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Hi-tec silver shadow trainers

Hey one and all :smile: ,

Forgive me if i am in the wrong forum,but my spider senses told me to come here :biggrin: .Ok,down to the nitty gritty.
I'm looking for some advice on running trainers and thought where better to ask than on here.Aren't this the British armed services standard issue trainers?So,do you have any experience with them?If so i would be grateful for your input.Are they any good for long distance running ?Are they worth buying ?If not,what do you use or recommend? Looking forward to your advice.

Thank you.

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The British Army use them as 'indoor trainers' for circuit training and have been replace by the PT brand of trainers. If you are a serious runner I wouldn't even consider Silver Shadows. Get down to your local running store and get analysed and fitted with the correct pair of shoes for you.
Reply 2
Bear in mind any sort of kit like this supplied by the armed forces is supplied by the company that puts in the lowest tender through the MOD procurement system. Think of Snatch Land Rovers etc.

I use my issue Silver Shadows for cycling, and for painting jobs in the house.

For actual running I have spent some decent money and bought some proper running shoes from a proper running shop.

I do know some people who say that Silver Shadows work fine for them. However they aren't fitted by a specialist sports shoe fitter and only come in standard sizes. If you go to a proper sports shoe shop you will get your feet measured by some one who knows what they are doing and who will recommend the right sort of sports / running shoe for what you want to do and for your feet.

If you are trying to get yourself fit by doing some decent running then spend some decent money in a proper sports shop and get some decent shoes, not the very average shoes the forces issue. It's your knees and ankles which are going to have to put up with years of phys - so you dont want to skimp on this if you dont have to.
They're sh*t, for running get aasics. I use Adidas climacools, but they're pretty costly, and I don't run anymore.

:top:
The Shadow replacements aren't much better.....!!
No thanks, I'd sooner run in my bare feet!

:top:
Reply 6
asics are great for running as they have a gel sole (most of them) which provides a fair bit of support for your ankles and reduces the strain on your knees.
Nothing wrong with them - as relayed to me by a specialist - providing you have a totally neutral gait and you change them every couple of hundred miles. You probably don't know whether you have a neutral gait - if you can afford a visit to a proper running shop for their view, you should do.
At the risk of getting trashed here......

All the trainers mentioned are good, but you cannot expect them to last forever.

Point of discussion - how much wear will you expect from a £120 pair? Would a free-to-replace set of SS be better for you than a pair of clapped-out Asics?

Sits back, sips coffee and prepares to receive flak
Reply 9
My Asics were £50 from sports direct, 30% off. They are a dream to run in and even if they need replacing every year, I am happy knowing I am less likely to suffer any injuries/aches/blisters
Thank you everyone for your contribution,insight and advice.I have taken on board what you guys have prescribed/dispensed and will be going to the local 'Alexandra sports' shop for an assessment.I was so ignorant,hadn't even heard of a gait analysis/assessment,hehe.Thank you all,boys and girls :smile: .
Hannibal Smith
At the risk of getting trashed here......

All the trainers mentioned are good, but you cannot expect them to last forever.

Point of discussion - how much wear will you expect from a £120 pair? Would a free-to-replace set of SS be better for you than a pair of clapped-out Asics?

Sits back, sips coffee and prepares to receive flak


Are you wearing a flak jacket:biggrin: ? I probably should have asked,have you been issued with one yet? :p:
Hannibal Smith
At the risk of getting trashed here......

All the trainers mentioned are good, but you cannot expect them to last forever.

Point of discussion - how much wear will you expect from a £120 pair? Would a free-to-replace set of SS be better for you than a pair of clapped-out Asics?

Sits back, sips coffee and prepares to receive flak


I suppose you're one of those rare people who have no problem with issue boots either? :biggrin:

Silver shadows have an annoying habit of ripping the skin off the undersides of my toes, god knows why, no other trainers I've ever worn do.

You do raise a good point ref cost/usage, but I'd argue that I'd rather pay a few beer tokens and have knees in better shape. On the other hand, I'd also argue I shouldn't have to pay for kit that actually works, but that's a whole other can of worms. I've got a pair of decent boots on issue (when the man at the Q&Ms finally gets around to sorting the paperwork!) because my physio did her nut over the lack of support the current issue boots give you.
Reply 13
Words cannot describe how shockingly bad they are
FiveFiveSix
I suppose you're one of those rare people who have no problem with issue boots either? :biggrin:

Silver shadows have an annoying habit of ripping the skin off the undersides of my toes, god knows why, no other trainers I've ever worn do.

You do raise a good point ref cost/usage, but I'd argue that I'd rather pay a few beer tokens and have knees in better shape. On the other hand, I'd also argue I shouldn't have to pay for kit that actually works, but that's a whole other can of worms. I've got a pair of decent boots on issue (when the man at the Q&Ms finally gets around to sorting the paperwork!) because my physio did her nut over the lack of support the current issue boots give you.


Firstly, I will come clean. My issue Silver Shads have been used when squaddie windsurfing, sailing etc. I have never, nor wil I ever do any form of phys in them!

Combat Assault boots however I have never had a problem with. That is probably as a result of many years breaking my feet in to fit the old boots combat high (rather than the other way around) I now have perfect size 8M feet - QM's dream!

My current job has me in shoes (oxford pattern), sheer luxury - so long as you don't mind the bulling!
Reply 15
[Irrelevant]Your feet are exactly the same size as mine, Hannibal

Good point about useage. Someone who spent £120 on a pair of trainers is far more likely to try and get another few months' wear out of them, and most people probably don't replace their trainers often enough anyway ...
Paying more for your trainers does not mean you are wearing the proper shoes for your feet and legs. It means you pay more for your trainers. Without knowing whether you pronate etc then you are just spending more rather than spending wisely.
Hannibal Smith
My current job has me in shoes (oxford pattern), sheer luxury - so long as you don't mind the bulling!


What? No paint?! I thought that was an RAF "tradition"! :p:

ProStacker
Paying more for your trainers does not mean you are wearing the proper shoes for your feet and legs. It means you pay more for your trainers. Without knowing whether you pronate etc then you are just spending more rather than spending wisely.


Haha, that'd be the likes of me then... :o:

:top:
Hannibal Smith
Firstly, I will come clean. My issue Silver Shads have been used when squaddie windsurfing, sailing etc. I have never, nor wil I ever do any form of phys in them!

Combat Assault boots however I have never had a problem with. That is probably as a result of many years breaking my feet in to fit the old boots combat high (rather than the other way around) I now have perfect size 8M feet - QM's dream!

My current job has me in shoes (oxford pattern), sheer luxury - so long as you don't mind the bulling!


Bahaha, fair enough!
Reply 19
FiveFiveSix
I suppose you're one of those rare people who have no problem with issue boots either? :biggrin:

Silver shadows have an annoying habit of ripping the skin off the undersides of my toes, god knows why, no other trainers I've ever worn do.

You do raise a good point ref cost/usage, but I'd argue that I'd rather pay a few beer tokens and have knees in better shape. On the other hand, I'd also argue I shouldn't have to pay for kit that actually works, but that's a whole other can of worms. I've got a pair of decent boots on issue (when the man at the Q&Ms finally gets around to sorting the paperwork!) because my physio did her nut over the lack of support the current issue boots give you.


I've seen a few of your other posts on this forum and you are clearly not in the army

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