Ultimate Driving Shoe Thread

[Schrup]

I started looking for some driving shoes yesterday. I tried on a pair of Puma Speedcats, which I liked, but can't buy the first set I see. Spent the last couple days browsing & think I've narrowed it down to a few pairs.

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/128720.html
http://www.teamsimpson.com/catalog/shoes/accelerator.asp
http://www.hammacher.com/publish/10412.asp?sourceid=0040179333&AFID=BEFREE01&afsrc=1
http://www.autosportcatalog.com/index.cfm?fa=p&pid=778&cid=31&sc=3824

Here are some more that caught my eye.
https://secure.cnchost.com/piloti.com/order.html
http://www.zappos.com/n/p?dp=1398518
http://www.carnaubawax.com/search.jsp?searchtext=55295&search.x=10&search.y=9
http://www.sagesport.com/pum-68662.html
http://www.zappos.com/n/p?dp=1756530&c=12345
http://www.teamsimpson.com/catalog/shoes/lowtop.asp

As you can probable gather, I'm looking for something under $125 that is low to mid height with suede uppers & rolled heel. I looking for opinions & experience of what others prefer.

[ChrisBennet]

I love my Piloti's. Very comfortable and they don't make my feet sweat like (most) sneakers.
-Chris

[Pat S]

I also have Piloti's, Mine are the Monacos... Love em. I ordered them direct from the company site:

http://www.piloti.com/

[rdane]

Stop by the local Puma store in Bellevue Square and take a look at the half dozen or so styles that will serve as driving shoes with your requirements (low top, rolled heel) . I have a pair of Sparco $200+, fire retardant, driving shoes and a pair of Pilotis. What I use to drive in now is a couple of styles of Pumas sport shoes (not the Cats), all under $100 a pair.

Puma sport shoes have become my ultimate driving shoe.

[89turbocabmike]

I've been wearing piloti's for a couple years now after years of Simpsons/Sparcos and wrestling type shoes. I have a few of each style/color but lately the black Rallye's are my daily drivers

[raceman]

l`ve got two pairs of Piloti`s,different syles,one fire retardent,one not.l`ve tried the others but for me and my lifestyle the Piloti`s are the ticket.

[Schrup]

I'm going to check out some Pilotis this weekend. Any others?

[JonT]

I bought some Adidas Sambas--they are a soccer shoe that is a low cut, narrow shoe with a thin sole and shallow tread. They worked great for my last DE and they were $40. Black with 3 white stripes. Very comfy.

[JackT]

Poloti's are good for Drivers ed because they have enough sole to walk around between events.

[}{arlequin]

I've been using Simpson and Puma wich have been really good. The Pumas can double as regular sneakers which is nice. Sambas work very well too. Just recently I got a pair of Adidas' Tuscany shoes. They are a "remake" of their racing shoe from the 70's. The rolled heel is there, but they are not suede.
http://www.journeys.com/catalog_detail.aspx?ID=17948&src=PERFORMX

Clarks are a bit more casual but very functional and comfortable. Also wit a rolled heel.
http://www.shoe-shop.com/invt/sch310239&bklist=icat,3,,m10140

[jpachard]

I'm very happy with the Sparco's. 3/4 top. I find the Piloti's a bit big for racing and I have size 9 feet. Piloti's are very good for DE though.

Cheers, James

[911-32]

Puma Mostros are fantastic - a great casual shoe that happens to work well as a driving shoe. They are virtually as good as my Sparco Race boots and much more comfortable to walk around in.

You can see them on the Zappos site refd above.

Richard

[jpachard]

Originally posted by 911-32
Puma Mostros are fantastic - a great casual shoe that happens to work well as a driving shoe. They are virtually as good as my Sparco Race boots and much more comfortable to walk around in.

You can see them on the Zappos site refd above.

Richard

Puma's are fine if you don't need a Nomex lined shoe. All race sanctioning bodies require Nomex lined shoes.

Cheers, James

[chrisp]

Although I haven't found out for sure, I have been told by stewards that Nomex socks will work with non-fire rated shoes.

[jpachard]

Chris, THis is taken out of the 2004 Club Racing rulebook;

15. A one piece fire retardant driving suit is required. (Two layer or one layer plus fire retardant under
wear, minimum - three layer or the special two layer with SFI rating of 3.2A/5 strongly
recommended. Military flight suits are not acceptable substitutes for fire retardant driving suits.) Fire
retardant socks and gloves are required. Driving shoes of fire retardant material are required.
Drivers with mustaches and/or beards must wear a balaclava.

Cheers, James

[chrisp]

Thanks for the update. I wonder what SCCA, etc require?

[tobluforu]

What's also nice about the piloti's is that they don't look like a racing shoe.

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by tobluforu
What's also nice about the piloti's is that they don't look like a racing shoe.

Yeah, mine look like bowling shoes without the shoe size on the back.
-Chris

[limble]

I bought a pair of G-force GF235 Mid-Top Racing Shoes. It's my first pair or racing shoes so all I can compare them to are tennis shoes but I like them fine. I was walking around all day on asphalt 85 degree heat and my feet didn't get hot at all.
Cheap $65.00 plus shipping.

[}{arlequin]

To keep it real simple/cheap, I think ANY of what is known as "indoor soccer shoes" will do the trick. Adidas has Gazelles in every color you could wish.

http://www.golaclassics.com/ProductList.asp?CategoryID=6
I think the Monaco shoe is nice.

This is more for the daring type:
http://www.golaclassics.com/ProductDisplay.asp?ProductID=45
http://www.golaclassics.com/ProductDisplay.asp?ProductID=199

More sombre, plus suede:
http://www.golaclassics.com/ProductDisplay.asp?ProductID=42