What Makes a Driving Shoe a Driving Shoe?
An essential part of any auto enthusiast's wardrobe should be a nice pair of driving shoes, but if you're envisioning purpose-built racing shoes with a fire-retardant liner, you should know that far more stylish and comfortable shoes are available that can still fill the bill. Luxury styles such as leather driving moccasins and more casual sneakers with a motorsports bent can accent your outfit and provide better control when you're behind the wheel.
Piloti is a leader in the industry and maker of some of the best driving shoes. Plus, the company's prices are far more affordable than what you'll find from Gucci; Pilotis are priced more like offerings from Cole Haan but are styled with a stronger hint toward motorsports. While the company does sell racing-specific shoes, its sneakers and loafers are more dual-purpose kicks. We've been wearing a few pairs of Pilotis around for the past few months–including the new Pistone X and a pair of the brand's Officina loafers–and have found them both durable and comfortable, not to mention stylish.
But what makes a driving shoe a driving shoe?
A driving shoe should fit snugly and be narrow enough to avoid taking up excess space in the pedal-box area of the car. Driving shoes have thin, flexible soles to maximize the driver’s feel of the pedals, enabling more exacting control. In that way they are similar to racing shoes, which also feature thin soles. Most driving-shoe uppers are also made from flexible materials like soft leather or fabric to facilitate easy foot movement. Piloti's patented rounded heel provides a more comfortable driving position and allows for more control when rolling into the throttle or gently releasing the clutch.
Racing driver Ron Fellows serves on Piloti's board and acts as a helpful guide to designers to ensure the shoes meet the needs of performance-oriented drivers. But that focus doesn't make the shoes unwearable day to day.
"They're as versatile outside the car as they are inside," according to Stephanie Brooklyn, managing director of Piloti. "Even if you're taking 20,000 steps a day, these shoes will be comfortable."
Walking comfort is something that will be important whether you're running errands or walking a race course ahead of your next track day. According to Brooklyn, the tire-tread-patterned soles found on the company's sneakers offer extra grip on pedals, particularly metal-covered race-car pedals, and also give the shoe a unique look.
Piloti is celebrating its 20th year with a number of events this summer, one of which is in conjunction with Pagani–the Italian carmaker is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year–at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2019.
A number of new designs and special editions will make their debut this year as well, including the company's first line of driving shoes for women. Brooklyn says the line is inspired by trailblazing women in racing and the auto industry. The shoe will launch this summer and the company hopes it will appeal to female auto enthusiasts.
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