Relative Strength Of St. Croix Forge Lite Shoes

[Brad Manion]

Today, I took my second SCF-Lite (non-rimmed) shoe, a #3, to about 100 degrees of damage. Unlike when I did the same damage to a SCF-Lite #2 in about a minute nearly 2 weeks ago, this one took nearly 20 minutes and a ton of hits to accomplish. I didn't help myself by doing this the day after lots of pressing and shrug work, and also by being not 100% healed from last week's shoe bending. But, it was a mental PR for me, so I guess I can build on that for the next session.

I started by taking a SCF-Polo#2 to 180 degrees pretty quick, and followed that up with a SCF-Lite Rim #2, which I took to 135 degrees. While that effort was fairly quick, it was nowhere as fast as last week's effort with the same shoe, which I took to 180 degrees.

Now, I have found the SCF-Lite Rim shoes to be just tougher than a DC2, yet far below the SCF-Lite non-rims. How big a difference in toughness is there, in anybody's estimation? Also, would I be doing myself a disservice by trying the SCF-Plain Rims, or are they even tougher than the SCF-Lite non-rims? How do the the SCF-Lite rims stack up to the SCF-Plain rims?

Also, how long do you who bend the tougher shoes rest between bending sessions? I ask because I feel that as long as I am healed, I can quickly take down something in the DC2/SCF-Lite Rim range to 135-180 degrees of damage, and not feel much pain during the bend. However, going up to the next step, the SCF-Lite non rim, hurt like absolute hell and I seemed to be nearly unable to find a spot on my leg that wasn't bruised too much to start the push. I am also considering a more minimal warmup, say a few Ulra-Lite#1 or #2s, maybe a single UltraLite and a Polo before taking on the SCF-Lite non rim.

I welcome any and all advice on this as I want that Kerckhaert #5 draft shoe resting on the desk in my bedroom to quit mocking me.

[MalachiMcMullen]

Well, I'm confused as to what the difference is between a Lite-rim and a Plain-rim. I always considered a non-rimmed shoe a plain shoe. Unless you are referring to the Regular shoes. The Regulars are TOUGH buggers and a BIG jump from even the SCF Lite Plains. When I was heavier into shoes, the Regular Rimmed #2's were still a full limit bend. The difference between the Lite rimmed and Lite plains is a decent jump and larger than you might expect. Figure the difference between a Bastard and a Huge Bastard. The # size of the shoe didn't seem to matter as much as where the shoe bent. I think the rimmed shoes have a shallower valley thickness than the non-rims and are easier to twist because of it. The Plains are more like twisting a straight rectangluar bar. All this is to say that this shoe is tougher than the #3 shoe in this pic.

Oh yeah, I used to bend maybe twice a week tops. It seems that I haven't lost the groove yet and that getting stronger overall is better than simply twisting bigger shoes. Though twisting bigger shoes still makes you better and is more fun

Edited September 10, 2008 by MalachiMcMullen

[Brad Manion]

Thanks for the input Zach. To answer your question, when I say "plain", it means "Regular". Depending on my level of healing and whether or not I have a demo on Saturday, Sept. 20, I will give a shot at taking on a SCF-Regular Rim, unless of course, others advise me that it is definitely tougher than a SCF-Lite (non rim) of the same size.

[MalachiMcMullen]

Thanks for the input Zach. To answer your question, when I say "plain", it means "Regular". Depending on my level of healing and whether or not I have a demo on Saturday, Sept. 20, I will give a shot at taking on a SCF-Regular Rim, unless of course, others advise me that it is definitely tougher than a SCF-Lite (non rim) of the same size.

Cool. I wont tell you not to try one, but I will say that a #2 Regular Rim is MUCH tougher than a #2 Lite Rim. I've bent a few of both and recently hearted the #2 Lite Rim. No way could I do that with the Regular, at least I wouldn't think so.