Disclaimer:
I was provided with a complimentary pair of shoes from PBT Hungary in return for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for this review, nor am I endorsed by PBT Hungary in any capacity. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by PBT Hungary and/or its affiliates in any way.
In years past, I have often shaken my fist in anger at the lack of quality Fencing-specific shoes on the market and encouraged both my readers and those on online fencing forums to seek alternatives like court tennis shoes (e.g. the Adidas Barricades). Fencing shoes are more often miss than hit, and perhaps because of the niche market they cater to, they’re usually pricier than functional alternatives like the Asics Gel Rockets, the Barricades, and other non-fencing shoes fit for purpose in the sport.
My reviews of fencing shoes have been on polar extremes between high-scoring, mid-tier, and absolute overpriced duds.
For the past month, I have worn the PBT Fencera shoes exclusively, weather I’m in the salle, walking the dog, working out, or even visiting the office.
For all intents and purposes, these are premium quality shoes nearly on par with the Azza’s. Ultimately, which of the two you prefer boils down to preferences, because they cater to very different fencing styles and foot types.
Design/Aesthetic
The PBT Fencera’s went with the elegant simplicity approach and offered one and only one pattern: blue and white. Comparably, they resemble the now decommissioned Adidas Fencing Pro 16’s (though I’ve quipped that the Fencera design is akin to taking the Israeli flag and turning it into a shoe, complete with the tread that bears striking resemblance to a Menachem David).
The Fencera’s check the box when it comes to having additional rubber on the inner heel to protect the shoe from falling apart when dragged on a metal piste when lunging. While I think the inner heel protection could benefit from a little additional material, it provides just enough of a layer for fencers who might roll their ankle on the lunge.
I especially like the design on the quarter section of the shoe. A layer of perforated rubber overlaps the cloth layer, with a nice tiled circle design that becomes filled as it approaches the end of the mudguard. It also has “Fencing” written on it so you can remind yourself to do that when you’re in the throes of competition.
The tiled Star of David-like pattern tread grips extremely well to the piste and is thick enough that it should last for a considerable amount of time.
The side of the shoe features the PBT logo in massive letters, which jumps out like a bolded Comic Sans MS font.
The minimalist, two color design of the shoe is more for traditionalists who might not care for the “rizz” of the Azza’s or the Nike Ballestra SE2’s. It’s conservative in its appearance and well enough designed to warrant praise. Hopefully more designs come out in the future, but the two colored blue and white is a great start.
Function:
The PBT Fencera’s passed all functional tests with flying colors, and when it comes to performance, they deserve to be mentioned alongside the Azza’s, but there are notable differences I’ll get into. Ultimately, which shoe you choose boils down to your foot width, en garde style, and the kind of foot support you’re looking for.
At 15.2 oz, they’re a little heavier than I expected (.6 ounces heavier than the Azza’s), but that weight is evenly distributed and hardly noticeable.
The vamp of the shoe provides a ton of flexibility and comfort. Unlike the Azza’s which have a little more rigidity and are better suited to fencers who keep their back leg at an orthodox 90-degree en garde, the Fencera’s offer a little more give for fencers who prefer the back leg at a 45-degree angle (e.g. Romain Cannone, pictured below) who fence on the balls of their feet as opposed to the middle of the foot.
Look at the following photos and you’ll see the vamp flexibility for yourself.
The tread is noticeably on the thicker side, and no matter which part of my foot I stood on and rapidly torqued, the Fencera’s gripped firmly to the strip and never twisted with my body. Changing directions rapidly back and forth, I never felt any slippage, and the consistent tread pattern that extends into the outsole all but guarantees you won’t slide when putting pressure on any part of the back or front legs while lunging. They feel really good on the tread front, and fit for purpose in all three weapons.
The heel cushioning feels solid, and at about 1.5 inches of cushioning in the sole, it’s the middle ground between the piste hugging Ballestra SE2’s (1”) and the raised heel of the Azza’s (2.25”). I felt very comfortable in the heel and ankle after using these for extended workouts.
Luckily, the Fencera’s have a removable insole. For flat footed fencers, I recommend using your own custom inserts, as the bendiness of the shoes when on the balls of your feet can sometimes put some pressure on the arches with the out of the box inserts. With custom inserts, that issue goes away.
The chief complaint among Azza enthusiasts was that they hug the feet and aren’t great for those who have wider, chonkier feet. The Fencera’s on the other hand provide ample width, room to wiggle and spread the toes, and not feel the snugness in the feet.
Overall, the Fencera’s pass functional testing with flying colors and are excellent quality fencing shoes.
A Brief Comparison of the Premium Priced Fencing Shoes
With these product reviews, I’ve now had the opportunity to review three of the premium-priced fencing shoes in the Fencera’s, the Azza’s, and the Nikes. To summarize that experience and the style each shoe caters to, I’ve aggregated into the table below.
| Functional Area | PBT Fencera | Azza 15/14 | Nike Balestra 2 |
| Weight | 15.2 oz | 14.6 oz | 14.1 oz |
| Width | More amenable to wider feet | Better suited for narrower feet | Good for placing on a mannequin doll and leaving them there forever |
| Flexibility | Flexible toe box—best for those who keep a 45-degree angle en garde/stay on the balls of their feet | More rigid toe box, best for fencers who keep an orthodox 90-degree en garde | Flexible enough to fit in a full garbage can |
| Lunge Protection | Thinner layer, more for fencers who don’t drag the back leg on the lunge | Thicker layer for the fencers who shred through shoes | Protect your lunges by not wearing them. |
| Tread | Slightly thicker, excellent grip | Slightly thinner, also excellent grip | Might as well fence barefoot and grind your feet on the piste |
| Heel | Medium elevation (1.5 inches), solid heel cushioning | Higher elevation (2.25 inches), best in class heel cushioning | Like fencing in high heels |
| Design/Aesthetic | One variety (Blue and White) | Four Varieties | Ok they’re cool |
Pricing/Availability
At $185, the Fencera’s will set you back about a case of Coors Light compared to the Azza’s. It’s a price point that matches their quality, and while I haven’t had the time to do a long-term durability test, that will certainly factor into whether these shoes are worthy of repeat buys.
For sizing, the Fencera’s are available at US size 6.5 at the minimum (35 EU) and they top out at size 12.5 (47 EU). Those with Hobbit feet or Shaq feet need not apply.
In terms of availability, the Fencera’s are available direct from PBT, but are also sold by Alliance Fencing Equipment. At the time of publication, they are not available through other major vendors such as Blue Gauntlet, Absolute, and Fencing Post, putting them more on the scarce side compared to the Ballestra 2’s and the Kempas which are more widely sold.
Price-wise, they aren’t cheap, but quality matches the price, and they’re pretty much even with the Azza’s and Ballestra 2’s (which aren’t worth $5 in my book).
| Shoe | Price |
| PBT Fencera | $185 |
| Azza 15/14 | $199 |
| Nike Ballestra SE2 | $189 |
| Kempa Attack Pro | $199 |
| Rophoo Fencing Shoes | $99 |
| Adidas D’Artagnan V | $170 |
| Adidas Solecourt Tennis Shoes | $160 |
| Adidas Barricade Court Tennis Shoes | $125 |
Overall:
Between the Azza’s and the Fencera’s, I now have two fencing-specific shoes I feel not only good wearing, but great. Great enough that I haven’t worn my Adidas Barricades in over one year which had been my go-to’s for a decade. Any qualms I had with the Fencera’s were minor (e.g. limited lunge protection area, limited availability, limited arch support for flat-footed fencers). Holistically, it’s a top tier shoe and the price point meets the quality. It has my firm recommendation and I rate it a 10/10.
