DRUMMER CAFE - Community Forum

Just curious as to how many die hard barefoot players are out there.  I do play barefoot sometimes but mainly wear some type of footwear while playing.  I play alot in the summer time wearing a Sketchers sandal with a backing around the entire ankle and I also wear either a Sketchers tennis shoe/sneaker or a Reebok lightweight tennis shoe.  Now believe it or not one of the most comfortable footwear items I wear are my work boots.  I wear them most of the time anyway.  They are not a heavy duty bulky boot, not steel toe (although they are supposed to be) and are very comfortable, yeah I know, sounds a little hillbillyish but don't knock it till you tried it.  I have actually gigged in these boots and have had comments from other drummers, I can't believe you just played that set in boots.  Anyway just thought I would get some opinions on your ideal footwear, because it is an important part of my gear and I'm sure yours...Feets Don't Fail Me Now, another kick butt Little Feat tune.....

I have made a circle with this. 

- In my older days, I Always wore sneakers
- When I returned, I tried barefoot, liked it, and played that way for a large portion
  of a year
- Recently went Back to sneakers, after realizing my time with my foot was more precise
  with shoes on

I used to swear by playing in socks but I developed a really awful technique of running the chain of my pedal between my big toe and the one next to it. When I came of age to start working on technique and whatnot, I found a pair of shoes that worked wonderfully for me.  I got a pair of really light, thin soled, velcro shoes.  They add  barely any weight at all to my feet, but offer the protection of having something on. The sole provides a little bit of slip resistance to the pedal and having velcro eliminates any worry of shoe laces getting tangled with anything on my pedal.  I always just keep them in my gig bag and I only wear them while playing.

I play barefoot or with socks unless I am in a situation where that isn't possible. I like the response and the feel. I play eliminators which have a smooth board. No problems at all.

I usually play barefoot.  Exceptions are when we're doing a short set, and I need to get myself and my drums on and off stage quickly.  If I have to wear shoes, I like flat bottomed skate shoes.  I just picked up a pair of New Balance shoes...the ones with the big "N" on either side, specifically for those gigs.

I also use Eliminators, they feel nice under my feet. 

playing s fla, and usually half outdoors, ive gotten into the barefoot thing, but usually only the kick pedal. flipflops do the trick on the hat.

i worry about getting so used to no shoes on the kick that actually wearing a sneaker or something might become impossible. barefoot just seems wrong, even though i guess it's common... ;)

Playing barefoot makes the balls of my feet hurt after a while. It's probably just a habit thing, but I've fallen completely in love with my current drum shoes:

(http://sale-shoe.com/shops/products_pictures/adidas_goodyear_black_white_1_ico.jpg)
Adidas Good Year racing driver style shoes (mine aren't exactly the model pictured, but close enough). A perfect and extremely tight fit, and the rubber soles are made to stick like glue to pedals (car pedals, but hey), so my feet never slides around on the pedals.

I like my feet to slide on the pedals. I don't want them stuck in one spot because I use different spots on the board for different things. I don't slide for doubles like some people do but I just like the feel of different spots on the board for different things.

I just wear whatever shoes I am wearing day to day, unless I need something specific like black dress shoes of course. I have never found a particular footwear to be difficult to play in. If I am comfortable wearing them I am comfortable playing in them. I don't like to play barefoot much.

I do move my feet around on my pedals (it's not like the shoes are actually glued to the pedal), but when I stomp down, I like them to stay put.

Right, I figured that. I tend to move my feet around pretty often though. I have played with shoes that have good grip and it isn't for me. I am certainly not saying there is anything wrong with it though.

Modern Drummer just did a feature on this...

As for me, 95% of the time I wear Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars.
Sometimes I play barefoot at home if I'm not wearing shoes to start with.
I have a pair of Sketchers that is leather, but I usually don't play in them unless I have to because the soles are over 1/4" thick at the toes.
I also play in DTX marching shoes if I have to wear a pair of dress shoes. They're pretty comfortable.
I also just got a pair of New Balance tennis shoes that are pretty comfortable to play in. [I had to admit defeat with Chucks before I started another marching season.]

I agree with Nuclear.  Personally I wear my regular daily shoes.  Typically that's some Vans, but again, whatever pair of shoes I'm wearing literally every day at that time.  Right now its some old school Nike Pippens (the ones that say AIR on the side-) just cuz I remember liking them in the good ol' days, I had to find some again!  Since I wear shoes pretty much at all times, ('cept when i've cleaned up for the night), then shoes (to me) are the most accurate extension of my foot, and when i don't wear them, my playing feels awkward.

Initally my need to wear shoes while playing came from cheap and/or un-adjustable pedals, where the beaters would fly back and hit my feet.  That starts to hurt after a while, ya know?

Thanks for the input, I am actually liking those Adidas racing shoes, where did you pick them up at and how much did they cost. 

A guy I work with has some of those.  They say Goodyear on them.  It's crazy!

I bought those at the Foot Locker in Australia for about $200. I see them everywhere though, so just check your local shoe stores and you're sure to find them  ;)

I have kinda become fond of wearing Chuck Taylors but I can play in just about anything. I was reading a post earlier in this thread that talked about needing the foot to slide on the board and I was at Pasic this past year, watched a clinic where NDUGU CHANCLER was asked how his feet were so fast and he said it was all about the leather soles of his shoes.  The feet have to be able to slide on the foot board.
                         Nutty