Post #1 · Posted at 2014-01-01 05:50:42am 10.3 years ago
 PureBlue | |
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I saw a bunch of people in the "stamina increasing tips" thread posting shoe recommendations for dance games, so I thought I'd make a thread where everyone could post their experiences with various types of shoes while playing dance games. DDR Freak had a thread like this if I'm remembering correctly. Recommend away!
I usually use these, a pair of Nike Air Relentless 2's:
They're a lightweight running/training shoe. Similar to Nike Frees, but not as flat. I can get decent scores in them really consistently. A good balance between grip and being able to slide them around a bit. They're also comfortable and casual enough to just be worn as regular shoes. I did put some gel insoles in them, because the ones Nike puts in there are not very cushioned. Overall, I highly recommend them.
But if you're the kind of person who can't stand wearing running shoes, I've actually had great experiences with Etnies shoes. They're designed for skateboarding, but most of them are actually great for dance games. I've been using these Faders recently:
They're actually not terribly heavy, even though they have the typical heavier skate shoe look. It's pretty cushioned, but not to the point where your foot feels stuffed into the shoe, so the padding doesn't really slow you down at all. They have great grip, but not to the point where it'll slow you down or squeak on the panels. I used to swear by the Etnies Callicut before they discontinued it, but the Faders are basically the same shoe with a different design. Since it's a skate shoe, it can definitely be worn as a casual all-around shoe. Very comfortable. If you're looking for something good for dancing games that's also easy to wear everywhere, I recommend these.
Vans are also generally pretty good but it depends on the model. Some are great, some are awful.
I usually use these, a pair of Nike Air Relentless 2's:
They're a lightweight running/training shoe. Similar to Nike Frees, but not as flat. I can get decent scores in them really consistently. A good balance between grip and being able to slide them around a bit. They're also comfortable and casual enough to just be worn as regular shoes. I did put some gel insoles in them, because the ones Nike puts in there are not very cushioned. Overall, I highly recommend them.
But if you're the kind of person who can't stand wearing running shoes, I've actually had great experiences with Etnies shoes. They're designed for skateboarding, but most of them are actually great for dance games. I've been using these Faders recently:
They're actually not terribly heavy, even though they have the typical heavier skate shoe look. It's pretty cushioned, but not to the point where your foot feels stuffed into the shoe, so the padding doesn't really slow you down at all. They have great grip, but not to the point where it'll slow you down or squeak on the panels. I used to swear by the Etnies Callicut before they discontinued it, but the Faders are basically the same shoe with a different design. Since it's a skate shoe, it can definitely be worn as a casual all-around shoe. Very comfortable. If you're looking for something good for dancing games that's also easy to wear everywhere, I recommend these.
Vans are also generally pretty good but it depends on the model. Some are great, some are awful.
Post #2 · Posted at 2014-01-01 06:44:30am 10.3 years ago
| RevAddict5 | |
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Are these a good pair of shoes to use for DDR? I've had them for a couple of weeks now and when I played with them they seemed very good.
If they are, I recommend them. They feel rather lightweight to me, and are pretty comfortable. Good as an everyday shoe also.
If they are, I recommend them. They feel rather lightweight to me, and are pretty comfortable. Good as an everyday shoe also.
Post #3 · Posted at 2014-01-01 07:44:47am 10.3 years ago
| AxelWasHere | |
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I currently use these..
Great grip. Great Speed. But since they are pretty light weight, some machine have bad sensors and you have to stomp hard.
i actually like these. but i never tried sport shoes on DDR before.. i should give it a shot..
Great grip. Great Speed. But since they are pretty light weight, some machine have bad sensors and you have to stomp hard.
i actually like these. but i never tried sport shoes on DDR before.. i should give it a shot..
Post #4 · Posted at 2014-01-01 11:21:14am 10.3 years ago
| PureBlue | |
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@Rev: Those ones look very similar to the ones I have, so yeah, they're good.
@Axel: The Authentics/Eras are actually a model of Vans I can recommend for DDR. Even the Vans slip-ons are good. I have a pair of Chukka Lows that I use sometimes that are pretty good. For the most part, I do recommend Vans. One model/model series I can't really recommend are the Rowleys. I don't know about the newer ones, but I had a pair of Rowley XL3's that were basically unusable for DDR. No grip whatsoever.
@Axel: The Authentics/Eras are actually a model of Vans I can recommend for DDR. Even the Vans slip-ons are good. I have a pair of Chukka Lows that I use sometimes that are pretty good. For the most part, I do recommend Vans. One model/model series I can't really recommend are the Rowleys. I don't know about the newer ones, but I had a pair of Rowley XL3's that were basically unusable for DDR. No grip whatsoever.
Post #5 · Posted at 2014-01-01 11:30:32am 10.3 years ago
| xEcho2949x | |
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I currently wear a pair of New Balance Minimus shoes when I'm playing ITG, they're extremely lightweight, so, yeah. 
Post #6 · Posted at 2014-01-02 03:31:32am 10.3 years ago
| PureBlue | |
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I've actually been looking for a pair of Minimus's, but I can't seem to find any place near me that sells them. Where did you get yours?
Post #7 · Posted at 2014-01-02 04:13:34am 10.3 years ago
| tj28 | |
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@PureBlue my machine broke
I need to buy a new motherboard. POS.I'm going through withdrawal; I'm trying to make dumpstream edit files for DDR X so it will be fun lol
Post #8 · Posted at 2014-01-02 04:21:42am 10.3 years ago
| xEcho2949x | |
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@PureBlue, I got them from a running shoe store only a mile or so from my house
Post #9 · Posted at 2014-01-02 05:16:43am 10.3 years ago
| PureBlue | |
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@Echo: There's a place near my house called Olympia Sports that specializes in athletic shoes, so I'll probably look there when I have the chance.
@TJ: Damn, that sucks. :/ Have fun trying to play on the DDR X where you can never be sure what condition the pads will be in on that day. The only consistently decent machine in the area is the Extreme at Zero Gravity. That thing is a god damn tank, because it's been there as long as I can remember but the pads (well, the left one at least) have always been good. Even after obvious abuse from annoying Albany teenagers and such.
@TJ: Damn, that sucks. :/ Have fun trying to play on the DDR X where you can never be sure what condition the pads will be in on that day. The only consistently decent machine in the area is the Extreme at Zero Gravity. That thing is a god damn tank, because it's been there as long as I can remember but the pads (well, the left one at least) have always been good. Even after obvious abuse from annoying Albany teenagers and such.
Post #10 · Posted at 2014-01-02 05:27:33am 10.3 years ago
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Currently for the past 6 months i've been wearing a pair of Nike Flyknit Lunar 1+. The pair I have is getting worn (they are also my "everday wear" shoes), so pretty soon i'll need to go shopping again.
They're not exactly in a comfortable price range (160 USD), but if you feel like throwing down some coin, they work pretty well. Relatively lightweight.
If you feel like spending less money on shoes you'll mainly be using for dance games, go for a pair of etnies Verse, 60 USD and cheaper depending on where you go.
Or, keep an eye out for some Chuck Taylors, specifically the low top variety. Usually 50 USD, could probably find older versions for 30.
Most importantly, find a pair that feels comfortable to you, somewhat lightweight and doesn't grip the panels too much.
They're not exactly in a comfortable price range (160 USD), but if you feel like throwing down some coin, they work pretty well. Relatively lightweight.
If you feel like spending less money on shoes you'll mainly be using for dance games, go for a pair of etnies Verse, 60 USD and cheaper depending on where you go.
Or, keep an eye out for some Chuck Taylors, specifically the low top variety. Usually 50 USD, could probably find older versions for 30.
Most importantly, find a pair that feels comfortable to you, somewhat lightweight and doesn't grip the panels too much.
Post #11 · Posted at 2014-01-02 06:23:10am 10.3 years ago
| SM MaxX | |
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these
bought them almost 2 years ago and they still work like a charm. About $80 but they're incredibly lightweight and have a good grip that I like having while playing. Why they made them the ugliest color ever though I will never know.
bought them almost 2 years ago and they still work like a charm. About $80 but they're incredibly lightweight and have a good grip that I like having while playing. Why they made them the ugliest color ever though I will never know.
Post #12 · Posted at 2014-01-02 10:07:27am 10.3 years ago
I used to play in Vans and Adidas Classics because I felt the wider/flatter bottoms would benefit me. But I just can't move my feet as quickly as I'd like. Plus there is no arch support so my feet would hurt pretty bad after a while. Stiff shoes.
A couple years ago, I started playing in some Vibram Bikila shoes which were grippy, VERY lightweight, and allowed me to "feel" the pad more through them. Incredibly flexible shoe.
But playing with those on a machine kinda hurt my feet every now and then, haha. So my go to shoe since then has been a pair of Nike Free Run + shoes. The original Nike Free Run shoes seemed too tacky and gummy on the bottoms and would stick to the pad like I had gum on them. But the Free Run + shoes don't have that problem. They are lightweight, allow some tactile feedback with brackets and such, and allow me to have great foot speed. Very, very comfortable and nice flexibility as well.
A couple years ago, I started playing in some Vibram Bikila shoes which were grippy, VERY lightweight, and allowed me to "feel" the pad more through them. Incredibly flexible shoe.
But playing with those on a machine kinda hurt my feet every now and then, haha. So my go to shoe since then has been a pair of Nike Free Run + shoes. The original Nike Free Run shoes seemed too tacky and gummy on the bottoms and would stick to the pad like I had gum on them. But the Free Run + shoes don't have that problem. They are lightweight, allow some tactile feedback with brackets and such, and allow me to have great foot speed. Very, very comfortable and nice flexibility as well.
Post #13 · Posted at 2014-01-02 01:10:01pm 10.3 years ago
Always have played in vans, never had a problem. These shoes though.
They were the death of me a few weeks back, I was just out for the night and wanted to kill some time and played some ddr in them. Yea I should've been a bit more logical and stayed away because I was slipping during every crossover haha.
They were the death of me a few weeks back, I was just out for the night and wanted to kill some time and played some ddr in them. Yea I should've been a bit more logical and stayed away because I was slipping during every crossover haha.
Post #14 · Posted at 2014-01-02 01:21:53pm 10.3 years ago
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These Adidas flexible shoes never failed me in the slightest.
Post #15 · Posted at 2014-01-02 01:44:05pm 10.3 years ago
| Silverhawke | |
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This is my gear.
Aside from callouses I guess (hardening of the skin) and that sometime I tear a bit of my skin (not painful tho) when playing on bad, recessed pads, they never failed me all these 5 years.
Aside from callouses I guess (hardening of the skin) and that sometime I tear a bit of my skin (not painful tho) when playing on bad, recessed pads, they never failed me all these 5 years.
Post #16 · Posted at 2014-01-02 08:59:42pm 10.3 years ago
Quote: PureBlue
@TJ: Damn, that sucks. :/ Have fun trying to play on the DDR X where you can never be sure what condition the pads will be in on that day. The only consistently decent machine in the area is the Extreme at Zero Gravity. That thing is a god damn tank, because it's been there as long as I can remember but the pads (well, the left one at least) have always been good. Even after obvious abuse from annoying Albany teenagers and such.
Disregard; I can get it to boot up now!
It's a ghetto solution, but for now...You jinxed it, btw.
Post #17 · Posted at 2014-01-03 02:58:23am 10.3 years ago
| mageman17 | |
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I've only played barefoot once, and that was only because I had the audacity to try and tip-toe a flooded road to get to a bus, and inside the mall (the bus stop was also quite flooded). My below-mentioned Merell shoes are squeaking and soaking wet that by the third credit I took them and my socks off and played arcade DDR barefoot. It was kinda fun playing Matsuri Japan FNSMM while making sure my feet landed on the
As I've mentioned before, I used to use Merell brand shoes for DDR. Slightly heavy when worn with short and/or light jorts, but has a great grip on the pads, even more so (in a good way) when you wipe the pads with a slightly wet rug. It's gotten worn out by now, the leather has the texture of a paper bag or a box and the bottom soles are starting to open up. I think I've used it for 3 years even with the above mentioned drenching.
Right now I use some Nike brand shoes that I don't know the sub brand because it initially was just gonna be my work-and-going-out-shoes. Less weight and less grip but manageable for me.
I'll try and get some pics up some other time.
As I've mentioned before, I used to use Merell brand shoes for DDR. Slightly heavy when worn with short and/or light jorts, but has a great grip on the pads, even more so (in a good way) when you wipe the pads with a slightly wet rug. It's gotten worn out by now, the leather has the texture of a paper bag or a box and the bottom soles are starting to open up. I think I've used it for 3 years even with the above mentioned drenching.
Right now I use some Nike brand shoes that I don't know the sub brand because it initially was just gonna be my work-and-going-out-shoes. Less weight and less grip but manageable for me.
I'll try and get some pics up some other time.
Post #18 · Posted at 2014-01-03 06:35:53am 10.3 years ago
| ChibiToTheMAX | |
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I use these for DDR currently,
They're pretty light but you still have to press pretty hard on some machines. I use them for fast songs and bosses.
They're pretty light but you still have to press pretty hard on some machines. I use them for fast songs and bosses.
Post #19 · Posted at 2014-01-07 10:18:55am 10.3 years ago
| PureBlue | |
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Quote: tj28
You jinxed it, btw.
I went on Saturday and the pads were horrendous, so I also jinxed myself.
I'm trying to think if there are any places in the Albany area that would sell New Balance Minimus's.... my Nikes are fine for now but I am going to have to replace them at some point.
Post #20 · Posted at 2014-01-10 10:35:42am 10.3 years ago
| tj28 | |
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Quote: PureBlue
I'm trying to think if there are any places in the Albany area that would sell New Balance Minimus's.... my Nikes are fine for now but I am going to have to replace them at some point.
Nah they've been discontinued for awhile now. You might get lucky and find a new pair online, but be prepared to pay an arm and a leg. If you don't mind used shoes take a look at eBay