Martial Arts shoes...

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/en....html

Especially the 7 dollar kung fu shoe...



Or the 30 dollar Adidas martial arts shoes...



Surely someone here has taken martial arts and would know if they'd be good or not. Don't know if slip ons would be good for performance driving, but ****...they're less than 10 bucks.

 

Hehe...the shoes are for wusses, I was always barefoot.

Note: this is for Tae Kwon Do, not driving, where I support those who insist on wearing shoes.

On a serious note, there's excellent feel with them, so I think it's a logical move. It's basically barefoot, but without problems of getting toes caught etc.

 

wrestling shoes

 

why bother??? "racing" shoes are made small for OPEN WHEEL vehicles, where space is limited and sneakers dont fit, not sedan cars. go ahead and look like a friggin pansy running around the paddock with bruce lee shoes. tell me wearing faerie shoes has dropped your lap times, else give me shoes like piloti's please...

 

Adidas sambas are the best driving shoes IMO, other than "driving" shoes. They can be had for $50, and they're incredibly comfy, form fitting, and thin soled. Plus they're stylish for the ladies. Adidas actually has a line of driving shoes, but they're $$$$$$$. http://www.adidas.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why bother??? "racing" shoes are made small for OPEN WHEEL vehicles, where space is limited and sneakers dont fit, not sedan cars.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why bother? The main point for autocrossing would be the sensitivity of the thin soles.

I don't know why you think I brought it up for the physical size of the shoe...

Racings shoes are designed with thin soles for feel, shaped to make heel/toe a little easier, rolled heels for movement and comfort, and nomex so your feet don't burn.

Autocrossers don't need the heel/toe because there's no downshifting, the heels because runs are so short, or the nomex because accidents are super rare, so all you really need for an autocrossing shoe, if you want to go so far as to get a shoe for autocrossing, is thin soles.

 

Did you cross post this from Ars Technica?

 

Maybe...

 

I use these. The soles are nice and thin for autocross...

 

I've been wearing a $30 pair of Asics Medalist Wrestling shoes for the last few years, nice fit, light and yeah you do have pedel feel. I couldn't see spending $80-$110 for some Simpson's or OMPs just for Auto-Xing.



$39.99 at the Sports Authority.

 

I just use indoor soccer shoes.. they are basically the SAME design as most "driving" shoes just without being made of flame retardant nomex.

 

i use wrestling shoes work great

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why bother??? "</TD></TR></TABLE>

I thought the same thing for autocross until I got a new pair of shoes. The tread catches the pedals and makes it harder to move your feet fast or slide across to the pedals. I just use old shoes that don't have tread.

 

One vote here for Vans or Airwalks, I usually just see what's on sale (usually for like 19 bucks or so). I agree on the flat sole thing vs. the dexterity but that's a personal preference.

 

i love my chuck taylors

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by *****iechunkie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i love my chuck taylors</TD></TR></TABLE>

Old school Chucks!!!

On a side note, I heard a rumour that Nike bought out Converse and the Chuck Taylors are going to be sporting swooshes soon

 

k-swiss feels good for me since it's a flat sole

 

Size does matter, try moving size twelve flat soled shoes around the pedals of a Japanese car and you'll know why I Invested in the Puma Race Cats (most comfortable shoe I've ever owned BTW)

 

Adidas Top Sala indoor soccer shoes here. Got em on sale, can be worn all day at the autocross, the heal rolls well, and they weigh less than that quarter pounder with cheese you ate for lunch. Like em better than my old Sambas by far.

I like the martial arts shoes idea though

 

Sambas are the best shoes ever made. I have owned a pair continuously for 6 years.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thumpu77 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">On a side note, I heard a rumour that Nike bought out Converse and the Chuck Taylors are going to be sporting swooshes soon </TD></TR></TABLE>

First part is correct. Nike did buy Converse. Not sure about swooshes on Chucks, though.

 

I just use my wrestling shoes I have laying around from my wrestling days in high school. Cheap. Awesome.

 

Pilotis Rule. best shoe, light, flex awesome, easy heel and toe. Grip the pedals, and look really cool. Knocked 1.5 seconds off my time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mojo-Jojo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
...Autocrossers don't need the heel/toe because there's no downshifting...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Where do you run autocross?!

To stay on topic, I've always liked my Chucks or Adidas Superstars. I don't see a need for racing-specific shoes, at least at an autocross-only level. As long as they're comfortable and don't get caught on anything, they work. Taking into account the whole day, including working a station, the Superstars win (Chucks are not comfortable to stand in for extended periods of time).

 

Hmmm, I have stuck to my old adidas lawn-mowing trainers, simply because I dont notice my shoes at all when I auto-x, but I sure as hell notice em when Im shlepping cones in the middle of the course with a Firebird barelling at me.

If I ever moved into road-raceing, or even regional auot-x, it would justify its own shoes.