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Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:47 pm
by Mmagus
I am thinking of getting some driving/racing shoes. The problem is that I am a total picky fit shoe person and want to try on what I am buying. Is there anywere with a decent selection (more than 2). I know there was a booth at the festival of speed....
Thanks!
M
Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Sun Dec 12, 2010 6:38 am
by ttweed
Mark-
Since I know that you are as cheap, er..., um..., thrifty as I am, and that you do not run in a class that requires a fire suit, I would suggest buying a pair of wrestling shoes at a standard sporting goods footwear store. They have most of the attributes of a good driving shoe (thin sole with no overhang) without the higher cost of an SFI rating, plus there is a wider selection of styles and sizes to try on and choose from at less than 1/2 the cost. I paid $30 for the last pair of Asics wrestling shoes I bought. By comparison, the cheapo SFI-rated G-force driving shoes I bought when I ran AM class and had to have a fire suit for time trials were $65 and don't fit nearly as well because I got them mail order without being able to try them on.
YMMV,
TT
Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:45 am
by c4s4pcs
Try C2...
Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Sun Dec 12, 2010 8:12 am
by Mmagus
The last time I was in C2, though I LOVE the place and Steve takes GREAT care of us, I only recall seeing a couple of pairs. Maybe I need to look again.
Wrestleing shoes...there is an idea, plus it ha the benifit of making me remember back when I used to wear them long ago. No...I didn't wrestle. I was in a rock band in the early 80's and wrestling shoes were my RocknRoll shoe of choice. They went well with my flowing blonde rock hair, tight jeans, sleavless flannel shirt, and WWII trench coat.

Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Tue Dec 14, 2010 6:59 am
by Dan Chambers
Mmagus wrote:The last time I was in C2, though I LOVE the place and Steve takes GREAT care of us, I only recall seeing a couple of pairs. Maybe I need to look again.
Wrestleing shoes...there is an idea, plus it ha the benifit of making me remember back when I used to wear them long ago. No...I didn't wrestle. I was in a rock band in the early 80's and wrestling shoes were my RocknRoll shoe of choice. They went well with my flowing blonde rock hair, tight jeans, sleavless flannel shirt, and WWII trench coat.

Also, try rock climbing shoes sold at REI. They are super-flexible, very thin soled with narrow tread area (no overhand like running shoes), light weight, and have leather uppers. Perfect for driving shoes. Asolo used to make a great pair of climbing shoes.
Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:50 am
by 944Greg
If you decide to go with real auto racing shoes, I got mine at Werks II Motorsports in Burbank. They had a good selection of shoes on hand to try on. They might be more $ than shoes from other sports, but you can get sfi or fia certified shoes and you will probably keep them a long time.
Have you been a good boy this year? Maybe Santa will bring you real driving shoes.
http://www.werks2.comIf you go to Burbank, ask for a walk thru of their car prep shop and see their cup cars you might have seen on the speed channel in the Patron GT3 Challenge racing and other series.
Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:25 pm
by kleggo
Mmagus wrote:The last time I was in C2, though I LOVE the place and Steve takes GREAT care of us, I only recall seeing a couple of pairs. Maybe I need to look again.
Wrestleing shoes...there is an idea, plus it ha the benifit of making me remember back when I used to wear them long ago. No...I didn't wrestle. I was in a rock band in the early 80's and wrestling shoes were my RocknRoll shoe of choice. They went well with my flowing blonde rock hair, tight jeans, sleavless flannel shirt, and WWII trench coat.

another option = puma driving shoes locally available at the outlets for ~ $40.
have fun
Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Fri Dec 17, 2010 8:37 am
by pecivil
yep I just got a pair of drift cats at the outlet store for $42. Very bueno.
Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Fri Dec 17, 2010 9:05 am
by Mmagus
pecivil wrote:yep I just got a pair of drift cats at the outlet store for $42. Very bueno.
kleggo wrote:another option = puma driving shoes locally available at the outlets for ~ $40.
have fun
Where be this "outlet Store" of which you both speak?

Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:48 pm
by kleggo
Mmagus wrote:pecivil wrote:yep I just got a pair of drift cats at the outlet store for $42. Very bueno.
kleggo wrote:another option = puma driving shoes locally available at the outlets for ~ $40.
have fun
Where be this "outlet Store" of which you both speak?

check out the Carlsbad outlets, RTE 5 and Palomar Airport, they might also have one on RTE 8 at the casino, but this is NOT a good time of year to go to the outlets..........................
good luck!
Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Fri Dec 17, 2010 2:08 pm
by AGill
I got my puma "driving" shoes at DSW last year in La Jolla. I bought those to replace the old pair of wrestling shoes I was using that were ripped. Honestly, I liked the wrestling shoes better due to the thinner more flexable sole...I can feel the pedals better with the wrestling shoe. And also partly because I have very wide feet and the puma's have a narrow sole which means that my foot hangs over the edge qutie a bit. Not a big deal but it means when I heel toe I am hitting he gas pedal with the cloth and not the rubber which has caused it to wear quite fast. I will need to replace them at some point and will likely go with wrestling shoes or a cheap racing shoe if I can find them to try on.
Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Fri Dec 17, 2010 4:57 pm
by mobonic
if you do any racing on the track, I would suggest buying some FIA/SFI rated shoes.
I waited until recently, but I have seen car burst into flames and then i went home and bought a fire-suit, socks, head sock, and shoes.
I figured all that would be cheaper than a bill from the ER burn unit.
Especially if you are driving an older pcar that has been modified or stripped.
Better safe than sorry!
Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:08 pm
by Mmagus
I went with wrestling shoes. Nike, on sale at Big 5 for $36

Re: Where can I try racing shoes?

Posted:
Sun Dec 26, 2010 1:32 pm
by ttweed
Just saw these on sale at OG racing if anyone is still looking--can't try them on, but the best deal I have seen lately on an SFI shoe:
http://www.ogracing.com/catalog/1-Driver/25-Shoes/306-Lico$35 low-top and $40 high-top plus $10 shipping, limited sizes available on discontinued item.
No idea about quality.
TT