Do Shoes Make a Difference?

[ecniemann]

Just curious if anyone else has this problem. I wear fairly heavy, thick soled shoes for work, on the order of Skecher/Colombia, etc. "dress shoes" or the like. The majority of my driving is in these to/from work. So I've noticed that if I switch to athletic shoes afterward, which are much lighter/softer soled, and hop back in the car, I am constantly early on the gas and/or late on releasing the clutch between gears. It just feels weird, like I am totally out of sync, until I'm driving for a longer time in these shoes. Just like anything else, I'm sure profesional drivers have special shoes, but just wondering if anyone else experiences this retuning with a shoe change. This is my first manual car which took some getting use to, but I feel like I am learning all over again on the weekends, etc.

 

[Derek88]

Tennis shoes = good

Flip flops/bare feet = im 15 again

 

[mountjonas]

yup. i usually wear worn out chuck taylors and when i switch to dress shoes or even a trail running shoe, i have to adjust for that. what usually happens is my big toe will graze the brake pedal when i move to press the gas pedal.

 

[B1GHAM]

It happens to most people...

Im so used to switching between dress and tennis shoes though, that Ive learned to adjust between the 2 with no issue... its now a subconcious adjustment.

race drivers use a specialized driving shoe that is similiar to infant shoes. Softer bottom soles purely for traction that allow feel and feedback to be felt in the foot.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

I just got some new Vans recently and the thick sole had a different feel than most of the shoes i have, so it took a little to get used to it

 

[-pixy-]

I have so many different types of shoes I adjust automaticlly at this point. I know as soon as I sit how much I have to adjust my seat based on which shoes I have on.

 

[StealthWyvern]

Try going from reall light shoes to boots! Man thas hard to adust to.

 

[Kosh]

I can't drive in flip-flops. I always over rev at launch and my shifts are crapy. I usually just go barefoot if I start driving in flip-flops.

 

[ecniemann]

Thanks for all the replys. At first I thought I was just driving terrible, but then I made the connection. The other thing I noticed is after playing some sports or exercising while the legs are still shaky, man I am bad with the clutch.

 

[peterbuilt]

Yeah i switch shoes alot the best to drive in by far are the chuck taylors or barefoot I like feeling everything when i don't have shoes on.

 

[Kosh]

Thanks for all the replys. At first I thought I was just driving terrible, but then I made the connection. The other thing I noticed is after playing some sports or exercising while the legs are still shaky, man I am bad with the clutch.

After I go golfing if I have been driving the cart I drive like crap when I get back in my car.

 

[MS3Chik]

shifiting in my vans or converse are the best for me..

 

[-pixy-]

When i was borrowing a '76 dodge pick up for a couple months I had to keep a spare set of sneakers in the truck because I couldn't push the clutch in at all in flip flops of heels, that truck was miserable.

 

[ecniemann]

My wife gets car-sick even in automatics, so on weekends if I drive I get nagged for jerking the car accidentally. So the shoes combined with nagging = even worse driving. I drive best while not thinking about it or trying too hard, which is the opposite of what happens when someone is complaining.

 

[BlackJack]

I use the Adidas Sambas for driving. Otherwise, mostly running shoes.

 

[Olestra]

Hehe, I like this thread. =) Going from my regular shoes to flip flops is the worst. I lose a couple inches plus the weight is different so everything's off. Slippery dress shoes are not so ideal either.
Also, I find it's a little dangerous in flip flops, the sole always gets stuck under the pedals...

I guess you don't really realize it's important to wear appropriate foot wear for driving but it does make a big difference!

 

[BlackJack]

If the only shoes I have at the moment are the flip-flops, I just take them off and drive lol!

 

[khaydin]

The MS3 is also my first manual car and I too noticed right away that the car becomes harder/easier to drive depending on what shoes you're wearing. For work I used to wear some black sketchers that were acceptable for work but I could not drive the car at all wearing them. I had to keep a pair of adidas or vans sneakers in the car just so i could drive without stalling when accelerating from a stand still and having horribly rough shifts. Eventually i got tired of changing my shoes all the time and just wore my black adidas shoes to work and no one ever said anything!

I like the vans the best for driving, they're thin enough that I can get some feeling from the pedals and comfortable enough to walk around a lot in. The only thing that sucks about them is the noise they make when you're walking!

 

[Nokkers3]

When I first started driving this car, my foot would get caught by the break pedal. My old car was a 94 integ and the clutch was much lighter than the ms3, which meant I could sit further back and still depress the clutch fully. With the heavier clutch on the ms3, I have to sit closer, which meant less room for my right foot. I'm constantly rubbing against the break pedal, which sometimes will affect shifting ><.

 

[dkswim]

i have to whare steel toed shoes/boots at work so im in the habit of just wearing my adidas indor soccer shoes to work and then changing at work. I cant drive with the steel toe my foot gets cought between the brake and the tunnel all the time