Philly Parkour

Hey all, Camel here. Sparking some discussion about gear, like shoes, clothing, gloves, etc. , really anything you wouldn't train without.

Personally, I haven't tried the K-Swiss Ariakes, their specialized free-running shoe for those who are unfamiliar, but they look decent. I am a huge Puma fan and almost ever pair of my roughly 25-pair shoe collection are Pumas. The pair I train in has a wider sole and a bit more cushion than my others, which are mostly the extremely low-profile, thin-sole, foot-hugging track shoes that are great for precision and running but lack some traction and hurt your feet on big landings, as it has really no cushion in the sole. The shoes I train in have a nice gum-rubber sole that grips very well, and they are cushy without being heavy or loose. they're also yellow and green, and anyone who knows me can tell you I always have colorful shoes.

As far as clothing goes, I wear loose, light-weight shorts and a skin-tight underarmour-style t-shirt thing from nike, but more often than not I go without a shirt.

I had a pair of fingerless gloves from nike that offered some padding on the palms which is nice when vaulting or swinging on anything that might scrape your hands up.

What works best for everyone else? Particularly shoes, if anyone has tried one of the specially made models like the Ariakes or 5.10's (Five-Tens). 5.10 specializes in climbing shoes so they know about making footwear that won't slip. They now offer a line-up of freerunner shoes that I'm anxious to try out, but as most of you probably agree, it's not your shoes that put on the show, it's your skills.

I have the Ariakes. They're a bit heavy, but offer great protection, traction, and durability.

Personally, I go for bare hands though. Not to be tough or anything, but because I like to be as close as possible to the thing I'm jumping over

barefoot if doing stuff around my house.. just basketball shoes if im out and about in the city.. nothin special