I was just wondering, what do people wear on their feet for sim racing? I've been playing wearing only socks for years now but the treadplate on my pedal set digs in to my heels and my socks have all got holes in them! I was thinking about some cheap footwear to use instead. One thing that I like about wearing socks is that it allows your feet to slide over the pedals (I find myself resting my heels on the floor as a pivot and allowing the pedal to slide when I depress them). When I've played barefoot in the past it's meant that my feet grip to the pedals and I've had to suspend my feet above the floor in order to use them, something which I would liken to balancing on one leg without a wall to lean on! Do proper racing shoes slip, or grip? And is there a cheap option available? Cheers.
Footwear for Sim Racing
- Thread starter SpeedyG
- Start date
Cat6racer
Premium
search for barefoot shoes on Amazon. lots of cheap options with thin, flexible soles so you can feel the pedals well. I bought a pair for $40 and they turned out so comfortable I even wear them around the house.
I used to race in socks with my V3 pedals but when I got HE Ultimate+ pedals they were too stiff for my bare feet
I used to race in socks with my V3 pedals but when I got HE Ultimate+ pedals they were too stiff for my bare feet
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stigs2cousin
Premium
Here´s where I got the Idea for "water shoes"
They are light, inexpensive and very good "for the feeling"
I´m using my HSV Sprints on 65KG´s with them, no problems with my feet hurting.
MFG Carsten
They are light, inexpensive and very good "for the feeling"
I´m using my HSV Sprints on 65KG´s with them, no problems with my feet hurting.
MFG Carsten
Thanks for the recommendations guys, both searches give me lots of results to search through. I guess it's a case of judging by the pictures which would be the best option.Here´s where I got the Idea for "water shoes"
They are light, inexpensive and very good "for the feeling"
I´m using my HSV Sprints on 65KG´s with them, no problems with my feet hurting.
MFG Carsten
They look interesting, I notice that Sparco also make socks designed for sim racing. The only reservation I would have about these is that they might wear through after sustained use. I've had problems wearing holes in my regular socks in this way. I would think that they were more hard-wearing than that though (hopefully!).
stigs2cousin
Premium
As you already know the wear points on your socks it should be possible to check the simracing socks for reinforcements.
My watershoes have a rounded heel which allows the turning movement from gas to brake and vice versa.
They don´t show much wear, but feel a little less firm than they were new.
I might have to replace them every 15 month (or 60.000 km´s)
MFG Carsten
My watershoes have a rounded heel which allows the turning movement from gas to brake and vice versa.
They don´t show much wear, but feel a little less firm than they were new.
I might have to replace them every 15 month (or 60.000 km´s
)MFG Carsten
Do you have a puma outlet store near you?
I bought a pair of Mercedes racing shoes several yrs back on sale for $50
I bought a pair of Mercedes racing shoes several yrs back on sale for $50
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D
Deleted member 197115
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Deleted member 197115
Puma Drift Cat 6 are quite nice, good median between all out racing boots and comfortable footwear, great looking too.
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Good point, I'll dig out a pair with some obvious holes and compare them. Maybe you could part-ex your old shoes when you're done with them, or break them for parts?As you already know the wear points on your socks it should be possible to check the simracing socks for reinforcements.
My watershoes have a rounded heel which allows the turning movement from gas to brake and vice versa.
They don´t show much wear, but feel a little less firm than they were new.
I might have to replace them every 15 month (or 60.000 km´s
MFG Carsten
Don't have an outlet store near me as far as I'm aware, but those do look nice. I like the thinness of the soles, definitely a thing I was looking for. Thanks for you recommendations!
They look nice too, thanks for that. I think that karting shoes are another avenue to explore!
So many options...
Another alternative is wresting shoes....which are pretty much the same as racing shoes.
Tho the Pumas will probably have grippier soles
Tho the Pumas will probably have grippier soles
Contrary to gloves, I have never paid much attention to footwear for sim racing. I don't think it makes much difference, apart from being a bit more comfortable. I don't think I need that extra sensitivity on my feet as much as I need grip on my hands. Also, I'm not sure if I would really bother taking off my mountain shoes (yes, that's what I wear, even on my cockpit) and putting on my driving shows whenever I want to go for a ride. This said, I also think that maybe if I buy some nice driving shoes, that could encourage me to try them, get used to driving with them and finally find the benefits of using them. I have taken a look at some unexpensive models I must say the Pumas are quite nice. I love this combination of black, white and red.
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I used aqua shoes for a while until my wife bought me a new pair of slippers and I found they worked really well as they had a thin sole and were not too wide.
Pumas all the way. Got a pair of these on sale a few years back.
Now have a pair of DriftCats, too. Always seem to be onsale somewhere.
Absolutely necessary for heel-toe shifting
Absolutely necessary for heel-toe shifting
I have my Wave Italy brake set at max brake force with the elastomers, so require shoes to not destroy my foot.
I use these.
I use these.
I raced in socks for about a year, then got a set of Puma racing shoes as a gift. It was such a different feeling with shoes on and I felt like I lost fine control so I just went back to socks. I probably am wearing my socks quickly but it is not really an issue I have noticed. I spotted those sparco socks as well and was considering a set. Actually had them on my Christmass list but I don't think my wife wanted to buy me socks as a gift.
Durge Driven
DD
Socks so you can wrap your toe around top of clutch pedal to whip it up faster
