Uh oh, driving shoe thread!

[Rupert]

What's the deal with driving shoes? I see three sorts of non-race shoes. There's the Pilotis, all dolled up in side rubber for heel-toe-ing, the Speed Cats, which seem to think they're driving shoes, and what I can only guess are the "classic" sort, which look like formal/casual shoes with blocks on the bottom. Are any of these, other than the Pilotis, worth anything?

[Eye of the Tiger]

Whatever. I heel-toe better with snow boots on.

[Rupert]

Ha, I'm using Chuck Taylor's now.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Ha, I'm using Chuck Taylor's now.

I do not understand those shoes. They're like slippers with laces, only not comfortable and more expensive.

[Rupert]

And still the cheapest thing in the mall. And they're pretty comfy once you break them in.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I suppose I wouldn't mind a pair of Piloti Prototipos, but I have better things to spend $85 on.

[Rupert]

Indeed. I'm not gonna buy driving shoes if they cost more than the shoes I'd buy anyway (or I can't wear them around).

[Cookie Monster]

I like the pumas but they are probably too expensive for me and I don't drive anyways.

[BimmerM3]

I had a pair of Prototipos that I really liked. The tread on the bottom is very thin, so if you wear them around on a regular basis, they wear out pretty quickly. I liked them though... Pretty comfortable and what not.

I've never owned SpeedCats or driving loafers.

[r0tor]

I have some Addidas Adiracers...

Driving shoes tend to have thinner and harder soles so they transmit pedal feel better


The indoor soccer shoe classic from Addidas (the Samba) is also a great driving shoe and pretty cheap to boot.

[cozmik]

I have 3 pairs of the Pilotis actually. I rather like them.

[Lebowski]

I like pilotis, they're comfortable to walk around in and to drive in.

This thread reminds me I should dig mine out of my closet, I haven't worn them in awhile.

[Raza]

I have a pair of Pilotis, but I like my Puma Speedcats better.  And, surprisingly, my Steve Madden Drifters (driving loafers) have the best feel out of all of them.

And yes, they absolutely make a difference.

[Raza]

I like the pumas but they are probably too expensive for me and I don't drive anyways.

No, I supposed you'd need biking shoes.  Here's a good pair:

[NomisR]

I have the speedcats since they're simpler looking and cheaper than pilotis.  But they're absolutely horrible to walk in, I can be walking barefooted and it would feel the same. 

But then agian, I like driving barefooted too.

[Speed_Racer]

I bought a pair of normal Pumas. They were way cheap, but a bit skinnier than regular sneakers, so they make it easier working the pedals.

[Cookie Monster]

No, I supposed you'd need biking shoes.  Here's a good pair:

[Soup DeVille]

I wear apair of Piloti Strasses when I take long trips. I use them for three reasons:

For starters, they don't wear down the carpet the way a set of workboots or hard soled dress shoes do,they are easy to slip on and off, so when my real shoes are allmuddy, their easy to change, and they're really low profile, which gives me an effectivehalf inch more of legroom.

I'm not sold on any sort of pedal feel/ ease of driving/ heel and toe advanatges, but I like them.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I've had pilotis, really like them. Was a good all around shoe with a roll heal and thinner sole for driving. I have a pair of adidas now that are pretty good to. I want a pair of pumas but the ones i'm looking at are more than i want to spend(over 150 iirc, black label king re-luxe sport).

Anyway i'll certainly buy another pair of pilotis. They came out with a few more designs since i last bought so i have a few more options.

[Raza]

I have the speedcats since they're simpler looking and cheaper than pilotis.  But they're absolutely horrible to walk in, I can be walking barefooted and it would feel the same. 

But then agian, I like driving barefooted too.

I liked the barefoot feeling of the Speedcats.  My Drifters are even thinner.  Of course I don't go running in them (I have running shoes), nor do I go hiking in them (...if I went hiking, I'd buy hiking boots), but for their purpose, they're the best I've used.  However, they wear quickly and soak through at the first sign of a cloud.

[sandertheshark]

I have that same pair of Minnetonka moccasins in my car so I don't have to drive in my boots.

[dazzleman]

Any sneaker that small and light is a good driving shoe.  I don't see the need for a special pair of driving shoes.  Sneakers that can also be used for running, or at least walking, work fine.

I hate to drive in bulky shoes, but I don't really have any bulky shoes anymore anyway.

[Rupert]

Yeah, the Chuck's are a bit floppy, but they work pretty well.

I'm too tall to heel-and-toe anyway.

[Rupert]

Speed Cats...

I'm not old enough/don't smoke a pipe often enough to pull of loafers.

[MrH]

I have a pair of Puma driving shoes.  They make for some pretty good driving shoes (good feel through the fore foot, with a stiff, thin heel that's easy to pivot off of for heal toe'in).  They suck to walk in though.

Oh, now that I think of it, I have a pair of Puma Ferrari driving shoes too.  I don't wear them often.  They're a special occassion kind of shoe in the summer usually.

I like driving in Nike Free's a lot.  They're super flexible, and very similar to running barefoot.  Makes for good driving shoes.

I think I'm going to get a pair of these this weekend.  Probably in a different color.  I'm getting them for running purposes.  Should make for awesome driving shoes too.

[Cookie Monster]

I have a pair of Puma driving shoes.  They make for some pretty good driving shoes (good feel through the fore foot, with a stiff, thin heel that's easy to pivot off of for heal toe'in).  They suck to walk in though.

Oh, now that I think of it, I have a pair of Puma Ferrari driving shoes too.  I don't wear them often.  They're a special occassion kind of shoe in the summer usually.

I like driving in Nike Free's a lot.  They're super flexible, and very similar to running barefoot.  Makes for good driving shoes.

I think I'm going to get a pair of these this weekend.  Probably in a different color.  I'm getting them for running purposes.  Should make for awesome driving shoes too.

Those look like shit.

[Raza]

Speed Cats...

I'm not old enough/don't smoke a pipe often enough to pull of loafers.

They look great with jeans.

[Raza]

I have a pair of Puma driving shoes.  They make for some pretty good driving shoes (good feel through the fore foot, with a stiff, thin heel that's easy to pivot off of for heal toe'in).  They suck to walk in though.

Oh, now that I think of it, I have a pair of Puma Ferrari driving shoes too.  I don't wear them often.  They're a special occassion kind of shoe in the summer usually.

I like driving in Nike Free's a lot.  They're super flexible, and very similar to running barefoot.  Makes for good driving shoes.

I think I'm going to get a pair of these this weekend.  Probably in a different color.  I'm getting them for running purposes.  Should make for awesome driving shoes too.

Those would annoy the fuck out of me.  I can't have anything between my toes.

And Nike Frees are too wide to be proper driving shoes.

[MrH]

Those look like shit.

Like I said, I'm getting them for running purposes.  I really don't care how they look.  It's about as close as you can get to running barefoot without cutting up your feet.

[MrH]

Those would annoy the fuck out of me.  I can't have anything between my toes.

And Nike Frees are too wide to be proper driving shoes.

They're a little wide.  My pedals aren't all that close though, so I don't have much of a problem with it.

In a car with a more cramped foot well, they probably wouldn't work so well.

I'll post a review of those bizarre shoes once I get them.  I think I'm going on Friday to get a pair.