I bought a pair of beach/pool shoes off Amazon. Thin soles, lightweight and flexible top... less than 20 quid and does the job perfectly for Sim racing. I use fanatec load cell pedals and they work great with those...
I just received some beach shoes off Amazon, and I am not sure they're going to work too well; the material on top is VERY lightweight, and my foot is flopping around in the shoe. I've now added a gel shoe liner, in hopes to make it fit better.
I have size UK 12 wide feet and I use Hot Tuna Aqua shoes. You can pick them up for £15 and I love them for sim racing! They stop my heels from hurting, they are grippy, have thin soles and they allow me to apply more pressure on my load cell brake pedal, more than socks ever could. I’ve also noticed my left leg isn’t getting tired after a long session. Give them a look, if you like me have wide feet and like a cheeky bargain!
I highly recommend the Sparco K-pole karting shoes. They are the most comfortable shoe I have ever tried. Easy to put on too due to the cutout in the heel are.
I've always had issues with Sparco shoes-their driving/racing style ones in particular. Puma Speedcats are a much more normal fit and would recommend these over any of Sparco's offerings for the money.
I also ordered these shoes and unfortunately have to send them back. these shoes are really very, very narrow and i couldn't get them over my feet. my feet are built normally and the size (length) was also ok but no idea how to put these things on without having to tear them apart. I will send them back and keep looking for matching shoes.
Nice to see someone review them! And it being you, since I only follow you and Jimmer on TH-cam, haha! I ordered size 42, which is my size normally. The shoes fit perfectly but I couldn’t get in. I cut the “sock” open all the way so I could fit in. The laces keep it together. I believe this is the way it should be made. I love them now! I have the same issue with the Hypergrip+ gloves by the way. Can barely get my hands in but when they’re in, they’re fine. So still using my regular Hypergrips :)
Looking forward! Got about 20 hours in mine using WRC 9 (less FFB due 540 and powered steering) but they are starting to wear. I removed the velcro though, don’t like it tight around the wrists.
I bought these shoes and had the exact same problems. It's bizarre since most of it is elastic, yet it's stretched to the max while having them on. It doesn't make sense.
The best I find so far with my fanatec csl load cell pedals is Hot Tuna "water shoes" from sports direct £6. Thin sole but enough cushioning very comfortable and light. Only thing I had to do is take the rubber cover off the pedals so it is just bare metal.
I am of the same school of thought...don’t really need the fireproof thing, but have bought water shoes and other similar types for SIM racing and found the sole compounds too soft wearing a hole through them within a few weeks. Puma Speedcats by Sparco used to be pretty popular but were hard to find and speaking with a Puma rep they discontinued the run...however they have recently popped up again. They’re made of a suede upper...not overly flashy but as far as a SIM shoe pretty comfy...they tend to fit small.
I've been using Puma Active Gaming Shoes. They are a bit pricy, but they are absolutely perfect. Puma doesn't market them as sim racing shoes, but they should!
I fell in love with the design of the blue Sparco Slalom 2.1 Shoes, so I bought them and they actually fit perfectly in EU Size 44. Other Sparco shoes I own I had to buy in 45. But they costed about 100€ and in the summer it gets quite hot wearing them. So I am looking for a light summer simracing shoe. This one is too expensive for what it is imo. Maybe I'll try the beach shoes, too.
What size shoe are you? I’m only a 7 but my left foot is a bit wider then the right, so I’m not sure if I’m gonna bother. Anyway, i will check out what ya think of em when they arrive. God knows why these types of shoe, are way too narrow and tight. Kinda like Bowling shoes.
Sorry, delivery took so long, I completely forgot about this comment. In short: I sent them back. I had the same issue Karl talked about (just not as bad) and they were really uncomfortable in the heel area. Guess I am staying with the Vans for now 🤷🏼♂️
Size: I wear EU 43/ US 10,5 Nike sneakers (model internationalist). I am thinking about buying the hyperdrive. Should I buy the same size or should i buy a number larger? I do have more or less an average foot width
Hahaha. Well that was hilarious. I'm using Alpinestars K1 karting shoes. About £90 a set bought them them indoor karting and due to lockdowns they have been used on the sim.
I also have a pair of these, i thought they would be ok as house shoes. I find them comfortable but as Karl they are very tight to get on and I also have 'normal feet'. The laces serve no purpose so i removed them.
I never even knew that there was such a shoe. I would get a bit of a laugh at what great lengths people go for a sim but I do a similar thing for my sim flying addiction.
Carl what if I’ve overclocked the f__k out of my CPU & GPU + local fire brigade are on high alert each time i’m racing, wouldn’t fire proof racing shoes make total sense?
They are realy thight in the beginning but after a while they are pretty nice actually. but yes i agree i had to put them on with a crowbar at first....
Thanks for the video! Ive tried various Karting and sim racing shoes and they just don't seem to do it for me personally. They just don't give me enough feel. The sole is still too thick or stiff. I know many sim racers don't use shoes at all and just use socks to achieve their desired level of feel. My pedal settings however, are too stiff for that. What works best for me are minimalist running shoes like Xero Shoes HFS.
It’s a shame Sparco doesn’t understand the concept of sim racing really. They should be low top and Velcro, very thin sole with comfort over everything. Easy to slip in and out of multiple times in an hour if necessary.
I had the same issues with Puma’s racing shoes. Too small. Too tight even when getting bigger correct size. The heal felt strange too. The Puma build quality was really good and they looked amazing. My solution was the water/beach shoes worked out the best so far.
Have/had the sparco gloves. Feel great on hand. But quality really sucks. Think the strap for the wrist was ruined first week.. The glue didnt stick.. And then i tried to wash them after 3 month of use... (yes i used them even if the strap was broken, cost 50 euro in Norway) had to throwvthem away after that. Now, the last 3 pairs i had is bikegloves... 10 euro.. Can toss em instead of try wash em. And works great! Nice video tho! First time in your channel.
Spot on review mate, I sent mine back so unfortunately cost me ten pounds shipping. You’d need feet like bananas 🍌 for these to be comfortable. I’ve just ordered some Abruzzi 👍
would definitely never buy a pair of shoes without trying them, one of the few things I'd never buy online. I personally use the Sparco K-pole karting shoes, they are fantastic and I managed to find them in a store here so I could try them, no issues with weird shapes or anything like that, and they are proper karting shoes (so you can flex your foot on the pedal as much as you want without having problems on the ankle), so even if you were considering doing some casual karting IRL you're sorted, and they cost me 77€....I honestly can't understand why you would go for something like that just to save a ten (or less) when you can find something better quality and that you can actually try in a retail shop and from the same brand :D
I don't think anyone would buy them to save £10, they are sold as sim racing shoes so you would think and hope designed for purpose... sadly IME they are useless!
@@KarlGosling yeah that's why I'm wondering, why even bother producing them? What would be the appeal exactly when you can get the real deal with much higher quality for basically the same price? Because they might be slightly more breathable? would you even notice while you're simracing? 'cause I certainly don't. but I sure notice my legs not cramping up like hell anymore since I got mine :D I can understand the gloves, so you have a bit more tactile feel and you can even use the touchpad on a wireless keyboard if you have some "logistical" issues with your setup, like I do, but the shoes seem quite pointless
If you are not a youtuber and don't need good looking racing shoes (or some cool company name on them ) to film when you drive go at your local supermarket buy a pair of felt shoes with rubber soles (made in china prob) for i think 2 £ and drive happy. I got 3 paires just to be safe:) and actually they look good black top with some neon green stripes and black rubber sole. I use them for a year now and I'm still on pair one.
Could we get a picture of your feet ? ;-) I'm currently searching for sim racing shoes. Ready to go to something that can be considered, at +/- 130 €, expensive like the Sparco Slalom (can't find the Slalom+ nor the Scarpa Slalom). I know, these are FIA approved shoes, and I absolutely don't need it ! Except may be some karting one day. Even then ... I'm still hesitating, that's why I'm here ! I saw that many people are happy with cheap shoes, not designed for racing. I read some comments about fencing or boxing shoes ... Damned, I thought I would be easier !
just get some real karting boots, the cheapest ones from Sparco (atleast the cheapest I could find retail) are just very slightly more expensive, totally worth it. the model is the K-pole, if you have any shop that sells them around you so you can try them I totally recommend them ;)
Order some real sprint car boots ..I have a pair of Simpson boots they are leather and 140 usd ...but I also raced dirt cars....but u can get cheap dirt car shoes for 99 bucks And they are just like asphalt racing shoes only they are cloth instead of leather
Was gonna buy a pair of these but I heard of same problem that your having. I just stick to racing in socks, like I usually do since starting sim racing. I almost went for a red pair of Puma racing shoes but everyone had same complaints as you. If you get a pair that fits normal, let ya viewers know. Or do some intense foot workouts to lose some weight on ya feet to get the fucking shoes to fit.😂 failing that you could pull out a cheese grater and shave a few mm of skin from sides of ya feet. Every little helps.
I bought a pair of beach/pool shoes off Amazon. Thin soles, lightweight and flexible top... less than 20 quid and does the job perfectly for Sim racing. I use fanatec load cell pedals and they work great with those...
I just received some beach shoes off Amazon, and I am not sure they're going to work too well; the material on top is VERY lightweight, and my foot is flopping around in the shoe. I've now added a gel shoe liner, in hopes to make it fit better.
I use my old sparcos from when I was racing. (Real racing) they are great for sim racing. Comfy and fireproof if my house burnt down
I have size UK 12 wide feet and I use Hot Tuna Aqua shoes. You can pick them up for £15 and I love them for sim racing! They stop my heels from hurting, they are grippy, have thin soles and they allow me to apply more pressure on my load cell brake pedal, more than socks ever could. I’ve also noticed my left leg isn’t getting tired after a long session. Give them a look, if you like me have wide feet and like a cheeky bargain!
I highly recommend the Sparco K-pole karting shoes. They are the most comfortable shoe I have ever tried. Easy to put on too due to the cutout in the heel are.
100% agree, I managed to find them in a shop here so I could try them and they're fantastic, and cheap too, which doesn't hurt
I've always had issues with Sparco shoes-their driving/racing style ones in particular. Puma Speedcats are a much more normal fit and would recommend these over any of Sparco's offerings for the money.
I also ordered these shoes and unfortunately have to send them back. these shoes are really very, very narrow and i couldn't get them over my feet. my feet are built normally and the size (length) was also ok but no idea how to put these things on without having to tear them apart. I will send them back and keep looking for matching shoes.
Nice to see someone review them! And it being you, since I only follow you and Jimmer on TH-cam, haha! I ordered size 42, which is my size normally. The shoes fit perfectly but I couldn’t get in. I cut the “sock” open all the way so I could fit in. The laces keep it together. I believe this is the way it should be made. I love them now!
I have the same issue with the Hypergrip+ gloves by the way. Can barely get my hands in but when they’re in, they’re fine. So still using my regular Hypergrips :)
Hypergrip review next week, how are yours holding up? Mine are showing signs of wear after just 10 hours!
Looking forward! Got about 20 hours in mine using WRC 9 (less FFB due 540 and powered steering) but they are starting to wear. I removed the velcro though, don’t like it tight around the wrists.
i just use water shoes you can get them on amazon for under $10. thin and breathable
Same mate...
What a strange design, I don't know how you kept a straight face as well as you did lol
I bought these shoes and had the exact same problems. It's bizarre since most of it is elastic, yet it's stretched to the max while having them on. It doesn't make sense.
I don't know what the size equates to across the pond but I have a 12EE size clown feet.
The best I find so far with my fanatec csl load cell pedals is Hot Tuna "water shoes" from sports direct £6. Thin sole but enough cushioning very comfortable and light. Only thing I had to do is take the rubber cover off the pedals so it is just bare metal.
like Cinderella's slipper, maybe some one out there can fit them? they do look very tight and long.
I went with a pair of OMP KS-3 karting shoes. About $80. Good fit. Good materials. Not too warm. Firm sole but thin enough for tactile feeling.
The OMP KS-3 are great.
Today i spend an hour to read people's opinion about this shoe, BAM! BAM! Da King uploads another great video. Haha thank you very much!
Same issue here with the new hypergrip gloves. Ordered my size, and I simply cannot put it on.
Seems like very dump people design stuff at Sparco.
Would really like to see the new gloves review. I’ve also seen Sparco have socks with an insole, those would be great to see as well.
Gloves review coming this weekend mate! :)
I am of the same school of thought...don’t really need the fireproof thing, but have bought water shoes and other similar types for SIM racing and found the sole compounds too soft wearing a hole through them within a few weeks.
Puma Speedcats by Sparco used to be pretty popular but were hard to find and speaking with a Puma rep they discontinued the run...however they have recently popped up again. They’re made of a suede upper...not overly flashy but as far as a SIM shoe pretty comfy...they tend to fit small.
£80 is way too much for me, but they do look decent.
about footsize, same for me.. when i get roadbike shoes, i need to buy the wide model otherwise my foot cramps if i even can fit my foot in it :)
I've been using Puma Active Gaming Shoes. They are a bit pricy, but they are absolutely perfect. Puma doesn't market them as sim racing shoes, but they should!
I fell in love with the design of the blue Sparco Slalom 2.1 Shoes, so I bought them and they actually fit perfectly in EU Size 44. Other Sparco shoes I own I had to buy in 45. But they costed about 100€ and in the summer it gets quite hot wearing them. So I am looking for a light summer simracing shoe. This one is too expensive for what it is imo. Maybe I'll try the beach shoes, too.
Just ordered them yesterday in the hopes of getting an easy to get in and out racing shoe.
I will keep you updated about my experience 😅
lol Oh dear!
What size shoe are you? I’m only a 7 but my left foot is a bit wider then the right, so I’m not sure if I’m gonna bother. Anyway, i will check out what ya think of em when they arrive. God knows why these types of shoe, are way too narrow and tight. Kinda like Bowling shoes.
@@grahamkelly8662 43 EU
Sorry, delivery took so long, I completely forgot about this comment. In short: I sent them back. I had the same issue Karl talked about (just not as bad) and they were really uncomfortable in the heel area. Guess I am staying with the Vans for now 🤷🏼♂️
Size: I wear EU 43/ US 10,5 Nike sneakers (model internationalist). I am thinking about buying the hyperdrive. Should I buy the same size or should i buy a number larger? I do have more or less an average foot width
Hahaha. Well that was hilarious. I'm using Alpinestars K1 karting shoes. About £90 a set bought them them indoor karting and due to lockdowns they have been used on the sim.
I also have a pair of these, i thought they would be ok as house shoes. I find them comfortable but as Karl they are very tight to get on and I also have 'normal feet'. The laces serve no purpose so i removed them.
what do you class as abnormal feet was wondering when Karl said it also
I never even knew that there was such a shoe. I would get a bit of a laugh at what great lengths people go for a sim but I do a similar thing for my sim flying addiction.
I only need something because my pedals are hard metal and long sessions in socks give me sore feet, also socks can be slippery.
I just use my Homer Simpson slippers .. i have no complaints lol
when i looked at the shape of them in the video I thought they must be custom made for Sideshow Bob!
absolutely based
Thanks for Your review. Helped me a lot.
No problem!
Can it slide on metal accelerator pedal plate? Or it have sticky sole?
Carl what if I’ve overclocked the f__k out of my CPU & GPU + local fire brigade are on high alert each time i’m racing, wouldn’t fire proof racing shoes make total sense?
They are realy thight in the beginning but after a while they are pretty nice actually. but yes i agree i had to put them on with a crowbar at first....
lol
I totally disagree about not needing fire proof shoes, I crash that hard that my sim often immerses me in flames
Wow now thats immersive!! lol
Thanks for the video!
Ive tried various Karting and sim racing shoes and they just don't seem to do it for me personally. They just don't give me enough feel. The sole is still too thick or stiff. I know many sim racers don't use shoes at all and just use socks to achieve their desired level of feel. My pedal settings however, are too stiff for that. What works best for me are minimalist running shoes like Xero Shoes HFS.
Sparco sizing is a nighthmare. You have to go at least one size higher which they do recommend on the website but agree, they are always too thin
For sim racing I just use water shoes
So what shoes are you using now? Are there karting shoes for wider foot?
Mostly just bare feet or socks in winter! lol
It’s a shame Sparco doesn’t understand the concept of sim racing really. They should be low top and Velcro, very thin sole with comfort over everything. Easy to slip in and out of multiple times in an hour if necessary.
Agreed!
Well said, it seems the good people at sparco just cannot think.
I had the same issues with Puma’s racing shoes. Too small. Too tight even when getting bigger correct size. The heal felt strange too. The Puma build quality was really good and they looked amazing. My solution was the water/beach shoes worked out the best so far.
I tried the water/beach shoes but the heel dont have the upturn of the rubber so the edge just digs to my heel and is just a pain
Hard soled grandad slippers for the win, hell I'm that guy you see in tesco's with his grandad slippers on lol.
I used to use a pair until they fell apart! lol
I am cheap so I use swim shoes on my racing rig. They give me great feel of the pedals and good traction. For $10 you can’t beat them. Ken
Vans slip-ons are the only way for me. Laces slow me down.
Have/had the sparco gloves. Feel great on hand. But quality really sucks. Think the strap for the wrist was ruined first week.. The glue didnt stick.. And then i tried to wash them after 3 month of use... (yes i used them even if the strap was broken, cost 50 euro in Norway) had to throwvthem away after that. Now, the last 3 pairs i had is bikegloves... 10 euro.. Can toss em instead of try wash em. And works great! Nice video tho! First time in your channel.
Spot on review mate, I sent mine back so unfortunately cost me ten pounds shipping. You’d need feet like bananas 🍌 for these to be comfortable.
I’ve just ordered some Abruzzi 👍
Man you are a beast ! Are you doing Fitness with Direct Drive 25 Nm 💪💪💪
lol try to look after myself thats all mate :)
would definitely never buy a pair of shoes without trying them, one of the few things I'd never buy online.
I personally use the Sparco K-pole karting shoes, they are fantastic and I managed to find them in a store here so I could try them, no issues with weird shapes or anything like that, and they are proper karting shoes (so you can flex your foot on the pedal as much as you want without having problems on the ankle), so even if you were considering doing some casual karting IRL you're sorted, and they cost me 77€....I honestly can't understand why you would go for something like that just to save a ten (or less) when you can find something better quality and that you can actually try in a retail shop and from the same brand :D
I don't think anyone would buy them to save £10, they are sold as sim racing shoes so you would think and hope designed for purpose... sadly IME they are useless!
@@KarlGosling yeah that's why I'm wondering, why even bother producing them? What would be the appeal exactly when you can get the real deal with much higher quality for basically the same price?
Because they might be slightly more breathable? would you even notice while you're simracing? 'cause I certainly don't. but I sure notice my legs not cramping up like hell anymore since I got mine :D
I can understand the gloves, so you have a bit more tactile feel and you can even use the touchpad on a wireless keyboard if you have some "logistical" issues with your setup, like I do, but the shoes seem quite pointless
I know they're real but you could try the Racequip shoes. Again they're real but they're aren't that expensive either.
If you are not a youtuber and don't need good looking racing shoes (or some cool company name on them ) to film when you drive go at your local supermarket buy a pair of felt shoes with rubber soles (made in china prob) for i think 2 £ and drive happy. I got 3 paires just to be safe:) and actually they look good black top with some neon green stripes and black rubber sole. I use them for a year now and I'm still on pair one.
would any of y'all wear Sparco shoes in public?
So funny, I just returned mine because I also can't get my foot into them 😐
Weird shape huh!
“Long, thin footed person”? Ha ha, I use a pair of Dunlop green flash, they’re cheap, thin sole, thin fabric, light, readily available.
No point getting sim racing boots when you can get kart/racing boots for the same price. I would recommend the OMP KS-3 kart shoes
I used to have Same problem with adidas football boots so I'll be sticking to barefoot SIM racing ATM haha 🤣
Could we get a picture of your feet ? ;-)
I'm currently searching for sim racing shoes. Ready to go to something that can be considered, at +/- 130 €, expensive like the Sparco Slalom (can't find the Slalom+ nor the Scarpa Slalom). I know, these are FIA approved shoes, and I absolutely don't need it ! Except may be some karting one day. Even then ...
I'm still hesitating, that's why I'm here ! I saw that many people are happy with cheap shoes, not designed for racing. I read some comments about fencing or boxing shoes ... Damned, I thought I would be easier !
Why did you post this video literally a day after I ordered? 🤦🏻♂️
Do what I did and just return them... or you never know, they may fit you?! lol
Just gonna have to settle for Sparco socks with a racing stripe :P
Lol... sorry Karl, I can't resist the question...... Did you buy them from "WISH"
You might think so looking at them!! But no! lol
Slippers, £5 at Home Bargains. Job done. 👍 😁 😂
so ya dont like the then krusty?=-]
Just when I though I might buy som racing shoes, my home boy drops a video about one haha. TLDR : too long but not "longetive" enough Haha
just get some real karting boots, the cheapest ones from Sparco (atleast the cheapest I could find retail) are just very slightly more expensive, totally worth it. the model is the K-pole, if you have any shop that sells them around you so you can try them I totally recommend them ;)
Socks til I die
Good Luck with 90kg loadcell
@@michaelbroek1 that’s not realistic so why would you need that?
I can use socks for short sessions but otherwise my feet get sore and also socks are a little slippery on my pedals.
Thanks i would buy it. Finally i pass my way... 🤷
fencing shoes ; not ballet shoes
Saved me £70 cheers
lol I guess these might not handle my as-wide-as-long-feet then
No! lol
I have long thin feet, I should be fine lol... that being said I like using socks.
Maybe you were puttiing left foot into the right shoe?😇🤣
point of this is?
Point of what mate, the video? The shoe? Life? lol :)
Order some real sprint car boots ..I have a pair of Simpson boots they are leather and 140 usd ...but I also raced dirt cars....but u can get cheap dirt car shoes for 99 bucks
And they are just like asphalt racing shoes only they are cloth instead of leather
Was gonna buy a pair of these but I heard of same problem that your having. I just stick to racing in socks, like I usually do since starting sim racing. I almost went for a red pair of Puma racing shoes but everyone had same complaints as you. If you get a pair that fits normal, let ya viewers know. Or do some intense foot workouts to lose some weight on ya feet to get the fucking shoes to fit.😂 failing that you could pull out a cheese grater and shave a few mm of skin from sides of ya feet. Every little helps.
lol Some great suggestions there Graham!
I bought these, and I can't get them on either. Terrible design.
Yeah useless!
It's a No... Utter 💩.. Summed it for ya
they dont look good really ugly like rain plastic boots..noo:( then i take the card boots
Thanks i would buy it. Finally i pass my way... 🤷