Best Racing Shoes

Racing shoes, racing boots and driving shoes

A racing shoe has a fire-resistant lining or upper, a thin sole and a close fit. SFI Spec 3.3 covers shoes and boots as driver accessories. A shoe must include fire-resistant material in the non-sole area, with a minimum back height of 0.15 times the shoe length plus 3 inches. SFI says a boot must extend at least 6 inches up the leg, measured at the rear from the bottom of the sole. Shoes and boots must reach a minimum TPP rating of 19.0 cal/cm2 on the material from the non-sole part, which is why they are listed as 3.3/5.

Soles and leather are treated differently. SFI says a non-fabric material such as leather is not required to pass the flammability test when it is used for the soles of shoes or as the outer layer of gloves. The thermal test applies to the non-sole material. The SFI spec also says a driver accessory must stay as the manufacturer built it and must not be altered.

'Driving shoes' sold for the street are a different product. The Sparco Martini S-Drive ($109 at Competition Motorsport) says on its page that it is not fire-retardant and should not be used for competition driving. Piloti's Shift ($198 at piloti.com) is sold as an everyday driving sneaker, and its product page makes no SFI or FIA claim. Pegasus says it stocks Piloti among other brands, in styles 'with or without FIA or SFI certification', so check the label before you buy. Street driving shoes are fine for a track day only if your organiser does not ask for a rated shoe; most ask only for closed-toe shoes.

SFI 3.3/5 and FIA 8856-2018 on shoes

SFI 3.3/5 is the grade you will see on most US shoes. Certification is made by the manufacturer. The SFI Foundation says products are not certified, endorsed or approved by SFI under this program, so the tag shows what the maker claims against SFI's published spec.

FIA 8856-2018 is the FIA standard for racewear. Demon Tweeks reports that shoes under 8856-2018 have an 11-second heat transmission figure and are cut higher than under the old 8856-2000 standard. FIA labels carry a date, and FIA says the label governs validity. Some shoes carry both labels.

SFI's spec list shows no recertification period for 3.3 shoes. Look at the condition: split seams, worn linings and hardened soles are reasons to replace a pair. One long-time RaceQuip owner at Pegasus wrote that the old pair's soles had grown so hard they slipped on the pedals, which is one owner's account of a 14-year-old pair.

Do you need racing shoes for a track day?

For most car HPDE and track nights, no. NASA's Club Codes and Regulations section 5.6, as quoted by NASA Speed News, requires shoes with no open toes. Track Night in America requires full closed shoes on track. Chin Track Days says closed-toe shoes are always required. The SCCA's Race Experience rules ask for shoes with uppers of leather or non-flammable material that cover at least the instep, plus fire-resistant socks.

Rules differ by organiser and track, so check yours. A racing shoe is not required at these events, but NASA Speed News argues they are minimalist and form-fitting, and work the pedals better. That is an opinion from a NASA columnist, not a rule.

Sole thickness and pedal feel

Thin soles transmit more through the pedal. Makers describe their own: Alpinestars calls the SP v2 outsole 'ultra-thin' and F1-specification, Sparco describes the Slalom+ sole as slim and lightweight, and Sparco says the Race 2 sole adds cushioning compared with an ultra-thin professional sole. None of the makers publish a sole thickness in millimetres on the pages we read.

Width and shape matter as much as thickness. A shoe that is too wide can catch two pedals, and a heel with a squared-off shape feels different from a rounded one. One Simpson owner said the sole was more squared off at the heel than his old shoes but felt fine after a couple of laps. Try the shoes on in your car, or in a seat with the pedals set up as you drive.

Sizing

Pegasus says Simpson and RaceQuip shoes run large because they are sized to fit over athletic socks plus Nomex socks. It recommends going a half or a full size down if you do not wear socks under your Nomex socks. For women, Pegasus suggests subtracting 2 from your normal shoe size to estimate the men's size.

Sparco and Alpinestars use their own sizing. Sparco lists the Race 2 in US sizes 7 to 13 and the Slalom+ in European 28 to 48, and OMP sells the Sport in European 37 to 47. Use each maker's size chart. Wear the socks you will drive in when you try on, and check your heel stays put when you press the pedals.

Sizing is a safety-gear fit issue. A shoe that is too tight can numb the foot, and one that is too loose can let your foot slide on the pedal. Neither a rating nor a price helps if the shoe does not fit.

Sim racing and shoes

Sim racers often wear thin shoes for pedal feel, but fire ratings do nothing for them. Alpinestars sells a Tech Gaming Shoe for sim racing at $89.95 at Competition Motorsport. See our sim racing setup guide for pedals and the rest of a rig.