Shoes/Socks/Bare feet?

[Guz2]

I play with socks cos I find it difficult to do heel toe or get up any sort of speed with shoes on and bare feet is just uncomfortable. You?

[basscase]

Whatever I am wearing at the time. Don't really have a preference

[fusssion]

for the love of God,...shoes.....

but ....

there is a very large thread out on DW on this topic already

[Big_Philly]

Whatever I am wearing at the time. Don't really have a preference

Same here.

twenty...

[caddywumpus]

Socks at home, shoes at gigs.

I seem to play better with shoes on?!?!?!? So, when I practice, I practice with socks at home, and it's like playing on a little-rebound practice pad. When I do a gig, the butt I've been kicking at home (my own) seems to find it easier to play complex stuff with shoes on.

[tbmills]

i used to play barefoot but it tore up my feet so i changed to shoes. mostly just flip flops.

[king fail]

Always socks.
When i wear shoes, i always feel detached and out control of the pedal

[drummer girl09]

I usually play with shoes on. I can't really play with flip-flops on though cause the back loose part of the flip-flop gets in my way. I used to play barefoot, but then I stopped for some reason, I don't know.

[spazdr8cr]

If I go without shoes the mallet hits me in the top of the foot sometimes and it hurts.

[Abstsbtsb]

BARE FOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[drums_n_surf]

i play barefoot or with socks, but am learning to get used to playing with shoes as well. You should learn to play in any circumstances, and while barefoot is the best imo, in some situations, it's not realistic to play barefoot

[SharkyBait911]

I play with socks it helps my foot slide up and down the pedal for doubles and stuff but im gonna start playing with shoes so i don't have to rely on my sliding foot method

[Toza]

one day I practice bare foo,t and than the next one wih my shoes. on concerts always all star converse;)

[Hercraft]

With shoes.-
I try socks, it seems nice how you feel the pedals, I will try a little more.
Im confortably with shoes :- )

[stefanos_product]

depends on the surface of the pedal,mostly when it comes for playing doubles. i play with socks or shoes, mostly shoes. but only with a pair that fits fairly firmly on my foot and isn't loose so that i dont lose control of the timing of my strokes

[Drummertist]

SHOES ALWAYS

I play Tama Iron Cobra and I've tried to play barefoot or with socks on those pedals, and I just can't. They tear up my feet too bad. Plus, if I play with socks, they start to slide off over time.

Also, what are some good shoes for playing drums?

[Nickkk]

socks. i figured i didnt want to get comfortable playing in a certain type of shoe and have it feel like i was going to be unable to play correctly without that certain brand on my feet. by taking the shoes off everytime im always getting a consistant feel through the pedal wheter live or rehersing etc.

[Muffled Tom]

right foot's gotta have a shoe on. i've played barefoot at a show and at home i've played with just socks on and barefoot, but i prefer to have a shoe on at least the bass drum foot.. i find i get more control like that

[drumguyfromWI]

for some reason, I play better when I wear Converse All-Stars that are laced up really tight...

and I never play bare feet, my feet would get cold because my basement is cold and the metal pedals are freezing!

and socks slide too much.

[Mathew 7:21]

Bare foot! I hate shoes. If it were up to me I would be in shorts......no shirt and no shoes all the time.

[darkstar442]

i use shoes. bare feet hurt way to much for my pedals and my style and socks mess me up they will like stick to the pedal like snag it

[Ian Williams]

Bare feet, shoes, sometimes slippers. No socks.

[Bonz0]

Actually with the thing im wearing at the moment as longer if is a shoe not too heavy...but in gigs ALWAYS shoes hehe

[Toza]

Also, what are some good shoes for playing drums?

Converse All-Stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rockinrider]

Sneakers...usually cheap Reboks..I like the rubber sole.

[doorstilend]

Boots all the way man

[Dawson49]

Definitely not socks for me which are typically very slippery. At home, it's often nice to play barefoot, but not at a gig. At least, not for me.

I've discovered some very lightweight, inexpensive, low-cut black slip-on slipper-type shoes which I love to wear while drumming. They are extremely comfortable and have great rubber soles for grip. I keep them in one of my drum bags and slip into them at a gig.

[GetAgrippa]

I've always played barefoot. Got calluses between my left big toe and next toe where I grab the chain of my hi-hat with my toes. I do this so I can play my double bass with my heel and still keep my hi-hat going with my toes-works great for some beats. I know it sounds odd but it works. I can play with my shoes on but my dogs can't breath with my shoes on. hee,hee,hee. I should admit my feet are like leather going barefoot all the time. I'm also a big Chili Pepper's fan so sometimes I will just wear a sock on my...... Just kiddin!!!!! LOL.

[Mr. Slingerland]

Puma's. Light & streamlined. The next best thing to socks. I can't wear anything that has a thick sole, its just too clunky.

[Abstsbtsb]

totally naked
...............

[beatsMcGee]

low profile shoes, like vans or converse..

i never understood how people can play with heavy shoes/boots on, for example: those gospel chops guys have amazing foot work, but a ton of em wear air force 1's (watch the youtube video of gerald heyward and you'll see), i have a pair cause they are very comfortable, but i cant play in em well cause they are too big and clunky, i guess it just comes down to what you practice most in.

[larryace]

Socks for me. No slide because I play heel down most of the time. I gotta feel the pedal.

[yjb63]

I play socks because of heel toe, I just can't get it down in shoes.

[Construct]

I usually do wrestling shoes, but I've been getting back into just wearing my Vans.

[LeeLovesSabian]

I wear shoes when I play, just regular tennis shoes.
Playing bare foot is akward for me.

[drumguyfromWI]

I find the best shoes for drumming are shoes that are as thin as possible while still protecting your feet. such as vans slip-ons, converse all stars (my faves), etc.

[Paul Nasstrom]

I depend on what shoe. Thin shoes like Converse All-star is perfekt. But socks is fine too.
I play with shoes in school and socks att home.

[Daphfz]

Bare foot! I hate shoes. If it were up to me I would be in shorts......no shirt and no shoes all the time.

Haha, i play no shirt, no shoes and boxers lol :P, incredibly comfortable :P. Bit i need to play barefoot because i have my own method of footwork, its a combo of swivel/heel-toe/heel-up.

[joshisaces]

totally naked
...............

Yeah bro. Me too...

nah, I sometimes play with socks, and sometimes I play barefoot. I don't understand what some people say about protection on your feet and that you have to wear shoes. I have never hurt my feet playing...

Socks make it comfortable, but barefoot gives me more control, and it allows me to do faster double bass. That's how Greiner does it. That's how I'm gonna do it. :D

[Clayton_C]

Shoes all the way. For my left foot, this just obviously helps keep the soles of my feet intact during uptempo jazz where I'm either chicking 2 and 4 for eons, or doing some weird off-beat stuff with the left foot. For my right foot, the traction of shoes help me play faster bass runs, and I due to the way I approach heel-up, sometimes when I wear socks my foot kind of comes off the pedal in awkward places during a solo. So shoes with grip help me balance properly.

You know what sucks to play in... dress shoes. They're bigger and stiffer than normal shoes, so if you're playing anything repeatedly with your feet, you start hurtin' pretty bad... and they leave scuff marks. Bane of my existence.

[SpankYDubbS]

i play with moccasins. total control. get them nice and tight and iron cobras fly!

[DrummerDavid]

Bare Foot.


20 characters

[imispgh]

Watershoes people

Excellent compromise. Very light, your foot breathes but doesn't get cold and it saves the heel.


http://www.beachmart.com/product/WSP043430/Speedo_Water_Sports_Shoes__Beach_Sandals__Thongs__ Cruiser_.html

http://www.speedousa.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3106782&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=plm&utm_campaign=New%2BSite%2BLaunch%2B7.31.08&utm_extra=dim1%2FApparel%3A%2BFootwear%2B-%2BGeneral%2F%2Fdim2%2FBroad&utm_term=speedo%2Bsurfwalker&cp=3124326.3128423.3132047.3132067

[BattleArmor]

At home, Bare feet.

At gig or just out, shoes.

Never socks. I feel like my feet slip on the pedals.

[LTNINGFan]

I do socks or barefeet at home. I did notice some lag on my Cobras wearing basketball shoes...yikes. That was like adding 5 pounds per pedal :)

[h3r3tic]

Always socks.
When i wear shoes, i always feel detached and out control of the pedal

I agree! Specially on the hi-hat if I wanna do some stuff splashing the hats with my foot...
It's just a matter of comfort and I feel comfortable playing with socks :D

[LTNINGFan]

I may have to try some lighter shoes that some of you have described. I could put on some of my daughters pink crocs, lol!

[Jonesy]

I used to play with sock all the time. Then just the other day I switched to barefoot and it was like "WTF have I been missing?!"

Also, I would play entirely naked at every gig if that was legal.

[ivegottadisorder]

I usually wear Vans but recently I noticed i do my heel/toe better without shoes on... but my problem is that my poor toes get rubbed up against the chain it it doesnt feel very nice....


i just have to find shoes that fit and feel like im not wearing any.

[jazzkidding]

I don't like shoes because it's restrictive.
So I practice barefoot or with socks in winter.
But I found also that moccasins work wery well.
There is protection with feel and they slide well on the pedal.

[theuntitleddrummer]

I use a different technique for the bass that is not heel/toe because I never really like heel/toe
so i like shoes because more power and it protected my foot when the beater bounces back(yeah not a good feeling)

[Infernal Valkyrie]

Unless I have to play some super fast 16th notes, I try to play with flexible shoes on. The beater on my left pedal swings far back and sometimes hits my foot. It would be worse if it was bare feet, but I suppose socks is a compromise of agility and safety. :-p

[randrade89]

Shoes. I have no power when I play barefoot.