My Review of Fila Sentinel shoes 2013

Blitzball

Professional
I bought a pair about three weeks ago. I had been wearing the new Vapor 9's, and I ran through the outsoles of those in a month and a half (what a shocker!)

Quick background: I play 5 days a week, 2 hours a day. So I've put about 30 hours in with the Sentinels. I'm a 4.0 player.

Durability: 8/10 So far so good. 30 hours later and they still show very little wear, only a little smoothening of the outsole. And speaking of the outsole, when I first saw them, I thought "Wow, I'll never rip through these." But I say they'll last another 2 and a half months before they go through. So glad there's a guarantee. Also, I'm not a toe dragger so I have no comment here.

Comfort: 7.5/10 Having gone from the Vapors to more bulky, durable shoes, I expected a lot less comfort. I was right. They're not on the same level as the Vapors-- not even close. But, they're not bad. My feet haven't hurt from wearing them, something I experience in Babolat Propulse 3 last year. They actually feel similar to the Propulse, just more plush and better fitting.

Fit: 8.5/10 They fit a half size large. So I heeded TW's warning and got 10 and a half instead of 11. If I had gotten size 11, I would rate fit 3/10. If you go down half a size, the medium width (slightly wide) fit should impress many people. However, if you have extremely narrow feet, you might experience some jamming or sliding. My feet or slightly wider, so they fit like a glove for me.

Ventilation: 9/10 I live in Arizona. It's hot as hell right now. It's consistently 100+ degrees, which isn't the most pleasant/optimal temperature for playing tennis. I've never noticed my feet getting hot in these shoes, even while playing in the scorching hot daytime.

Traction: 6.5/10 Sadly, I was disappointed with traction. The first day I took them out to hit, I slid at least three times on a hard court, and I rarely slide. The way the outsole is designed is questionable-- it lacks a sensible pattern that would help grip the court surface. It's very flat, despite its seemingly intricate design. I've adjusted to the sliding now, but I wish there was more grip.

Support/Stability: 9/10 This is another area where the Sentinel excels. Not once have these shoes given in to a rapid change of direction or clumsy footwork. In my Vapors, I nearly ate s*** five times in the first month. They don't offer the best support being lighter, more speed-oriented shoes. Well, these are the same exact weight but offer much better stability and support overall. Very impressed.

Weight: 10/10 These shoes are as light as the Vapors, but much more durable. I have zero complaints in this department, as they are effortless to move around in and don't burden my feet whatsoever with their weight.

Cosmetics: 7.5/10 They look exactly the same as the pictures online. I only say this because some shoes have deceived me in the past. The design isn't the most flattering, but I knew that from the get-go.

Overall: 8.3/10 These are awesomely light shoes that have great durability for the weight, in addition to nice support, fit, and ventilation. However, they can be problematic for those seeking very good traction, extra comfort, and/or a narrow fit.

Edit: I forgot to mention something important. I've noticed, if I wear white socks, they get red coloring rubbed on them from the red tongue of the shoe. It's pretty annoying, but it washes out.
 
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Tazz44

New User
Thanks for the review. I've been wanting to see what others think about this shoe before I make the purchase.
 

Blitzball

Professional
nice review. how does this shoe compare to the other shoes your tried so far.

They're holding up well. For 90 bucks, I expected less for my money. Compared to the Vapors, there's less comfort, slightly less breathability, much less traction, but better stability and durability.

They're very similar to the Propulse 3's, which don't have the best traction in my opinion either. The Propulse has more stability and support, but doesn't fit as well (permitting you get a half size smaller). The Sentinels are more comfortable and weigh less.

I also had the Nike Court Ballistecs 3.3 which were pretty stiff shoes despite having impressive stability, support, and durability. The Sentinels are much more flexible, which I forgot to mention in the review. I actually prefer them over the Ballistecs, but I haven't tried the 4.3's which I heard are softer than the previous version.
 
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Blitzball

Professional
Thanks for the review. I've been wanting to see what others think about this shoe before I make the purchase.

Thanks for the review. Might try these after the cages i am wearing.

No problem! Let me add a bit more of review:

1. The Sentinels look bulky in the photos online, and they look bulky in person-- but once you break them in, they get soft in the uppers and quite flexible. This is awesome since they're already very light and come with a 6-month durability guarantee. However....

2. ...I was recently disappointed to find more white socks getting stained red on the top due to the red color of the shoe's upper tongue, right under the laces. And the color hasn't washed out of a few pairs of socks that I have. It kind of sucks, but then again, I live in Arizona where it's over 100 degrees everyday in the summer, so that probably causes the coloring to rub off.
 
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