Shoes

The ramblings of our community of aviators.

Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray

User avatar
Boatguy
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1821
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:48 am
First Name: Russ
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N962M
Airports: KSTS
Has thanked: 1322 times
Been thanked: 1161 times

Shoes

Post by Boatguy »

Yes - shoes! We mostly all wear them.

I've been using a old pair of sailing racing shoes that Sperry Topsider has quit making. I like them because they have great grip, yet have very flexible soles so I can feel the pedals. And they're very comfortable. Alas, they are only held together at this point by large applications of 3M marine silicon sealant (highly recommended). I've tried Lift Aviation, but they have the opposite approach, making very stiff soles.

Which do you like best for flying?
User avatar
Chris
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 933
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:34 am
First Name: Chris
Aircraft Type: DA42NG
Aircraft Registration: N449TS
Airports: KHIO
Has thanked: 1042 times
Been thanked: 480 times

Re: Shoes

Post by Chris »

My entire shoe collection consists sole-ly (hah!) of Nikes since my wife works there. I forget that there are other options. The Nike Free runners are light and flexible and comfortable for the cockpit, but the drawback is that they tend to collect pebbles and deposit them in the foot wells. So now I just wear basic sneakers (or cross-trainers as we're supposed to call them now).
Chris
N449TS / DA42-NG / 42.AC049
KHIO
User avatar
photoSteveZ
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 321
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2020 4:10 pm
First Name: Steve
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N62DZ
Airports: KEIK Erie CO
Has thanked: 387 times
Been thanked: 226 times

Re: Shoes

Post by photoSteveZ »

I’m a fan of Vessi’s Cityscape model: lightweight, waterproof, comfortable for both flying and walking, good feel on the rudder pedals.
User avatar
briankelly327
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 11:09 pm
First Name: Brian
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N633DS
Airports: KCDW
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: Shoes

Post by briankelly327 »

I find allbirds are my favorite for flying.

Soles are flexible, and has just enough feel between brakes and rudder pedals. And the wool material keeps feet warm when it’s cold up there.
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4582
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1176 times

Re: Shoes

Post by Rich »

I prefer shoes like this for my everyday wear - not just flying. The exception is that I wear motorcycle boots when riding my motorcycle. These are all like Frankenstein-monster boots. Therefore I keep a pair of almost-slippers in the hangar for times when I ride my bike to the airport to go flying. :D
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
User avatar
Shodan01
2 Diamonds Member
2 Diamonds Member
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2020 1:03 am
First Name: Steve
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N475PS
Airports: KGMU
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Shoes

Post by Shodan01 »

I slip on a pair of Piloti driving shoes. I like the thinner sole, and usually wear flip flops everywhere else so keep them in the back!
User avatar
Boatguy
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1821
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:48 am
First Name: Russ
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N962M
Airports: KSTS
Has thanked: 1322 times
Been thanked: 1161 times

Re: Shoes

Post by Boatguy »

Wow! These are great. Shoes I never new existed. Keep'em coming!
User avatar
Thomas
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 229
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:20 pm
First Name: Thomas
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: D-ENMA 40.337
Airports: LSZC BUOCHS SWITZERLAND
Has thanked: 91 times
Been thanked: 62 times

Re: Shoes

Post by Thomas »

When flying in the (Swiss) Alpes, I always wear robust hiking shoes, just in case.....
P1000865.JPG
Thomas Bienz DA40-180 40.337 D-ENMA (sold 08/2022)
Home Airport LSZC Buochs Switzerland
User avatar
vontresc
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 85
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 3:51 pm
First Name: Peter
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N569DS
Airports: KMSN
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 22 times

Re: Shoes

Post by vontresc »

I like Addidas Sambas for general wear. they do work pretty well for flying from my Libelle, to the Diamond, and the 182RG.
User avatar
Tom-B
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue May 22, 2018 9:33 pm
First Name: Tom
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N427CQ
Airports: KLOM
Has thanked: 33 times
Been thanked: 24 times

Re: Shoes

Post by Tom-B »

I am with Thomas - while I don't have Alpine terrain to contend with - I fly with the shoes I find most comfortable - hiking boots.

Mind you, I started flying the DA40 with driving shoes. Yet to avoid having to change from flying to street shoes, I forced myself to just get comfortable flying with the stiff soled hiking boots.
Post Reply