Piloti "Spyder" Driving Shoe

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OK. I’ll admit it. I’m lazy. Well, at least when it comes to shoes. I’ll take a well-designed slip-on over a tie-up any day. Sure it only takes a few seconds to lace up your kicks, but time is money. Right?

I also want a shoe that provides a good feel and feedback when I’m driving a car “in a spirited manner,” which in my case is most of the time. Oh yeah, it has to be stylish too. Is that too much to ask?

Several years ago I stumbled upon a cool little company named Piloti. What does Piloti mean? In Italian (it’s sounding good already) it roughly translates into 'racing driver.’ You see where this is going?

Actually, I’ve been a fan of Piloti shoes ever since having purchased their trademark DTM Shoe to use as my autocross footwear of choice. The DTM is not your everyday sneaker. It’s designed as a track-capable shoe and has such racewear features as real Nomax fire-retardant lining and a reinforced lateral part of the right side of the right shoe to stand up to repeated heel-toe pedal work. What I soon realized, though, is that they were comfortable enough to wear anytime.

But, before I get to their latest creation, let me tell you a bit about the man behind Piloti.

Kevin Beard was an avid sports car enthusiast that couldn’t find a proper everyday performance driving shoe. So, he decided to design one himself. What made his idea a reality and not just a lark was that Mr. Beard was already a successful footwear designer who had worked for a few familiar companies. Do Adidas, Reebok and K-Swiss ring a bell? In other words, this guy knows shoes.

Recently, to broaden their product mix and allow more people to get in on the action, Piloti has come out with a line of lower priced touring shoes. These are shoes that you can wear every day, that would be great on a cross-country road trip, or that can even serve as your dedicated autocross or track day shoes. Plus, they don’t cost any more than anything you’d find at the athletic store at the mall.

The newest shoe in their line-up is the Spyder. What’s cool about this shoe is its slip-on/nylon snug lace system. It goes on with the speed and ease of your favorite jungle moc, yet once on provides the snug and safe fit of a lace-up. I’ve been wearing these shoes for a couple of weeks now, and they are great.

The first thing you notice about any Piloti when you pick it up is the quality of material and construction. The Spyder is no exception. The suede construction and heavy-duty stitching provide for a very durable and long lasting shoe.

Also, the design includes a roll control spherical heel for better cushioning in the car as well as providing a natural stride when walking. Additional features include athletic construction offering good support under the foot (unlike race driving shoes or driving moccasins that have none). And, the ‘toe spring’ (the curvature away from the ground plane from below the ball to the toe) aids natural stride for all day comfort in and out of the car.

Comfort and technology in a shoe? I think I’ve just found my new favorite driving shoe.

If you’re a serious driver and want to experience the Spyder, or any other Piloti shoe, head over to FocusSport’s web site, and pick up a pair. Having been big fans of Piloti, the guys at FocusSport have just recently become a dealer. And, with the new, lower-priced shoes in the mix, there is something for everyone’s budget.


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