I have found there are a couple specific situations where I like specific footwear. I hardly fit in the back seat of a cub, and when I have a large student in front, my feet are impeded, stuck between the wall and the seat. So I got some little leather booties to wear so the shoe has no structure, and that makes it so my feet can move if needed and also can stay out of the way.

As an instructor in a 185, I have found that a boot with a bulky, stiff toe is a problem because if you apply left brake, there is a little fitting right in front of the pedal that my toe can get stuck under. So if I am instructing in a 185, I wear boots that don't have much structure, and then it is fine.

In general, I fly with some sort of boot appropriate to walking and surviving the terrain of the flight. Mostly I fly cub, 185, beaver, and my own little tripacer. Winter boots, general purpose leather boots, all of them work fine, but you might need to spend a minute and think through the way you and your feet fit to make sure you don't have any surprises. But I would avoid putting yourself into a decision matrix where the only footwear you fly in are not adequate to the task. I have made a couple accommodations where it was needed but I don't generally fly with anything less than a good leather boot.

I like these for off duty flying

https://www.vivobarefoot.com/


And nice leather soled cowboy boots for work flying

I wear these worn out 35 year old brown shoes in the 180.I guess I do it wrong but if I wear the newer ones, the heals are grabby as I slide my feet on the floor mat. Work boots have no feel at all for me and would spell disaster.

180Marty wrote:I wear these worn out 35 year old brown shoes in the 180.I guess I do it wrong but if I wear the newer ones, the heals are grabby as I slide my feet on the floor mat. Work boots have no feel at all for me and would spell disaster.

What kind of shoes are those?

Not sure how many shoes would last 3 1/2 decades, impressive

What kind of shoes are those?

Got them at L L Bean store when my sister was a air traffic controller at Boston Center. Haven't actually worn them except to fly for many many years. They stay with the plane. What's really interesting is those are original laces.