Where to buy racing boots

[tonyhetherington]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for some racing boots. You know the type I mean - sparco/puma/omp style thing styled racing boots. I don't intend to pay alot as they won't be used that often, but do want to buy my own pair.

Just wondered where the best place to go is?

I've tried e-bay, and though they have a couple of pairs, none in my size (12).

Thanks for any info
Tony

[tony_996hasgone]

Try:-
www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/catalogue/category_list.asp?cls=MSPORT&grp=MP002&pgrp=M001&tlgrp=M001

or the Karting ones are cheaper:-
www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/catalogue/category_list.asp?cls=MSPORT&grp=MC014&pgrp=MP009&tlgrp=M001

>> Edited by tony_996hasgone on Friday 18th July 12:32

[tonyhetherington]

Doh - was just editing my original post to say I'd tried Demon Tweeks too!!

In my experience, Demon Tweeks have always been on the expensive side, so I wanted to double check what sort of prices I'm looking at elsewhere to see if they're expensive on these aswell.

Did that make sense?!

Thanks very much though Tony for the reply
Tony (another one)

[thub]

Bookatrack www.bookatrack.com.
I got my Pumas from Sole Traders in the high street.

[raceboy]

Some of the high street stores had these in a while ago for about £40

Or just wait for a pair off ebay, these are size 9's
Or theres these not sure what size 45 means in English though
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2742447498&category=2876

[basil brush]

A lot of high street stores are selling the Sparco boots now as well. Try Schuh or Office.

[tonyhetherington]

Top ideas people, thank you !!!

[Mark B]

Tony,

What do you want to use them for?? Racing or posing?? I only ask because some of the ones quoted are not 'legal' you need to ensure what purpose you want them for...

I bought mine (as I was on a budget) from AWS Racewear - 01233 628929 they have lots of colours and high and low back designs.

I bought mine to use when driving my kit car and I have used them at karting events too. All I would say is, FIA reg ones are not cheap, I will be buying a pair of karting boots or Puma replicas which are not legal for proper race use and leave my legal boots for 'proper' events.....

Think about it as this is not cheap shopping.... Good luck though. AWS do a great range of racewear too, reasonably priced too.

Grand Prix racewear is good too.

Oh, just remembered, there is a guy selling off a load of kit on Racecar website....I think Rallybits was the company name, not sure.
Chars,
Mark B

[raceboy]

Has anyone got any idea how the euro sizes compare to UK sizes, or more to the point whats a UK size 8 in Euro sizes

[cotty]

It depends what you want the boots for as the ones you will find in the highstreet stoors wont be nomex/flame proof. Kart boots are not flame proof and hence cheaper, saying that my Sparco kart boots were about £70. Not flame proof but are water resistant.

I have looked at the puma boot/trainer as per the pic on this thread and find that these can sometimes be as much as a pucka nomex boot.

If you dont mine which manufacurer I believe that OMP do a karting boot for £35 in Demon Tweeks (net of VAT) so you might find them cheaper elsewhere.

Cotty

[tonyhetherington]

Well - to answer what I want them for.

I'm not going to be doing any official racing so to speak, so they wont need to be FIA approved etc. The reason I want them is for when I do either trackdays, or when I drive on the road things like Caterham 7's. I find it very difficult to drive, for example Cat 7, with regular shoes on as the pedal box is so close together. It seems to me racing boots are thinner, and allow more feel. This really is what I'm after. Won't need to be waterproof, won't need to be fully FIA approved - just want something to make quick driving slightly easier.

Equally though, still want them to look quite nice - as you all know what it's like in the pitlane on a track day, and so don't want some 9.99 jobbies from Asda!!!

Hope that's answered the question.

I'm looking at the AWS racewear site now.

Thanks again for replies
Tony

[tonyhetherington]

This was the sort of thing i had in mind.

Oh....raceboy.....
click this link for shoe size conversion chart

[Mark B]

tonyhetherington said:

This was the sort of thing i had in mind. Oh....raceboy..... click this link for shoe size conversion chart

Tony, bottom right, that's what I bought at Autosport last year.....having said that if you don't need them to be FIA I would go for the Replica Puma in Demon Tweeks or GrandPrix Racewear, lovely, look the part too.

[sjg]

I bought some Puma/Sparco Speedcats for trackdays and they're great. Not FIA approved or fireproof, but they're lower cut (doesn't restrict your ankles) and were only about 50 quid. Got them from Soletrader in Bluewater.

[tonyhetherington]

Mark B said:

I would go for the Replica Puma in Demon Tweeks or GrandPrix Racewear, lovely, look the part too.

Mark,

Thanks ever so much for the help. I dont quite understand what you mean by Replica Puma though - feeling a bit thick today! Is that the model name of the shoe, or do you mean it's a look-a-like of a Puma boot?

Thanks again
Tony

[tonyhetherington]

sjg said:

I bought some Puma/Sparco Speedcats for trackdays and they're great. Not FIA approved or fireproof, but they're lower cut (doesn't restrict your ankles) and were only about 50 quid. Got them from Soletrader in Bluewater.

I'm in bluewater all the time....I'll have a pop in over the weekend!!
Thanks!

[Graham.J]

tonyhetherington said:

Mark, Thanks ever so much for the help. I dont quite understand what you mean by Replica Puma though - feeling a bit thick today! Is that the model name of the shoe, or do you mean it's a look-a-like of a Puma boot? Thanks again Tony

They're a replica of the Puma Racing stuff, so not fireproof or anything.

If you're after a boot style thing, try Grand Prix Racewear and look at the Sparco K-Mid boot, it's a kart boot, not fireproof and about £38 iirc.