Drummer Cafe Community Forum

I'm just curious to know what y'all wear on yer feet, for best pedal operation.  Back when I was playing rock'n'roll, I used to wear this pair of Adidias leather tennis shoes, and I always felt like they gave me good feel on the pedals.  Some folks are particular about the shoes they wear to play drums.  

Funny thing, as the years went by, I just started sitting down behind the kit in my regular street shoes, which happen to be cowboy boots.  Anymore, I can't hardly play in anything else.  I've just gotten used to the feel of 'em, and I think the heel actually helps.  (They're quality boots with leather soles and pointy toes; I don't think it would work with cheap boots.)

Sorry if this is a lightweight topic.  Just curious.

Slim

Funny how this has changed for me over the years.

Socks or thin soled shoes. 8)

Usually a pair of trainers (sometimes left behind the kit so I can privately change from my dress shoes) but I think it's important to be able to play in anything.

Usually Converse All Stars, lately green.  But sometimes my red or orange ones.  Sometimes a different color on each foot.   I prefer the low tops.  They are flat, light and like you arent really wearing anything.  

But, Ill play in anything except cowboy boots.

Thin soled shoes provide the best feel, if you dont like playing barefoot. I personally practice with heavy shoes on to give me a better work out, but i almost always perform barefoot or in socks.

My feet stay in the nude.

Shoeless

i just were my street shoes converse all stars or barefoot if i cant find my shoes haha

Simple Barneys (http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/11245961/c/3.html)

Pumas

New Balance tennis sneakers. Unfortunately, because I have been playing in sneakers for so long, it is very difficult for me to play wearing regular shoes or anything else for that matter.
mp

I'm not surprised that cowboy boots aren't charting here.  I still find it odd that they work for me.  Chuck Taylors are my other preference, but they have to be good and broken-in.  I can't do barefoot, but I'm not a barefoot kinda guy anyway.  

I wore cowboy boots for years in one band, required dress!  I also wore cowboy boots two tours in Vietnam, mostly to chap the butts of ranking officers and it worked well too!  

Louis-
How did those boots hold up in Vietnam?  I appreciate the butt-chapping effect, but I can't hardly imagine a cowboy boot surviving those conditions....

Slim

Either in socks, my DC's, or Etnies. I played for quite a while in a pair of low top Chucks or Old Skool Vans. On another unrelated note, the DC's are camo, the Chucks are flamed, and the Vans were a skull-print checkerboard pattern :)

I was in a helicopter most of the time so they did pretty well.  Monsoon season was the hardest on them but I still got a good six months out of a pair.  

The only shoes I have I can't play in are my Bed Stu's.  The soles are just too wide.  But other than that, I play in what I'm wearin'.    In the summer I usually wear slides (like a slip on shoe without a back, but not as big as a clog) or flipflops and on those gigs I usually end up barefoot.  

leather slip-on shoes or socks.

robyn

In the last few years I have been wearing wrestling shoes. I still wear the wrestling shoes often, because I feel comfortable with... But lately I have been wearing also some other thin soled tennis shoes.

Hey Cowbell Queen!  It is possible to wear both at the same time, it is not an either/or type of decision!   ;D

ballet shoes, mary janes, lightweight wrestling-type sneakers or a very lightweight regular boot. used to do the combat boot thing, but it's a pain.

I did too but I was in the Army at the time.   ;D

ba-dum CRASH!

Thank You!  Thank You!  I will be here the rest of the week.   8)

Louis, you consistently crack me up with your posts.  Thanks for bringing a little levity to my dull work day.  :)

Try the veal, folks.  

I love playing barefoot, seems to give me the most control.

Sneakers give me a little more power, but I find that the "direct" feeling is lost, and I feel like there's something between me and the bass drum pedal.

I used to play with a pair of skate shoes (they're my everyday pair of shoes too) and then I realized it kind of got in the way of me playing heel-toe, so now I go socks, or barefoot, which kind of presents a problem because if I had to play at a hotel, wouldn't it be rather unsightly to see a drummer all dressed up, and only to find him barefooted or in his socks? :P

I think it makes sense for drummers who expect to play a variety of gigs to get used to playing in a variety of footwear.

It's not hard to find black shoes in a huge variety of styles and weights, ranging from wrestling shoes to dance slippers to cowboy boots to running shoes to combat boots. And it's hard to go wrong with black shoes.

While practicing, I play in just socks (i tried barefoot once, but the metal pedals were FREEZING). Though while at a band practice, or I suppose in shows, I wear my Quiksilver Grey Trainers. Just because they are comfortable

i dont think the shoes really matter i play with boots that are up to my kness and have like 2inches on the bottom

I play barefoot but maybe shoes would be better, its up to indevidual!

Black Rockports or my Black Nike's.  The Rockports feel the best but it is a walking shoe not a cross trainer.  If I play bare foot I get bruses on the balls of my feet so I wear a shoe that feels like I have nothing on.
                             Nutty

Whatever happens to be on my feet. It doesnt really matter to me.

Preferably barefoot, but Chuck Taylors are made for pedals...on my feet.

Any good walking tennies. I'm kind of fond of Converse, tho...but, I have to gig in some sort of shoe. Sometimes at home in the morning when I'm thinking about something and I just have to sit down barefooted, I will. But generally, it's gotta be tennis shoes...

they should make shoes for drummers specifically. that would be great.

"they should make shoes for drummers specifically. that would be great."

I think they're called Chuck Taylors.  Converse makes 'em.  35.00 dollars.

wrestling shoes.....dance slippers...
Yep, I knew Mr. A was a wrestler.....HEY, just look at that picture!!
He does break dancing on the side.. ;)

Good Ole fashion super-cheap Kung Fu shoes!

I usually just wear my Fallen shoes. The bottoms are pretty soft so I still get a feel for the bass pedal.

I can't play barefoot very well. Something about having the toe of a shoe just gives me more controll than my naked toes do. I suppose I wouldn't mind if I played on my heels...but since I don't -- plaing barefoot drives me nuts.

Same here. I can play in any kind of shoe if I need to, but I suppose I could play with two catcher's mitts on, too. I believe I get more subtlety of expression in bare feet.

For gigs I can't play barefoot, I'm with the Converse Chuck Taylors crowd.

barefeet or socks

Thank you.

I've always played in comfortable trainers. I tried double pedalling the other day with formal shoes on. It sounded brilliant but felt like i'd torn the muscles in the arches of my feet.

I started skateboarding 5 years ago and ever since then refused to wear anything other than skate shoes. I started with vans then went to Adio. Now all I ever wear is DCs. The flat bottoms are comfortable to me and I find it easy to Heel/Toe.

all stars !!

Driving shoes work great... I've always used either my chrono or puma ones. Feels very comfortable and light for all the fast stuff without overplaying, but sometimes i also like regular sneakers... Most of the time, it's just what i'm wearing at the time...

I like Doc's.

I melt in the heat, though, and somone on this board suggested I play barefoot just for the cooling effect.  It works!

I still can't play quite as well with bare feet yet, especially when playing heavier stuff, but I"m getting there.

Steel toe work shoes....  ;D   

Shoeless

I've tried to get used to playing with shoes, and I guess I'm alright at it. Lately, though, I've been playing with bare feet just because I'm too lazy to put shoes on, and I find it to be far more comfortable. Heel-toe with both feet is much easier without shoes on.

I haven't played drums that long but I prefer bare feet. I've played guitar over 30 years and I have always played in bare feet  My theory about the guitar was that I started by playing in my bedroom in my barefeet and I just got used to it. Does the pedal ever bruise the top of your foot when your playing loudly? or does my pedal just need adjusting?

I play with shoes on - whatever shoes are appropriate for the gig.  But I would think you'd really have to jam your foot pretty far down the length of the footboard to have the pedal housing hit the top of your foot.  What kind of pedal are you using?  Do you lift your foot completely off the footboard to get your volume?

That's when it happens, When I lift my foot completely off the footboard. I was playing , " Best of You" -Foofighters.  As I mentioned I'm primarily a guitarist so my set is pretty cheap. (Sam Ash - Groove Percussion PD-2005)

Try just lifting your heel while keeping the ball of your foot in contact with the footboard.  You should still be able to get good volume while maintaining control and reducing the chance of a bruise.  Also, since you play barefooted, it'll keep your toes from getting jammed (no pun) into the pedal's chain.

OK, now back to the discussion of footwear, already in progress. . .

That's the big thing - hitting the footboard about half way up, instead of near the chain or belt.  That, and getting more of a quick "snap" out of the pedal, instead of stomping on it.

Doc's are great for the stomping style, bare feet - not so much.

Whatever I'm wearing - usually Nike trainers. Also I play in socks sometime, but I don't like playing barefoot.

Indoor soccer shoes made with kangaroo leather......really!

Addidas indoor soccer shoes and low top allstar loose fits

Eh, I'm bored... I play barefoot.  It's just too hot and humid in south Louisiana to play in anything but.  When I do wear shoes, it's usually hi-top chuck throw-offs, 7 bucks at walmart (and hold up better than the original ones and look nearly identical.)   ;D

I alwasys play either barefoot ro with wrestling shoes....has to be as thin soled as possible.

I play with socks or vans slip ons. woot.

new balance all the way, model 547

Ripped the sole out of my blue and purple gay drummers slippers that I ALWAYS were drumming while playing a big bikers bash last night. Rats, now I have to find another pair before I can possibly drum again!!

As a side note, wife told me after that at least 3 bikers saw me walking around in them right before we went on and couldn't decide to laugh or pound me. I guess they chose laugh! ;D

I play in pretty much whatever I happen to be wearing, never seen anything effect my playing. Most of the time its my everyday shoes, New Balances, but if I'm just in my socks I always take them off so my feet dont slip off the pedals.