i normally wear boots but...since getting the rx-8 it's tremendously difficult to drive smoothly, let along heel-toe in them...even tennis shoes seem to be difficult as well though slightly easier

so far i've had the most success with indoor soccer shoes, adidas samba's. i'm just curious what everyone else wears that aren't like neon-racing shoes with no sole ...which may be a viable option for daily wear =)

Vans Old Skools... I have trouble with my Nikes 'cause of my big ass size 13s.

I've found the best option to be regular shoes (sketchers included...)
The rule for me: the thinner the soil, the better! And Im 11.5 caliber!

WHAT SHOES ???

Barefoot or with socks get much better feel for gears and pedals, the only way to go.

When its raining the sole of your shoes are slippery on the pedals quite dangerous IMO , especially if you have chrome pedals .

The only down side is taking your shoes on and off , but a small price to pay for the great and comfortable , safe feeling.

Originally posted by Lock & Load
WHAT SHOES ???

Barefoot or with socks get much better feel for gears and pedals, the only way to go.

The only down side is taking your shoes on and off , but a small price to pay for the great and comfortable , safe feeling.

Normally dockers shoes with thin, smooth soles. Gives a good feel to the pedals. When i'm really in a SoCal frame of mind I'll go au natural a pied. When I do that I don't even bring a pair of shoes along.

Merrell or Land's End sport mocs

Diesel shoes, as in the clothing manufacturer. They have a sole slightly thicker than my racing shoes and I love to drive in them. They basicly look like retro track shoes minus the spikes :)

Wet soles and chrome pedals are definitely scary. High heels don't make it either, alas. Shoes that mimic feet. Merills and the like. Gotta feel the difference.

My favorite has always been the Vans Wally sneaker. I have not used it in this car, however. So far, I've used my Asics DS-Verdicts (not bad for a running shoe), and a real ratty pair of Vans that have been dipped in the bay repeatedly (yet somehow have not made it to the wheelie-bin). My Doc Martens ankle-highs actually feel very nice and have not slipped once. However, my Gortex USAF flight boots are (as usual) absolutely horrible to drive in. I looked at some new Vans yesterday, but they all have this puffy style now - I hate it.

I dont care what anybody say, Kswiss Classic tennis is the best shoe for driving, it has a non slip sole(no air bag) for direct/exact feed back, leather upper laced for comfort and fit/feel.
I think it should a standard equitment for the 8.

I've found that the sole of my NB to be to chuncky and make for harder footwork. The best driving shoes I own are a beat up old set of Nikes that should have been tossed out years ago cuz the sole is damn near worn though, but they work the best. Never drove in an old school set of Vans but I hear good things about them.

Originally posted by B-Nez
I looked at some new Vans yesterday, but they all have this puffy style now - I hate it.

The Old Skool shoes are basically just canvas and laces, no "puffiness" :) Here's a link...

Vans Old Skool (http://www.heelandsoleshoes.com/browser/26/28/product/ECMF1A680DC1046898286-46/items.html)

hrm, wow thanks for all the replies. i don't understand the grip subject tho, i don't mind slip at all, infact too much grips makes it difficult to rotate your foot on the brake to blip the throttle. i'm gonna have to try out my vans, but they're slightly more chunky than my samba's.

as an aside, there are 2 girls at work who drive a 5sp kia rio and del sol...both can drive with 4" stiletto's... i was quite impressed =)... not that they heel-toe or anything but still quite a feat in and of its own.

Converse Chuck Taylor hightops with Pete's powerbed insoles -- great shoes for playin around

Nothin beats good ol' sneakers!

Originally posted by lefuton
hrm, wow thanks for all the replies. i don't understand the grip subject tho, i don't mind slip at all, infact too much grips makes it difficult to rotate your foot on the brake to blip the throttle. i'm gonna have to try out my vans, but they're slightly more chunky than my samba's.

What you need to do in this thread is compare shoe type with driving style. i gave you my footware preference above, but neglected to mention I don't "heel toe." I'm not even exactly sure what it is.

People that go to the coast know what I'm talking bout here.....Dunno what they're called, but they have a real thin black rubber sole (no air pockets or anything like that), and a mesh type top...just goes to your lower ankle. Used primarily for at the beach for walking on rockbeds/corral reefs, etc....Very cheap, but I would imagine you'd get the most 'feel' through them.
I'll try to find them online and post a link/pic.

Originally posted by IWANTMYRX8
People that go to the coast know what I'm talking bout here.....Dunno what they're called, but they have a real thin black rubber sole (no air pockets or anything like that), and a mesh type top...just goes to your lower ankle. Used primarily for at the beach for walking on rockbeds/corral reefs, etc....Very cheap, but I would imagine you'd get the most 'feel' through them.
I'll try to find them online and post a link/pic.
Something like Swimsocks, yeah? I've heard them called other things, too. I was looking at Piloti shoes online - VERY nice. Also pretty expensive. They have a nice heel-toe area built into the shoe.

Originally posted by 8_wannabe


What you need to do in this thread is compare shoe type with driving style. i gave you my footware preference above, but neglected to mention I don't "heel toe." I'm not even exactly sure what it is.

For an explanation of heel-toe technique, see:
Heel-toe downshifting (http://www.turnfast.com/tech_driving/driving_heeltoe.lasso)

And since few women's shoes were designed with driving in mind, I usually kick mine off as soon as I'm in the car and drive barefoot. Those cool aluminum pedals feel goooooood. :)

Originally posted by Lock & Load
WHAT SHOES ???

Barefoot or with socks get much better feel for gears and pedals, the only way to go.

When its raining the sole of your shoes are slippery on the pedals quite dangerous IMO , especially if you have chrome pedals .

The only down side is taking your shoes on and off , but a small price to pay for the great and comfortable , safe feeling.

Is it true you actually drive naked? :D

Originally posted by Aratinga


For an explanation of heel-toe technique, see:
Heel-toe downshifting (http://www.turnfast.com/tech_driving/driving_heeltoe.lasso)

And since few women's shoes were designed with driving in mind, I usually kick mine off as soon as I'm in the car and drive barefoot. Those cool aluminum pedals feel goooooood. :)

I hadn't thought of that, but it's a good idea. The worst is ANYTHING with a wedge or a big chunky heel- I can't tell where my foot is in relation to the gas pedal. On days I want to wear dressy shoes, I've been wearing my Rykas and changing when I get to work.

I'm going to try the barefoot thing, though.

Originally posted by Kev


Is it true you actually drive naked? :D

KEV

I had been caught in my younger days driving near enouhg in my birthday suit taking a young lady home at 4.30 am , her father insisted she be home before day break , ahhh those memories.

YOUTH IS WASTED ON THE YOUNG AND MONEY IS WASTED ON THE OLD.
Michael

I love my skechers

Skechers (the one with the zipper) & Florsheim

mine dont have zippers

Originally posted by B-Nez

Something like Swimsocks, yeah? I've heard them called other things, too. I was looking at Piloti shoes online - VERY nice. Also pretty expensive. They have a nice heel-toe area built into the shoe.

I tried ordering the Piloti's a month ago but they were sold out of my size in the style I wanted. Still patiently waiting for them to import some more.

Converse Chuck Taylor hightops with Pete's powerbed insoles -- great shoes for playin around


Yep, i agree, but I use lowtops

IWANTMYRX8,

I think your talking about Cudas Hydro Sox.

Originally posted by Lock & Load
WHAT SHOES ???

Barefoot or with socks get much better feel for gears and pedals, the only way to go.

When its raining the sole of your shoes are slippery on the pedals quite dangerous IMO , especially if you have chrome pedals .

The only down side is taking your shoes on and off , but a small price to pay for the great and comfortable , safe feeling.

Driving barefoot is illegal in a number of states, and for good reason, as far as I'm concerned. My RX-7 got rear-ended by some girl driving barefoot - her foot slipped off the brake pedal.

Originally posted by khoney
Driving barefoot is illegal in a number of states, and for good reason, as far as I'm concerned. My RX-7 got rear-ended by some girl driving barefoot - her foot slipped off the brake pedal.

No such over regulations here in Queensland, so come on down .

A very old pair of over-the ankle deerskin Navajo moccasins with straps that wrap over silver buttons -- don't know what I'll do when they finally rot away. I've tried climbing shoes and pro driving boots,and they both had far more insulation & grip than I like. Pedal interaction, particularly with the throttle & brake on the same foot, is all about precision sliding, at least for me.

{{{{

I'll third the Piloti's. I've driven in Steve Madden, straight leather top, thin soles that almost look like blinds, and a pair of And One court shoes and the piloti's by far offer the most feel and best shape for heel-toe driving styles. And they're nomex lined, not that I'm planning on having my car catch on fire or doing any coal walking.

My best is an old -very old- pair of leather ankle-high slip-on moccasins with a rubberized bottom. They have no heel & the sides are rounded, so as not to hang on the edges of the pedals. They are worn super thin & I can feel the pedals well. They slip just the right amount too.
They are ugly as sin anymore, from age, but they're the best, like a second skin. Time for a new pair, maybe those Kuda's...

I wear Sketchers that look like those old school vans, but they're suede, also I like those Chuck Taylor's, tried boots, but I'm a size 13 and they seem too wide, Chuck Taylor's are so thin they make it easy to shift.

well I know what not to wear - my steel tip Wolverine work boots :o

For long journeys I tend to wear scrambling shoes - half way between trainers [sneakers] and rock boots. Supportive and very grippy.

Either that or barefoot (if the windows are open ;))

I usually wear Sperry Top-Siders (boat shoes). I find them light and a relatively thin sole. They are also designed not to slip when wet (I also wear them sailing:D ).

Originally posted by mdmaclean
I usually wear Sperry Top-Siders (boat shoes). I find them light and a relatively thin sole. They are also designed not to slip when wet (I also wear them sailing:D ).
I find that boating shoes generally make really good driving shoes. The combination of thin soles, non slip and light weight is a pretty good combo. Not to mention you can get a cheap pair for around $20.

the best driving shoes around, no joke, are either those specially designed soft leather-soled driving shoes ($$$), or wrestling shoes (<- my choice, less expensive, and you can wear them outside)... something that you'd keep in the car, tucked under the pedals for driving only.

nothin beats good ol' converse chuck taylors! high or low-top. awesome for heel-toe

I've worn my docs for all 4+ years of my manual transmission driving experience. I finally bought a pair of sneakers a couple years ago (been wearing straight docs since freshman year of high school - 9 years?) for sport...throws me off a bit when I wear them. Usually let up on the pedals too quickly :)

I don't do any heel-toe - neither of the cars had/have conducive pedals, and I'm bow-legged - but people are usually pretty impressed with my footwork.

i know this thread is old but i thought i'd share

Use any type of wrestling show if you are going to be doing some hard core autocross or just like a cool comfortable driving shoe
personally i like the ADIDAS wrestling shoes.

Thats a easy one... FUNK MASTER FLEX "FMF", very easy 2 have a heave foot in thoes

they actually sell driving shoes in stores at the mall nowadays... i guess it's a new trend

I just bought a pair of Kenneth Cole Reaction sneakers (the blue suede with "Adidas" stripes) that are absolutely fabulous for driving. They're slip ons, too, so really convenient.
http://photos.shopgco.com/b218473f.jpg

The best and cheapest shoes i have found are used by martial artists . soft ideal for driving or kicking butt .

diesels

Originally posted by turbo8765
Thats a easy one... FUNK MASTER FLEX "FMF", very easy 2 have a heave foot in thoes

i really don;t know how those are driving shoes. it's really hard for me to drive stick in boots. i guess they're okay for auto drivers

No shoes 4 me

Justin Peanut Brittle Ostrich Skin Ropers