I love my Simpson racing boots, but they don't match my street clothes, and they're a bit much for short trips. Same deal with my OMP boots. All of my other shoes lack the rounded heel and tend to catch on the floor and lack the smooth roll off for fine controll. Solid black leather would be best, but I'm open to other options.
I wouldn't call it life-changing, but driving a manual with thin, flat soles makes a noticeable difference. Driving in my hiking boots feels like trying to use a game controller with thick ski gloves on.
Spring to fall, I drive in bare feet whenever it's appropriate. It's so much more direct and comfortable. That said, I prefer bare feet when possible anyway - I realize it's not for everyone.
Yeah, me too. I'll drive in whatever I happen to be wearing, whether that be Adidas samba, Harley Davidson boots, or chunky skate shoes. I've never felt the need to have specific shoes to press pedals.
I don't think I'm in the right climate for it. I need heavy boots to counter the cold and snow, and I can't be bothered to change shoes every time I get in and out of the car.
Quite frankly, that was completely unasked for and entirely inappropriate for the purposes of this thread. Thank you. I enjoyed every bizarre moment of it.
I second the general recommendations of Vans or converse but IMO if you're also going to be on your feet all day wearing them the thin soles does get old fast. I wear my crossfit shoes most of the time and they are really good driving shoes because they tend more towards flat soles and unobtusive tread but still pretty good cushioning.
Genius. They all look like high-quality, half-priced luxury driving shoes. Thanks for the tip. My only regret is the violent life of dueling that will surely come with them. Still, sacrifices must be made sometimes. In all seriousness, thank you.
If you want to feel what the car is doing, it's great.
If you want to feel the clutch point, it's great.
If you want to have precise throttle control, it's great.
If you want to have protection in a fire, not so great.
A long time ago, I had a pair of Puma shoes that had a similar look to F1 driving shoes, and they were awesome due to their light weight and thin soles - ever since then I’ve a convert to that style of shoe.
Maybe consider the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66? It’s a timeless design with plenty of colorways, so you should be able to get one that suits your tastes. They are also available in mid-runner form in case you want more of a boot fit (padded ankle).
I like driving in Reef Deckhand shoes, I have a pair without the insoles that I use for manual transmission. They're similar to Vans slip-on's, flat sole and made with materials that aren't too stiff