Suspension, tyres, braces...

[Petrus]

all fine and well but..., what about the shoes, the driver´s shoes?

I´ve always been a bit particular about my footwear. Well almost always; started out with sheep lined bomber boots on motorcycles. That was for keeping the feet warm in winter and I did not spend any money on summer boots as summer was too preciously short in the north.
When I started rácing that was almost binary; I wanted the feel, even with the tarmac, never mind wet feet.
The fur line  boots ´fetish´ carried over to driving sidecars for commuting as did the light footwear for car driving.
The latter stayed with me even for offroading, only compromising when getting out into the much as certain as the driving.

Now, with the MR2 Spyder I find tight fitting lightweight shoes to fit in more with the direct feedback, feel, than ever.
I find it a real drag to drive with the slightest bit more sturdy shoes, low boot. Also even a few cm more under the heel instead of a flat sole bothers me.

At present my prefered shoes for driving are a pair of FiveTen canvas sneakers, a pair of suede Vans classic half highs and a pair of Sparco Imola F1 sneakers. The latter are, the silly pretentious nomenclature notwithstanding, nicest but unlike the other two for driving only so you need to have  pair along.
 
What is your take on it?

[1979scotte]

My steel toe boots really aren't much good nor my timberlands.

I think I say my best driving shoes are my canvas trainers.

Often thought about a proper pair of motorsports footwear.

[Joesson]

My "driving" shoes are boat shoes. The relatively thin soles and flat heels I find comfortable for both driving and walking.

[Carolyn]

My race boots.  You can see how thin the soles are, which is why one takes them off out of the car.  They wouldn't last five minutes.
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[shnazzle]

Definitely choose my shoe for a decent drive. 
A well-worn pair of Boss Akeen. I'm on my 4th or 5th pair now. 
Brand new they're great but once they're worn in nicely and the sole and inside padding is nicely worn down, you have very durable, comfortable, nice looking shoes with great pedal feel and heel-toe-a-bililty.
Not cheap but, frankly, one of the rare occasions you get what you pay for. Not wildly expensive either mind.
C's sparcos I reckon are at least 1.5x the price.

[Petrus]

Indeed véry nice those Boss!! Only just above my sports shoes though the Sparcos were the cheapest of the lot btw.
Saw some HB Racing I réally liked but unliked the price    of those more....

An additional downside of thin soled dedicated shoes is that they are not really comfy on longer drives. You need to go up the range and go rallye stuff which thus is fire retardent etc. too.
The skate en flat pedal bike shoes I find a comfy compromise suited for some walking as a bonus. For those with larger sizes I see them having a disadvantage over sleeker dedicated car shoes.

[shnazzle]

Incidentally, the worn down Akeens also make for pretty good lifting shoes, for those inclined to lift heavy weights off the floor in a gym for no apparent good reason.

[Ardent]

Nothing specific for driving.
But use these for lifting.
If thin is your thing.
https://eu.vibram.com/en/shop/fivefingers/men/classics/classic-mens/M10.html?dwvar_M10_color=

[Bossworld]

Puma Cat range for me and my boat feet

Got a new pair of Drift Cats raring to go in the spring

[Call the midlife!]

I've got big feet but also can't wear "tight" shoes so have to compromise between fitting on the pedals and not having squashed feet. Usually a nice pair of Adidas sneaks...
Unless I'm going somewhere special then..

[shnazzle]

I've got big feet but also can't wear "tight" shoes so have to compromise between fitting on the pedals and not having squashed feet. Usually a nice pair of Adidas sneaks...
Unless I'm going somewhere special then..

Helen has explained the perils of driving in heels. 

I was going to fashion a shoe rack for her heels in her mr2  
Maybe an idea for you. 

Luckily she's given up on heels.

[Call the midlife!]

I've got big feet but also can't wear "tight" shoes so have to compromise between fitting on the pedals and not having squashed feet. Usually a nice pair of Adidas sneaks...
Unless I'm going somewhere special then..

Helen has explained the perils of driving in heels.

I was going to fashion a shoe rack for her heels in her mr2
Maybe an idea for you.

Luckily she's given up on heels.

I've got enough interior conversions going on at the moment 😆. I always carry a pair of walking shoes/boots in the car on days out or camping trips. We seem to be fond of going on gentle evening strolls to the pub and my sneaks aren't really appropriate for crossing muddy, cow pastures and jumping dykes...

[Joesson]

Coincidentally perhaps, BBC TV news this morning had a feature on "Ath Leisure", the wearing of sports gear for social purposes, particularly footwear.
A price of £8K quoted by one interviewee for a pair of trainers! Many in the hundreds of pounds, with an average of £90 a pair quoted by the presenter.
To get to that average there must be a lot bought from "Aldi at £1.69 a pair" as reported  by a Mother who bought 3 pairs of kiddies trainers.

[Ardent]

I've got big feet but also can't wear "tight" shoes so have to compromise between fitting on the pedals and not having squashed feet. Usually a nice pair of Adidas sneaks...
Unless I'm going somewhere special then..

A blast from the past. Remember seeing those on here before.

[Call the midlife!]

I've got big feet but also can't wear "tight" shoes so have to compromise between fitting on the pedals and not having squashed feet. Usually a nice pair of Adidas sneaks...
Unless I'm going somewhere special then..

A blast from the past. Remember seeing those on here before.

I think it was a similar topic of conversation, although I'd never appear on here in full trans mode...😂

[Ardent]

Where then?

[Call the midlife!]

Where then?

Wherever there's a need, if you can find me...

But mainly whenever Rocky Horror tours.

[Petrus]

...and there was I thinking that on a car forum ´tranny´ was referring to gearbox only 

[jonbill]

You cannot view this attachment.

Given what lurks between my house and the car...

[shnazzle]

...and there was I thinking that on a car forum ´tranny´ was referring to gearbox only 

Maybe reverse the two? 

"he makes for a lovely gearbox"

[Call the midlife!]

...and there was I thinking that on a car forum ´tranny´ was referring to gearbox only 

Maybe reverse the two?

"he makes for a lovely gearbox"

Eeeew....

[steveash]

In an attempt to rescue the conversation, I can recommend Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 trainers. I was working at a car launch where there were lots of journalists and the above were almost the uniform. Typically, I made fun of them all being shoe-buddies and then went and got some myself.

[Petrus]

Thanks!

[Ardent]

In an attempt to rescue the conversation, I can recommend Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 trainers. I was working at a car launch where there were lots of journalists and the above were almost the uniform. Typically, I made fun of them all being shoe-buddies and then went and got some myself.

Well what do you know. Never gave it a  thought.
But I have some Onitsuka Tiger Tai Chi, very lightweight very thin. Use for other purposes. But would suit the purpose well. Thinner sole than a sparko I would say.