The Steel Guitar Forum

I always wear cowboy boots when I go play a gig. This is on my Telecaster as I am quite the novice on steel and it will be a while before I can show my face in public with one.

However it seems harder to play steel with boots on vs running shoes.

But, I would look quite odd in full cowboy getup and running shoes.


Maybe there is a boot out there that gives more ankle freedom.

I like to play barefoot.

I like to play barefoot.

Hah, never tried that, I could go with overhauls and a straw hat. Hee Haw style.

My advice would be to wear whatever style of shoe or boot that you wear daily. This topic has been discussed at length in previous posts and it has been stated by some that the pointed toes on western boots get caught in the pedal rods, or limit ankle movement, etc. Since I personally wear western boots exclusively and have for many years, I experience none of these problems and could not play in anything else. My point being, wear whatever your feet are used to and what feels the most natural.

Soft Soled Moccasins....

Dickie Whitley wrote:Soft Soled Moccasins....

Same here. They provide all the flexibility of playing barefoot, with none of the discomfort.

Cowboy boots. Have none of the problems David listed either. I never could understand the comments about limited ankle movement unless the uppers were so tight to cause that, but I have never seen a pair boots that were tight around the ankles.

i agree with richard about everything today. {comment deleted by admin} i hope this is politically acceptable.

Chris, no not really acceptable at all. I wear moccasins because I'm a diabetic and it helps me to feel the pedals better as I have nerve damage in my feet. But I guess I'm in good company though, because nearly every picture I've seen of Buddy Emmons, he's wearing tennis shoes.

I'm sure Buddy will be amused.........not.

Cowboy boots here as well. I wear them all the time and have for years so..no big change for me when I started to play steel.A good and proper fitting pair of boots is what you may need.love mine..cant play in anything else but, then again, that is what I am used to.

Ever since I saw my idol PF wearing them, it's been sneakers.

With me, it was always cowboy boots, but I never liked the real pointy ones, I guess you would call mine "Tex-Mex" as they are sort of round at the toe with a semi-riding heel, no hang up problems there. I do wear some lightwieght athletic shoes if the gig is informal, though. My favorite boots were the ones that Shorty Hall in Hall county Texas used to make for our family down there years ago. Sure miss him. I still have one pair left from about 40 years ago and I can still wear them!
-Sammie

I tried boots, but I had to raise the rear of the guitar to get under it due to the thicker heel. I didn't like the feel of playing my guitar down hill. Even sneaker soles are too thick for me. So, I typically play in deck shoes like Sperry Top Siders.

Depending on where I'm playing but most of the time its cowboy boots. I also wear Justin Roper shoes. Almost everyone thinks they are boots. Most comfortable footwear I've ever worn. You can buy them at most Western Stores for around $65.00

http://www.bootbay.com/192-Justin-Mens- ... GK/Product

I'm still pretty green on the PSG, but I find that
thin-soled Sperry Top Siders allow me to feel the
pedals (which I need to do). Cannot play the CS
bare-foot because the pedals have sharp corners.

I asked the foot wear question on this forum some time
ago. I had been playing PSG for about a month. Most of the responses were for cowboy boots. I have tried
them periodically since, and can play in them, just not comfortably (yet). The biggest difference I noticed wearing boots was working the vertical Knee levers. With boots (having a 1" or more heel), I can just rock my foot back on the heel and it lifts the VKL. Without boots I have to use my tip-toes to lift the KL. I've got a feeling that's NOT the right way to do it?

Converse Chuck Taylors

I ran ropers for years,but i have to say that until they were broke in, pickin was hard, pedal swift was restricted. I watched 'Weldon Myrick' back in like 1996 on the opry wearing dress shoes. Well as i'm an old english bloke growing up in a strickt school uniform and dress shoes, i tried it one night say 1997ish. My pedal moves were so much easier and i like spit, shine, and polish, so i been on floor shime shiny shoes ever since. I did take my old ropers out one night and i had to switch back. As far as pointed cowboy boots, thats 'hook in the pedal rods haven' OK im with david. mates!

Chris Ivey,
I would not wear a name tag if I were you. It might not be healthy.

In the old days I used to wear boots exclusively but this time 'round it's a light, comfortable trekker shoe from Land's End. Works for me.

Allan Jirik wrote:In the old days I used to wear boots exclusively but this time 'round it's a light, comfortable trekker shoe from Land's End. Works for me.

Been there, it's a beautiful place, cornish pastie int bad.

Sneakers. The lower, the better. Anything tall and I'd need longer legs on my steel. Barefoot too.

Ronald, can you feel the pedals thru the Justin shoe soles? I too have a problem with neuropathy in my feet.
Thanks,
Jerry

I wear a Justin Roper shoe as well. Mine do not slip on they lace up. I have no problems feeling the pedals as the soles are kinda thin.

Shane

Chuck Taylors