Shoes

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I tried NB once after many recommendations from this board....they felt like I was running with a pair of bricks with slots chipped out for my feet. Stiff, no size fit well, and generally felt like the worst pair of shoe's I'd owned for a long time.

I buy whichever shoes fit best. For my feet, that is Nike or Offiical Footwear (Official Call - Basketball or Official Footwear Referee Shoes: Ump Attire).

Camron,

I'm curious. which NB shoes did you try? I've been a big fan of almost every NB shoe I've ever tried. I even buy NB for my non-officiating gym shoes, usually the same make/style, just in white. However, I got the 888's a couple years ago (as I recall because the stopped making my beloved 609's). I hated them. Still do. The fit, sizing, feel, everything about them is completely different from my previous experience with them.

Sadly I'm too cheap to just chuck them out. So I learned to make due (I added Spenco inserts and wear 2-3 pairs of sock with them). I figured I'd replace them as soon as they showed signs of age. But they still haven.t They are maddeningly sturdy and show no signs of needing replaced. Even after 2 seasons as my only pair of officiating shoes.

I don't have a point. Just whining a bit, while putting on my second pair of socks. Off to do a couple AAU games.

[IowaMike]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Camron,

I'm curious. which NB shoes did you try? I've been a big fan of almost every NB shoe I've ever tried. I even buy NB for my non-officiating gym shoes, usually the same make/style, just in white. However, I got the 888's a couple years ago (as I recall because the stopped making my beloved 609's). I hated them. Still do. The fit, sizing, feel, everything about them is completely different from my previous experience with them.

Sadly I'm too cheap to just chuck them out. So I learned to make due (I added Spenco inserts and wear 2-3 pairs of sock with them). I figured I'd replace them as soon as they showed signs of age. But they still haven.t They are maddeningly sturdy and show no signs of needing replaced. Even after 2 seasons as my only pair of officiating shoes.

I don't have a point. Just whining a bit, while putting on my second pair of socks. Off to do a couple AAU games.

I just bought a pair of 888's for this season. I haven't worked a game in them yet but they didn't feel that great when I tried them on (bought them online). Every other pair of NB I have worn were great, very comfortable. I tried a pair of Nike's one year and they made my toes numb. Everybody's feet are different, but NB have always been great for me. I guess I'll have to see how the 888's feel after a few games this year.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by IowaMike

I just bought a pair of 888's for this season. I haven't worked a game in them yet but they didn't feel that great when I tried them on (bought them online). Every other pair of NB I have worn were great, very comfortable. I tried a pair of Nike's one year and they made my toes numb. Everybody's feet are different, but NB have always been great for me. I guess I'll have to see how the 888's feel after a few games this year.

If you go on-line to new balance, you can see some of the specs of the variosu shoes. My guess is that the 888s are made from a different last, etc. than the 609s.

If you have a pair you like, check out other models with similar design.

[vbzebra]

Originally Posted by Lcubed48

I've owned only two pair of Nike's (one for running & one for officiating). Both of them hurt my feet terribly. So now, it's NB all the way. As a matter of fact, the pair that I had for officiating ended up being donated to a shoe drive sponsored by NB in return for a 10% discount on a new pair of NB's.

I gotta get a new pair of reffing shoes on Monday at our rules clinic. I"ll have to give NB a try and see how they feel.

[zm1283]

I had a pair of NB 608s my first year and hated them. Just didn't feel right at all. I now have the Reebok "Refs" in patent leather and they're decent. My favorites are my Nike Air Max 97s. Very comfortable and easy to run in. I have had a lot of Nike Shox and I don't know how guys referee in them.

[Lcubed48]

Originally Posted by vbzebra

I gotta get a new pair of reffing shoes on Monday at our rules clinic. I"ll have to give NB a try and see how they feel.

Like grunewar & others have said - try several kinds and use what works for you. It's the 610's for me.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by IowaMike

I just bought a pair of 888's for this season. I haven't worked a game in them yet but they didn't feel that great when I tried them on (bought them online). Every other pair of NB I have worn were great, very comfortable. I tried a pair of Nike's one year and they made my toes numb. Everybody's feet are different, but NB have always been great for me. I guess I'll have to see how the 888's feel after a few games this year.

I bought mine online too. That may be the last pair of shoes I buy that way.

[Juulie Downs]

My first pair were Nike, because my (now ex) son-in-law worked there, and got them for me very cheap. They were too narrow, caused problems and I ended up at a podiatrist who recommended something much wider. Used New Balance for a couple of years, and like them, but I'm a complete convert to the Official Footwear (Camron, that's Tom's company right?), as Camron recommends. The wide size is VERY good for me, and they all come with a footbed that is much more supportive, especially for my pronation problems. With the NB, I had to buy special insoles, but the built in one in the OF is just right. I like that in a shoe!

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

I bought mine online too. That may be the last pair of shoes I buy that way.

Concur, especially with a new variety of shoes!

At our state rules clinic last year, a vendor was showing off several different varieties, makes, and models and even then I couldn't find one that felt good or fit properly. No way I by them just by looking at them on-line... pain in the butt sending things back.

With my running shoes, after many yrs of trial and error I finally settled on a variety of Asics (made especially for my size, kind of feet, pronation, etc.). Now that I have settled on a model/size, I can order them on-line every six months or so.

Happy hunting....there are a great many options and hopefully you'll find something to your liking.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Camron,

I'm curious. which NB shoes did you try? I've been a big fan of almost every NB shoe I've ever tried. I even buy NB for my non-officiating gym shoes, usually the same make/style, just in white. However, I got the 888's a couple years ago (as I recall because the stopped making my beloved 609's). I hated them. Still do. The fit, sizing, feel, everything about them is completely different from my previous experience with them.

It was the 609's. I still have them. I used them for a few games several years ago and quickly retired them to casual use. I still wear them on occasion (maybe 1-2 times a month) if I don't expect to do much walking (sitting at my desk)...I added a heel cup to snug up the heel a bit so it doesn't flop around so badly.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Juulie Downs

... but I'm a complete convert to the Official Footwear (Camron, that's Tom's company right?), as Camron recommends. The wide size is VERY good for me, and they all come with a footbed that is much more supportive, especially for my pronation problems. With the NB, I had to buy special insoles, but the built in one in the OF is just right. I like that in a shoe!

Yes.

[jkumpire]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Camron,

I'm curious. which NB shoes did you try? I've been a big fan of almost every NB shoe I've ever tried. I even buy NB for my non-officiating gym shoes, usually the same make/style, just in white. However, I got the 888's a couple years ago (as I recall because the stopped making my beloved 609's). I hated them. Still do. The fit, sizing, feel, everything about them is completely different from my previous experience with them.

Sadly I'm too cheap to just chuck them out. So I learned to make due (I added Spenco inserts and wear 2-3 pairs of sock with them). I figured I'd replace them as soon as they showed signs of age. But they still haven.t They are maddeningly sturdy and show no signs of needing replaced. Even after 2 seasons as my only pair of officiating shoes.

I don't have a point. Just whining a bit, while putting on my second pair of socks. Off to do a couple AAU games.

I had a pair of 609's go via the five finger discount recently . Saddle, do a google search for them, are still out there. the 620's are also supposedly the new replacement for them, and are very close to the 609's to my eye.

[Back In The Saddle]

Thanks, I'll have to do that. I'll even check eBay. Who knows, your pair may be there.

[BayStateRef]

I have the New Balance 609 and the 620. No difference. I also have the 888...not even close. It looks good...but does not feel comfortable. I can wear it for a single game...but not for several games.

Last year I bought the Official Footwear patent leather model. It is a fine shoe, but does not come in a wide width. It is built wider than a regular width, but the NB 609 or 620 remain my shoe of choice for my wider foot.

The current New Balance model is the MX622. Zappos.com is selling them for $65 (http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7402619/c/3.html)

[eyezen]

I got a pair of NB 855's right before last season. Pretty darn light. Has rollbar support. Probably could use a new insert for the upcoming season, but everything else is holding up real well.