So I originally got a pair more as a novelty but I have worn them through our classes and I found that I really like them. The biggest benefit they give is some ankle support. This can be good for people with ankle problems or beginners that have weak ankles. They are about a half inch to an inch lower than most high tops and if they were to heighten the top part, the ankle support would be even better. A little ankle support is a good thing especially in our classes where we do a lot of running and jumping, flying kicks, and acrobatics.
You got yours already?
From us? There was a snafu with the inventory shipment. I was told they weren’t shipping yet.
Man, they don’t tell me anything around here. I’m running to the warehouse now to grab a pair.
[QUOTE=GeneChing;906856]From us? There was a snafu with the inventory shipment. I was told they weren’t shipping yet.
Man, they don’t tell me anything around here. I’m running to the warehouse now to grab a pair.[/QUOTE]
Gene’s holding out! :eek:
Woohoo!
I just got mine!
There was an inventory discrepancy in the shipment, so everything got withheld for a few days. They were so supposed to notify me when these were ready to be shipped so I could “field test” a pair. I’ve been holding out since I’ve worn through the right heel of my present pair of original Feiyues - it’s been that way for a few weeks now.
hmm, may have to try a pair. Interesting point, my Fei Yues wear out at the same spot…the heel. I added a small thin heel gel cushion I bought from the store and it seems to extend the life of them a little. May want to give that a shot. 
Mine always wear from the big toes right through.
But this time they did not even get to that stage - they split on the top where the toe of the shoe joins with the fabric…ha ha
I love them - would not train in anything else..
I go through fei yues like a hot knife goes through butter.
In Vienna temple they hang them from the roof beams. Not a sole intact, lol…
Duct tape can help a little.
Gene, one of my instructors says that Fei Yue’s also come in other nifty colors, I’ll have to check out their website. The only bad thing I can say is that 44’s usually fit me like a glove, these are a little loose.
I’m an idiot
The school was closed last night - MLK day. Just because we don’t have it off, doesn’t mean that others don’t. :o
Feiyue does come in other colors but we don’t stock them. Keep in mind, for us to stock a different color, we have to stock hundreds of shoes to cover all the sizes. We’re not confident that the other colors are that marketable. You don’t see too many different colors in martial arts shoes. Our community doesn’t really support that.
For example, we know pink doesn’t sell. 
I saw some gold ones when up in Shaolin in 07- very bling!!
[QUOTE=GeneChing;906894]I just got mine!
There was an inventory discrepancy in the shipment, so everything got withheld for a few days. They were so supposed to notify me when these were ready to be shipped so I could “field test” a pair. I’ve been holding out since I’ve worn through the right heel of my present pair of original Feiyues - it’s been that way for a few weeks now.
Feiyue Hi-Top Black
Feiyue Hi-Top White [/QUOTE]
I just had a discussion about shoes last night with a couple buddies from class. One says his high-top wrestling shoes are on their last legs and he needs to get a new pair. I wonder how these would compare?
…looking forward to your field test report!
[QUOTE=sha0lin1;907039]Gene, one of my instructors says that Fei Yue’s also come in other nifty colors, I’ll have to check out their website. The only bad thing I can say is that 44’s usually fit me like a glove, these are a little loose.[/QUOTE]
The nifty colors are here http://www.feiyue-shoes.com/pages_uk/collections_show.php?id=5
…but not many left 
Do you math, TaichiMantis
Pop those fancy colored Feiyue prices into an online currency converter. They range from 43.00 for kids to 90.00 for the Hi tops…
I’ll bust them out at practice tonight and let y’all know my thoughts tomorrow.
****! Those shoes are EXPENSIVE.
And I always liked Feiyues because they were dirt cheap. What a shame, some of the fancy ones looked pretty cool.
[QUOTE=NJM;907587]****! Those shoes are EXPENSIVE.
And I always liked Feiyues because they were dirt cheap. What a shame, some of the fancy ones looked pretty cool.[/QUOTE]
I would be so down for the black with green stripes or just all black.
[QUOTE=TaichiMantis;907287]I just had a discussion about shoes last night with a couple buddies from class. One says his high-top wrestling shoes are on their last legs and he needs to get a new pair. I wonder how these would compare?
…looking forward to your field test report![/QUOTE]
Thanks for the link TaichiMantis. I think I will wait until I go to China in June to pick up some of the other styles. I am from Port Huron, MI originally, I see you guys are finally having a winter up there this year.
You won’t find those fancy schmany colors in China…
This is funny - it’s really hard to find anything beyond standard white Feiyues in China, even in Dengfeng. This is especially difficult if you have large feet. It’s true. One of our contributors, David Wei, has an article in the upcoming issue. He wanted to be compensated in Feiyues. He’s now at Wudang. He can’t find Feiyues in his size, in any color, so I have to frigging ship Feiyues into China!
As for the different colors, I’ve never seen those in China (although I confess it’s been a few years since I’ve been there). I’ve only seen them on that website above. If you’re really into fancy schmancy Feiyue colors, that’s what sharpies are for…
P.S. I did field test the Hi tops last night and will report this afternoon. I have an appt. at DMV I have to go to now…
My totally unbiased report…
…:rolleyes: Now you all know that I’m a strong Feiyue advocate. I was instrumental as the first importer of Feiyues through WLE and MAM, and I’ve written two (count 'em - two) informercials on the product. I learned of the HiTops via the forum here.
The comment I hear most about Feiyue HiTops is that they aren’t “true” HiTops. That’s true. They aren’t ‘true’. They cover my ankle bones, but aren’t as high as say, Converse HiTops.
I tried them out last night at practice and since they are new, well, I got the new shoe blues and I’m here to tell ya 'bout 'em.
When Feiyues are brand spanking new, the soles are a little too sticky for me. I like the soles to get a little worn, so they’re smoother. Plus new shoes are always a little uncomfortable at first; it takes a few sessions to break in. I’m really going to have to wear these for a month or so before I can give you all a more complete report. That’ll give me a chance to ttt this every once in a while.
You can really lace into the HiTops, which I feel gives better ankle support as well as arch support. A lot of people have problems with original Feiyues because they are so low. They get ‘flat tires’ or loose them in high kicks. I’ve never experienced that personally, except in sweeping drills. I’ve seen it happen to others. The HiTop design completely eliminates that. These babies aren’t going to come off your feet. You can lace in really securely. Since the upper is canvas, I didn’t feel any impediment to my low stances like xiebu, dingbu or pubu (truth be told, only my dingbu is that low anymore). The canvas is soft enough to yield, while still providing some ankle support.
I totally stuck my first recital of qixing last night. That has become my fav Shaolin form lately. Immediately after, I was thinking “these shoes rock!” My second recital wasn’t nearly as good and that was the peak moment in my workout, so I came back to earth pretty freaking quickly.
There’s a definite coolness factor to being the first in the school to rock HiTop Feiyues. Several of my classmates commented.
My main downside is that it takes more time to put them on and take them off. You have to fiddle with the laces more. I like to be able to take my shoes off quickly. You never know when you need to drop trou super fast, or maybe throw them at a former president.
Overall, the jury is still out for me personally. I’m confident that this is a decent product and that some people will really love them. I’m still pretty attached to my original Feiyues, but I’ve blown out the right heel of my last pair (typical. Songshan, both Songshan Shaolin & BSL have a lot of right heel stomps so you always blow the right heel first). I’ll keep wearing these HiTops until they wear out.
On last note: when I was at Shaolin, I’d wear Feiyues constantly, even when not practicing. I almost never wear Feiyues outside the Wuguan nowadays. I’m not sure why exactly. Maybe it’s hold over to my old fencing coach, the late great Michael D’Saro, who’d yell at us if he caught anyone on the team wearing their fencing shoes outside the Salle D’Armes. I also feel a little exposed in Feiyues, perhaps some latent fear of flat tires or something. However, I am considering wearing these HiTops on the street. I think they would be fine.
Gene, your review is right on the mark. I have worn mine for almost a week in class now and like Gene said they take a little time to break in. Now that the President is back in Texas, if I threw shoes at him, they wouldn’t be my new Hi Tops, besides he can move pretty fast when he is ducking.
[QUOTE=GeneChing;907750]This is funny - it’s really hard to find anything beyond standard white Feiyues in China, even in Dengfeng. This is especially difficult if you have large feet. …[/QUOTE]
size 13- I had to go everywhere. Finally I just stopped in a store, and asked for them to do the running around for me. 20 minutes later, I had 5 pairs, and I would have bought 10.