FYI - A number of participants have stated that they like the NB 608 shoe for game use. While not my first choice, they are good shoes when paired with Spenco insoles.

The Kohl’s chain of stores has them on sale for $39.95 if anyone is interested. If you do not have a Kohl’s in your area you can get them online at:

http://www.kohls.com/main/subcategor...=1028640550102

...and your first choice would be?

Reebok DMX or DMX2 type shoes. The DMX system is an air bag/channel that runs along the length of the shoe. In my opinion it offers much better shock support than any other type of system. Problem is that one can no longer get them in black shoes.

The NB608 with the SPENCO cross trainer insole is a good substitute but not quite the same. I am very picky about my shoes, as I have ruptured one Achilles tendon. I now try to take good care of my legs and feet.

Are you sure?

The reebok outlet here has them all the time, and they are not marked down, so I doubt they are discontinuing them.

I wear the white ones for volleyball, but they do not hold up well for bball.

I work for a sporting goods store doing team sales - I've tried them all and right now I think the Asics Cross-Trainer is the most comfortable shoe out there. I've even started wearing it for softball umpiring, although the outsole isn't the best for agri-lime, it does polish up well.
The name is GEL-TRX and the style number is SL200/9090. It normally retails for around $65.
As far as the Reebok goes, I've had a few guys try it for umpiring and they aren't happy once they have to start moving as far as the side-to-side stability.

I get NB numbers all mixed up. Are these the walking shoes? I went through 2 pair of NB walking shoes (I thought they were 608's but the pix look different)
I have a pair of Brooks that I really like. They are wide and have great support. But that is just me.

608's are cross trainers.

Leather luster took well to them, and my last pair lasted two years.

Make sure you get 608AB.

Nike Air Max Amplify
 

Thes come in all black and are very comfortable. I know some don't like Nike, but these have air along teh whole sole and very good support.

I have a question about the Spenco insoles. The directions say to take out the original insole before putting in the replacements. Is this what you do or do you just lay the Spenco's on top of the existing insole?

Thanks -

RTFD.

Choose a width
 

The nice thing about the NB608 that I bought before last season was that I had a choice of widths. The most common seem to be B, D, 2E and 4E. Formerly, I had purchased 'single width' brand shoes about a half size too big to get a little more width.
I also had pretty bad heel pain that was aggravated after games the previous two seasons. This went away--but it may not have been the shoes. I heard a talk radio show last October regarding "Plantar Fasciitis" heel pain. This holistic medicine show mentioned taking the herbs "Gotu kola" and "Black Cohosh"--so I did this too. By December, after about 12 games, I had no problem; After 90 games still no problem, I could stamp my right heel on the ground and not get instant pain. ( A third possibility is that the problem 'just went away' after a couple of bad years--but the timing was too good to ignore).

Sorry Bob but I'm a dummy. WTF is RTFD?

dragonref, I started using the Spenco insoles 3 years ago. A podiatrist recommended them after my lousy insurance wouldn't pay for the custom made orthotics. I usually take the shoe insole out, put the Spenco in and put the original insole back in. If it's too tight, I remove the original insole.

rogerc1, plantar fasciitis actually results from inflammation and swelling in the plantar fascia, the ligament that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot. Eventually, the ligament will tear, calcium will fill in, and the calcium will turn into a bone spur. Usually, the pain is the worst in the morning when you get up or after you've rested after a game. An insole, such as the Spenco or Sorbothane, provides the proper heel support to help eliminate the strees on the ligament. Also, stretching exercises and taping the foot, like a crow's foot from the heel to the toes, can also ease the pain and inflammation.

Hope that helps!

I speak from experience. I used to have some pretty bad foot pain until I finally went to the podiatrist. it was worse in football than basketball, if you can beleive that. For anyone else who's having any problems, I would suggest you try some of these ideas.

My guess RTFD would appear something like this on the board:

****

Read the directions.

Yeah, but I can't figure out what the "F" stands for.
Fine? Fantastic? Funny? WTF?

RTF*M*
 

The origin of RTFD is read the f***ing manual (often written as flaming) - a term which sprung up from people calling computer help desks asking questions along the lines of "I just poured a can of diet coke on my monitor and it doesn't work - what should I do?"

[Edited by Mark Dexter on Aug 8th, 2002 at 11:32 AM]

Dan, you are just a laugh a minute...

Gee, thanks...I think...?

Dan, coming from Juulie, it has to be a compliment. :)

Chuck

While some may think that their reply is witty, :( your question is a valid one.

The instructions do say to remove the insole but this is not always practical, warranted, or wise. The NB608s that I first mentioned have an easily removable “sock liner.” This is their term for an insole. Some Reeboks also have such a liner. There is nothing special about them and they should be removed.

The problem comes with shoes like the DMX Reeboks and some Asics Gel shoes. The insole appears to be part of the shock distribution system and as such is not removable. At the end of last season, the old pair of DMX shoes I use when doing rec ball started to give up the ghost. So not to use my good shoes on these courts, I put a SPENCO cross-trainer insole in over the non-removable insole with no problem. It added extra shock absorbency on the tile floors used in some gyms.

So the bottom line is to use your own judgement. If you have a shoe that does not have a special shock system of its own I see no reason to leave the inner sole in. If it does have such a system than a special insole, like the SPENCO, may not be needed.


[Edited by RecRef on Aug 9th, 2002 at 12:14 PM]

IMO, the 608 is the best shoe I have ever used. Fits like a glove. As of this year, NB has come out with a 609. It looks the same, just an updated number. Anybody used the 609? Is it any different?

hmmm post went to the wrong topic

[Edited by ballsandstrikes on Aug 27th, 2002 at 12:53 AM]

The only difference in the shoe is that the ABZORB insole technolgy goes throughtout the shoe instead of just the heel area. A real good shoe just got better!

When I look on the internet for some Spenco Insole--I find several kind of Spenco Insoles. What is the Product Number and or specific kind that is best for basketball.

APHP,
I am using the <u><b>Polysorb 4</b></u>.
mick

http://www.spenco.com/crstrain.html

[Edited by mick on Aug 27th, 2002 at 08:29 AM]

Why is everybody so enthousiastic on that shoe? It's not for sale in Holland, but it just looks (sorry to say) horrible, I wear Air Jordan Team Elite, and they're pretty good. But this shoe must be something special to wear, since so many refs are using them... Please give me some sweet tetimonials :).

ADR

ADR,
I wear 608's with Spencos
They take a good shine.
Haven't heard an unkind word about them <u>until you wrote</u>, "...it just looks (sorry to say) horrible".

They must not have the "metric styling".

mick

My pairs have shined up great with leather luster.

I guess I have never thought that my shoes should look great, but horrible is a stretch.

They serve thier purpose. I wear mine with sorbothane insoles which makes them soft and cushy.

I just hope the 609's are as good.

Well I'm sorry, then let me put it this way: I would never ever buy them because they look so great. Is that any better? I just meant to ask: what is so great about the shoes?

ADR

the feel.

I don't think I have met a person yet who dislikes them.