Classic Racing Shoe Roundup

Driver Gear, Reviews I By Winding Road Staff I October 22, 2020

Anyone with even the slightest interest in motorsports digs the history of motorsports. We not only enjoy looking back on crucial races, but also manufacturer, driver and team rivalries, vintage racecars and their cool liveries (Gulf Porsches, late-80s/early-90s IMSA GT cars with beer sponsors, etc), and even the protective clothing that drivers adorned behind the wheel as they shot down straightaways and dove into corners (often without neck protection).

One way to combine having rated, comfortable, modern racing equipment with cool, vintage design, is with racing shoes! We may never know what it felt like to be Steve McQueen battling for podium in the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring, but at least we can buy shoes that are similarly-designed to what he was wearing. Check out the following shoes we carry that channel vintage racing shoe design, and make drivers stand out in the paddock.

Sparco Slalom RB-3 Classic Racing Shoes – Understated design, high-quality leather, and based on the current Slalom which has been a great seller. This shoe not only stands out for its looks, but also for its lightweight, anti-slip, anti-static, and fuel/oil-resistant sole.

OMP Carrera Vintage Racing Shoes – These shoes are hand-crafted in Italy of high-quality, soft leather, and we think they are some of the most beautiful shoes ever made. These come with double-closure laces and a velcro strap to keep it snug, and the thin rubber sole ensures great feel.

Sabelt Hero TB-9 Racing Shoes – These aren’t marketed as a vintage racing shoe, but we find that they resemble high-end shoes of the 1980s and 1990s due to their understated, clean design. However, that doesn’t mean they’re of old technology. They’re one of the most-comfortable rated shoes we sell thanks to their soft leather exterior, thin sole, and great breathability. The black, red, and white colors they come in look great; we’re partial to the red (we just need a Ferrari 355 Challenge to accompany them).

adidas Feroza Elite Racing Shoes – Like the Sabelts, these are not marketed as vintage-design racing shoes, but we find they’re reminiscent of shoes that drivers wore in the 1980s. In particular, they appear to pay homage to the Adidas Monza Racing Shoes from 1985, like what Walter Röhrl wore to dance between pedals piloting his Audi Sport Quattro S1. These shoes have a comfortable interior, massive heel for comfortably rolling onto the throttle, and the high-top design provides great support.

Note: we only have a couple of sizes of the Feroza Elite left in-stock, feel free to email or call before ordering.

Tags:

The Guide to Road Racing: Winding Road Magazine's ultimate guide to getting your start in racing.

Table of Contents

Related Articles

The 5 Best Auto Racing Gloves

Here’s our pick of the top-5 best auto racing gloves currently on the market – who reigns supreme: Alpinestars, Sparco, or OMP?

May 23, 2023
WRR’s 5 Best Auto Racing Shoes Under $250

Here are our picks for the best auto racing shoes under $250, with a wildcard winner!

March 14, 2023
WRR’s 5 Best Auto Racing Suits Under $1,000

Racing can be very expensive, so it got us thinking; what are the best auto racing suits under $1,000?  There are plenty of high-end professional…

March 03, 2023
Review: Bell Racing RS7C LTWT Carbon Helmet

The Bell Racing RS7C LTWT Carbon is a pretty compelling helmet. It offers best in class ventilation and airflow, in addition to being one of the lightest helmets in its category.

September 20, 2022
Gear Review: The Garmin Catalyst — The Best Lap Timer?

All-in-all, we really enjoyed using and reviewing the Garmin Catalyst Driving Performance Optimizer for HPDE/track day purposes.

March 14, 2022

EMAIL SIGN UP

Get the latest driving and racing news straight to your inbox.

no thanks

Begin typing your search above and press return to search.