DDR Shoes and Stamina Increase: Your Recommendations

I wanted to ask you guys what shoes do best for you, and what you would recommend. Also I've made it back to the point where I can do Max 300, Maxx Unlimited and The Legend of MAX no bar, but songs like Trim and PSMO and Pluto Reliquish kick my ass no bar.
I don't hate people that use the bar, I just don't do it. I'm playing to help get in shape. I've played DDR since 2001 and trying to get back where I used to be and then some.

I know you all get the stamina questions alot but i would like to hear what you recommend. I have access to a SN2 arcade machine, all PS2 versions and a Cobalt Flux. I look forward to hearing your responses.

I guess no one has any recommendations? I was being serious. I'm going to buy some new DDR shoes soon and some help with that would be good.

I would try playing with leg weights. If you can play Max 300 with an extra 10 pounds on your legs you'll gain great bits of stamina really quickly.

---

Thanks Hyper Kitten, I'll give that a try. I appreciate the post.

I swear by these :

http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=0Kt&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&biw=1131&bih=600&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=nike+air+presto&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=

The more you wear them in, the better they get. Once the tread on the bottom starts to wear out, they become super-slidey, and perfect for playing things like the Pluto Relinquish or HDV ending streams, where you want to have shoes that are light enough and slidey enough that you can take the weight off your heeld, and slide your toes across the stage without lifting your feet at all.

For stamina, use leg weights, and play songs back to back that go : 6-foot, 7-foot, 8-foot, 8-foot, 9-foot, back to 6-foot, and so on. You want to build up your stamina by playing comfotable songs back to back, and only throw the 9-footers in there every 5 songs, to keep your heart pumping.

I advise you to take YugoRun by Puma

---

I don't really have much of an opinion as to which shoes are best for DDR. I've always played in my running shoes or sneakers, and I can pass all but the hardest 10's (all but the majority of the 18's) in the game no-bar.

---

Definitely avoid grippy shoes, always go for flat rubber soles if possible so you can move around much quicker.
Go with track/speed/endurance shoes. Greaf and Tyma mentioned two shoe brands above that make top-notch shoes with rubber soles. If you wear them down a bit then they become much easier to move around in.
Try to conserve as much energy as possible and avoid unnecessary movements (like showing off or doing freestyle, unless it's on purpose), save that energy for when you need it most like on the final runs of boss songs.
Mostly, just keep practicing and practicing. If you don't do this on a consistent basis then you won't get the full benefit out of training.
Do some jogging, sprints, hiking, ect., they help with building leg strength and endurance.
Hope this helps you

---

I personally don't care what shoes I wear.

I can't afford the ridiculous starting at $100 a pair brand name shoes, the most expensive pair I've bought are my current pair which were like $50.
They're just running shoes from hannahs. My previous pair was some slim and thin skate shoes.

I can attribute at least some of my current stamina increases to playing in shoes that don't kill my feet, but I also think it's got a little to do with trying to play hard songs, then ridiculous songs as my finals, then not playing for a bit then going back and having improved.

Yesterday I went and played 2 games of ITG, failed je'taine from mungyodance 2 on the final step, which I failed halfway through at home the last time I tried it.
And at home I play in socks hah.

---

For me, It's all about the Converse All Stars, Chuck Taylor Series!//

---

This is the opposite of "building stamina". To build stamina, you need to keep your heart-rate to high, while playing moderate songs for an extended period of time. If anything, you should use excessive movements on easier songs, to stretch the muscles, and keep the rate of exercise consistant.

Playing boss songs while trying to build stamina is a bad idea, because you're turning what is normally a low-impact exercise into a high-impact exercise, which burns energy quickly :{

I can't provide a link because I am on my phone but I strongly suggest Puma LIFT's. They way nearly nothing, are really flat and will really help you move faster.

To gain stamina I suggest running as hard and fast as you can until you can't anymore. This will force you to gain more energy to get passed your current "wall" and build more stamina.

---

I deliberately have a set of shoes I use strictly for DDR. I got them for their grip on the tread and support in the arch. Worn out shoes will kill your stamina. As far physically, get into playing doubles and courses. I can't really support running as a method to support your stamina has running stamina doesn't correlate with DDR stamina (I've increased my running stamina by 3 over the past year, DDR stamina has remained the same). Play really hard songs even when you're worn out. Play for 2 or 3 hours at a time if possible. Minimize your rest period and keep that heart rate up. The stronger your heart, the more oxygen delivered and the longer your muscles can withstand lactic acid build up.

You'll definitely want to avoid heavy skate shoes. I used to always play in Etnies, and while I did manage to get decently good in them, they were still too heavy for anything harder than maybe ITG 11's.

Just try to find something that has a good balance between being light and not having too much grip. In my experience, Nike Frees and most Puma shoes tend to work pretty well.

I used to play in skate shoes only as I constantly destroyed shoes playing DDR by sliding my foot of the brackets. I actually could pass up to 13's in them, but obviously I am no where near as fast and accurate as I am now when I dont wear them. I am not sure if they still do sell Lifts anymore (in America at least) which sucks because every 6 months I was planning on buying a new pair. Trust me though those shoes are absolutely amazing. They advertise it saying they only weigh 173 grams so trsut me when I say they weigh almost nothing

---

Nike Free 7.0 V2's



Simply because they are godly. If you don't own a pair, you are missing out. I'm not even going to give an argument why, because the information is factual.

---

$$$$

While they are good...Nike shoes are too narrow for my feet, so I'm more comfortable in adidas or Asics.

I use Puma Etoile shoes, but I don't think they make them for men.
http://www.zappos.com/n/v/7588680_vs_7654869
They work really well for me. I wish I had a pair of Puma Tapers because it is said that those are the best shoes, but they are discontinued. I agree with Kon, get Puma Lifts. The lifts, tapers, and etoiles are all lightweight, which can help you out a lot in the long run.

I choose New Balance 407 Cross trainer shoes. Excellent grip on DDR pads, great thick tread.

I don't understand why people want grip o.O

Grip makes it harder to slide around on streams :{

because you need grip for doubles play. If you have slippery shoes, you will slide off the side of a pad because of the momentum. Slippery shoes means that you will shift the weight to your ankles to stop yourself and that can actually harm your legs. The gripis used to help in stopping the momentum.


Speaking from personal experience, anyway.

---