I'm an adult woman who's recently taken up Kung Fu. Everyone in my class wears these shoes, and most are fairly senior (brown or black belt). They all rave about them, and I agree. Especially for the price. Good stability on hard wood floor and good support. Also, very light weight (which especially helps after a long work out!).
The only caution I'd make is that these shoes are very wide. I'm a size 7.5 US womens, but didn't find a corresponding size -- so I purchased size 39 (which corresponds to 8.5 US). I wish I had purchased the 38 (which corresponds to 7.0 US). So if you're on a boarderline size, my recommendation is to go smaller.
But other than that, I'm extremely pleased! MAS Feiyue Wushu Kung Fu Shoes-BLACK
For Shaolin martial arts, there is no better shoe. The only thing that comes even close is the Adidas Samba Classic, which is just a more expensively made Feiyue in most respects. Low cut, lightweight, streamlined, simple.
This review is aimed at those who are considering this shoe for its minimalist qualities that imitate barefoot walking for better or for worse.
SIZING HELP: I am a 44 in Vibram KSO's. My foot is about 11 inches long and it's moderately wide. I have a high instep, but it's not problem with this shoe. I ordered the 45 in this shoe, but it was too small. The 46 fits much better.
THICKNESS OF SOLE: The sole is flexibel and you can bend it better than a converse shoe, but not as well as a VFF. The sole is about a centimeter thick, but this is not exact. It passes my "crack" test (If there's a decently sized crack on the ground, you can sort of feel it when you step on it with this shoe). There is no insole.
THE FIT: I wish the toebox was a little wider. The heel is a little loose, but I don't mind that. I can run short distances in them, but I would not use these as my primary running shoe, due to the more narrow toebox.
THE VERDICT: There are other minimalist shoes that mimic barefoot feel better than the Feiyue Wushu shoes, but for the price, you really can't go wrong. I bought them because I needed something that more presentable than VFF KSO and something I could wear socks with (it's getting cold here). They are a fine temporary measure while I'm considering the more expensive options, such as Soft Star, Feelmax, and Terra Plana.
I use these shoes only for practicing Tai Chi, and they're wonderful for that purpose. I used the conversion chart provided when ordering the shoes, and upon arrival they fit perfectly. The soles provide good traction and are flat enough that I can confidently practice foot movements without the distraction of a large, heavy sole. I wouldn't use these shoes for walking over rough terrain or jogging. There are many better shoes made for that. However, for the practicioner, give these a try. For the price, they can't br beat, and they were delivered well before the promised date.
I use them for taiji (Yang and Wu, 25 years now). They aren't *perfectly* flat... there's often a bit of roll down the center line of the sole. So, if you're beginner, find something perfectly flat -- but if you've learned your form and have begun the decades' long process of improvement, yeah, you want these.
They will stick a bit on wooden floors (which is great practice for your balance) but will take some getting used to if you're accustomed to cotton soled kungfu shoes.
Mine have been to Shanghai and back a few times now. One of the other reviewers rightly warned that you need to watch your sizing. My foot is somewhere between 12.5 and 13 in American sizing and I needed the 47.
Be well.
Mp
I got these for Tai Chi. I use them both inside and outside in the park. They feel just right, enough stability but flexible with good traction but also easy to make turns. they're the most comfortable shoe i've ever had for daily practice. I highly recommend them to Tai Chi players
This shoe is great, although it does come roughly packaged and smells of super strong chemicals, after i let it air out outside the house for a couple days they were all good. I am a U.S. shoe size 11, so, I ordered a size 11, but when they came in i thought they were a little too big at first, then i realized i wasn't wearing socks. As soon as i tried them on with socks, they became a perfect fit. These shoes are so light weight you feel like you're walking in socks. Plus, i think they're very stylish. I've used these shoes for about a month straight now, and have had not one problem with them.'
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