Racing shoes...
 

I noticed while working on my FC that being barefoot helps a LOT when it comes to heel-toe downshifting. When I'm wearing normal shoes, it's basically impossible to do it because of the steering wheel (stock wheel, with no tilt, and stock seats), whereas barefoot it's very easy.

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for driving shoes that can be worn every day, don't look silly, and have very thin soles all around, even on the heel. Preferably about as thin as bowling shoes, minus the heel, and not as gay-looking (lol).

A lot of driving shoes that are meant for everyday wear look like their soles are fairly thick, which would completely ruin the point of driving shoes in this case.

Hopefully something that costs less than $100, though...

I have 2 pairs of adidas that I have that are really thin. I use them when I'm driving the 7. Really helps me "feal" the pedals. They have Goodyear writen really small on the side.

You can also try some Puma's also. They sale them at any Foot Action/ Locker.

I found PUMA shoes are pretty nice. The ones that have no heel. They are comfortable and look pretty nice too.

Something like this: oil-resistant and such: http://store.puma.com/pumaUSStore/pr...style&siteid=1

Those look nice... although I'll probably get some Pilottis, since I don't really like the way the logo on the Pumas stand out so much (and in an arkward spot).

I've heard that indoor soccer shoes are a good option, fairly thin soled, round heal and quite form fitting. For autocrossing and track driving I use my old wrestling shoes that I have left over from high school. They're not suitable to wear around though, as they have an extremely thin sole, but are perfect for driving. They're very thin and form fitting, almost feels like you're wearing nothing at all.

I've heard of others using them for track driving, as they're more or less a non fireproof racing shoe.

You could always try marching band shoes, they have a rolled heel and are fairly cheap. I used them before i got my piloti monacos

Piloti makes some nice street/driving shoes. Wrestling shoes work great as well.

The soles on my old Adidas wrestling shoes are thinner than the soles on my friends' racing shoes. Sorry I don't remember the brand of the racing shoes, they might have been Simpson. Wrestling shoes are cheap, too; you can get a pair for under $50 at sporting-goods stores. The split-sole ones will feel better, but they cost more and will often look more funky than the cheaper ones.

-s-

Speedwell's are great ;)

my job is to sell shoes and if i do say so, asics wrestling shoes have very thin soles and you can get them on clearance for like 30 bucks where i work. ive tried a pair on and you almost feel barefoot.

Where is your store?

Puma Outlets usually have a large stock of racing shoes for about $20.

My weapon of choice, really nice, thin and sticky sole.
Great for everyday use too.

http://www.justsoles.com/adidas-hand...ecial-p-7.html

Just got a new pair of the Oakley Mid racing shoes, very comfortable (as is always my experience with oakleys) and the sole is just thick enough to wear around the paddock. And they are carbon x Fireproof. SFI rated even. A little more than 100 (180 to be exact) but worth every penny.

Puma speed cats and puma future cats are the best you can find.
Wrestling shoes would be my next suggestion

Hmm.... maybe I'll just be a cheap bastard and take my right shoe off :D

I need to start heel-toe shifting (tried it once or twice with my shoe off... worked ok, but a little jerky) or I'll be stuck in the habit of just throwing it down a gear.

Hmm... maybe the reason I suck at heel-toe downshifting (with my right shoe off) is because it's hard to use such a tiny amount of throttle when you're driving around normally... lol

It would probably work fine if I was attacking the road like a madman, thouugh...lol

I've noticed that I sort of like the sensitivity having my shoe off gives me, though.

Me too. It's very hard for me on the street because the braking and throttle is so much less. On the track with the middle pedal mashed closer to the floor I find it easier.

After years of using the same pair of Asics wrestling shoues, I got a set of Sparco Top Drivers on clearance, and while the others are fine...these are just a step nicer.

The tough part about practicing heel/toe (I double declutch also, the way Skippy taught me) is that you need to brake hard enough to get the pedal in the right proximity to the gas... tough to do on the street.

For the record, I've started wearing water shoes wherever I go since they're perfect for driving... I've pretty much mastered the basics of heel-toe shifting :D

Well, at least 75% of the time...

My downshifts feel the same as upshifts now.

(I still plan on getting some Piloti shoes eventually...)

I noticed that heel and toe was much easier when i got my new shoes in. Maybe i'm just mentally justifying the cost of them, i dunno :p: These are very lightweight, and fit the contour of my feet better than the wrestling shoes i had (thought i was the only one, haha). Plus their FIA cert., so like, when the time comes, i don't have to buy new ones for a while :bigok:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...1/03b3bbf2.jpg

i dunno if anybody else has this problem but i have big feet and finding driving shoes is hard as nobody seems to make em big enough for me (size 14) except for in my search tonight pumas...so anybody over a size 13 dont even waste time looking at sparcos/alpinestars/pilotis/momos...as none of them are big enough. hopefully the pumas dont run small guess i'll find out when my order gets here

Simpson makes a $60-$70 non nomex low top that is good looking (nice brown suede outer with no ge-gaw) and perfect for driving, or kicking about

I bought these for $20

http://www.finishline.com/store/cata...Ntk=ALL_FIELDS

oh wow those are just like the puma speed cats~

I got me a pair of the addidas goodyear back in febuary granted didn't get the car back out till mid april, but found them to be perfect for heel toe manuvers. Granted I still need to practice since I'm more used to going down the quarter,but my brother and law and one other freind blow me the hell away in the corners. (pretty sure it has some thing to do with my previous t2 and me going sideways into a utility pole about three years back.) Definantly makes you drive differently after that.