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Just quickly to give some background info about my previous shoes so you can probably help me better.
I now use a Mizuno Wave Medal 6, which I got for 55EUR on a bargain. I like that it has good support, the sole grip is not bad, wish it was better on wood floor (especially on worn wood floor). I like it helped to get rid of the calluses my previous shoe caused and also helped me to get rid of a worrying right ankle pain I developed with my previous shoe as well. I don't like that it's more like a stability show, doesn't encourage me to move, more like to stay in a spot. It's a bit stiff too, not that cushy.
Before the WM6 I had a Lezoline Mach, which was very cushy, light, quite instable in the sense that it made me move around more. It was durable, it lasted me for 18 months before the sole turned into slicks. It caused me calluses on my big toe and on the ball on my foot. It was painful and annoying and ugly. I did develop on my right ankle a pain that just was creepy. It happened when I did loopkills and lot of strain was on my right ankle. I am left handed btw. This creepy pain was the reason I switched from this shoe.
Before the Mach I had an Andro Cross Step. That shoe's sole only lasted me 2-3 months so I don't have much nice things to say about it.
And before the Andro I had a LiNing whirlwind. I think whirlwind is the name of the model. A lot of Chinese used it a few years ago. It's a pretty good shoe, but the sole grip on wood was not too great so that was the main reason I didn't want to re-buy it. It was a bit hard shoe too like the WM6, and had quite good support. I think the angled soles helped quite a bit.
So I've been doing some research about the badminton shoes and for sure Yonex has the best presence or marketing. I don't know if they are really this good or just marketing hype. However the 65Z2 looks like a nice shoe, I can get it for aroud 80-90EUR which is acceptable.
I also like the Aerus Z but don't think it's worth 120-130EUR. I certainly don't see the extra value over the 65Z2. The Aerus X is about 80-90EUR but is looks like a dumb version of the Aerus Z and not in the same league as the 65Z2. Is their sizing really off? I'd need 255mm and it looks like a EU40 on their chart. Normally 255mm is EU41 so I'm a bit concerned.
From Victor I saw the 9200 and 9500 to be some OK options. 9500 is a bit pricey again, just like the Aerus Z. They also look closed so maybe they get sweaty?
I don't know how these shoes grip on different surfaces, for me good grip on several surfaces is important.
Mizuno Wave Fang and Claw look really cool, they probably have the same sole material as the table tennis counterparts. I can get these also around the 100-120EUR mark.
LiNing shoes are a bit tricky in EU. Not that easy to get. What I saw is that they have these Ranger models that look OK. They have an interesting sole design for sure. Due to the lack of experience I rely on members to tell me if these shoes are OK or not. I trus LiNing can make a good shoe since a lot of pros seem to use them.
And also some Babolat shoes are more available in my country. These have better pricing but I have no idea how well they fare. If there are some other good options from any other brand I'm open. I don't know these brands all too well.
I now use a Mizuno Wave Medal 6, which I got for 55EUR on a bargain. I like that it has good support, the sole grip is not bad, wish it was better on wood floor (especially on worn wood floor). I like it helped to get rid of the calluses my previous shoe caused and also helped me to get rid of a worrying right ankle pain I developed with my previous shoe as well. I don't like that it's more like a stability show, doesn't encourage me to move, more like to stay in a spot. It's a bit stiff too, not that cushy.
Before the WM6 I had a Lezoline Mach, which was very cushy, light, quite instable in the sense that it made me move around more. It was durable, it lasted me for 18 months before the sole turned into slicks. It caused me calluses on my big toe and on the ball on my foot. It was painful and annoying and ugly. I did develop on my right ankle a pain that just was creepy. It happened when I did loopkills and lot of strain was on my right ankle. I am left handed btw. This creepy pain was the reason I switched from this shoe.
Before the Mach I had an Andro Cross Step. That shoe's sole only lasted me 2-3 months so I don't have much nice things to say about it.
And before the Andro I had a LiNing whirlwind. I think whirlwind is the name of the model. A lot of Chinese used it a few years ago. It's a pretty good shoe, but the sole grip on wood was not too great so that was the main reason I didn't want to re-buy it. It was a bit hard shoe too like the WM6, and had quite good support. I think the angled soles helped quite a bit.
So I've been doing some research about the badminton shoes and for sure Yonex has the best presence or marketing. I don't know if they are really this good or just marketing hype. However the 65Z2 looks like a nice shoe, I can get it for aroud 80-90EUR which is acceptable.
I also like the Aerus Z but don't think it's worth 120-130EUR. I certainly don't see the extra value over the 65Z2. The Aerus X is about 80-90EUR but is looks like a dumb version of the Aerus Z and not in the same league as the 65Z2. Is their sizing really off? I'd need 255mm and it looks like a EU40 on their chart. Normally 255mm is EU41 so I'm a bit concerned.
From Victor I saw the 9200 and 9500 to be some OK options. 9500 is a bit pricey again, just like the Aerus Z. They also look closed so maybe they get sweaty?
I don't know how these shoes grip on different surfaces, for me good grip on several surfaces is important.
Mizuno Wave Fang and Claw look really cool, they probably have the same sole material as the table tennis counterparts. I can get these also around the 100-120EUR mark.
LiNing shoes are a bit tricky in EU. Not that easy to get. What I saw is that they have these Ranger models that look OK. They have an interesting sole design for sure. Due to the lack of experience I rely on members to tell me if these shoes are OK or not. I trus LiNing can make a good shoe since a lot of pros seem to use them.
And also some Babolat shoes are more available in my country. These have better pricing but I have no idea how well they fare. If there are some other good options from any other brand I'm open. I don't know these brands all too well.
