Top Twenty Driving Shoes

[Spartan65]

Originally Posted by wheelhaus

That list is a joke!

I have a pair or Speedwells (no longer sold in the US ) and an old pair of Puma Rally Cats that need to be replaced. My next pair might be the Alpinestars Tech 1-K or something Puma.

Those of you that think running shoes or skate shoes are "driving shoes" need to try some real driving/racing shoes, you will be pleasantly surprised. Good driving shoes have a thin sole, rounded heel, snug fit, and are very flexible. They usually aren't good for everyday use or for walking around... The shape goes a long way toward predictable foot placement; no flanges or edges on the sole.

Alot of these shoes are good enough for every day use. So go start a thread on race shoes. Obviously your reading skills or intelligence lacks the reasoning to come trampling in here with complaints about the thread. :banghead:

Spartan65's DROID RAZR

[Trac Toy]

These are what you guys should be using...

[DaJo]

Driving to and from work with a pair of these... Too lazy to bring another pair of shoes and change.

[TouchMyHonda]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

Children.... behave.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkMFLUXTEwM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkMFLUXTEwM[/ame]

[Spartan65]

This forum is full of e-pen warriors, figures. I wear these to work sometimes, they wear the carpet of my cheap FR-S floor mats.

[wheelhaus]

Originally Posted by Spartan65

Alot of these shoes are good enough for every day use. So go start a thread on race shoes. Obviously your reading skills or intelligence lacks the reasoning to come trampling in here with complaints about the thread. :banghead:

Spartan65's DROID RAZR

Well sir, I apologize for offending you and apparently many others, my post was not meant to be as brash as it was taken. My reasoning however, is perfectly sound. I wasn't complaining for you sharing the article, there are some good entries. However, my point of contention is with the article itself. The intro is simply misleading; to quote the article itself:

So it’s no surprise that since the feet are tasked with such critical tasks as telling the car to go and stop, there are literally thousands of styles of shoes on the market that profess to provide optimum comfort, maneuverability, tactile feedback (e.g. letting the driver feel the brakes starting to lock up, or the clutch approaching the verge of its bite point) for their wearers. But which articles of motoring footwear are among the elite? Find out after the jump.

To me, this sounds like the author is putting emphasis on "function" instead of "form". I was completely unaware that it took a designer label and silly price tag to make it a "Top 20 driving shoe", as they clearly know more about how double clutching and heel/toe should feel. Most of these shoes seem more like overpriced slippers or business casual footwear than actual functional driving shoes. As you can see, my disagreement is more with the opinion of the author.

Also to quote the article:

If you prefer your calfskin shoes to be woven, you can’t go too far wrong with the Alberto from Zelli. The basket-esque construction is inherently flexible, and looks amazing. That’s enough to get us to look past the lack of a proper driving sole.

And this still made the list? I understand these shoes are nice, and probably very comfortable, and probably work great for driving. It's simply misleading because the article is very obviously skewed toward the luxury crowd. Those with godwads of cash tend to look at things differently than us common folk. I interpreted "elite" to be the "best", and I understand "best" to be that which performs it's duty better than any other. I guess my interpretation of "best" is incorrect, as I apparently need more money to understand that which I do not, including driving shoes.

[Sylvain44]

I tried and ordered these ones today:

Sparco Slalom SL-3

[diirk]

The list should be called the 20 Most Pretentious Driving Shoes....

[diirk]

Originally Posted by Spartan65

This forum is full of e-pen warriors, figures. I wear these to work sometimes, they wear the carpet of my cheap FR-S floor mats.

I wear something similar, but the tread is much smoother causing less disruption to the carpet or other surfaces.



For racing (offroad) I wear these...

[Spartan65]

I use these for track days but I have them in black.

[wheelhaus]

I've been considering the Oakleys, how do you like them?

[Spartan65]

They are only comfortable in the car, walking around the pits is just that. They don't have enough arch for me.

Spartan65's DROID RAZR

[seven]

g/f bought me these. I use them now for meets or long drives, swap into Reeboks when I get out of the car.
Next season they'll be used for track days.

[Thunderchicken]

Originally Posted by Spartan65

This forum is full of e-pen warriors, figures. I wear these to work sometimes, they wear the carpet of my cheap FR-S floor mats.

Then don't wear them.... lol Wear your favorite driving shoe and change them before you step away from the car.. That's what I did for many of years when I was in the Corps and wore steal toes.