Topic: Review: Driving Shoes

[lil goat]

I am not sure how many of you have ever owned a pair of real driving shoes, I don't mean your favorite shoes for driving but a pair of real driving shoes. My son gave me a pair as a gift and what a great gift they were. There are lots of brands and types. He gave me the Simpson's they are low top, and Nomex they run about $89. The other main brands are Piloti and Sparco among the race legal ones and there are others and now there are also a lot of loafers that are called driving mocs, that have a cut away heel that work surprisingly well and are very cheap, I think the pair I have were $29, they really reduce stress on my knee on long drive and help a ton making quick shifts in the twisties. Try a pair you will never go back to tennis shoes, they are so much narrower.


Pro's: they are just lighter and smaller, very comfortable to drive in, they don't catch on the carpet and you have much better pedal feel, easier to heel and toe and cooler. They just look cool.

Con's: They absolutely SUCK for walking, they have very thin soles and give very little support, they are OK for short walks but if you plan on getting out and doing much walking bring some other shoes, but in my book it's worth it.

[Deep-GXP]

They dont look that cool to me.  Maybe it's just that huge ugly branding on the side of the shoe.   I may consider trying some for driving the twisties if I could get them in all black , and i'd never wear those when not in the car :-P

[Ben L]

Lil Goat is right.  Real driving shoes are one of the wonderful things that you never miss until you have a pair and start using them. 

I have a pair of Nomex lined "Bondurant school" leather mid heights I wear racing. 

And I wear these Piloti Spyders just about the rest of the time. 


http://www.amazon.com/piloti-Mens-Spyder-Sneaker/dp/B000XEHYO8

They have a rolled rubber edge on the gas pedal foot for heel and toe work.  They are skinny enough to be very accurate on the pedals, yet wide enough to accomodate my wide luau feet comfortably. 

Unlike the hardcore Simpsons, Spyders have an arch support, which really helps cushion the shock of my lumbering bulk shagging cones when working the autocross course.

They are discontinued now, I think, and a great deal. 

Sure, they're a bit ugly.  But what do you want to look like, a driver, or a freakin' fashion model??

[lil goat]

They dont look that cool to me.  Maybe it's just that huge ugly branding on the side of the shoe.   I may consider trying some for driving the twisties if I could get them in all black , and i'd never wear those when not in the car :-P

They are not a fashion statement, if you have ever been to a race track and seen people who can really drive they all wear them, they have to it is a requirment, these guys are the people I define as cool. They wear track suits too, maybe some day when you get a bit older you will understand what real cool is, some thing not defined by a movie or some rapper. they do not come in black from Simpson or Sparco in the short versions, they do in the taller version.

[baconbits]

Right foot driving aid for our GXP automatic

[Deep-GXP]

They are not a fashion statement, if you have ever been to a race track and seen people who can really drive they all wear them, they have to it is a requirment, these guys are the people I define as cool. They wear track suits too, maybe some day when you get a bit older you will understand what real cool is, some thing not defined by a movie or some rapper. they do not come in black from Simpson or Sparco in the short versions, they do in the taller version.

lol ok sure, and you know alll about me dont you.  Please.  Rapper? I hate rap.
Of course i'd wear these on the track, they improve your driving and it's what's required.

[Deep-GXP]

Sure, they're a bit ugly.  But what do you want to look like, a driver, or a freakin' fashion model??

I was just talking about the branding on the side.

[Ben L]

Form follows function, and function is beautiful. . . . 

I don't mind the "P" on the side of my Pilotis.

My Bondurant racing shoes happen to have a cool embroidered steering wheel logo on the side.

Of course, they now stink to high heaven from adreneline-laced stress sweat soaking into the Nomex lining, and I cannot them close enough to my face to see the logo . . . 

[JRinKY]

I wear a pair of Puma SpeedCats. They are not flameproof, and do not have the billboard lettering on the sides. They do, as lil goat says give much better pedal feel, and generally improve the driving experience. I think they were around $70.

[Morfious]

I wear a pair of Puma SpeedCats. They are not flameproof, and do not have the billboard lettering on the sides. They do, as lil goat says give much better pedal feel, and generally improve the driving experience. I think they were around $70.

I too pack along my Puma Drift Cat shoes for long drives.  Walking is not very fun for long distances but driving is a straight dream.  Heel/toe techniques are quite easy with these shoes.

[snaponbob]

I got a couple pairs of these at DSW for CHEAP, and they are great for driving and good for walking.

http://www.zappos.com/n/multi_view.cgi?product_id=7454591&color_id=161605&view=multi&ref=multi-pic

[Deep-GXP]

I got a couple pairs of these at DSW for CHEAP, and they are great for driving and good for walking.

http://www.zappos.com/n/multi_view.cgi?product_id=7454591&color_id=161605&view=multi&ref=multi-pic

Now there we go!  Those look great !
The pumas above looked great also, but if only they came in all black

[snaponbob]

Now there we go! 

Oh, gosh. You are just too nice.

But, hey, WTF, it ain't easy bein' cool. (I wouldn't know, but I've heard it's true.)

[GXPsy Rose]

Right foot driving aid for our GXP automatic

Thanks baconbits.........
    And I thought my right foot went on the deadman's pedal   


Anyway back to regular channel regarding driving shoes
Trying to find good driving shoes is a challenge much less regular every day shoes.  Do you know how many companies make Women's 5 1/5 narrow......ZILCH (or very few & far between) so if the shoe fits......I buy I wear   

I usually have to go to the little girls to find shoes small enough and than they're always too wide.

[Deep-GXP]

Oh, gosh. You are just too nice.

But, hey, WTF, it ain't easy bein' cool. (I wouldn't know, but I've heard it's true.)

Not sure where you're goin with this but I wasnt trying to trash talk you.

[Chemist]

I got a pair of Piloti Mulholland II driving shoes for Christmas. Made the last Kerrville run MUCH nicer.

[Morfious]

Now there we go!  Those look great !
The pumas above looked great also, but if only they came in all black

They do come in black, but you have to pay extra for the Ferrari logo on the side.

[Deep-GXP]

They do come in black, but you have to pay extra for the Ferrari logo on the side.

Lookin pretty sweet
If I end up buying driving shoes I would probably go for some Pumas if not those exact kind.
Ferrari logo doesnt bug me, but paying for it does haha 

[lil goat]

Now here are some ugly shoes, they are Pilotti' Spyders and only $39.95 they only have red left.


They have these too, I have a similar pair and they are surprisingly comfortable for driving, and really easy to slip out of and put something else on if you want, I wear them to work sometimes cause I work in a vault
and nobody cares, $49.95



http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=484350

Spend a couple of bucks, one of the cheapest mods you can do, and wow what a difference, by the way if you want to get on a track day, most tracks will require the nomex ones, but there are ones that have smaller branding. Simpson and Sparco are big names in auto racing safety equipment and many people are proud to wear the shoes, and they still suck for walking!

[snaponbob]

Not sure where you're goin with this but I wasnt trying to trash talk you.

        Easy. I was just kidding.   

[Deep-GXP]

      Easy. I was just kidding.   

lol it's all good.  Wasn't too sure what you meant.

Hey lil goat, can those slippers really stay on?  Seems like they'd "slip" off?

Im guessing the shoes would still be much better than the slippers though.

[snaponbob]

They do come in black, but you have to pay extra for the Ferrari logo on the side.

(Image removed from quote.)

Oh crap. Do those come with finance papers?

[lil goat]

Yea surprisingly the slippers or loafers as us old guys call them work really well, they have elastic across the arch, the lace up are much better but for driving to work they are awesome. The big advantage is no heel and they are light and narrow. I have a bad right knee and the lack of the heel takes some stress off my knee for some reason. I can drive better in the slippers than I can in athletic shoes Those in the pictures are Tims lol, Amazon has a lot too. I have friend who is a Pro Drift Driver Vaughn Gitten Jr., he has DC as a sponsor and has the DC driving shoes, they are $100

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/dc-shoes-chicane-driving-lifestyle-shoe-p-45251.html

[BADMONITO76]

Hey guys if you are in need of great driving shoes at a good price i recomend www.saferacer.com
I have bought lots of my racing gear from this website. They allways have discount specials as well
here the link to there shoes. http://www.saferacer.com/Auto-racing-shoes/?cat=55
I do autocross in the summer and also race in the 24 hours of lemons race. A good pair of driving shoes is essential when haveing this type of fun

[JRinKY]

My Pumas are solid navy blue, except for the white Puma logo.

I also like the tire tread soles.