Piloti Driving Shoes - Any good & where to buy?

Eric Peterson · **Joined:** Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:24 am **Posts:** 494

My old Simpson low cut driving shoes are shot. I was going to buy another pair of the same thing , but was checking out other replacement options. I pretty much only use the shoes for autocross. I've heard of Piloti shoes and they look nice, but don't know anything about them. Any recommendations or words of caution.

Also, I couldn't get the store locator function to work on their website. If I was going to buy a pair I'd rather try them on that order on-line. Hence, does anyone know if they are carried at any stores in N.C.? I'd expect somewhere around Charlotte or the Speedway may carry them.

Thanks for the help.

Eric

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:04 pm

I think most of us have actually found them for ~$20 at Ross of all places.

One thing I will say though, they are a driving shoe, not a racing shoe. I'm not sure how thick the sole is on your Simpsons, but the sole on my 2 pairs of Pilotis is rather thick.

I do believe that their shoes that are made for racing are thinner, but they are also more expensive.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Sun Jul 03, 2011 4:12 pm

I have a pair of Piloti racing shoes, and while they are thinner than the normal Piloti driving shoes, they are still thicker than the Simpson and Sparco shoes. IMHO, if you liked the Simpson's then you probably want another pair of those or Sparco's or even OMP's. The pro shop at VIR has a decent selection usually. The CV Racing Products showroom is right off of I-85 just south of Greensboro (Exit 102, Lake Road) and I'm pretty sure has Sparco shoes (call to see what they have before making that trek!). I'm sure there's somewhere in Charlotte that has Simpson and Sparco stuff as well, but honestly you'd probably be just as well off ordering something in a couple sizes and shipping back whatever doesn't work than making that trip just for shoes. But if you're going anyway....

And the Piloti driving shoes that you occasionally find at Ross are really just stylish everyday shoes with an outer hard area on the right foot for heel-toe use. They're better for spirited mountain driving where you're also going into a nice restaurant later, but for serious driving you want less of a shoe, I think. But then again my favorite way to autocross is still barefooted for some strange reason. Did that at a few wet events even though you're not supposed to, and now I love driving barefoot. Obviously not legal, however.

--Donnie

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Sun Jul 03, 2011 8:32 pm

Apex Performance carries OMP, G-Force and Piloti if you are interested in any of those. Tell them you are with THSCC or just enter "THSCC" in the promo code field on their website for a 10% discount.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Sun Jul 03, 2011 10:17 pm

Donnie Barnes wrote:

But then again my favorite way to autocross is still barefooted for some strange reason. Did that at a few wet events even though you're not supposed to, and now I love driving barefoot. Obviously not legal, however.

--Donnie

Try using a pair of Vibram Five Fingers...same barefoot feel, but not barefoot! I have a pair of black KSOs, and really like them.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Sun Jul 03, 2011 10:31 pm

Why is barefoot not 'legal'?

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 7:48 am

JamesShort wrote:

Why is barefoot not 'legal'?

Because 4.3.4 of the SCCA rulebook says so.

I'm guessing you mean why is the rule there, and I'd have to guess it's just a safety thing.

--Donnie

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:42 am

I have a pair of Piloti racing shoes (the Corsa model) and a pair of street shoes from the aforementioned $20 Ross deal from a couple of years ago. If you are used to the feel of the Simpsons or Sparcos, you will NOT like the Piloti because of the thickness of the soles.

Personally, I love the Corsa for a racing shoe for a hack like me. It's comfortable enough to wear all day, and gives me enough feel in the car that I'm confident with my pedal work. I only need one pair of shoes in the paddock. Simplicity is good.

I've worn wrestling shoes as "racing" shoes before, and they do give more feel, but the Pilotis work a little better for me in car because I have small feet. I find the extra width helpful for heel and toe.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:44 am

http://www.saferacer.com sometimes they have some pretty good clearance deals. i've purchased several pairs of Sparcos from them.

Eric Peterson · **Joined:** Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:24 am **Posts:** 494

Thanks everybody - all your comments were a big help, even Donnie's :-)

Sounds like the Piloti's are not for me.

I'll either stick with the Simpson's as I've had good luck with the three pairs I've gone through over the past 17 years, but will check out the OMP and Sparco's as well.

Thanks again,
Eric

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 12:49 pm

I picked up these OMP Sport Shoes from Apex at the last CMP event, and like them a lot. They do run a bit large, though (I'm a full size smaller in an OMP Sport than I am in a Nike running shoe).

Edit: and as others have said, I also have the Piloti shoes and don't really care for them as a driving shoe, much preferring my wrestling shoes or even a running shoe for AX.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:59 pm

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

I picked up these OMP Sport Shoes from Apex at the last CMP event, and like them a lot. They do run a bit large, though (I'm a full size smaller in an OMP Sport than I am in a Nike running shoe).

Edit: and as others have said, I also have the Piloti shoes and don't really care for them as a driving shoe, much preferring my wrestling shoes or even a running shoe for AX.

I have two pairs of the $20 Pilotis one like everyone else has and the other that is a little different model. I like the one that's different it works better for driving. I have problems with the cross trainers hitting two pedals at once :shock:

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 8:49 pm

Eric, I've got a pair of Pilotis that I bought the first time you and I went to Nationals, back in 2008. I really don't like them at all. They're an okay driving shoe, and an okay walking around shoe, which means they're not very good at either. I wouldn't buy another pair.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

I've gone with my adidas adiracers for my last two sets and been quite happy with them. They aren't actual racing shoes, but the soles are thin, they are narrow (so they fit my feet and don't clobber extra pedals by accident) and the heels are rounded

Eric Peterson · **Joined:** Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:24 am **Posts:** 494

Thanks again for all the good feedback. I just went with the tried and trusted Simpson's. I really had no complaints, but feel better about the decision after everyone's advice. I did change colors from black to blue so Chris and I wouldn't get our shoes mixed up...as that's happened a few times. Hopefully blue will be faster.

Eric

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