Best shoes to drive in

[AL...Ease]

I never thought shoes made that much difference, but I bought these last year and I'm not happy driving in Classics anymore:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001GOIUOC/ref=...



I'm yet to try out any of the more revered budget driving shoes, such as the Speed Cats or Sparco ones, but I don't know whether I'd be able to get away with wearing those to work...

Edited by AL...Ease on Tuesday 24th March 00:19

[LongLiveTazio]

Not a fan of wearing trainers when driving my car. Recently bought a pair of smart boots from the Anatomical Shoe Company and you can feel absolutely everything. I have a pair of Grenson loafers that are similar in feel. For me I prefer wearing actual shoes...

[ZeroH]

Have a couple pairs of leather Tod's that I use to drive, one of which resides in the car permanently. Very flexible and great feel plus the rubber studs means your feet never slip from the pedals. My hands often get clammy when driving hard or distances, so when i'm "on it".

I use fingerless leather gloves... works well on a lthr wheel and allows you to keep your feeling/touch also.

[PeterA]

Got some Puma Speed Cats for my birthday. So far so good - should improve after a bit of wearing in too. They're suede. Which is nice.

Having said that, I'm still fond of my three- (or more) year-old running trainers. Unfortunately, I got them wet on a beach the other day, so they currently have quite a strong, unpleasant smell. Comfy though.

Anyhow, Puma Speed Cats are now my footwear of choice for driving.

[Futuramic]

I used to have a pair of driftcats, which I bought almost by accident in a sale for about half price. I have small feet, so some of the issues discussed here don't affect me, but I found the shoes to be a bit of a waste of money. They are not in any way waterproof, meaning that walking in the rain leaves one with wet feet. They also fell apart after a few months of not particularly hard use. When that happened I went back to an old pair of Adidas sport (I neither know nor care which one) shoes with a completely flat and thin sole. I would thoroughly reccomend the Adidas ones however. They are much better made than the Pumas and look fairly respectable as shoes. As for driving there is no discernible difference between them and the supposedly fit for purpose Pumas. Plus you don't look like a berk wearing them. They are called Adidas "Tobacco".

[krallicious]

I have a 2 year old pair of Puma 5000s. The sole is incrediably thin and soft rubber that has slightly worn to a perfectly flat surface. They are a death trap on damp pavements but the best driving shoe I have ever owned.

[pork911]

as with a similar thread recently, how about barefoot or flip flops?

[Zad]

Perhaps because technically both are illegal?

[RichB]

Zad said:

Perhaps because technically both are illegal?

And both are pretty stupid

[pork911]

stupid maybe, but how are they illegal?

[Strangely Brown]

pork911 said:

stupid maybe, but how are they illegal?

Arguably, failure to maintain proper control (CU104)?

[RichB]

Barefoot is definitely illegal but as I don't like the feeling and therfore don't do it I can't be bothered to look up the rule - if you find it let us know. As for flip-flops they are plainly wrong, I guess someone could argue they are footwear but only a fool would drive in them.

[pork911]

full proper control can be maintained barefoot or in flip flops

have driven tractors, motorbikes, ancient and modern cars in both over long distances and difficult circumstances and they are fine IMHO obviously

[RichB]

OK go do a track day barefoot in your 911, see what the marshals say Oh hang on, you probably wouldn't do it, I guess that answers the question.

[pork911]

marshalls saying not allowed will make it illegal or mean that i wouldn't feel entirely confortable doing it?

[AL...Ease]

RichB said:

Barefoot is definitely illegal

I'd love to see some legislation that backed that up because I don't believe it. I often drive in my socks on warm days because my feet get too sweaty in shoes and don't find it uncomfortable.

[Cotty]

Futuramic said:

I used to have a pair of driftcats, which I bought almost by accident in a sale for about half price. I have small feet, so some of the issues discussed here don't affect me, but I found the shoes to be a bit of a waste of money. [/b]they are not in any way waterproof[/pic], meaning that walking in the rain leaves one with wet feet. They also fell apart after a few months of not particularly hard use.

As per my previous suggestion, a pair of kart boots from Sparco would be waterproof as they are designed to be used outside not in an enclosed car. I have two pairs, worn in all conditions and still dry.

A few years back Sparco and Puma produced a range of footware together with both their brand names on them. Since then Puma have produced their own range ie speedcat with no Sparco branding. From what I have heard its best to buy the Sparco original.

[Nurburgsingh]

Adiddas Samba. Hi-tec Squash.

[Bishop89]

i like these

[robsti]

Would always have said todds driving loafers so you would not look a tt when you have to get out of the car but i bought a pair of Hugo Boss velcro fastening driving shoe which are just as good and are stylish as well.