Plate Shoes

[mw94]

are this just 3n2 with another label?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/373943411042?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item5710c3a162:g:39YAAOSw4ORiFDdI&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAAA4Ciwts4JQcZyvycQcLIIbj3NmDympRQsbDsWbOH%2Fusb%2FXsBh82wqPicynJ8YOvs1Vg%2FshGpaP6Llxuw%2BMEjzPdbS6bXnNQ80MxK6T6YKiEioaG6R6BSd93Zin066UmBFDmNTd%2BoDc39tEeCtKO1xWxV7edOpC5vynSMDjKPI5PYaH3PyC0hawyM0%2Fpq%2FB2ZyAExv5sm9T%2Fxmps%2FQmNPynIagf1CgqgQDbpYjaPIXfK56d2HpchbfgiK4QY2%2BEmw6MjRa3a8JzLi23SqjIKC0v%2FL%2BP8gdda2%2B7%2Fzz6%2Fpsm1d9|tkp%3ABFBMiMHLkIRg

[Ump242]

Looks like it

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

[wolfe_man]

Actually, I believe Pentagon was here first.   Then, 3n2 copied or bought them out as Pentagon is no longer around.  Interesting enough, I think Tanel plate shoes were also swallowed up by 3n2. 

FWIW, I've heard Pentagon is better gear than 3n2 is.  I have a pair of patent leather base shoes by Pentagon and they're nice.  A bit heavier than others, but seem to hold up well. They have very good tread so I wear when it's very muddy out.

I keep seeing these on eBay and think of taking a chance for $70 shipped. I'd go patent leather though as already shiny and should clean up easily.

[Ump242]

4 hours ago, wolfe_man said:

Actually, I believe Pentagon was here first.   Then, 3n2 copied or bought them out as Pentagon is no longer around.  Interesting enough, I think Tanel plate shoes were also swallowed up by 3n2. 

FWIW, I've heard Pentagon is better gear than 3n2 is.  I have a pair of patent leather base shoes by Pentagon and they're nice.  A bit heavier than others, but seem to hold up well. They have very good tread so I wear when it's very muddy out.

I keep seeing these on eBay and think of taking a chance for $70 shipped. I'd go patent leather though as already shiny and should clean up easily.

That's good info, I never knew that

[MadMax]

There's nothing new in China. 

... or Taiwan. Or Korea. Or Thailand. Or Vietnam. Or anywhere these articles of clothing or footwear are actually made. 

Everything is based off a planform. It is a blueprint, if you will, of what comprises a shoe (or a mask, or a CP, or a set of shinguards, etc.) and how it is constructed, in industrial-level detail. The planforms that constitute the New Balance 450, the Pentagon plate shoe, and the 3N2 Reaction Plate shoe all likely came from the same predecessor, albeit with minor "branding" tweaks to stylize them more to their respective brands. These planform files' similarities do not equate to similar or equitable craftsmanship, nor materials used, nor fit and robustness. In the case of New Balance, for example, they use a specific set of lasts completely controlled by New Balance and tightly held in their domain. The Pentagon shoes are not going to win any awards in terms of "sporty feel", but they sure will endure an artillery strike. Can't say the same for 3N2, which are trading the steel toe callout in the planform for a composite toe; done for a reason, but not the most reliable of results.

In plate shoes, there's only so many planforms in existence. It is exceptionally difficult, in terms of cost-effectiveness and productivity, to develop an all-new, completely novel plate shoe design and put it into production. This is why Smitty obtained / bought / used New Balance's 460v1 planform for their own plate shoes. Mizuno's plate shoes are eerily similar, but of course, made much lighter, tighter (tolerances), and with Mizuno's attention to detail and craftsmanship. It's entirely possible that the two shoes use the same planform, just executed in separate facilities. 

There are two real shames here: the first is that the Reebok planforms for the Field Magistrate and ZIG plate shoes are not in use or circulation. Reebok (and its parent company, Adidas) must be still holding on to them with a tight grip. I'd have thought that any of these Chinese "lattice-work" shoe companies – you know the ones, with soles that look like they were churned out by a 3D printer – would jump all over the ZIG planform and make plate shoes (of suspect quality, let's be honest). The second shame, though, is one that hits closer to home – why hasn't anyone (I'm lookin' right square at you EvoShield and your parent company Wilson) developed a molded metatarsal guard that can be attached to nearly any other steel or composite -toed shoe??!! 

[umpstu]

9 hours ago, wolfe_man said:

Actually, I believe Pentagon was here first.   Then, 3n2 copied or bought them out as Pentagon is no longer around.  Interesting enough, I think Tanel plate shoes were also swallowed up by 3n2. 

FWIW, I've heard Pentagon is better gear than 3n2 is.  I have a pair of patent leather base shoes by Pentagon and they're nice.  A bit heavier than others, but seem to hold up well. They have very good tread so I wear when it's very muddy out.

I keep seeing these on eBay and think of taking a chance for $70 shipped. I'd go patent leather though as already shiny and should clean up easily.

I loved the Gerry Davis patent leather plate shoes

[mw94]

8 hours ago, MadMax said:

There's nothing new in China. 

... or Taiwan. Or Korea. Or Thailand. Or Vietnam. Or anywhere these articles of clothing or footwear are actually made. 

Everything is based off a planform. It is a blueprint, if you will, of what comprises a shoe (or a mask, or a CP, or a set of shinguards, etc.) and how it is constructed, in industrial-level detail. The planforms that constitute the New Balance 450, the Pentagon plate shoe, and the 3N2 Reaction Plate shoe all likely came from the same predecessor, albeit with minor "branding" tweaks to stylize them more to their respective brands. These planform files' similarities do not equate to similar or equitable craftsmanship, nor materials used, nor fit and robustness. In the case of New Balance, for example, they use a specific set of lasts completely controlled by New Balance and tightly held in their domain. The Pentagon shoes are not going to win any awards in terms of "sporty feel", but they sure will endure an artillery strike. Can't say the same for 3N2, which are trading the steel toe callout in the planform for a composite toe; done for a reason, but not the most reliable of results.

In plate shoes, there's only so many planforms in existence. It is exceptionally difficult, in terms of cost-effectiveness and productivity, to develop an all-new, completely novel plate shoe design and put it into production. This is why Smitty obtained / bought / used New Balance's 460v1 planform for their own plate shoes. Mizuno's plate shoes are eerily similar, but of course, made much lighter, tighter (tolerances), and with Mizuno's attention to detail and craftsmanship. It's entirely possible that the two shoes use the same planform, just executed in separate facilities. 

There are two real shames here: the first is that the Reebok planforms for the Field Magistrate and ZIG plate shoes are not in use or circulation. Reebok (and its parent company, Adidas) must be still holding on to them with a tight grip. I'd have thought that any of these Chinese "lattice-work" shoe companies – you know the ones, with soles that look like they were churned out by a 3D printer – would jump all over the ZIG planform and make plate shoes (of suspect quality, let's be honest). The second shame, though, is one that hits closer to home – why hasn't anyone (I'm lookin' right square at you EvoShield and your parent company Wilson) developed a molded metatarsal guard that can be attached to nearly any other steel or composite -toed shoe??!! 

Thanks for the response Max, so the Pentagons are steel toe? not composite like 3n2 ?

[dumbdumb]

17 hours ago, MadMax said:

The second shame, though, is one that hits closer to home – why hasn't anyone (I'm lookin' right square at you EvoShield and your parent company Wilson) developed a molded metatarsal guard that can be attached to nearly any other steel or composite -toed shoe??!! 

they are waiting on you. make something underneath that the shoe strings can hold the guard in place, or snap on where those 3 rivits are, or velcro somehow on top. you think it up, you make it, we buy it. worked for joe.