Driving shoes
 

As an attempt to stop thread jacking the CDV thread, let's move the driving shoes discussion to it's own thread.

What shoes do you prefer for spirited driving in our nice little vehicles?

None of my shoes really do well for both comfort and good pedal control.

Others have recommended Puma or Piloti.

So, let's talk shoes: what you like, what you've got, where to buy, etc.

Go!

I have Sparcos, and very tight fitting Adidas shoes for driving my car and my dad's Caterham. Something narrow and tight as well as light is best I find.

Vans

I used to have a set of Adidas Porsche Designs ... I bought them from a Broadway Fashion store at my local mall ... They were tight fitting and felt very thin .. Great for spirited driving !

Recently grew out of them though, so I haven't really bought a set of driving shoes for a while. Been sticking it out with my Aldos (Dress shoes for work) and it sucks ... :sigh:

How about these. You auto see my gloves.

There's been a few threads like this in the past, here, here, and here.

Me, I really like my Nike Air Flight 89s, or Kobe VI.

Yeah, my chuck taylor all stars bite at the back of my ankle after a day or so of driving with them, and my loafers slip around the heel too. My birkenstocks are comfortable, but NOT for use with heel-toe (I can otherwise drive fine in them, including rev-match downshifting), as the heel strap comfortably cradles my heel.

My 5.11 trainers are also good, but they have thick soles, so pedal feel is numb. I got them for hiking and range work/ IDPA, not driving.

My dress shoes... yeah, they're for wearing a suit. And my jazz sneakers are for swing dancing and have too narrow of a tread (and the outter tread is made for sliding, not gripping) for good heel-toe, and too high of an arch, such that it misses the accelerator pedal.

I personally love my Pumas (Future Cat). My buddy really likes Pilotti's.

Some people have found skate shoes or certain running shoes to feel optimal, but I personally believe it's a compromise. There are some classic slipper-style driving shoes out there, and I haven't tried them so I'll reserve judgement, but they seem more marketed towards the posh lifestyle where one "takes the Jag out for a jolly time and meets the missus for tea".

I personally prefer a more purpose built shoe that feels like an extension of my foot when I'm dancing on the pedals. A true driving shoe has a thin, flexible sole with minimal "tread" and no protruding edges, slightly elevated rounded heel, and comfortable, snug fit. Ken Block and his DC Shoe campaign are all just marketing for apparel under the hoonigan lifestyle, which includes "driving shoes" that are clearly skate shoes, albeit slightly modified. The squared flat bottom may help some, but as long as the shoe is designed for pedal sensitivity, it's ok in my book.

Some will also say driving barefoot is the ultimate for feel and response, but I disagree. The skin causes friction on the pedals in strange ways that while it allows you to feel more, I believe it actually reduces control. The driving shoe keeps your foot comfortable, and gives your foot a consistent platform to push against while still feeling what the pedals are doing, and a consistent level of friction against the pedals.

Here's mine, they're awesome for driving. Honestly, if you haven't ever tried driving this car with lightweight, thin soled, rolled heel shoes, you're missing out: http://i.imgur.com/wtFng6x.jpg

I had a pair of pumas, but for the past few months I've been using my Rockport Cape Noble II and they've been working pretty good for both dress/business and spirited driving duties. The rubber heel is slightly uneven and is thinner towards the outside so it works for heel toe

Are those Pumas?

I like the look of the Pumas, but they look a little to ... loud, for professional daily wear.

I like a good, versatile-looking shoe. That's why I like my black leather loafers ALOT. Not for driving or dancing, but for everything else in regards for daily wear. They look as good with my jeans and an untucked button down as they do with a dress shirt and slacks.

I really wish I could find out where to buy these:http://piloti.com/product/trazione-3/

Seeee?

What did I tell you?

You can listen to this old man; I wouldn't steer you wrong. ;)

BTW, the rubber reinforcement along the side on the right shoe shown in the illustration is only on the right shoe, assuming they're like mine. It's to protect the leather on that side against excess abrasion and wear as the driver rolls his foot over onto the throttle pedal when heel-and-toe'ing. It also protects the shoe when leaning the right foot up against the transmission tunnel in some cars.

I bought my Spyders in 2007, I think, and I've worn a patch out of the inside of the lining towards the rear, but they still have plenty of life remaining.

I'll probably replace my Spyder model with yet another Piloti, absent someone showing me something better.

Oh, and don't forget, SirBrass, you owe me 2x, now. ;)

Old pair of new balance classics with a worn sole. They were left in the bottom of my closet for about 5 years, now I keep them in my car.