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Author Topic: 3G vs SST8 and is 3G still viable?  (Read 4402 times)

lefty50

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3G vs SST8 and is 3G still viable?
« on: July 12, 2014, 10:05:26 AM »
I'm in Reno for the tournament. I've held out as long as I can... it's time to replace my 20 year ABS/DT/3G pair. I see Linds, but meh... SST8's feel too stiff, particularly after wearing 3G, and/Storm/Brunswick aren't any better. Problem is I don't 3G anywhere here and they are also out of stock in several places online... Looks to me like they are going away.

Anyone know?
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Track_Fanatic

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Re: 3G vs SST8 and is 3G still viable?
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2014, 11:27:28 AM »
From what I have heard, the 3G shoes won't be available for quite awhile.  I don't know what the issue is with getting them here in the states. There was a prior post about this awhile back but I don't recall the specifics.

Found it:

http://www.ballreviews.com/bowling/?topic=302817.0

Thomas from 900 Global posted on the thread above that they are heavily backordered and should be in end of July.  But that was back in May, so that could have changed. The post was originally about toe caps. Back in 5/24/14 by Artimust.
« Last Edit: July 12, 2014, 11:32:32 AM by Track_Fanatic »
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charlest

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Re: 3G vs SST8 and is 3G still viable?
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2014, 11:41:52 AM »
Quote from: lefty50 on July 12, 2014, 10:05:26 AM
I'm in Reno for the tournament. I've held out as long as I can... it's time to replace my 20 year ABS/DT/3G pair. I see Linds, but meh... SST8's feel too stiff, particularly after wearing 3G, and/Storm/Brunswick aren't any better. Problem is I don't 3G anywhere here and they are also out of stock in several places online... Looks to me like they are going away.

Anyone know?

Steve,

I had to go to SST8s recently, from my 3G Tour Ultras. Yes, they seem VERY stiff to me also, while handling them. They do wear just slightly stiffer than the Tour Ultras, but it's not uncomfortable and it's not distracting while wearing them and they don't hurt the feet or toes even when I wear summer, ultra-light socks. Their base platform is slightly wider than the Tour Ultras for a more stable step and slide.

I was EXTREMELY hesitant to buy a pair mostly because the last pair I had, sometime in the late 90s, started to unravel at the seams after about 3 months of wear.  I cannot yet say anything about the durability and reliability of these SST8s yet. I have only been wearing them for 3 weeks. I do find their soles very versatile. I had been using cleats or inserts in Linds and the Tour Ultras for 25+ years. So I cut holes in a Dexter sole, preparing to use my same Teflon inserts. However I found one of the Dexter soles perfect for the slide I needed, together with the red leather heel.

So, so far, I think they have been a good purchase; whether they last or not is up in the air for me. But I took the gamble. If you remind me in a month or three, I'll let you know if I have had an  problems with the shoes.

Oh, I ordered an 11 1/2 wide, my normal size. I think I should have ordered an 11. If you buy them online, take the size guarantee most places offer it for $10.
« Last Edit: July 12, 2014, 02:02:40 PM by charlest »
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Track_Fanatic

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Re: 3G vs SST8 and is 3G still viable?
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2014, 11:57:55 AM »
Dexter shoes from my experience of having the 6's and currently have the 7's, they do run a little bigger. But of course from any shoe brand, they differ from one another.
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SVstar34

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Re: 3G vs SST8 and is 3G still viable?
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2014, 12:53:15 PM »
I had a pair of 3g's, they weren't the Tour Ultras but they were still very comfortable and I saw why people like them so much. I found a great deal on a pair of the Storm SP 700s that are made by Dexter and I like them a lot. For me, they're very comfortable and durability seems to be really good
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Tex

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Re: 3G vs SST8 and is 3G still viable?
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2014, 10:51:44 PM »
900 / 3G didn't do a booth this year. They were in the middle of the sale when the fees were due from my understanding.  The only complaint I have on the 3G is the perforated sole is not available for purchase. You have to take a full sole and cut your own holes. Always felt that the precut should not only be available in the red sole, but in all the soles. I actually customized a buckskin level sole and use it a lot for sticky approaches. I have an old pair of Dexters and other than having to super glue the sole once they aren't bad, but cut holes in every sole for those as well and use the cutouts as inserts. Works really well.
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lefty50

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Re: 3G vs SST8 and is 3G still viable?
« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2014, 01:07:01 AM »
Thanks to all for the replies. Tex, Charlest taught me how to make my own cleated sole after I stupidly threw my original out years ago. Both he and I (and others) buy teflon discs from Ebay and make our own cleats. Really saved my knees this year. I'll never be without a cleated sole again. I tried the SST8's at the booth, but have to admit they aren't as comfortable as the 3G's. My 3G's have lasted well over 20 years (still say D/T and ABS), and I had to laugh when two of my teammates today said their SST's were wearing well at the 2 year mark....
However, seems like 3G just can't get out of their own damn way. Only one color for us leftys, and limited supply/sizes as noted elsewhere in this thread. If you can't bring product to market, customers have to go elsewhere. Like it or not, I'll be buying SSTs and hope for the best. Booth prices were sky high though, no incentive to purchase, even on last weekend of USBC. I'll be purchasing online. Charlest, I agree with the protection option also just for safety.... It's cheap insurance.
Thanks to all who replied.
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charlest

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Re: 3G vs SST8 and is 3G still viable?
« Reply #7 on: July 13, 2014, 06:43:18 AM »
Quote from: lefty50 on July 13, 2014, 01:07:01 AM
Thanks to all for the replies. Tex, Charlest taught me how to make my own cleated sole after I stupidly threw my original out years ago. Both he and I (and others) buy teflon discs from Ebay and make our own cleats. Really saved my knees this year. I'll never be without a cleated sole again.

Steve,

I used the cleats originally because they allowed me to slide when other options did not.

I wrote a lot above but you may have missed this part:
"I do find their soles very versatile. I had been using cleats or inserts in Linds and the Tour Ultras for 25+ years. So I cut holes in a Dexter sole, preparing to use my same Teflon inserts. However I found one of the Dexter soles perfect for the slide I needed, together with the red leather heel."

I am using the #10 sole and the red leather heel and am sliding more consistently and more easily than with 3G's red heel and my Teflon cleats. I have the even more slipper #11 and #12 waiting in my bag just in case and the #9 in case I find approaches that are more slippery.

I honestly think, so far, that I will not need my Teflon cleats again.

If you wait for a sale, I got the entire SST 8  package for about $135 shipped.

Good luck.
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