Driving shoes
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
From: Concord NC
Driving shoes
I've been thinking about some driving shoes. I'd use them for sporty drives in the mountains and HPDE type stuff. What features make for a good driving shoe? Any particular favorites?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
I do several HPDE's a year, and picked up a pair of Piloti's. Believe they were less than $100 bucks from one of the racing suppliers like Pegasus or RPW. Main advantage to these type shoes, is could feel a dime, if stepping on one. Some think they're comfortable for all daily uses, but I don't. Prefer cushioning of my Adidas when going to the hardware store.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
There are several good brands like Piloti, Simpson, Sparco, Alpine Stars, etc. Obviously, you want comfort, ventilation, SFI (FIA?) rated, a rounded (gripping) heel and toe patch for shifting, etc. There are high top and low 'street' styles to choose from. Personally, I'm not fond of ordering mail order shoes....I like to try shoes on before buying. If you can't find a store that carries racing shoes you might find them at track events (at least the organizations I run in also sell some racing gear). Saferacer.com is a good Internet source as well.
Racing shoes are nice and the safety factor is worthwhile but you still can drive fast in tennis shoes.
Racing shoes are nice and the safety factor is worthwhile but you still can drive fast in tennis shoes.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
as Wayne sez above, ventilation is kind of important since the foot area of our cars does get hot. I found, by accident, a very thin-soled pair of (maybe?) running shoes with open weave mesh sides (by Converse). I don't know what "type" of running shoes they are, maybe cindertrack, or some such. but they work very well, and I "save" them for driving only and have had them for about 4+ yrs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,507
Likes: 723
From: Sausalito CA
Low tops shoes are easy to find.
+1 for Puma .... skinny, many colors, good price.
Mid/ or High Top
not as many options and with fire protection can get pricey.
+1 Alpine Stars
Piloti
A little bulky for pedal "action" yet very good support for walking.
Gucci
Leather moccasin driving loafer which is more dressy - so to say.
My vote go with Puma as a driving shoe.
+1 for Puma .... skinny, many colors, good price.
Mid/ or High Top
not as many options and with fire protection can get pricey.
+1 Alpine Stars
Piloti
A little bulky for pedal "action" yet very good support for walking.
Gucci
Leather moccasin driving loafer which is more dressy - so to say.
My vote go with Puma as a driving shoe.
:steerin g:
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Nashville TN
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
I drive in socks too 
. Tried all kinds of 'driving' shoes, and all of them were 'poseurs', meaning they're walking shoes that look like driving ones (narrower). And even those were too wide for the 430 (3 pedal car), so had to drive barefooted... and felt great. My next attempt at a driving shoe will be a real racing one, like Sparcos, but would have to try them first (tired of throwing money away on driving shoes online). The most important part of a driving shoe to me is feel, so they'd have to have a minimal sole. Wish I liked the typical ones, since you can walk on them. My solution is I wear any shoes I want, and drive barefooted (in socks) 
. The feel is awesome with my choice of pedals 
:
. Tried all kinds of 'driving' shoes, and all of them were 'poseurs', meaning they're walking shoes that look like driving ones (narrower). And even those were too wide for the 430 (3 pedal car), so had to drive barefooted... and felt great. My next attempt at a driving shoe will be a real racing one, like Sparcos, but would have to try them first (tired of throwing money away on driving shoes online). The most important part of a driving shoe to me is feel, so they'd have to have a minimal sole. Wish I liked the typical ones, since you can walk on them. My solution is I wear any shoes I want, and drive barefooted (in socks) . The feel is awesome with my choice of pedals :