Did you have a chance to see or hear about a new Victor model shoes Paul ? I wasnt sure if they were going to lunch a new pair of shoes or just new colours for existant top end models.
After 5 months using the SH-9000ACE... regular use of ~2-3 times per week.... used indoors only. - some signs of wear are showing at the forefoot. The fit is not as "snug" as before. Lateral support from at the forefoot has decreased. - sole is showing some wearout (i play on wood courts). - I must agree with the comments about minimal cushioning at the forefoot. I swear i can sometimes feel the bumps on the floor surfaces (ie., ridges on stair edges, etc). I see it lasting for another half year. Durability is still good BUT I must say that my Yonex SHB-102MX was more resistant to wear... Just to throw in numbers, I would assume that the SHB-102MX would last 10-20% more.
I run small retail business in the UK so ordered these directly in from VICTOR (and added a couple of extra pairs for myself!)
There is one question regarding shoes and especially for badminton shoes, that is are these shoes wider at the tow region? I need shoes were my big toe will not be bend inwards, like it wants to cuddle with its tinier comrades. I found the 8000 Matsui plus pleasuring my needs perfectly. I owned Yonex SH 101 and 102 which were fine. I then bought the SH 86, which were cut very tight and I had to buy it one size larger then usual. I also tested the Asics Gel Blade 3. Victor shoes are the only ones were it seems like they are made for wider feet. Are the new shoes from Victor still made like the Matsui 8000 plus, so I do not have to buy 10 pairs of them and hope to never run dry on them?
Central Sports in the UK has these marked up as a narrow shoe http://www.centralsports.co.uk/products/victor-sh9000-ace-badminton-shoe-red-footwear
I'm currently using the SH9000 ACE D and it is an amazing pair of shoes. However, its been a bit over 6 months and the shoes are breaking down. Does anyone have suggestions on a Yonex shoe similar to this? How are the new Victor shoes?
I think Yonex SHB-F1NM is similar as it also got wider head. New Victor shoes are coming like the 9100 that said to arrive in 2014 Q1....
Can I ask, in what area/part the shoes are "breaking down"? BTW Don't get Yonex if it is increased durability your after.
I'm planning to get another pair of SH9000 ACE but in yellow. The front side for the left shoe came off after 3 months. My right shoe, for some reason, is in pretty good condition. The hole is getting worse so that is why I need to buy a new pair. I play/train pretty often (around 5 times a week) on mat surfaces.
^ Like me but not that bad... you need to find a lefty player who wears the exact same shoe and size, then you can buy his left shoe off him.
LOL I wish it was that easy haha. In my area, most of the players play in Yonex shoes. Not one Victor shoe in sight!
Yeah it's just from dragging your left foot on/after lunges, you don't do that with your right foot if your right handed so right side holds up fine. That's exactly what happened to both my yonex 101 and 102's after 6 months, but has not happened to my victor 9000's after 12 months, so I am surprised to see yours like that in your time scale. Mine are the yellow ones and I am set to buy a new pair due to the left front sole durability reason alone. Thanks for the pic anyway impressive wear! So going on these calculations a pair of yonex 101 or 102's would only last you about 45 days
LOL sorry what I meant was the front of the shoe started coming off at around the 3 months mark. I've been using it for around 6 months now. Yea I decided to just buy another pair of SH9000's since I love them so much. Victor doesn't have much left! They are focusing more on their new lines of shoes now
Really. I better order some up then. Just can't seem to find the black yellow ones in uk reasonably priced only red ones. Having seen both, the black ones look more durable to me, more of a gloss finish on the rubber in the problem area.(maybe the colouring process makes the material tougher?? or maybe not)