Speaking of the sole structure of badminton shoes , everyone’s traditional concept must be midsole + midsole pad + energy pad + carbon plate (there are also nylon plates) + outsole, and then use glue to bond the midsole sneakers, plus A separate pair of insoles. Needless to say, this structure has been verified and recognized by the market during long-term use.
Over time, everyone may feel that once the design is outside of this framework, whether the performance of the sneakers will deviate is a big question mark in many people's minds. In addition to the more stringent craftsmanship and stricter quality control requirements for adhesive midsole shoes, there are also issues such as gaps in the feet. This is why professional players use customized insoles or even customized shoes. However, Not everyone can afford custom insoles. Therefore, in the future, can the form of sneakers break through the current model, and can it be cheaper and more cost-effective?
Today I will talk about a sneaker that breaks out of this inherent framework. It was the first badminton shoe with built-in midsole VG1 produced by VICTOR in May 21 to test the waters. Perhaps out of the idea of being the first model to test the water, this shoe does not have a flashy appearance. It is simple and simple and is placed in front of everyone for everyone to try and question.
Built-in midsole technology
This is not the first technology for badminton shoes. Basketball shoes have long had built-in midsoles, and the concept of built-in midsoles has been used in the design of many basketball shoes.
At that time, the main focus of basketball shoes was 360-degree coverage without blind spots, but the emphasis of badminton shoes was different from that of basketball shoes. Because of the different pace characteristics, badminton shoes will have stricter lateral coverage and support.
By comparison, it can be found that the built-in midsole of VICTOR VG1 is higher and steeper than the side wall of the built-in midsole of basketball shoes. From a design point of view, there is no problem with this. We leave the key feedback to actual combat.
On the other hand, using technology such as built-in midsoles in badminton shoes will not weaken the performance compared with traditional sneakers. Many people will adopt a wait-and-see attitude and are unwilling to be the first to try out . , which means that the probability of this sneaker appearing in the arena is not high, and it rarely hits the shoe. In my impression, from the release last year to now, I have seen this sneaker in several arenas I often go to. The number of times should not exceed 10 times. Unlike the 9200 series, you can see several pairs in one night.
However, after talking, the feedback from people who have worn VG1 is relatively consistent. It has good cushioning, good torsion resistance, and does not need to wash or replace the insoles. Some people originally bought it to try it, but they did not expect that it would become worse after wearing it. Although the number of samples of the flagship shoe is limited, it can also prove to a certain extent that the application of built-in midsoles to badminton shoes is still feasible. What’s more, the more comfortable this pair of VG1 is, the more comfortable it feels on your feet. However, is not recommended for golfers with flat feet, or low arches. Because the arch of this pair of shoes is raised, it is estimated that players with flat feet will have sore feet if they wear it too much.
Let’s take a look at the structure of the VG1 sneakers
First of all, the built-in midsole is embedded very tightly inside the shoe body . It still takes some effort to take it out, so some people don’t need to worry about the built-in midsole jumping around. .
After taking it out, you can see that the built-in midsole is very thick and not easy to collapse, and the side walls extend upward higher. Compared with the traditional sneaker midsole, it eliminates the carbon plate (or nylon plate). Instead, the diamond grid and reinforced rib structure designed in the midsole arch area provide torsion resistance, and eliminates the need for a separate insole. There is no TPU on the sides, instead there are side walls of the foam midsole.
Overall, the built-in midsole is equivalent to the collection of insole + midsole + midsole pad + energy pad + carbon plate (or nylon plate) + lateral TPU + other torsion-resistant structures. Actual feedback is that the performance of built-in midsole sneakers is no less than that of traditional midsoles.
Compared with the ordinary midsole, the built-in midsole of VG1 has a better fit and will not leave any unnecessary gaps. Especially there is a bulge in the arch of the foot.
In terms of lateral support, the side of the foot of traditional sneakers is supported between the outsole and the upper, and it is impossible for the foot to touch the midsole. And the gap is impossible to fix. Because the side walls of the built-in midsole are made of plastic material, the curvature fits the foot to provide very stable support.
Here we want to talk about customized insoles
Customized insoles are indispensable for some professional players with special foot types. After adding customized insoles, they can also achieve a similar fit to the three arch positions of the built-in midsole and reduce gaps. . However, if amateur golfers want to DIY a customized insole that suits them, it is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and may not be possible. The key is that it’s also quite expensive.
Generally speaking
Judging from the foot feel of VG1, the built-in midsole badminton shoes are more enveloping and more comfortable than traditional shoes. The more comfortable the foot feels, this must be mentioned. I am talking to some golfers who also bought VG1. One thing we discussed was that the feeling on the feet was very different from traditional sneakers at first, so I was not very used to it, but after running in for a few games, I felt more and more comfortable with these shoes. The foot feel feedback is also clearer, and the anti-slip texture designed on the midsole can ensure that there is enough friction between the sole of the foot and the midsole during exercise without jumping back and forth.
In the badminton project, I personally hold a relatively radical view on the use of new technologies. After all, only by constantly exploring and trying can improvements and changes be made, and a richer user experience be brought about. I hope there will be more and more bright spots in the future. Eye design appears. Similarly, I feel that old technologies will slowly change when new forms continue to emerge. After all, before the Apple mobile phone came out, no one would have thought that a smartphone could be used to slide and click with your finger.
This article is reproduced from Zhongyu Online LYJDOUBLE's "[Evaluation Experience] The underrated badminton shoe VG1, talk about the direction of future sneakers". The above are the personal opinions of the author. The description and comparison of the product have nothing to do with our company.
