Favorite Shoes for Flying

[RoundTwo]

It’s come to my attention that I’m not the only one that struggles with clodhopper feet and finding acceptable footwear for flying. Large, clunky shoes just don’t go well with rudder pedals and toe brakes. I’ve had some success with ultralight shoes like Hey Dudes but know there are better options out there. I see @hammdo likes five toe shoes and have heard of another MS’er that flies in socks to avoid unintentional over-braking and flat spotted tires.

If you have specific shoes you use only for flying, what is your choice?

[Oscar Avalle]

It’s come to my attention that I’m not the only one that struggles with clodhopper feet and finding acceptable footwear for flying. Large, clunky shoes just don’t go well with rudder pedals and toe brakes. I’ve had some success with ultralight shoes like Hey Dudes but know there are better options out there. I see [mention=19046]hammdo[/mention] likes five toe shoes and have heard of another MS’er that flies in socks to avoid unintentional over-braking and flat spotted tires.
If you have specific shoes you use only for flying, what is your choice?

Not really. At some point I tried the Lyft shoes. They were great, but at the end I felt that the best thing to do was to just wear some comfortable light shoes


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[N201MKTurbo]

I often fly barefoot. It gives exquisite rudder and brake control.

I fly barefoot because it is hard to fly in flip flops.

[A64Pilot]

I wear flip flops exclusively, it came from living in a boat in the Caribbean because on the boat you went barefoot and getting in the dinghy to go ashore often meant getting your feet wet. However I live in a warm climate.

‘So I fly in flip flops, specifically Vionic sandals, because they are Orthopedic and have great arch support  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T3IXRN2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1

I’ll second the notion that barefoot works well too, particularly on long flights and if your wearing flip flops, barefoot is easy.

[RoundTwo]

So far, Less is More seems to be the preference. 

[Yetti]

I used to only fly in boat shoes.  Now my standard foot wear is Keen's.   But I have flown in dress shoes.   Heels on the floor is a take off roll flow item.   and short final flow item.

[GeeBee]

I spent so many years flying in dress shoes (corporate and airline) it really makes no difference to me what I wear. A funny story about shoes and pilots is that I wore Allen Edmond's Park Avenues for a uniform shoe. While pricey, they have the advantage of "re-crafting" in that for about 100 dollars you could send your shoes back to the factory. They would completely rebuild the shoe and polish out the gouges in the uppers. They looked brand new when they came back. After a re-crafting, I had a note in my shoes that said, "use care around the seat tracks, it gouges the uppers beyond buffing out". If you want to know what a man does for a living? Ask the shoe cobbler!

[midlifeflyer]

Anything other than bare feet and flip flops.

[ilovecornfields]

18 minutes ago, GeeBee said:

If you want to know what a man does for a living? Ask the shoe cobbler!

I never use a cobbler. Every few years I get something absolutely disgusting on my work shoes and have to throw them in the biohazard bin. Always have an extra set of sneakers in the car.

I found that if I keep my heels on the floor it doesn’t matter what I wear. I also found out that if I don’t, the tower gets really mad if you don’t make it past the hold short line with your flat tire.

[Niko182]

flip flops or barefoot.

[Hank]

I fly in whatever shoes I happen to have on. Mostly New Balance now, since work has gone from business casual back to jeans (no more Rockports).

But up North, in the winter, I would fly in my boots (Timberland). Back here in God's country, I don't wear them as much.

Just like a student pilot, keep your heels on the floor for takeoff and landing, and consciously lift your foot / feet up for braking. No problem! No need to change shoes getting in and out of the plane, just go.

[Mooneymite]

Consider what would be most comfortable shoe you could wear escaping a fuel soaked wreckage site should the unthinkable occur.  

[carusoam]

You know… sooner or later a walk is going to be involved.

My favorite shoes have always been Sperry Docksiders….

Really good on a teak deck, and so thin you can feel the difference between brake and rudder pedal….

Then one day… perusing the Sperry factory outlet….a magical sale was occurring….

 

Sperry driver shoes!!!

even softer and more flexible than the docksiders…

 

They sure aren’t designed for pushing your Porsche around the paddock…. So keep that in mind while pushing the plane up hill into the hangar.

And… winter and bare feet… its -40 at altitude… your tosies are gonna get a bit chilly… 

Those aluminum heat exchangers under your feet are attached directly to the 170kt wind chill.

 

Get a set for your significant scared to fly other…. It will warm their heart.  
 

Buy a few pairs for yourself… they are gonna get dirty.

 

Check out the soles…  small rubber nubs that protrude through the leather…

There is an older thread around here somewhere…

+1 for heals on the floor… that’s where the nubs are!!! 

Best regards,

-a-

 

[201er]

Surprised the best flying shoes haven’t been mentioned

 

Cmon guys it’s a Mooney. You hardly ever need to use those pedal things anyway.

[RoundTwo]

6 minutes ago, 201er said:

Surprised the best flying shoes haven’t been mentioned

 

Cmon guys it’s a Mooney. You hardly ever need to use those pedal things anyway.

For me, those would be hangar shoes. 

[Rjfanjet]

Ariat's for work, any shoe but Nike for fun.

[Brandt]

https://liftaviationusa.com/collections/shoes

[carusoam]

2 hours ago, 201er said:

Surprised the best flying shoes haven’t been mentioned

 

Cmon guys it’s a Mooney. You hardly ever need to use those pedal things anyway.

Perfect for the Mooney submarine…

-a-

[carusoam]

There was some discussion about Lift Shoes a ways back…

-a-

 

[carusoam]

32 minutes ago, Rjfanjet said:

Ariat's for work, any shoe but Nike for fun.

Where did Nike miss your expectations…?

The Ariats definitely look the part…

-a-

 

[hammdo]

I’m have many vibrams ;o)

-Don

[Wingfree]

I like Vivo or  Xero shoes. They’re light weight with thin soles  

https://xeroshoes.com/shop/shoes/aptos-men/

https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/gobi-iii-mens

 

[carusoam]

Don’s Vibrams…

The site mentioned something about a 5k mile warranty…

These shoes may not inspire much passenger confidence…   
 

-a-

[MB65E]

Last airplane I flew barefoot ended up in a dead stick. Plan accordingly! 
Dress to egress! 
-Matt

[MikeOH]

Hmmm, in over forty years of flying I can honestly say what was on my feet NEVER crossed my mind!

MS always amazes!