Do Shoes Help Your Technique?

Ghost · 05-02-2004, 09:16 PM

hey everyone...I used to drift in my adidas superstars...and now I wear these thin soled pumas and I feel like I can drift better...does this help or am I just pushing harder because I think my shoes help?

TougeDorifuto · 05-02-2004, 09:28 PM

welll racing shoes have REALLY thin soles so that the driver and feel the pedals and clutch a LOT more allowing a more sensitive control of the pedals. but for normal drifting, anything with non-think soles are probably good.

might be wrong but that's what i've been told.

CrazyHawaiian · 05-02-2004, 09:31 PM

Well I got size 14 feet so shoes dont work out too well for me ...

Ghost · 05-02-2004, 09:33 PM

what kind of shoes do you wear?...I think it really helps that I've been wearing shoes that help me feel the petals...

Ghost · 05-02-2004, 09:37 PM

size 14! sick, how do you heel toe? or do you? I wear a 10.5 and I have a hard time sometimes...

HX-50 · 05-02-2004, 09:37 PM

ghost if you're looking for something like a racing shoe that doesn't cost as much try a wrestling shoe, they're very similar in design just without the nomex. luckilly for me i work at Play It Again Sports =) and i have access to them, but really the best i find are walking style shoes, like airwalks/vans/ even adidas samba's work well for me. but i think the wrestling shoes are probably the best bet if you really want to feel the pedals

TougeDorifuto · 05-02-2004, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ghost
size 14! sick, how do you heel toe? or do you? I wear a 10.5 and I have a hard time sometimes...

hahaha nice. i wear 10.5/11. i have Puma Speedcats (the hightops). cept i dont drive really. cause of ma age (13).

ACDSupra7 · 05-02-2004, 09:50 PM

Racing shoes are good for feeling the car and the road.

CrazyHawaiian · 05-02-2004, 09:55 PM

Well I know its illegal at like all the events and a really bad idea as far as safety, but I usually drive barefoot. If I do have to wear a shoe, its extremely hard to drive a manual car because I can literally slam all 3 pedals with one foot. Even just regular driving is a PITA. I have not even tried to heel toe with a shoe on. I imagine it would be a disaster. But barefoot it works out all good.

Ghost · 05-02-2004, 10:04 PM

I bet you could toe mid foot...like use the...never mind....that's too hard...I'd just press half gas half break with my whole foot...I dunno...I couldn't imagine...that's why I wish I had smaller feet sometimes...but other times I don't...hahaha

Drift IT · 05-02-2004, 10:05 PM

I use the Adidas Samba but soon i plan to get the sparco or puma racing shoe......anyone ever tried www.saferacer.com ??

soultron · 05-02-2004, 10:07 PM

barefoot.

you crazy hawaiian.

GRiDRaceTech · 05-03-2004, 11:28 AM

I have a set of Piloti's. They're thin, fireproof, and extremely uncomfortable. Those bastards...

My favorite driving shoes are my Adidas Tuscanys[sic]. Thin sole, narrow shoe... awesome. My friend wears Diadora Equipes and raves about 'em. Pretty much anything with thin soles will work.

WeldingHank · 05-03-2004, 12:13 PM

i wear size 17 superstars in my S13. i can't heel toe, but i can do the mid-foot thing.

mranlet · 05-03-2004, 12:45 PM

I have a pair of DC's (every day) and a pair of Globes (for work, because they're black) and both work fine for me. The wide sole helps for left foot braking and heel-toe and even though the soles are thick due to them being skate shoes, they give a good indicator of how hard you're pressing the pedals.

As far as I'm concerned presing a pedal through a 1/2" thick sole is just like having the pedal 1/2" closer to your foot. I've heard of people getting cleats and cutting off the knobs to make a cheap driving shoe but my skate kicks work just fine.

I also have a set of Wolveriene steel-toe boots that I will sometimes wear and, other than the soles being really stiff, they are no problem.

I just pick shoes that are comfortable - there is nothing worse than uncomfortable shoes, especially when driving!

My philosophy is that if you are reacting to the pedals, you are adding another step from simply reacting to the car. Lots of people say that the pedals can tell you a lot about a car, and I don't dispute that, but I say that the CAR can tell you a lot about the car. Maybe it's because I drift AWD which is super-aggressive or maybe it's just the way I am but honestly I don't see the need for special shoes.

-MR

Ghost · 05-03-2004, 01:22 PM

well I get what you mean...but by really feeling the pedals I'm sure you'll be able to feel the vibrations and everything...I think its getting as close to the car as you can...but your right...as long as your comfortable that's all that matters...have you all seen the goodyear shoes by adidas?..

mranlet · 05-03-2004, 02:04 PM

You've got to get some experience before buying fancy shoes.

It won't help to feel vibrations and resistances if you don't know what they mean. This is what I mean by being in tune with the car rather than playing it like a full-body video controller.

Even with normal shoes on I could still tell the difference between rear wheelspin, front wheelspin, engine braking, turbo lag, and whatever else you'd hope to feel through pedals when I was whipping the Legacy.

-MR

Ghost · 05-03-2004, 02:32 PM

just cuz I'm new to drifting doesn't mean I'm new to driving...I've been driving since I was 13...because my mom doesn't drive and my dad is never around...so you can't tell me I don't feel the differnce between these things...why do pros wear driving shoes then?

uselessradio · 05-04-2004, 05:05 AM

You guys never mentioned converse... those old school shoes are bad!!!

CrazyHawaiian · 05-04-2004, 05:54 AM

Reebok pumps are the best because you can tune each shoe differently. 6 pumps for the left and 9 for the right!

Ghost · 05-04-2004, 07:29 AM

ah, the chucks and pumps...classic shoes...OH, the dunks...takumi wears dunks in stage 2...bunta and him wear newbalance in 1...yes

Drift For Food · 05-04-2004, 08:04 AM

Hey, I'm not the only one who wears Wolverines lol. They're a good all around durable and practicle shoe, but they don't have much for feel. I've thought about the whole shoe dilema before. It actually came from my PC racing, wheel and pedals for Computer racing games. The pedals are quite soft and are hard to detail work with my shoes on. I usually take off my shoes when I use it. It helps oh so much for feel. The same effect would translate to a car(dependent on the car of course). I've always thought about getting another pair of shoes at some point, something more along the lines of athletic shoes, something that could be used for other things as well like biking, running, etc... I do have so rock climbing shoes I could wear, lol. I don't know how'd they be though, still pretty tough soles. The wrestling shoe idea is good, but it would have little use other than driving for me. Barefoot's always good and I like doing that during the summer at times...if I don't plan on going to the store.

zero001 · 05-04-2004, 02:13 PM

i have a pair of addias that i have had forever and there are worn out but when i bought some new addidas i had a little harder time feeling the pedels. i would say for me at least the thiner the better

marleyskater420 · 05-04-2004, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrazyHawaiian
Reebok pumps are the best because you can tune each shoe differently. 6 pumps for the left and 9 for the right!

I remember having pumps..man that was like elementry school... Those were so metikal.

I'm 17 now if thats any consolation(sp).

'88 Wagon · 05-05-2004, 07:05 AM

THIS THREAD IS SO HELPFUL!
Thanx for letting me know its my steel toe shoes preventing me from drifting and not my terrible power-to-weight ratio!

05-02-2004, 09:16 PM	#1
Ghost Drifter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Beale AFB Posts: 212	do shoes help the technique? hey everyone...I used to drift in my adidas superstars...and now I wear these thin soled pumas and I feel like I can drift better...does this help or am I just pushing harder because I think my shoes help?

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05-02-2004, 09:28 PM	#2
TougeDorifuto Deputy Pat Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 405	welll racing shoes have REALLY thin soles so that the driver and feel the pedals and clutch a LOT more allowing a more sensitive control of the pedals. but for normal drifting, anything with non-think soles are probably good. might be wrong but that's what i've been told.

05-02-2004, 09:31 PM	#3
CrazyHawaiian Sample One Time!! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hawaii Posts: 1,276	Well I got size 14 feet so shoes dont work out too well for me ...

05-02-2004, 09:33 PM	#4
Ghost Drifter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Beale AFB Posts: 212	what kind of shoes do you wear?...I think it really helps that I've been wearing shoes that help me feel the petals...

05-02-2004, 09:37 PM	#5
Ghost Drifter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Beale AFB Posts: 212	size 14! sick, how do you heel toe? or do you? I wear a 10.5 and I have a hard time sometimes...

05-02-2004, 09:37 PM	#6
HX-50 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 300	ghost if you're looking for something like a racing shoe that doesn't cost as much try a wrestling shoe, they're very similar in design just without the nomex. luckilly for me i work at Play It Again Sports =) and i have access to them, but really the best i find are walking style shoes, like airwalks/vans/ even adidas samba's work well for me. but i think the wrestling shoes are probably the best bet if you really want to feel the pedals

05-02-2004, 09:50 PM	#8
ACDSupra7 ACDSevenGuy Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,148	Racing shoes are good for feeling the car and the road.

05-02-2004, 09:55 PM	#9
CrazyHawaiian Sample One Time!! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hawaii Posts: 1,276	Well I know its illegal at like all the events and a really bad idea as far as safety, but I usually drive barefoot. If I do have to wear a shoe, its extremely hard to drive a manual car because I can literally slam all 3 pedals with one foot. Even just regular driving is a PITA. I have not even tried to heel toe with a shoe on. I imagine it would be a disaster. But barefoot it works out all good.

05-02-2004, 10:04 PM	#10
Ghost Drifter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Beale AFB Posts: 212	I bet you could toe mid foot...like use the...never mind....that's too hard...I'd just press half gas half break with my whole foot...I dunno...I couldn't imagine...that's why I wish I had smaller feet sometimes...but other times I don't...hahaha

05-02-2004, 10:05 PM	#11
Drift IT Pro Drift Watcher Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Gardena CA Posts: 198	I use the Adidas Samba but soon i plan to get the sparco or puma racing shoe......anyone ever tried www.saferacer.com ??

05-02-2004, 10:07 PM	#12
soultron Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: The Willy NC. Posts: 1,059	barefoot. you crazy hawaiian.

05-03-2004, 11:28 AM	#13
GRiDRaceTech Opposite Lock Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,096	I have a set of Piloti's. They're thin, fireproof, and extremely uncomfortable. Those bastards... My favorite driving shoes are my Adidas Tuscanys[sic]. Thin sole, narrow shoe... awesome. My friend wears Diadora Equipes and raves about 'em. Pretty much anything with thin soles will work.

05-03-2004, 12:13 PM	#14
WeldingHank Newbie Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 7	i wear size 17 superstars in my S13. i can't heel toe, but i can do the mid-foot thing.

05-03-2004, 12:45 PM	#15
mranlet Smokes Dynamite Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Tampa, CT, all over the place! Posts: 1,090	I have a pair of DC's (every day) and a pair of Globes (for work, because they're black) and both work fine for me. The wide sole helps for left foot braking and heel-toe and even though the soles are thick due to them being skate shoes, they give a good indicator of how hard you're pressing the pedals. As far as I'm concerned presing a pedal through a 1/2" thick sole is just like having the pedal 1/2" closer to your foot. I've heard of people getting cleats and cutting off the knobs to make a cheap driving shoe but my skate kicks work just fine. I also have a set of Wolveriene steel-toe boots that I will sometimes wear and, other than the soles being really stiff, they are no problem. I just pick shoes that are comfortable - there is nothing worse than uncomfortable shoes, especially when driving! My philosophy is that if you are reacting to the pedals, you are adding another step from simply reacting to the car. Lots of people say that the pedals can tell you a lot about a car, and I don't dispute that, but I say that the CAR can tell you a lot about the car. Maybe it's because I drift AWD which is super-aggressive or maybe it's just the way I am but honestly I don't see the need for special shoes. -MR

05-03-2004, 01:22 PM	#16
Ghost Drifter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Beale AFB Posts: 212	well I get what you mean...but by really feeling the pedals I'm sure you'll be able to feel the vibrations and everything...I think its getting as close to the car as you can...but your right...as long as your comfortable that's all that matters...have you all seen the goodyear shoes by adidas?..

05-03-2004, 02:04 PM	#17
mranlet Smokes Dynamite Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Tampa, CT, all over the place! Posts: 1,090	You've got to get some experience before buying fancy shoes. It won't help to feel vibrations and resistances if you don't know what they mean. This is what I mean by being in tune with the car rather than playing it like a full-body video controller. Even with normal shoes on I could still tell the difference between rear wheelspin, front wheelspin, engine braking, turbo lag, and whatever else you'd hope to feel through pedals when I was whipping the Legacy. -MR

05-03-2004, 02:32 PM	#18
Ghost Drifter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Beale AFB Posts: 212	just cuz I'm new to drifting doesn't mean I'm new to driving...I've been driving since I was 13...because my mom doesn't drive and my dad is never around...so you can't tell me I don't feel the differnce between these things...why do pros wear driving shoes then?

05-04-2004, 05:05 AM	#19
uselessradio touge or drift? Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: GUAM Posts: 15	You guys never mentioned converse... those old school shoes are bad!!!

05-04-2004, 05:54 AM	#20
CrazyHawaiian Sample One Time!! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hawaii Posts: 1,276	Reebok pumps are the best because you can tune each shoe differently. 6 pumps for the left and 9 for the right!

05-04-2004, 07:29 AM	#21
Ghost Drifter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Beale AFB Posts: 212	ah, the chucks and pumps...classic shoes...OH, the dunks...takumi wears dunks in stage 2...bunta and him wear newbalance in 1...yes

05-04-2004, 08:04 AM	#22
Drift For Food OMG the ground's white! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 676	Hey, I'm not the only one who wears Wolverines lol. They're a good all around durable and practicle shoe, but they don't have much for feel. I've thought about the whole shoe dilema before. It actually came from my PC racing, wheel and pedals for Computer racing games. The pedals are quite soft and are hard to detail work with my shoes on. I usually take off my shoes when I use it. It helps oh so much for feel. The same effect would translate to a car(dependent on the car of course). I've always thought about getting another pair of shoes at some point, something more along the lines of athletic shoes, something that could be used for other things as well like biking, running, etc... I do have so rock climbing shoes I could wear, lol. I don't know how'd they be though, still pretty tough soles. The wrestling shoe idea is good, but it would have little use other than driving for me. Barefoot's always good and I like doing that during the summer at times...if I don't plan on going to the store.

05-04-2004, 02:13 PM	#23
zero001 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 15	i have a pair of addias that i have had forever and there are worn out but when i bought some new addidas i had a little harder time feeling the pedels. i would say for me at least the thiner the better

05-05-2004, 07:05 AM	#25
'88 Wagon Newbie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dallas Area Posts: 8	THIS THREAD IS SO HELPFUL! Thanx for letting me know its my steel toe shoes preventing me from drifting and not my terrible power-to-weight ratio!