Driving Shoes
 

So I was watching Initial D and noticed Takumi wore New Balance shoes for driving. I think shoes are important part of driving. Some people like lightweight and comfortable professional shoe easy for heel-toe and some just wear regular trainers. I was just wondering what shoes you wear when you drive? I wear red puma drift cats but I'm trying to find other shoes that are great for heel-toe.

black puma drift cat

they get pricier as the quality goes up. That's for certain. I saw a pair of Asics go for >$500.

Back in the days, I used to wear my old Asics wrestling shoes since driving shoes were expensive. :bellyroll:

Shoes is important... but I don't think Ayrton Senna didn't care which shoes he was wearing, cuz he sure was going hella fast w nice fashion shoes

[u2b]8By2AEsGAhU[/u2b]

anyone tried racing with these yet? LOL

http://www.vibramfivefingers.it/imag...s/FF20238X.jpg

i just wear whatever stuff ive got on - i dont swap to driging shoes if im wearing stuff really, I'll just not heel-toe if it's hard in certain ones, like going out boots and posh stuff. i wear skate style shoes sometimes - adidas, dc etc. Sometimes Converse, Timberland boots...

but these are my every day shoes:
http://www.russatkins.com/298522_101..._8273124_n.jpg

Bit of a geek:fighting0040:

if im going to be serious ive got a pair of these:
http://www.adidasvintage.com/images/...goodyear-1.jpg

they have rubber up the back of them for heal grip on the mats

I've seen the wrestling shoes for driving, too. Basically the same idea (sensitive and small) but without fire protection, I imagine.

I wear Piloti Prototipo

http://www.piloti.com/Assets/Product...ard/PR16-6.jpg

HAHAHA! i just saw that last night! RIP Ayrton Senna :respekt:

yeah R.I.P Ayrton Senna...

but damn! racing with those expensive Italian loafers is the BOSS!!! lol

I wear my vans, slip-ons or authentic styles, lightweight, flexible, easy to feel.

LOL, I used the Vibram Speeds at my last autocross!
Great for feel, not so good for heel toe (not really necessary for autoX)

Normally I use Puma Race cats.

hahahaha thanks for the INFO. :w00t:

I daily drive barefoot, thankfully I live in Florida where I can wear flip flops 10 months out of the year. Piloti RSR when SFI ratings are required.

@ Infernal - My friend had similar goodyear shoes too back in high school. I thought it was funny that he swore by them. By the way did you collect all of the recent star wars shoes released from adidas?

Anyways when it comes to light shoes I prefer Nike indoor soccer shoes or trainers. It doesn't matter too much for myself when it comes to heel toe basis, unless I have some Timbs on. Not a fan of asics or ass kicks as some would call them around here where I'm from. Asics do make a nice light shoe though. The Puma line up is nice for the comfort, style, and durability, which I believe is a solid choice.

http://a2.zassets.com/images/z/1/3/6...p-DETAILED.jpg

i drive in a old version of these. they are bulky and heavy and i love them.

http://static.northshoreshoes.com/pr...m574skw_xl.jpg

I've been wearing these like forever, I have like 6 of em I usually drive with these or Addidas SuperStar II on.

Althought I would like to get a part of actual driving shoes and not just the classics

Big fan of Merrell shoes, but unfortunately they don't make the Relay styles I used to wear. But two styles they currently have going that work really well for driving are:

Barefoot Life Tough Glove
http://w.p.mybuys.com//imgcache/MERR...163/22874M.jpg


Barefoot Life Edge
http://img.wolverineworldwide.com/is...qlt=60&fmt=jpg

I've been wearing 574's since ~2001. :happy0180:

I usually wear skate shoes so I normally drive with those. Or flip flops. Whichever I happen to have on my feet. I also have sparco boots, but only wear them with the race suit, I've never had fun wearing the gear for DEs and such.

I usually wear skate shoes (DVS Volaris and etnies Premiers mostly) myself and that's what I drive in though I've been contemplating getting some Pumas.

lolololl, i drive on a daily basis with them on in the summer if its not the summer and im going for a drive, it would be these

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/goldm...casin-full.jpg

one of my favorites of all time!

Just copped a pair of these 574s Retros from JackThreads for about $50. :)

http://static.northshoreshoes.com/pr...d574bkk_xl.jpg

:party0030::w00t:

The Puma, Adidas racing shoes are really good for driving/racing.

but they look really retarded when walking around with them. just saying.. since i've seen people wearing them at social outings..:lol:

I don't always heel toe, but when i do, i prefer nikes. :cool:

... these specifically

http://p.alejka.pl/i2/p_new/19/10/ni...ni204e_0_b.jpg

I have a pair of those and they're the worst driving shoe I've ever owned. Seriously. They have no feel whatsoever, the sole is too stiff, thick, and insulated. They are decent walking shoes though. I can drive with better pedal control in my Bates Police boots than with those Piloti's.

I find that the less there is between me and the pedal the better. I use hideously uncomfortable [for walking] Sketchers for when I do HPDE's because the sole is very thin yet wide enough to comfortably reach for heel-n-toe. Shoes that are super-narrow like most "driving shoe" Puma's end up having less surface area than my foot and end up causing missed-pedal problems more often than not.

In the end, my opinion doesn't really matter. What matters is you find shoes that work best for you, your style, and your preference. Don't get caught up in brand or price [esp. if you don't need fire protection], find the construction that works best for you and run with it. If you don't like a shoe, try to understand why it doesn't work for you and apply that to your next purchase.

$0.02,
Ryan

I want these

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...a/HPIM2869.jpg

I get the Eastbay catalog every month and once and a while I check out whats new for wrestling shoes.

Yeah, they are close to racing shoes in terms as feel as you can get and I'm sure most of us don't need Alpinestars Tech 1-R's.

Eastbay wrestling shoes

Is it weird? that I would switch from my work boots or my dress shoes that I wear at work to the New Balance 574 to drive? or to drive home? or to work and change back to the work shoes before i go into work. Anyone else do that? I asked my other guy friends and they tell me only women change their shoes before they drive.

D:!

I don't do it. Cuz I don't wanna make any excuses of my crappy driving on the shoes. Either way, I don't really wear any shoes that are uncomfortable to drive w anyways

Not at all. I have a few pairs of comfy shoes in the trunk just in case.

ASICS.

:D Or

Bare feet. :>

there were some AT-AT ones i really wanted but i couldnt find them anywhere :(

also some red imperial guard ones - but i didnt really like them when i saw them

do you have some too?

those are sick (in a good way)

Asics all the way!

Yeah, Onitsuka Tigers are dope too!

http://i.imgur.com/3Ymmal.jpg

Miata is kind of a bitch to heel-toe, it's more like inner-mound/outer-mound for me. The shoes help, but anything thin that kinda hugs the foot works. My K-Swiss trainers and/or Red Wings work boots don't get the job done.

Living in these down in Florida ..Sanuk

http://www.ronjonsurfshop.com/assets...alk_surfer.jpg

I'd have to agree with Giccin here, barefoot is the ultimate. I've never owned any real driving shoes, but other than barefoot, something that has a super flat and short bottom and is tight to the foot works. Superga 2750's are alright, but they are kinda heavy

Ha, man I have so many sneakers or shoes for every occasion. I just throw on whatever is in rotation for the day. Then I have my office shoes for work or steel toe boots if I'm in my shop. I like to leave cleats and gym shoes and basketball sneakers in the trunk if anything comes up. So if anything your not as bad as me, except when it comes to changing shoes when it's time to drive.:respekt:

Nope I used to have some SB Jedi's but I sold those. I thought what adidas did was an exceptional job when it came to the star wars project. I think the last time I was in Boston a shop actually had a pair of AT-AT's. I could check next time if you really want them.

I found a lot of non car related stuff that can be use for car related stuff like shoes, i use yoga shoes for spirited driving got this from TJ Max for $12 lol

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...n/0c2eeb18.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...n/d00e4f33.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...n/d00e4cd6.jpg