Let's Talk Squash - SUSPENDED

VolleyDrop

Now I've heard that they:

fit wide in the toe-box
fit narrow in the toe-box
take forever to break in
break in quickly
have great cushioning in the right places
have terrible cushioning, especially in the heel
tear up your toes
etc.

So what is your experience, especially how they compare to other Hi Tec shoes? I'm looking to buy soon. Thanks!

BIGT · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 12:17 pm Post subject: Hi Tec 4-sys

They are a very wide fitting shoe but they are the correct size in the length ie Im a size 13 and so are my Hi Tec 4 sys shoe.I binned a pair of asics gel sensei because I was constantly getting blisters because they became to hot due to the leather and lack of breathability but this is not the case with the Hi tech they are like slippers and they grip better each time you go on court.Beware though there is 2 types of 4 sys on general sale! There is a squash shoe what is like I say above but there is a badminton/court shoe that is very narrow in comparison ( silver I belive) they also have a slightly different sole and one of the top rackets in my club says they are un-comfortable because they are to narrow in the toe? This could be the reason for conflicting feedback that you have read?? In my honest opinion though the squash shoe version in black and grey are great for someone like myself who has very big feet and very wide feet! The best that I have worn since the Hi tec vortex 2 seasons ago.Ps I have had them for 6 months now and they are not wearing at all where i drag my feet and put a hole in the shoe like all the other shoes that I have tried. Very Happy

Lanius · Newbie Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 8

In comparision with the Prince NSF III indoor shoe:

I find they really fit great!In the Prince shoe, I was getting blisters (but maybe i bought them to big?). I can only say they are great, fits everywhere, very stable, the heat in my shoe while playing is less than in the Prince shoe...

I only have 2 negative remarks:
The sole looks a little less durable than the prince one. I have them now for 6 months, and i see the sole wear more rapidly
In my right shoe, There's no hole yet, but it's just a matter of time ( i think a 2-3 months).

Problem is: i don't play squash for long time, so i don't know yet how fast other brands wears. I play 2-3 times a weak (5-6 hours a weak), so it's maybe normal a shoe wear so fast??? I was thinking of buying ascis gel next time, but BIGT give me some doubt now.

Maybe i can put a photo on the forum you can see how fast they wear after 6 months?

PS: I want excuse myself for my bad English

VolleyDrop · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject:

Wow, a couple hours and two helpful responses! Thanks.

Lanius, do post some pics, that would be helpful.

nyc squash · Prolific Contributor Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 100

Good for wide feet, I guess. I was comfortable in Stabils, but when they wore out I tried a pair of 4 sys. I could play for about 45 minutes in them without a problem, but any longer and I'd be in pain. I'm now wearing New Balance 653s, which are more durable and more comfortable than any other shoes I've played in.

VolleyDrop · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 2:15 am Post subject:

I recently read that they size small, so you have to go up 1/2 size to get a normal fit (compared to other Hi-Tec shoes). Anyone know if this is true?

neil13 · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 3:02 am Post subject:

I've just go rid of my pair of Hi Tec 4:SYS. Here are my thoughts after using them for a couple of months.

They are definitely a wide shoe, of some reason I ended up with a size 11 where as I'm usually at 9.5/10?? They felt very wide and flat at the front of the shoe; I always felt a little slow trying to change directions and slipped a number of times. The general grip is fine but just when you turn hard they do let go. I believe that the cushioning in the heel is very bad. After about 6 weeks I felt like I'd bruised my heel, another guy who I hit with has now found the same issue.

I've now gone back to Asics and am very happy again.

Cheers,

HACKER · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 8:21 am Post subject:

I have tried pretty much every shoe out there and can honestly say i love the Hi Tec 4 Sys, and have just ordered another pair. I have never liked Hi tec before and think that the grip on these is one of the best i've tried. I had to order a half size smaller so definitely worth trying some on if you were going to order on line.

VolleyDrop · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:06 am Post subject:

McSboncen

VolleyDrop

Versanis · Heavy Contributor Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 27

My personal experience with the hi-tec 4-SYS shoes has been as follows: -

When you first begin to wear them, they are fairly stiff in the toe area but once they are worn in (4-5 matches) they become very comfortable.

The heel area is very rigid and quite hard, providing good ankle support but some gel heel cups may be necessary.

The shoes are very durable lasting a lot longer than any of my previous pairs

The grip on the soles is excellent on courts that are well cleaned, but due to the very flat sole if you play on dusty courts they can tend to slip around a bit.

I find them to be the best shoes I have ever worn for their mix of durability and grip, and I find them similar in feel to the Hi-Tec Vortex shoes of a few years ago.

Hope this helps.

VolleyDrop · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject:

Versanis · Heavy Contributor Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 27

I have only ever worn 10 US in all the Hi-Tec shoes I've owned. I find the first time I put them on the feel very snug, but if you wear them walking for a day or so before you take them on court they expand quite quickly.
I am actually walking in my third pair today, and the same thing has happened on all 3. I wouldn't be put off if they feel a bit tight at first in your regular size.

Lanius · Newbie Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 8

some pictures of my shoes after 6 months, using them twice a week (5/6 hours a week):

right shoe (above, left shoe is still ok) :
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6563/p1020869xr5.jpg

almost a hole in it
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/6342/p1020870cv9.jpg

some wear showing at the top:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8664/p1020871gw9.jpg

The small little squares for antislip were wear very fast on some places:
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7598/p1020876mt9.jpg

I think if you look very good, you can see where the sole has wear a lot, and where it's still ok (depends on your feeth I think?). For me, especially the sole of the left shoe isn't so good anymore.

left:
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4233/p1020878ex7.jpg
Right:
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/4933/p1020877ri0.jpg

After all, I decided to buy an other pair. They felt very great, so ... why changing?

VolleyDrop · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject:

Well, that is a bit more wear than I'd expect in 6 months. Still, it looks like you might have another 6 months of play left in them. Report back to us, if you would, Lanius, when they're completely worn out and maybe post a couple pics then. Thanks!

VolleyDrop · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:37 pm Post subject: Got the Shoes!

Well, got the shoes yesterday, and...

1. They look way better in person than they do in pictures (yellow)
2. I wore them for 3 hours around the house and while they felt tight in the forefoot for a while, they loosened up nicely
3. They don't seem to have much forefoot cushioning
4. They feel very, very stable
5. Much of the rubber feels soft to the touch
6. The lacing system is fantastic! It really locks the foot into position

I'll be at the club tomorrow to give them a proper test and we'll see how they work. I might have to put some SuperFeet insoles in, but I don't anticipate a long break-in period.

VolleyDrop · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: Got the Shoes!

HACKER · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:52 am Post subject:

Does anyone know how they compare to the same model but the badminton version? I've heard that the Badmonton ones are a bit narrower??

VolleyDrop · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 11:30 am Post subject: