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| 03-23-14 08:10AM |
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dunhill
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Feb 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 17 |
Velcro
How are people finding the Velcro holding up over time on the BalancePlus and Asham Shoes?
I am in the market for some new shoes and the idea of replaceable slider is interesting but I have never been a huge fan of Velcro anything.
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| 03-23-14 08:24AM |
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deep_freeze
Hitting Paint
Registered: Dec 2005
Location:
Posts: 153 |
With Balance Plus and Asham, I have never had to replace the shoes because the sliders wear out, but I have had to replace them/fix them because the velcro has come off.
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| 03-23-14 01:13PM |
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RockDoc
Swing Artist
Registered: Apr 2005
Location:
Posts: 399 |
The velcro hasn't been a real issue. You will never have to replace the sliders before the shoes wear out, but will probably need to replace the gripper pods every 40-50 games. The velcro attaching those pods may start to delaminate or the loops may wear out over time. They are very easy to repair as needed by the application of a thin layer of gorilla glue. The velcro will NEVER come off again after gorilla glue treatment.
The BalancePlus 500s have lasted longer than any other shoe I have worn. I can get the uppers to last maybe 18-30 months. My current pair is at 24 months and still in good shape. They will also adequately fit narrow feet.
I liked the Asham Slams but I found that (1) they were slower than the BP sliders and (2) if you have hot feet they leave little rings on the ice where you stand. (I complained about all the gripper prints on my sheet one night and at some point realized it was...me!)
I like the replaceable grippers because gripper bottoms will get worn beyond usefulness (and deposits crap on the ice) after a 100 games or less. I'd rather replace detachable grippers than re-grip the sole.
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| 03-24-14 09:08AM |
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draway8
Guest
Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A |
Re: Velcro
quote:
Originally posted by dunhill
How are people finding the Velcro holding up over time on the BalancePlus and Asham Shoes?
I am in the market for some new shoes and the idea of replaceable slider is interesting but I have never been a huge fan of Velcro anything.
I've had BP 500s for years and I've never had a problem with the velcro. I've been able to get 2-3 seasons out of the slider pods. The sliders will outlast the shoe. I always tear out the heal of these after 1-2 seasons. The gripper pods on the BP 500s will also need to be replaced regularly if you tend to sweep up on your toes.
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| 03-24-14 09:18AM |
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RockDoc
Swing Artist
Registered: Apr 2005
Location:
Posts: 399 |
Re: Re: Velcro
quote:
Originally posted by draway8
I've had BP 500s for years and I've never had a problem with the velcro. I've been able to get 2-3 seasons out of the slider pods. The sliders will outlast the shoe. I always tear out the heal of these after 1-2 seasons. The gripper pods on the BP 500s will also need to be replaced regularly if you tend to sweep up on your toes.
FYI, a cobbler (if you can find one) can repair the heel cup of the BP 500s and similar shoes with a leather cup patch and they will never blow out again. Our local cobbler has done dozens of these shoes and has lots of curlers as regular customers for this fix.
Cheers.
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| 03-24-14 10:30AM |
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draway8
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Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A |
Re: Re: Re: Velcro
quote:
Originally posted by RockDoc
FYI, a cobbler (if you can find one) can repair the heel cup of the BP 500s and similar shoes with a leather cup patch and they will never blow out again. Our local cobbler has done dozens of these shoes and has lots of curlers as regular customers for this fix.
Cheers.
Thanks for the tip. I will look into it. I can barely get a season and a half out of any curling shoe because of that problem.
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| 03-24-14 02:19PM |
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USAnewbie
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Feb 2011
Location:
Posts: 42 |
I currently use the BP500s - I haven't had any issues with the velcro at all, but have had two other issues
1) Gripper pods dont provide enough traction from the start - I've had to resort to putting a regular full shoe over the gripper pod shoe if I want to sweep at all, otherwise I am slipping all over the place
2) Within a year, the upper (leather) started to separate from the lower, and have had to glue the shoe back together several times.
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| 03-24-14 02:35PM |
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RockDoc
Swing Artist
Registered: Apr 2005
Location:
Posts: 399 |
quote:
Originally posted by USAnewbie
1) Gripper pods dont provide enough traction from the start - I've had to resort to putting a regular full shoe over the gripper pod shoe if I want to sweep at all, otherwise I am slipping all over the place
2) Within a year, the upper (leather) started to separate from the lower, and have had to glue the shoe back together several times.
I agree.
In general, I have found the BP grippers more slippery than Goldline or Asham grippers. It must have something to do with the material. The BP grippers do seem to "break in" after the first game. I've put up with the new slippery gripper issue because I like the shoes.
The common failure mode in all of these "sneaker-style" shoes is separation of the upper and soles. This is due to the fact that the uppers are glued to the soles instead of sewed on. It's certainly cheaper to manufacture them that way. If you play front end, you put your shoes under a tremendous amount of stress, and the constant flexing eventually destroys the upper-sole bond. Mine always blow out in the toe and look like clown shoes. My experience: BP500 = 24 months; Asham Slam = 18 months; Goldline (anything) = 12 months at best until something breaks, delaminates, or pulls out.
I'd love to purchase an all-leather BP shoe (like the Deluxe) with sewed uppers and replaceable gripper/slider pods. Oh, and I need it in a narrow width. Those would last a lifetime, but they don't make them. So I go through a BP500 pair every 2 years or so.
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| 04-01-14 11:44AM |
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VAcurler
Hitting Paint
Registered: Jan 2012
Location:
Posts: 136 |
Anyone prefer buying regular shoes and converting them to curling shoes? Other than the warmth it seems like a pretty easy conversion - especially if the current line of curling shoes splits in two after a year or two.
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| 04-01-14 12:21PM |
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dunhill
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Feb 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 17 |
I am leaning towards holding off and trying the new Goldline Qauntum.
Seems to offer all the benefits of the others with no velcro
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| 04-01-14 12:29PM |
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USAnewbie
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Feb 2011
Location:
Posts: 42 |
quote:
Originally posted by VAcurler
Anyone prefer buying regular shoes and converting them to curling shoes? Other than the warmth it seems like a pretty easy conversion - especially if the current line of curling shoes splits in two after a year or two.
This is what I am doing for my next pair of shoes....sent a pair of Nike's to BalancePlus and just waiting for them to get back in the mail.
It will cost about the same as buying a pair of curling shoes (depending on the slider options and shipping), I am just hoping these last longer.
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