Best shoes to drive in

[ScouseChris]

I tried to drive in reebok classics the other day and it didnt end very well, usually i drive in my converse allstars, they look nice with a smart pair of jeans and are a pleasure to drive in.

[markoc]

I've got some Diesel's with a very thin sole - excellent for driving. Other than that [flamesuit on] I find driving barefoot to be very enjoyble [/ flamesuit off]

[cornishgirl]

Thigh length leather boots in the rangerover and 4 inch stilettoes in the porsche.

Oh, sorry. Wrong forum!

[_rubinho_]

markoc said:

I've got some Diesel's with a very thin sole - excellent for driving.

Second on the Diesels, I've had a pair and they were good for driving. I've had a pair of laceless Lacoste trainers which had a wafer-thin* sole and were excellent driving wear too.

• Monty Python pronunciation obligatory

[Accelebrate]

tybo said:

Converse All stars http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://ho...

+ 1

They don't suit every occasion and probably depends on your age range but they're cheap, thin, flexible and painful if you ever try to walk of cobbles, so pedal feel isn't an issue.

Not a fan of the boots personally, picked up a shoe style pair for £20 recently from office.

[Zad]

These are mine. I don't claim to be in Flemke's league when it comes to driving, but they have nice thin soles and are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. Possibly not de-regeur with Nomex, but good with jeans.


(Flames not compulsory, but people remember them)

[Corollaman]

Converse All Stars do the business nicely for street. Flexible, flat sole with excellent ankle support helping to nail those heel and toe blips every time.

And some Sparco's for the win on track

[Munter]

Very much like ClaphamGT3's post I find that my "smart" shoes I got from M&S are the best for me. My options being Hiking Boots, Cross Trainers, Gym trainers, Shoes. If nothing else the quality of my gearchanges is much better wearing them. And if I can feel the clutch better I must be feeling the brake and throttle better.

[RichB]

Personally I wear a pair of nicely worn Hi-Tech squash shoes, thin soles and fit like a glove. If I don;t want to wear white shoes then I have a pair of Timberland boat shoes with no welt to catch on the pedals

Someone suggested Dunlop Green Flash and another were loafers so I guess these are on the same lines...

[RatBoy M3CS]

Snow shoes work well... but toe and heeling is a bit more awkward...

Edited by RatBoy M3CS on Wednesday 4th February 22:19

[naetype]

chevronb37 said:

Chaps,

.....I just wear Vans Slip-ons at the moment, they're fine, but I feel the Elise deserves something special. ......
Swifty

WHAT!!?

The best, grippiest most feelsome shoe invented on the planet and they're not good enough. Sir, you are SO wrong. The Vans 'waffle' sole is patented for it's grip and feel.

Whenever I need to use a shoe for feel and touch they are what I slip on. Pardon the pun

[robminiman]

it may seem stupid but slippers are the best thing to wear

[Zad]

Yeah but Vans.... >shudder<

Primary design brief was to make something that look like your grandad would wear.

[robwales]

I'm not really fussy as long as my shoes aren't too tight, too heavy, not breathable, and have a reasonably thin sole.

robminiman said:

it may seem stupid but slippers are the best thing to wear

I drove a few short journeys in them, I found my feet moving around in them a bit too much. Or maybe that means I need new slippers.

[EmmaP]

robminiman said:

it may seem stupid but slippers are the best thing to wear

And when you fill up at petrol stations you will look like a right loon.

[flemke]

EmmaP said:

robminiman said:

it may seem stupid but slippers are the best thing to wear

And when you fill up at petrol stations you will look like a right loon.

Perhaps not so loonish if you're also wearing pajamas.

[Pugsey]

To be honest, while a nice pair of old soft loafers do feel good for road driving (and are what I prefer) I drive in whatever I've got on my feet at the time - within reason obviously - and don't obsess about it. Can't say it makes any difference as regards how well/fast/smoothly I get from a to b. Obviously in a race car where pedals are smaller and space is restricted I where race boots. Again I don't obsess over them amd again, provided they allow full and comfortable access to the pedals and have enough support for heal&toeing I find they make no difference to my lap times one make to another.

Maybe I'm just easily pleased?

[wong]

Anyone tried driving barefoot - maximum feel ?
Odd at first, but you get used to it

Not FIA approved.

[chevronb37]

flemke said:

EmmaP said:

robminiman said:

it may seem stupid but slippers are the best thing to wear

And when you fill up at petrol stations you will look like a right loon.

Perhaps not so loonish if you're also wearing pajamas.

Best quote I've read all day!

As for Vans, well they are good, but I wear them constantly and feel the Elise deserves some shoes with a narrower sole which will permit a litle more dexterity on the pedals. I've test driven in the Slip-Ons and they were great though.

I knew a site manager with who would drive in his rigger boots. I couldn't believe it. I was genuinely upset when I borrowed his car and saw the state of the footwell. As for pedal feel, well forget it.

[RobM77]

wong said:

Anyone tried driving barefoot - maximum feel ?
Odd at first, but you get used to it

Not FIA approved.

Yes, and I just couldn't get on with it. The pressure required to declutch and brake hurts my feet too much.