Shoes

[GameWillTravel]

What are the best shoes out there for officials

[TXMike]

Good luck with that.  Everyone has their own take.  It depends on the type of foot you have and the type of fields you work on.  Some of us swear by New Balance.  Others will be buried in their Reeboks.  Others will go with "The Swoosh". 

[Etref]

The "best" shoe is the one that fits you well.

[GameWillTravel]

Are you smarter than a 4th grader
 

[mbyron]

I have to have extra wide shoes, and to date the only brand that fits my feet is New Balance.

[TxSkyBolt]

For Sub Varsity (multiple games) I use black running shoes as they offer superior arch and heel support and cushion.

[HLinNC]

Depends on your foot and how much or how little white your area allows to show.  There are really nice Nike models that have a lot of white that one would have to virtually spray paint to get past some states.

I've worn running shoes, training shoes, turf shoes, and real cleats depending on the surface.  It really is your personal preferences.

[Tom.OH]

As stated above everyone is different. I use Nike Landsharks. A little black marker and Kiwi Scuff liquid polish and then hitting them with a brush and they are ready.

[Grant - AR]

I would suggest finding the type of shoe that is the most comfortable and fits your foot the best.  When you find that, get the black ones with the least amount of white on them.  Then, take them to the nearest cobbler and ask him/her to dye them for you.  I did that for quite a few years and they look really good dyed all black.  Your feet, ankles, knees, and legs will thank you for it...especially after 20-25 games in them.

[FLbackjudge]

In our conference we've been required to dye the white rubber sole (not the bottom; the part that shows below the leather) for the past 3 years.  A couple of local shoe repair shops told me there is nothing that will adhere to the rubber.  I used a product called Leather Luster (available on line from leatherluster.com) that works very well on all white parts of the shoe that an official may be required to dye black.  It also renewed a very old black belt.  The only caution I'll offer is that (on leather; not rubber) it gives a very high gloss shine (it's designed for the military), and you may not want to look as if you're wearing patent leather pumps.

[TXMike]

For Sub Varsity (multiple games) I use black running shoes as they offer superior arch and heel support and cushion.

Really?!??!?!?...an umpire using the term "running"? ? ? ?

Talk about your oxymoron!   

[TampaSteve]

In our conference we've been required to dye the white rubber sole (not the bottom; the part that shows below the leather) for the past 3 years.  A couple of local shoe repair shops told me there is nothing that will adhere to the rubber.  I used a product called Leather Luster (available on line from leatherluster.com) that works very well on all white parts of the shoe that an official may be required to dye black.  It also renewed a very old black belt.  The only caution I'll offer is that (on leather; not rubber) it gives a very high gloss shine (it's designed for the military), and you may not want to look as if you're wearing patent leather pumps.

With fewer and fewer all-black shoes being offered, it seems perhaps the powers that be would/should re-evaluate the mandate for all-black shoes.

[HLinNC]

With fewer and fewer all-black shoes being offered, it seems perhaps the powers that be would/should re-evaluate the mandate for all-black shoes.

Amen, Steve.  Although I have to admit, the clown shoes the ACC officials wore last year were rediculous.  I expected them to change into racoon coats and zoot suits.  I wouldn't have been caught dead in them, even if Nike gave them to me for free.

I've used leather dye in the past but the main problem now is very few shoes are made of real leather so there is nothing to hold the dye.  I think the Mizuno G3's were the last all leather shoes I've found and they came in an all-black model so they require no additional work.

[Etref]

New Balance are still all leather.

[HLinNC]

New Balance are still all leather.

I've got a pair of 350's that I would have sworn were pleather but I do believe you are correct.  I don't believe they make that model anymore.  Is the 995's leather?

[mbyron]

I've got a pair of 350's that I would have sworn were pleather but I do believe you are correct.  I don't believe they make that model anymore.  Is the 995's leather?

The 995's have plastic panels along the sole, but the upper is mostly leather.

[InsideTheStripes]

I've gone through a few shoes over the years.  Here are my current kicks:

Adidas Malice D http://goo.gl/cwWYL
Adidas Corner Blitz 7 D Mid http://goo.gl/as63S
Reebok NFL Pro Model Turf Shoes http://goo.gl/3zKMV

That said, The best football shoes I ever wore were the Adidas Grid Iron 7 D Mid (http://goo.gl/2ISTr). 

If I could find them in my size, I'd buy 10 pair.

[Amir]

We can't get any of those specialist football boots in the shops here in the UK, we have to get them imported like the rest of our kit. I may invest in a pair in the near future though - I quite like the look of the Reebok Field Magistrates (even if they do have an MLB logo on them). Anyone else use these?

I'm currently using 2 pairs of Umbro XAI soccer boots: one with cleats (mostly for university games in autumn/winter), and one pair of astroturf boots (mostly for summer games, as some of our fields get bone dry).

[HLinNC]

Amir,
Field Magistrates have an internal TPU toe cap.  They aren't considered baseball umpire plate shoes but unless you work the football umpire position and would like the extra toe protection, they are going to be a little heavy for wing or deep positions.

I bought a pair several years ago at a Reebok outlet shop.  They appeared to be a salesman sample and I got 'em for about $20.  The MLB logos had either been removed or not put on them.

If you can locate a pair of the old Reebok NFL official shoes, they are similar in their cleat pattern.

[NWA_UMP]

Our crew is using Mizuno's this year. I have the Infinity Wave trainers. Have used them for about 20 baseball games so far, just to break them in...I think I will like.

[RS]

Been wearing the Mizunos for years. Best shoes I've ever worn if you have high arches. They also have a lot of support.

If it's really muddy I pull out an old pair of cleats.

[NorCalMike]

I'm a New Balance guy. Got wide feet and the NB's come in 4E widths.

[WVABJ1807]

In WV we have to wear all black shoes.  Its so hard to find a good pair of all black shoes.  I dont believe in wearing actual football cleats that the players wear.  I like the look of the New Balance shoes but have heard bad reviews on the grip that they provide in wet weather.  The studs on the bootom of the NB needs to be bigger like the Reebok.  I have ankle problems, and since we are wearing black pants in WV this year i want to wear a pair of Mid-Cut shoes.  Hard to find a pair of mid-cut all black shoes.  Any suggestions?

[NWA_UMP]

Sharpie....


Works great to eliminate some white on shoes...I've also heard of guys using paint as well...

All Black mid cuts:

http://www.shopnewbalance.com/newbalanceMF995MBK.htm

[WVABJ1807]

I liek those shoes NWA but the traction on those shoes are terrible.