent running shoe with a thick EVA sole will provide good cushioning. Mizuno is also a really good brand. Their Wave technology also disperses impact force horizontally. Anyway, that's why most hardcore runners (not joggers) buy Asics, Mizuno, New Balance, etc. and not Nike. Nike Air provides really nice cushioning and bounce, but doesn't do anything for dispersing the actual impact force of your feet, legs, and body. I had a really bad knee injury last year so I need the best shoes I can get so I don't feel it in my knees.

Good luck :).



Originally posted by crazy_smasher
Hi Timeless,

What are the newest model and the current model of ASICS u have attached the pictures of? Their approx. price?

The newest i know of is the GEL BLOCK which is supposed to be their Premier court shoe offered. As seen in the picture, ASICS pay special care in reinforcing the areas which is prone to wear and tear.

I think it is true that HEAD is heavier than other brand and not likely to be comfortable, but it is sturdy and cheaper. I will have a look at the asics models this week and try them.

I realise that in 3-4 months i break 1 yonex shoe Ar85(around SGD$45 here), so in 7-8 months, i break 2 shoes, so i think i am better off with a more expensive one.

One more thing, does the gel thing provide good cushion?

Thanks

[Traum]

Hmm... are the higher-end models from Yonex less sturdy than their cheaper shoes? I've been using my pair of Yonex SHB-55LT for quite a while now, and except for a minor tear at the bending point between the side of the big toe and the rest of the foot, the shoes looks almost new still. During this time, two of my friends' SHB-92 have been falling apart, ripping and tearing along both the front and the sides of the shoe.

FYI, the three of us generally play 2 to 4 times a week, depending on our schedules.

-Rick

[BobbyGeneric]

Originally posted by timeless


The second photo I posted is the Asics Gel 5000V. It's their top of the line shoe for 2003. It also retailed initially for about $170-$200CAD but now it's a bit less since the 2004 models have come out.



Thanks for letting me know about those shoes, they look pretty good! But I really don't know where you're getting your prices from, the first Canadian store I found online that had them here (http://www.volleyballstuff.net/index.html?target=p_153.html&lang=en-us) had them for $150CAD and the retail on these things is $110USD (converts to about $145CAD using the great exchange rate we have right now) and additionally I've seen them online for as low as $95USD (about $125CAN) but you've got to add shipping to that. In any case I bet these shoes can be had for a lot cheaper than $170-$200CAD!

[timeless]

Volleyballstuff.net is actually where I purchased both my 2004 Gel Typhoons and 2003 Gel 5000V. The prices I posted were retail prices of what you'd pay in a store. They always charge you a premium for their overhead (shipping, markup, etc.). Because those shoes are the top model, and thus expensive, not too many stores carry them. So if volleyballstuff.net has them for $150CAD now, you'll be paying 7% GST + shipping which would easily take you into the range of what I posted. Purchasing online from the US will be a bit cheaper because of the higher competition between US online volleyball stores. However, factor in the current CAD to USD exchange rate of 35%, shipping in USD, and the duty taxes customs will charge you to bring the shoes into Canada, and again you're getting close to that range. The shoes have been out for a few months now so the prices have dropped to what you found in your searches. Since you're in Kingston, ON, I'd be surprised if any stores there would carry either shoe so you'd probably have to purchase them online. Most people don't like purchasing clothing or shoes online because they can't try them on first. So I opted to post retail store price ranges instead of online store prices. Asics shoe sizes do not match Yonex sizes (and many other brands).


Originally posted by BobbyGeneric
Thanks for letting me know about those shoes, they look pretty good! But I really don't know where you're getting your prices from, the first Canadian store I found online that had them here (http://www.volleyballstuff.net/index.html?target=p_153.html&lang=en-us) had them for $150CAD and the retail on these things is $110USD (converts to about $145CAD using the great exchange rate we have right now) and additionally I've seen them online for as low as $95USD (about $125CAN) but you've got to add shipping to that. In any case I bet these shoes can be had for a lot cheaper than $170-$200CAD!

[lizamart]

i agree, YONEX not too sturdy. i personally like hi-tec mids.

[cooler]

i think the tariff for importing shoes and clothing into canada is pretty high. Don't forget to including the cost of tarfff before buying outside of canada

[stantan]

Im a New Balance fan but they dont seem to have any court shoes on sale here.

I was looking at the nice looking Yonex shoes and I saw they were about US$20 cheaper than ASICS on the average.

I guess the general concensus is that Yonex shoes are not that durable.

Can anyone who has worn both Mizuno and Asics compare the two for shock absorption value?

thanks

[bambini]

if you're lookiing for a mid-priced, good quality shoe that has good shock absorption, check out the mizuno wave series or the asics gel hunter. i'm on the heavy side and the heel of my foot hurts if the shoe i wear doesn't have shock absorption.

[Toaster]

I have both asics and yonex shoes and i found the asics way more durable than the yonex and also in shock absorption wise....however, the ones i got are nearly twice the price of yonex.....

[yonexfanatic]

asics are definitely more durable than yonex shoes IMO. i've gone through two different pairs of yonex shoes in the past 1 and a half. asics are quite comfortable and if you get the right one, can be just as light as yonex shoes.

HEAD shoes however are quite heavy IMO. I guess it depends on the model you get, but out of the ones i've tried, they seem a bit too bulky for my taste and make it harder for me to move compared to my yonex and asics.

[timeless]

New Balance makes great running shoes but I'm not thrilled about their court shoes. Mainly because of their unproven designs and boring esthetics. It seems like they're just trying to get some of the court shoe pie by whipping up some shoes designed off their outdoor running line.

I've heard from some players that Yonex shoes bought in Japan seem to be of higher quality than those bought in their export markets. However, that's a matter of quality assurance and durability, and not how good of a shoe they are in terms of shock absorption/dispersion.

The Asics Gel and Mizuno Wave technologies are pretty much equal for their ability to disperse shock. Both companies have spent many years researching and perfecting their own technologies. Asics and Mizuno are huge in volleyball (like Yonex is to badminton), and thus both companies' technologies are great at the dispersion of the tremendous shock received upon landing from great vertical jumps. I have worn many Asics and Mizuno shoes for both volleyball and badminton and there is really no difference in their ability to disperse shock. It's purely a personal preference. I make my choices dependant on the other features, and which shoe fits better.

Yonex shoes are perhaps created with smaller and lighter players in mind; the typical badminton player stereotype. However, with the game becoming more dynamic, and players getting larger, they're starting to work on shock absorption and other features. However, in my opinion, they're still far behind Mizuno and Asics who have always developed their shoes for tall athletes. Most professional volleyball players average well over 6' feet and also weigh considerably a lot due to their height alone. Volleyball players also jump much higher than most badminton players, with most professionals easily averaging verticals between 3 to 4.5 feet. I'm a lot heavier than most badminton players my height, and coupled with previous injuries, I require the shock absorption and support of volleyball shoes. Many people do just fine with Yonex shoes though, but some people are just harder on their shoes for various reasons I won't go into.

Head shoes are designed for tennis, and thus they are much heavier, and don't do very well at shock absorption. However, like most tennis shoes, they have good durability and support. I would never wear an indoor court shoe by Head, Prince, Wilson, or any company that primarily focuses on tennis. I've always felt their shoes were designed for indoor tennis rather than the pure indoor court sports.

Another company which makes high quality indoor court shoes is Hi-Tec. Their shoes are designed with squash and racquetball in mind, but I've seen a lot of people wear them from badminton. They have really good stability, durability, traction, lateral support, and are fairly light, but are also inferior in shock absorption compared to Mizuno and Asics. Afterall, when was the last time you saw a squash player jump smash :)? I personally don't like the Hi-Tec designs though from a pure esthetic point of view, but can't wear them anyway because of their mediocre shock absorption abilities.



Originally posted by stantan
Im a New Balance fan but they dont seem to have any court shoes on sale here.

I was looking at the nice looking Yonex shoes and I saw they were about US$20 cheaper than ASICS on the average.

I guess the general concensus is that Yonex shoes are not that durable.

Can anyone who has worn both Mizuno and Asics compare the two for shock absorption value?

thanks

[wood_22_chuck]

Nice comparison review, timeless! :)

Whereabouts do you shop for Mizuno/Asics shoes in Greater Vancouver? Also, do you purchase inserts to go with the shoes too? Custom? or off-the-shelf?

-dave

[timeless]

Thanks Dave :). As a result of my injuries last year, I spent a lot of time researching court shoes, and shoe technologies. Basically anything and everything I could use to reduce the amount of force being shot through body on impact.

If you're looking for lower to mid entry Mizuno/Asics shoes in Greater Vancouver, you'll find the best prices at Sport Chek and Sportmart. The drawback is that they usually carry only 1 or 2 models depending on the time of year. One good thing though is that both stores, especially Sportmart, have really good return/exchange policies. The price range will usually be around $50-$90. Realize that the lowest end models might not have Asics Gel in them at all but most of their shoes in that price range will have Gel in the heel at least. If you want Gel in both forefoot and heel you'll have to move up to the higher models. Mizuno usually doesn't sell their lowest models in Canada so most Mizuno shoes have their Wave technology in at least the heel. Both stores don't always carry Mizuno court shoes though, but they always seem to carry Asics.

If you're looking for upper-mid to high end court shoes (of any brand) then you'll have to resort to smaller, pricey, specialized shops such as Racquets & Runners. You can expect the price range to be anywhere from $60-$200+ dependant on the shoe and whether they're having a "sale" or not. Yes, Racquets & Runners is quite expensive, but you're paying for their customer service, and plus the fact that they're the only ones in town that deal specifically in higher end racquet sport attire.

It turned out that the shoes I wanted were even too high end for Racquets & Runners to carry stock! They offered to order them for me but at the time the shoes weren't available in Canada so I had them specially ordered from Asics. The staff at Racquets & Runners were joking with me that I would be the first and only person to own a pair of those shoes in North America for almost half a year before the first shipment ever arrived here. They were more proud of it than I was... I just wanted my shoes :D.

You could always buy your shoes online, but unless you knew exactly what you wanted, and your perfect size for a specific shoe, I wouldn't recommend it.

And yes, I bought inserts for my shoes. Custom orthotics, which will run you roughly $400-$500 (extended medical coverage could help lower the cost greatly). Only get these if you REALLY need them, in other words, see a podiatrist (foot/gait specialist) before even considering of an investment like this. If I didn't need custom orthotics, would I have bought 3rd party inserts? Probably not, except when the original ones wore out. Only because the insoles that came with my shoes are high quality, otherwise I would probably have bought insoles from Sportchek. They seem to have some quality replacement insoles there specifically for sports.

Hope the info helps you out.



Originally posted by wood_22_chuck
Nice comparison review, timeless! :)

Whereabouts do you shop for Mizuno/Asics shoes in Greater Vancouver? Also, do you purchase inserts to go with the shoes too? Custom? or off-the-shelf?

-dave

[cooler]

i agreed the high end asics are very nice but at 200+$ + gst, it ain't cheap, it better last long for that price. For shoes, i think comfort and fit are more important than durability. I was talking to a friend about asics. He told me he don't like it because he has wide feet and asics shoes are regular width.

On the matter of durability, it does has its limited of application. Lets assume a court shoes XX has great construction quality. Because XX has gum outer sole, it will degrade with time no matter how long the upper construction will last. For example, i have lots of unused (new) erasers and pencils from my university years. Depending on brands, many (the erasers) are not the same as the day i bought them. Many of them are just unuseable. Having a pair of 200$ shoes in one piece after 1 year is great but i bet it's not grippy as a new pair of 50$ shoes.

My quirk: why do some values durability in shoes and strings but yet they dont values durability of plastic shuttles?

[stantan]

oh btw,

im way above-average in weight as well.

i buy shoes a full size bigger than normal, place an SOF sports insole (awesome shock absorption) under the existing insole and then wear double socks.

it helped correct my bruised patella and osgood-schlactwhatever injury. i got it from the days when we used to play on parquet and cement =)

[Joey Emerick]

These are the new head shoe for 2004. It also comes in white. They sell for about $70.00 in the US.

[wood_22_chuck]

Originally posted by timeless
Hi Crazy_Smasher,

[snip]

The second photo I posted is the Asics Gel 5000V. It's their top of the line shoe for 2003. It also retailed initially for about $170-$200CAD but now it's a bit less since the 2004 models have come out.

[snip]



I'm a proud owner of a new pair of 5000V after this FINE review by timeless.

(prices in CAD)
shoe: 129
tax: 10.50 (or around there)
shipping: 15

for a total of $155 ... ordered from volleyballstuff.net and got it within 4 days.

The color around the laces where it looks like black graduating to white isn't black, but dark purple, at least , it is on my pair.

After hiding the shoes and receipt in my badminton bag from my significant other for a few days :D, I finally got a chance to try em out at the Collingwood open drop-in yesterday. Oh, played with "valourac" too ... he's in town for another week and a half.

A very sturdy shoe indeed. First sports shoes I've had with cushioning in the toe area as well. The outer shoe shell is stiff and has a feeling of robustnest to them, but was no hindrance at all to flexing (while lunging, for example).

The sole is a mixture of thread "areas" with different thread patterns. Semi-circular around the heel area with a clear "gel window" peeking through, then two different areas up-front that divides lengthwise. I wonder if the black parts of the sole are non-marking? ClearOne insists on non-marking soles, or you'll be playing with socks only. The inside-front part has gum-rubber soles at the edges, and you can see that from the picture posted by timeless, orange-ish sort of color. Grippy for acceleration.

Superb shoe that is rock solid in stability when recovering from jump smashes (the rare times I actually do one), and the cushioning doesn't dampen the push-off you need when accelerating from the back to recover drop shots.

I'm flat-footed and I feel the stock insole is a little soft in providing arch support for the foot-arch-deficient, so I've inserted my Superfeet insole over the stock ones. Yesterday I played with just the stock insole alone.

Very nice shoes.

-dave

[Smashguy]

I like Mizuno. If you play several time a week and have limited budget, don't buy Yonex. It have very poor reputation in durability.

My Mizuno is a new model (Wave Angle PF) which cost HK$480. Although the look is so so, but it is light and good. However, Mizuno's line is relatively narrow. Limited models are available, especially in badminton. I personally won't wear volleyball shoes to play badminton because the head design is different. For badminton, the head of shoes are enhanced.

Anyway, if there are chances I am willing to try other brands except Yonex.

[eggroll]

From my perspective and being biased towards Yonex I will offer the following. Yonex makes shoes specific to the needs of badminton players. The needs that most people identify are in order of importance: 1) weight 2)grip 3) cost 4) durability. For people on a budget there is a model in the Yonex line for you.the 65 is the one that comes to mind. The newer higher numbered models are designed more for weight and grip than durability. This why they don't last as long. The newest model that will be coming out in the spring 2004 or maybe as late as summer 2004 in North America is very light, grippy sole, and very flexible in the forefoot. This will not be, as far as I can see, a shoe that will be durable but will offer excellent performance. Many shoes are available for court use and I can understand that people want some durability but I don't think you can say Yonex shoes as a whole wear out quick.

[bigredlemon]

there will always be a tradeoff between performance and durability. It applies to shoes as readily as it applies to strings.

[Cheung]

Originally posted by eggroll
.... Many shoes are available for court use and I can understand that people want some durability but I don't think you can say Yonex shoes as a whole wear out quick. From my experience as a consumer, I have had very poor durability problems with Yonex shoes. Up to the point where I have avoided them for many years. One day, people were saying how comfortable SHB95 were. I was curious and bought a pair. They started breaking up after 2-3 weeks:mad: since then, Yonex shoes are a no-no.

I do see other people using Yonex shoes though.

[eggroll]

Cheung,

Did you get them replaced under warranty?

[viver]

I also bought a few pairs of Yonex shoes, but so far the experience is not so good. I play once a week and they broke after 2 months. I may be rough on the shoes but paying around HK300 a pair and lasting about 7/8 badminton sessions is a bit expensive.

I am also looking at the Asics Gel model available at Sports Check. The Mizuno Wave is also available but the newer model is not as suitable for badminton as the previous one. The layer of protection on the inside (big toe area) is not there like the previous one.

[yonexfanatic]

i have a pair of yonex shoes and a pair of head shoes. Personally I think the Head shoes are more durable than the yonex ones but I still use my yonex shb 92s due to the fact they're quite light and comfortable. I've gone through one pair of shb 92s where they've ripped at the area where I drag my toe and in other specific areas, my second pair is quite good, it's been holding up for about 4 months. Reason for not using my Head pair is because they're a bit too big for me, grip is good however they limit my movement around the court and they just aren't as light as the 92s.

[kwun]

the shb95 has some serious durability problem. i am refering to the Asian version, North America has the EX which is a different shoe all together.

i too got the same pair as Cheung in HK and they fell apart pretty quickly. my pair of JP version SHB95 however, held up for 2+ years.

however, i think Yonex is getting better at it, my shb89M is holding up really well after 1/2 year of abuse.

[mg27]

I've had my Asics Gel Strategy since mid-2000. The inside liner wore out so I bought some Dr. Scholl's insoles for sports. Also, the mesh part of the shoes were ripping, so I took it to a shoe repair shop in a mall, and they replaced it with some white leather (vinyl?). I've gone about 3 or 4 times.

I just had my right shoe (racquet foot) stitched in a few place as it was starting to rip. The shoe guy said that I may have to get a larger piece of leather/vinyl if I want to continue to patch it up. I think the shoe's days are numbered as I see some of the stitching starting to pull from the leather part of the shoe.

Besides that, the bottom of the shoe is still playable.

I definitely would go for another Asics shoe imo.

For those with Size 9 feet, check out Canuckstuff.com website. Someone mentioned this site before I think. But they're selling Asics 1000V for $ 69.99 on sale (for those who don't mind a volleyball shoe) for men.

Another thing, my right foot is slightly larger than my left foot. So I have to order size 10 shoes - good for my right foot, not so good for my left, but all I do is where thicker socks to compensate.

mg27

[bigredlemon]

I think i mentioned that store first. It's around the corner from Winning Cycle & Sports (also mentioned a few times on BF.) Canuk's place is actually pretty nice... a huge wall of nothing but volleyball shoes. The sales rep was pretty knowledgable too. They even went through the list of shoe features and differences between the shoes. Great store for shoe & shirt needs.

[mg27]

Hey BRL:

Why doesn't Canuckstuff have other shoes listed on their website. They only show a few shoes or are they still doing upgrades to the site. Do you know if there's a sale on the 5000Vs.

thnx
MG27

[bigredlemon]

their online presence is horrible though. It takes them forever to update their web page or return emails. They probably have everything mizuno and asics makes for volleyball so drop them a email. I think the sale applies only to older models. Their price on newer models are still cheaper than sportchek's prices on old models though.

[stantan]

After a long search with retailers for an Asics Gel Tactic that would fit, I finally bit the bullet and bought a current model of Mizuno (not sure which Wave model, its the white one with lots of red trim).

They feel great and seem to cushion me very well without the need for insoles, thanks very much to those who pointed me in this direction!

My only concern is that it feels kind of high compared to my old court shoes...

[timeless]

Even though you couldn't find a pair of Asics Gel Tactics in your size, you're certainly not settling for "less" by going with Mizuno. They make great quality court shoes and certainly one of the most comfortable around.

Compared to your old court shoes, the extra cushioning that Mizuno and Asics put into their volleyball shoes certainly does add more thickness to the soles. Just keep a mental note to always pick up your feet right off the ground. If you get tired (or lazy) and start to drag your feet around, you'll certainly risk a potentially bad injury by rolling an ankle.

With the thicker soles of my Asics shoes, I always think of it as 2 extra advantages besides the obviously better cushioning:

1. A training tool. The shoe is noticeably heavier than badminton shoes (ie. Yonex) so I have to pick up my feet more. Prevents developing lazy habits by dragging my feet about the court. Besides a lot of footwork training, I think it's helped me become lighter on my feet. If I ever fully recover from my knee injuries, I know I can switch to lighter shoes and move even faster :).

2. An early warning sysytem. When I am being lazy or just getting physically tired, my shoes usually tell me first because sometimes when I shuffle, I won't pick my feet up enough, and will almost trip over my feet. As soon as that happens I either realize I'm more tired than I thought, so I move more carefully or call it a night soon afterwards, or I realize that I'm being plain lazy, and so I start picking up the pace and get lighter on my feet.

Bottom line, be aware of the thicker soles and make adjustments so you don't roll your ankles. That kind of injury could put you out of badminton a long time.

[timeless]

Wood22Chuck,

The 5000V are awesome shoes eh? I think you and I are the only ones in town to have them! ;) That's hilarious that you had to hide them from your wife :D.

The color is a bit misleading, in website photos the color looks like gradients of black/grey fading to white but in reality it's actually black with gradients of purple fading into white. Even on shoe box it says the color is black & white... nothing about purple. At least it looks much better than the optional blue & white model imo.

You shouldn't have a problem with the soles at ClearOne. They are guaranteed to be non-marking by Asics. I even asked the Asics directly for that very reason (ClearOne). I've been training there all summer with mine and have never left a colored smear on the courts there. I've seen more black scuff marks left on the courts there from people wearing actual badminton shoes because they also wear them outside :p.