Do You Wear Driving Shoes? Why Not?

Recently, I have been going through the motions of wanting or needing to get a car driving licence.

In my assessment lesson. I was asked if I wanted to take my shoes off. I, of course, was confused. Saying no, I’m good, thanks. Not realising, or remembering until much later, why…

I Have Big Feet

Well, big shoes anyway. And because of this, my feet can overlap the pedals. This isn’t the safest for driving.

I have also been watching driving videos on YouTube. Every now and then, the subject of driving shoes comes up. I didn’t know they were a thing.

So I am now on a mission to buy some driving shoes. So what are driving shoes?

Driving shoes tend to be flat, with an almost skin-tight look. So anything like a Plimsole, Moccasin, slippers, slip-ons, loafers or even a trainer, if they are small, have a flat sole and are comfortable enough for you to drive in. You could wear ballerina shoes or go so far as to go naked. Yes, no shoes or socks at all. It is all perfectly legal in the UK and USA. Not sure about other countries. But I wouldn’t recommend it.

They should have a somewhat semi-hard material on the base for a small amount of walking and driving comfort.

A heavy shoe with a heavy foot can lead to problems. Something lightweight will help in the long run. It’s all about being able to feel the pedals and not being heavy-handed with them. Being able to feel the pedals, in turn, feel the road. Well, that’s the idea.

Anyway… They can help prevent slipping on the pedals. And also it can help discourage cross-pedalling.

Side Note: Cross Pedalling. I don’t know if that’s a word or not. But… Not very much on the internet about it.

So, Where Did It All Start?

After searching the internet. I thought that, in the end, the company should speak for itself:

The History of The Driving Shoe

The iconic driving shoe design was patented in 1963 (The patent is pictured above) by Gianni Mostile. At first it was a shoe for the rich, a shoe designed specifically for driving, not everyone could afford leather shoes for the sole purpose of driving. The cockpits of many Italian roadsters and berlinette, also known as coupés, were and still are quite restricted and small, the driving shoe was created to cater to the wealthy gentlemen drivers that owned these automotive masterpieces and wanted a lightweight sleek shoe that made for easy driving. The rubber pebble sole that extends to the heel protects the leather when the foot is on the pedals and prevents the sole from slipping.

Driving shoes have since evolved in their functionality, yet their design has remained constant. They are no longer used specifically for driving nor just for the gentleman driver, they are made for both men and women and are the perfect warm weather footwear and a must have for any avid traveller. Their lightweight and flexible construction and their supreme comfort makes them the perfect footwear when flying and their versatile and stylish design ensures they can be worn from the plane to the beach and to the boardroom.

L’Bardi Italian Online Worldwide Shoe store

These shoes are nice but out of my price range. I thought I would try elsewhere. But with maybe a different style.

Although the driving shoe tends to be stuck on one main design, If you know where to look, there are many shoes that you could try yourself.

So, What Did I End Up With?

Nothing special. After weeks and weeks of searching, I bought a pair from Sports Direct. I even went outside and visited the shop in the real world. Shock! Horror!

They aren’t the most amazing shoes ever made, but for what they are. They will do until I have passed my car test and get a car for myself. Then, I can start working out what I really want as my long-term shoe. Maybe they will be enough. Who knows?

The shoes have thin soles, enough for me to do what I need to do. I haven’t tested them out yet as of writing this blog. But we will see how they go. I chose these mainly because I could wear my socks in them.

Plus the shoes were 50% off. A bargain’s a bargain.

So, would you wear driving shoes? Do you already wear driving shoes? Do you like them? Would you recommend them? What type of shoes are they?

If not, would you consider wearing driving shoes in the future? Do you need driving shoes in your life? What designs do you like?

What else is there to try? Do you have any tips?

Are there any other little things that could help present and future drivers? Comment below with your recommendations.