best tt shoe?

[Reaper]

Since i'm, 40yo and and 95+Kg, I switched my indoor football shoes to running shoes a couple of years ago.

It's a bit weird having 2-3 cms heels but my knees and blister free toes thanked me.

IMO if you're not squatting like FZD you don't need those pricey TT shoes 🤷‍♂️

 

[Rinforzando]

I have to give the best of props to Speed Art/Sanwei as their Fireflash shoe is amazing.

View attachment 32622
https://sanweisport.com/en/product/...is-shoes/sanwei-fireflash-table-tennis-shoes/

It looks sick, it feels sick and it performs sick. Before I kept two shoes in my bag, one for wood floor and one for PVC floor. Now I don't need that at all since this shoe works on both and it works amazingly. The grip is outstanding, honestly second to none. Take Mizuno, Butterfly, Asics, they are not even in the same dimension.
The only shoe that is in the same dimension is the Yonex Aureus Z copy from Kawasaki (maybe the original too) but I think even that doesn't match the grip.

This Sanwei/Speed Art shoe has the best grip ever, a hard boost foam midsole, has a carbon plate, it is lightweight, and had BOA lace. I have never seen a more modern shoe for table tennis ever and it is lovely.
But still it's by far, non contested feature is it's sole grip in every situation. This feature alone would make it the best table tennis shoe.

Does it have good grip on a dusty taraflex basketball court floor ? I have the wave drive 7 and I'm really happy with them, my only concern is when I encounter this kind of floor and most of the time it is not clean and it's dusty af, my shoes slip a lot. I need to put water on the ground and wet my shoes quickly every point to restore some of the grip.

 

[Aizen]

Since i'm, 40yo and and 95+Kg, I switched my indoor football shoes to running shoes a couple of years ago.

It's a bit weird having 2-3 cms heels but my knees and blister free toes thanked me.

IMO if you're not squatting like FZD you don't need those pricey TT shoes 🤷‍♂️

one does not need to be FZD to get injured like above, just a wrong step/jump and a pair of high (running) shoe will work, especially while standing straight.

I've prefer any cheap low sneakers over expensive high running shoes for TT.

edit:
I'm leaving this one also for better demonstration (TMI: I've injured like this years ago, it sucks) For me, a proper TT shoe is the most important TT equipment rather than blade, rubber etc.

 

[Zwill]

Does it have good grip on a dusty taraflex basketball court floor ? I have the wave drive 7 and I'm really happy with them, my only concern is when I encounter this kind of floor and most of the time it is not clean and it's dusty af, my shoes slip a lot. I need to put water on the ground and wet my shoes quickly every point to restore some of the grip.

It's great on taraflex it's sticking like glue. Bot the Sanwei and the Kawasaki.
Btw I'm talking about this Kawasaki:

This is also a very grippy shoe, it was my backup since May. And it also works great on all kinds of floors, even on slippery hardwood. What I dislike about this is that it's a bit stiff and tall so it makes ma lazy to make quick small steps. But for large steps I'd say it's better than table tennis shoes. Well it's a badminton shoe so no wonder...

Well here we are in 2024, Chinese make the grippiest soles. Who could have known?!

 

[Rinforzando]

I've been using it for a month now, even in dusty places it's great. Like between the threads there is dust, which I could clean but I don't since the grip is still the same.

I play on very slippery hard floors, Butterfly, Mizuno shoes are like ice skating unless you put out a wet rag and use it every 2-3 points. This one and the Kawasaki grip there really well, they squeak. I don't really see much wear on the sole either.

what about the sizing ? I take 27.5 jp size with my wave medal 7 and the fit is amazing, but there is only 27 or 28 on Sanwei.

 

[riemsesy]

im still playing with skatboard sneakers I already had for years.
its almost a bearfoot.. as flat as it is and I can curl the complete shoe.
but today I orded Mizuno Wave Medal 7 wide from tt-japan

 

[Zwill]

what about the sizing ? I take 27.5 jp size with my wave medal 7 and the fit is amazing, but there is only 27 or 28 on Sanwei.

Probably 28, the wave medals are pretty big. I had a wave medal 6 before so if 27.5 is perfect from that then 28 from the Sanwei.

 

[latej]

Rel. cheap and durable, but most importantly for me - very low... Actually when you see the offerings for TT shoes on Ali, majority is higher. My preference is low... Cheers.

 

[Rinforzando]

Probably 28, the wave medals are pretty big. I had a wave medal 6 before so if 27.5 is perfect from that then 28 from the Sanwei.

thanks ! It will be my next shoe purchase

 

[Wrighty67]

I ordered half a size bigger than what I usually wear and they fit perfectly

I have the opposite experience - the 44 is a larger than my other shoes (Butterfly/Mizuno) and with hindsight a 43 would have fit better (Sanwei)

 

[sebi]

one does not need to be FZD to get injured like above, just a wrong step/jump and a pair of high (running) shoe will work, especially while standing straight.

I've prefer any cheap low sneakers over expensive high running shoes for TT.

edit:
I'm leaving this one also for better demonstration (TMI: I've injured like this years ago, it sucks) For me, a proper TT shoe is the most important TT equipment rather than blade, rubber etc.

this is so important, with all the side stepping in TT a low shoe is the best you can get. I don´t think it has to be a TT shoe just get one with a low sole and that fits you good.

 

[Table10Ice]

Probably 28, the wave medals are pretty big. I had a wave medal 6 before so if 27.5 is perfect from that then 28 from the Sanwei.

I'm thinking of ordering the Mizuno Medal 7 and my feet are 27,2 cm. Your experience is that they are pretty big, but would 28 still be right for me? Btw I hate tight toeboxes with cramped feeling.

 

[z0uLess]

If there would be zero drop, 175-200 gram, extra wide forefoot and with good grip, I would be all over it, but I havent found that yet. Currently using vivobarefoot primus lite 3, which are 259 grams (EU size 44) with suboptimal grip.

I also have Mizuno Wave Drive 8, which are 328 grams in EU size 45 (I had to size up because I have very wide feet. These are known to be suited people with wide feet, but still nothing like barefoot shoes.

I know its possible to make lighter shoes, since my old favorite running shoes were 180 grams (Eu size 45 1/3).

 

[riemsesy]

I'm thinking of ordering the Mizuno Medal 7 and my feet are 27,2 cm. Your experience is that they are pretty big, but would 28 still be right for me? Btw I hate tight toeboxes with cramped feeling.

This is exactly what I have. I’ll receive my s shoes next week.

 

[K.K]

If there would be zero drop, 175-200 gram, extra wide forefoot and with good grip, I would be all over it, but I havent found that yet. Currently using vivobarefoot primus lite 3, which are 259 grams (EU size 44) with suboptimal grip.

View attachment 33029

I also have Mizuno Wave Drive 8, which are 328 grams in EU size 45 (I had to size up because I have very wide feet. These are known to be suited people with wide feet, but still nothing like barefoot shoes.

I know its possible to make lighter shoes, since my old favorite running shoes were 180 grams (Eu size 45 1/3).

the new mizuno wave drive 9 are even wider then the old model and fit my foot even better. i have wide feet too and with that it is quite hard to find any shoe nowadays, sometimes feels like they get narrower every year

the wave drive 9 are 246g in my size

 

[Zwill]

I'm thinking of ordering the Mizuno Medal 7 and my feet are 27,2 cm. Your experience is that they are pretty big, but would 28 still be right for me? Btw I hate tight toeboxes with cramped feeling.

This sounds like a personal preference thing, hard to comment but mizuno wave medal is very wide, so I don't whink you will feel cramped even in super thick socks.

 

[z0uLess]

the wave drive 9 are 246g in my size

and what size is that?

 

[K.K]

and what size is that?

sorry even lighter! weighted them at 235g in 25.5JP/40Eur

 

[z0uLess]

sorry even lighter! weighted them at 235g in 25.5JP/40Eur

... and are they true to size or similar to #8? I use EU 45 in #8, which means I have a full width of my thumbprint of open space infront of my foot in the shoe, just to make sure they are not too narrow. The weight of them are 330 grams.

If I measure the widest part of my forefoot straight across, I get 11 cm (4.33 inches)

 

[riemsesy]

... and are they true to size or similar to #8? I use EU 45 in #8, which means I have a full width of my thumbprint of open space infront of my foot in the shoe, just to make sure they are not too narrow. The weight of them are 330 grams.

If I measure the widest part of my forefoot straight across, I get 11 cm (4.33 inches)

now I can buy new shoes! la la la la la