by "Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
Published 04/05/2017 at 10:39
by "Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
Published 04/05/2017 at 10:39
No Tags
STARS: 3
The worst part is that technically, none of these are better for driving than the Mexico 66 sneakers on the left.
Take the Tod’s gomino drivers for example. These are the Ur driving shoe and the best of the lot. They’re also, as you can see, not ever meant to come into contact with any surface rougher than carpeting under any circumstances.
Or these Tod’s City Drivers. These are intended as being driving shoes that you can walk in, but somehow manage to be no more durable.
Or these Ferragamo drivers. They’re much more durable than Tod’s, but not nearly as flexible or grippy.
Or these Bottega Venetas. These are somehow called driving shoes, presumably because they have rubber at the heel and front of the foot, but they’re otherwise just loafers and don’t even have a heel protector up the back, which kind of an important part of being a driving shoe.
They also have hand woven leather and are, by a sizable margin, the most expensive shoes I own. These are, actually, driving shoes that I change out of and into other driving shoes before driving because they’re too expensive to risk wearing out the hell. These are very bad driving shoes indeed.
Yet, despite all of this, I spend a bit significant portion of my day shopping online for more driving shoes.
Also, you’ll note that none of these are Pilotis. That’s because Pilotis are ugly and garbage and not Italian, despite the name.
"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
04/05/2017 at 10:44, STARS: 1
Like you I have an addiction to shoes. I love Oxfords and have a favorite pair of dark blue suede Clark’s Oxfords. I want some driving shoes but my girlfriend says it’s be too douchey. But I want them so badly. Although I guess it doesn’t help that I call them driving moccasins. But still, I need a pair.
I’ve also been eyeing up a pair of Crockett and Jones suede Chelsea boots but my wallet hurts just thinking about them.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
04/05/2017 at 10:47, STARS: 2
Just buy some driving shoes because they are the most comfortable thing ever until they wear out in like 8 months.
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
04/05/2017 at 10:49, STARS: 1
You should get a pair. If driving around in leather house slippers that can grip pedals is douche baggy, then I’d happily be aisle five in a CVS.
"FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem" (fuelstratifiedinjection)
04/05/2017 at 10:54, STARS: 3
I don’t know but I always found leather boatshoes and dressy shoes to be the worst for driving. The best experience for me was with Asics Gel Lyte sneakers.
"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
04/05/2017 at 10:55, STARS: 1
Well that’s all the convincing I need. Any recommendations on brands?
Side note, how do you like the Mexico 66? I always look at them and then end up buying a different pair of shoes each time.
"Roadster Man" (roadsterman)
04/05/2017 at 11:00, STARS: 1
I love my Bruno Magli driver shoes so much that I still wear them every day even with a hole in the toe.
They also cost me wayyyy too much to buy another pair. I’ve gotta check out those Tom’s shoes.
"E92M3" (E46M3)
04/05/2017 at 11:06, STARS: 2
My body aches just looking at those. Glad I can wear sneakers every day.
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
04/05/2017 at 11:10, STARS: 0
Tod’s are the absolute best driving shoes, but they run ~$500, and, like I said above, are really useless at being, you know... shoes.
http://store.tods.com/Tods/US/Gommino-Driving-Shoes-in-Leather/p/XXM0GW05473D909990
Lots of brands copy the style and little rubber nubs, though. Here’s a pair of Sperrys for $120:
https://www.sperry.com/en/hamilton-1-eye-driver/19794M.html
I love the Mexico 66 sneakers. I wouldn’t actually run in them because there’s zero support, but as casual sneakers to just wear around, they’re fantastic and look great. They’re also really great for driving, because they really flexible and you can feel the pedals very well.
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
04/05/2017 at 11:12, STARS: 1
Driving with leather soles is the worst, but that’s the point of driving shoes! All of these, with the exception of the Bottegas, have either rubber nubs or cut-outs in the sole which helps grip the pedals and makes them flexible.
I’m totally with you on Asics, though.
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
04/05/2017 at 11:13, STARS: 0
On the other hand, there’s something really special about a pair of worn out driving shoes.
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
04/05/2017 at 11:15, STARS: 2
My current faves are the NB 730v2— not entirely minimalist, but just right for almost anything, from driving to lifting to running. And they were $30 on sale at Joe’s New Balance Outlet (free plug).
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
04/05/2017 at 11:16, STARS: 3
This is all you need for fancy footwork.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
04/05/2017 at 11:19, STARS: 1
I don’t see a problem here. You have a pair of dark brown, light brown and black, that works. I have at least that, but I go with the Steve maddens drivers instead. Not dirt cheap, but nice enough. I got over a year out of my favorite dark brown pair. The ones I like best are the smooth bottom ones, never a fan of the nubs. I think I’m up to like 6 pair now 2 black, 1 dark brown, then the rest are different shades of browns. I wouldn’t pay more than a $100 for a pair, and normally no more than $60, but that’s just me. They wear out too quickly to spend big bucks on. Nordstroms rack and Macy’s clearance for me.
"Cash Rewards" (cashrewards)
04/05/2017 at 11:27, STARS: 1
Asics running shoes I can do, but their casual stuff, especially the stuff under the Onitsuka Tiger name, is way too narrow. Which sucks, because they’re awesome looking.
"415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30)
04/05/2017 at 11:28, STARS: 1
If I’m going out driving the Z and doing nothing else I have some Ferrari Puma driving boots that were ordered for Kimi but they were never used. They had six pairs and I bought one. Mostly suede and must be something like nomex fire proofing. He signed his initials on each one. No I’m never selling them.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
04/05/2017 at 11:31, STARS: 2
I’m generally happy with a well worn pair of Chuck Taylor low tops, or some well ventilated running shoes. I go through shoes pretty quickly. The one time in my life that I spent more than $100 on a pair of shoes I had worn holes in them in 2 months. Since then, I’ve just stuck to cheap expendable shoes.
"Scary__goongala!" (corymagee)
04/05/2017 at 11:37, STARS: 0
A worn pair of Asics Onitsuka Tigers is the best shoe I’ve had for driving. Not great for walking at that point but nice for driving.
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
04/05/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 1
I have a shoe problem too. I’ve got eight pairs in my closet, only two of which I actually use (work & casual). It’s gotten to the point where when a pair wears out I keep using them because I know if I go out to replace them I’ll come home with two pairs.
"FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem" (fuelstratifiedinjection)
04/05/2017 at 12:46, STARS: 0
My wide feet doesn’t make things easier either.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
04/05/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 2
I went through a couple pairs of not-Italian driving shoes before I decided I didn’t enjoy them. I prefer an sneaker that’s got a relatively thin, flat rubber sole. Gives a bit more width and stability for heel-toeing while not being so big as to make things clumsy.
My favorites are Onitsuka Tiger (a.k.a. Asics’ retro brand) Ultimate 81, because they also have a relatively wide forefoot, plus a beveled heel which is nice to rest on the floor while driving.
But really any sneaker with the characteristics I described will work.
"Roadster Man" (roadsterman)
04/05/2017 at 14:23, STARS: 1
Yeah, I’m going to keep these forever probably, but they are so beat up that I really shouldn’t be wearing them to work.
"With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username" (with-a-g)
04/05/2017 at 19:48, STARS: 1
Cole Haan driving moccasins are my favorite shoes ever. Maybe I wear them a bit too much.