DinkALot's Shoe & Insole Review

[DinkAlot]

Panda has now tested the Spenco Total Support Thin, Original, and Max.

Clarification:

+Prior to August 2012 the only insole available was the the Original, originally called "Spenco Polysorb Total Support".

+Spenco has other Polysorb insoles that are gel based which made it confusing (which are less expensive and lesser performing) so since August 2012 have changed the name to just Total Support.

+Total Support has (since August 2012), in addition to the ORIGINAL, now THIN and MAX.


Results:

THIN: for walking, comfort and minimal support, the THIN is the way to go. They are still excellent for badminton for those needing only minimal support. Panda uses the THIN for walking and daily use footwear.

ORIGINAL: relatively speaking medium support. They are excellent for badminton for someone who needs moderate support. Also probably best to try the ORIGINAL if you are unsure which insole fits your needs.

MAX: the new best insole Panda has tried for badminton. Couple the MAX with Victor 9000 ACE, we have the best combination of badminton shoe and insole this Panda has tried by a good margin. The MAX insole is very supportive without being harsh.

Wondering if anyone can update with a review on the Total Support Max? How is the arch support for flat feet?

[BlueTornado]

How do you get the 9000's in your size? I can't even find US11 in the US...

Panda has now tested the Spenco Total Support Thin, Original, and Max.

Clarification:

+Prior to August 2012 the only insole available was the the Original, originally called "Spenco Polysorb Total Support".

+Spenco has other Polysorb insoles that are gel based which made it confusing (which are less expensive and lesser performing) so since August 2012 have changed the name to just Total Support.

+Total Support has (since August 2012), in addition to the ORIGINAL, now THIN and MAX.


Results:

THIN: for walking, comfort and minimal support, the THIN is the way to go. They are still excellent for badminton for those needing only minimal support. Panda uses the THIN for walking and daily use footwear.

ORIGINAL: relatively speaking medium support. They are excellent for badminton for someone who needs moderate support. Also probably best to try the ORIGINAL if you are unsure which insole fits your needs.

MAX: the new best insole Panda has tried for badminton. Couple the MAX with Victor 9000 ACE, we have the best combination of badminton shoe and insole this Panda has tried by a good margin. The MAX insole is very supportive without being harsh.

[DinkAlot]

Purchased in Taiwan.

The biggest is size Victor offers in the 9000s = 11.5 US which are only a 1/4" shorter in length than my Size: 13.0 US Asic Tigers and Mizuno running shoes. So the Victor 11.5 is more like a 12.25 - 12.5US.

How do you get the 9000's in your size? I can't even find US11 in the US...

[Phouma]

Awesome! Thank you for the update

[BlueTornado]

Purchased in Taiwan.

The biggest is size Victor offers in the 9000s = 11.5 US which are only a 1/4" shorter in length than my Size: 13.0US Asic Tigers and Mizuno running shoes. So the Victor 11.5 is more like a 12.25 - 12.5US.

Ah, thanks for the heads up. I better try out the sizes at Racket Supply to make sure then.

[radhakrishnan.k]

Hi Sir Dink,

Any reviews on the latest yonex shb 102mx,ltd, shb fi ltd, mx?

Thanks

[radhakrishnan.k]

hi Sir Panda

Just wanted to confirm if Victor SH 9000 Ace is better than Yonex SHB 101,102 series..

Please confirm.. Planning to buy whichever you suggest

[DinkAlot]

Panda has not tried the Yonex 102s and F1s and does not plan to. The last Yonex shoes tried were the 101-MX, 101-LTD and SC-3MX.

The Victor 9000 ACE coupled with the recently name changed Spenco Total Support* insole in either: THIN (minimal support), ORIGINAL (excellent support) or MAX (maximum support) is the best badminton shoe/insole combination this Panda has tried.

*Original name was Spenco Polysorb Total Support but that was very confusing because there were gel versions of this which is not the recommended insole. Spenco was wise to change the name to just Total Support and added three versions. There used to only be one version, which is the current MEDIUM.

The correct insole is here:
http://www.spenco.com/products/footcare/total-support-insoles


On insole, use:

THIN: if you are lighter and/or want a softer feel.

MEDIUM: what Panda would recommend for most people. Excellent support without being too stiff.

MAX: for heavy players and/or players who need maximum support.

Panda really cannot see the 9000 ACE being improved upon much. It's at or at least near the pinnacle for badminton shoe performance.

Case and point: when you intially wear the 9000 ACE with Polysorb Total Support you will think it's good to excellent to even bestest. After a few weeks and you truly get used to it you will think it's really good. You probably won't think it's the best but you won't be able to find any flaws...

...then if you go back to just about any badminton shoe/insole combo you have tried in the past, you will realize how great the 9000 ACE with Polysorb is.

Disclaimer: Panda is not a shoe expert though he did do extensive research on running (tennis, and volleyball) shoes and was going to go into the athletic shoe business.

And as with any recommendation, your mileage may vary due to all the different variables.

hi Sir Panda

Just wanted to confirm if Victor SH 9000 Ace is better than Yonex SHB 101,102 series..

Please confirm.. Planning to buy whichever you suggest

[BlueTornado]

Panda has not tried the Yonex 102s and F1s and does not plan to. The last Yonex shoes tried were the 101-MX, 101-LTD and SC-3MX.

The Victor 9000 ACE coupled with the recently name changed Spenco Total Support* insole in either: THIN (minimal support), ORIGINAL (excellent support) or MAX (maximum support) is the best badminton shoe/insole combination this Panda has tried.

*Original name was Spenco Polysorb Total Support but that was very confusing because there were gel versions of this which is not the recommended insole. Spenco was wise to change the name to just Total Support and added three versions. There used to only be one version, which is the current MEDIUM.

The correct insole is here:
http://www.spenco.com/products/footcare/total-support-insoles


On insole, use:

THIN: if you are lighter and/or want a softer feel.

MEDIUM: what Panda would recommend for most people. Excellent support without being too stiff.

MAX: for heavy players and/or players who need maximum support.

Panda really cannot see the 9000 ACE being improved upon much. It's at or at least near the pinnacle for badminton shoe performance.

Case and point: when you intially wear the 9000 ACE with Polysorb Total Support you will think it's good to excellent to even bestest. After a few weeks and you truly get used to it you will think it's really good. You probably won't think it's the best but you won't be able to find any flaws...

...then if you go back to just about any badminton shoe/insole combo you have tried in the past, you will realize how great the 9000 ACE with Polysorb is.

Disclaimer: Panda is not a shoe expert though he did do extensive research on running (tennis, and volleyball) shoes and was going to go into the athletic shoe business.

And as with any recommendation, your mileage may vary due to all the different variables.

Off topic, but what do you recommend as the best volleyball shoe? So far I've just been wearing my SHB-101's with Total Support :P

[DinkAlot]

Volleyball: Asics Tiger and Mizuno. Personally have the Mizuno Wave Tornado and Lighting. Though badminton shoes work, Panda thinks volleyball specific shoes are better for volleyball because they have more cushioning and also sit higher so they give you a ~0.5" height advantage.

----------------------------

Also, quite a few have contacted Panda regarding running shoes recommendations.

Before the purchase, the most important thing is to know your pronation (or some say gait). It's either neutral, overpronation or underpronation (supination).

Any professional running shoe store, podiatrist or shoe specialist can watch you walk/run and determine your gait.

Knowing your pronation is more important than the shoe purchase itself. If you purchase the wrong type of shoe, you can seriously injure yourself.

Once you know you're ready for shoes...

...as long as you have the right type of shoe, there's really no bad shoe. All the top running shoes in their respective pronation category will be sufficient. It will be just a matter of personal preference.

Panda's recommendations: Panda's a long-time Asics Tiger fan and goes first and foremost with Asics. He personally wears the Gel Kinsei and Gel Nimbus and Gel Kayano...

...but...any of the shoes below are excellent as well :

Brooks, New Balance, Adidas, Saucony, Mizuno, and Puma.

Nike? Hmmmm, not into the Air Max or (especially) Shox. The Air Pegasus and Bowerman Series (if they still produce it) and are/were good.

Off topic, but what do you recommend as the best volleyball shoe? So far I've just been wearing my SHB-101's with Total Support :P

[Fidget]

Truly, Sensei Dinkalot, you must be the owner of California's largest shoe closet.

[visor]

Speaking of the Total Support orthotics series, any of you (Dink, BlueTornado) find that the top surface material is too smooth and slippery? I find the rough waved surface of the Yonex oem insoles in the SHB200 and SC5EX much better at keeping my feet from sliding around inside my shoes. If Spenco can address this problem then it'll be perfect!

[DinkAlot]

No sliding around here, your shoes must be too big.

[Borbor]

I'm with Panda. I actually hated the OEm yonex insoles for its lack of arch support. These are much better and I've never had a problem with my foot sliding around inside.

[visor]

Hmmm... they are the right size. The seller must've accidentally spilled some WD40 onto my shoes before shipping to me.

[alana07]

too bad the new Total Support Max insole is about 30% more costly than the Original insole....

[BlueTornado]

Speaking of the Total Support orthotics series, any of you (Dink, BlueTornado) find that the top surface material is too smooth and slippery? I find the rough waved surface of the Yonex oem insoles in the SHB200 and SC5EX much better at keeping my feet from sliding around inside my shoes. If Spenco can address this problem then it'll be perfect!

Hm, not for me either. I have both Thin and Original.

Volleyball: Asics Tiger and Mizuno. Personally have the Mizuno Wave Tornado and Lighting. Though badminton shoes work, Panda thinks volleyball specific shoes are better for volleyball because they have more cushioning and also sit higher so they give you a ~0.5" height advantage.

----------------------------

Also, quite a few have contacted Panda regarding running shoes recommendations.

Before the purchase, the most important thing is to know your pronation (or some say gait). It's either neutral, overpronation or underpronation (supination).

Any professional running shoe store, podiatrist or shoe specialist can watch you walk/run and determine your gait.

Knowing your pronation is more important than the shoe purchase itself. If you purchase the wrong type of shoe, you can seriously injure yourself.

Once you know you're ready for shoes...

...as long as you have the right type of shoe, there's really no bad shoe. All the top running shoes in their respective pronation category will be sufficient. It will be just a matter of personal preference.

Panda's recommendations: Panda's a long-time Asics Tiger fan and goes first and foremost with Asics. He personally wears the Gel Kinsei and Gel Nimbus and Gel Kayano...

...but...any of the shoes below are excellent as well :

Brooks, New Balance, Adidas, Saucony, Mizuno, and Puma.

Nike? Hmmmm, not into the Air Max or (especially) Shox. The Air Pegasus and Bowerman Series (if they still produce it) and are/were good.

Okay then, Mizuno it is. I figured you might know some hidden shoe that was better, but I guess everyone wears the Lightning or Tornado for a reason.