SO, WHAT ARE DRIVING SHOES?
If you think about it, most of today's popular footwear brands are rooted in specialty performance.Â
Whether you're going the distance in a pair of running shoes, making the shot in a pair of basketball shoes, or dressing the part with your wingtips, these household styles were designed to help us excel and achieve our goals with greater success. Over time they evolved, started trends, and now, have become every day staple styles.Â
Driving shoes are no different. What started as a purely functional accessory, worn by racers and drivers to improve control and grip in the pedal box, has been refined over the decades into a versatile, fashion-forward alternative to everyday footwear - and that's where we come in!Â
WHAT MAKES A GREAT DRIVING SHOE?
A great driving shoe allows you to connect with your car through one of your most important driving tools - your feet. To do so, it all comes down to technology and construction. With this in mind, we've designed all of our shoes to include:
- A soft forefoot for maximum pedal feel.
- A rounded heel to both relieve downward pressure in the heel and to improve heel articulation in the pedal box.Â
- Smooth edges to avoid “catching” while transitioning between pedals.
- Durable, tried-and-true footwear construction methods using best in class materials like top grain leather.
Can I walk in Driving Shoes?
Yes. We get this question a lot because while professional race boots offer thin soles for maximum pedal feel, the downside is that you feel everything, so they can be uncomfortable to walk in.


At Piloti however, our shoes are designed for all day comfort, whether you're behind the wheel or on foot. They're suitable for most activities including walking and wearing to work (we've even had a customer say they're great for drumming).
How Should Driving Shoes Fit?
While driving shoes should fit snugly into the pedal box, they should feel comfortable and comparable to your other favourite footwear styles.
Piloti driving shoes are designed to a D width, and are intended for all day use Racing boots, on the other hand, are optimized for in-car performance only, and are narrow with thin soles. At Piloti, we specialize in driving shoes, but have partnered with race-wear brand Stand 21® to offer our race boot collection.
AUTOMOTIVE INSPIRED DESIGN
At Piloti, we're inspired by all things automotive - and our design is no exception!
Our team is constantly looking for new and unique ways to integrate our love of cars into each style that we develop. Some of our favourite examples from the past include:
- The retro tire tread pattern on our signature Piloti cup sole
- The one-of-a-kind Zonda headlight eyelette from our limited edition Pagani Legacy shoes
- The white roundel panel on our Avenue Racing series
- The quilted side panels on our Pistone X sneakers, inspired by the seats of classic cars
- The GPS coordinates of the Circuit de la Sarthe embossed on the tongues of the Momentum sneaker, designed in official collaboration with the 24 Hours of Le Mans