KF-KRT-002Karting & Motorsport Footwear
Lightweight Racing & Driving Shoes
A low, lightweight racing-style shoe with a perforated synthetic upper on a thin, flexible sole, for motorsport brands and lifestyle ranges.
- OEM to your design
- ODM development
- Private label
- Samples before bulk
Product overview
About lightweight racing & driving shoes
Low racing shoes prioritise lightness and pedal feel: a perforated synthetic upper, minimal padding and a thin wrap-up sole at the heel. They are popular as driver shoes for casual karting and as motorsport-styled lifestyle footwear.
The thin sole and narrow heel need a dedicated last; perforations and lightweight synthetics keep weight down.
OEM: your design
Send your design; we match last, sole and perforation pattern.
ODM: developed with you
Share references; we propose materials, sole and colourways.
Design characteristics
- Low-cut topline
- Perforated synthetic upper
- Thin, flexible sole wrapping at the heel
- Narrow, rounded heel
- Minimal padding
- Typical applications
- Casual and arrive-and-drive karting · Motorsport merchandise · Driving shoes for road use · Motorsport-styled lifestyle ranges
- Target buyers
- Motorsport apparel brands · Racing merchandise businesses · Driving-shoe brands · Karting centres
Materials and construction
Materials and construction for this style
Only options technically suited to this style are listed. Availability is confirmed in your quotation.
- Typical
- Usual for this style (industry norm)
- Development option
- Possible option, confirmed at quotation and sampling
- Feasibility to confirm
- Needs factory feasibility confirmation before it can be offered
| Synthetic leather (PU) | Perforated synthetic upper. | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Microfiber synthetic | Lightweight microfibre. | Development option |
| Suede | Suede versions. | Development option |
| Breathable mesh lining | Light mesh lining. | Typical |
|---|
| EVA insole | Thin sock liner. | Typical |
|---|
| Rubber | Thin rubber sole. | Typical |
|---|
| Cemented construction | Thin sole cemented to the upper. | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Strobel construction | Strobel lasting. | Typical |
| Reinforcement and edge finishing | Heel wrap and toe reinforcement. | Typical |
Construction methods are explained on the manufacturing page. No method is presented as an in-house capability unless confirmed in your quotation.
Customisation and branding
What you can customise
Colour combinations
Brand and team colours
Perforation patterns
Perforation pattern
Contrast panels
Contrast panels
Lace types
Laces or elastic closure
Heel tabs
Heel loop
Insoles
Sock-liner print
Branding without new tooling
- Heat-transfer branding. Printed transfers applied with heat; good for multi-colour logos on textiles.
- Embroidered logos. Stitched logos on textile or leather panels; digitised from vector artwork.
- Heel branding. Printed, embroidered, embossed or rubber-badge branding on the heel counter or tab.
- Insole printing. Logo printed or hot-stamped on the sock liner.
- Custom shoeboxes. Printed boxes to your artwork; minimums set by the box printer.
- Hangtags. Printed swing tags attached to the pair.
- Barcode labels. EAN/UPC labels on boxes or polybags, from codes the buyer supplies.
- Carton markings. Shipping marks, size breakdown and destination printed or labelled on export cartons.
Branding that needs tooling
- Screen printing. Ink printed through a screen; one screen per colour and size group.
Custom lasts, outsole moulds, cutting dies and branding tools may add tooling costs and raise minimum quantities. They are quoted separately before you commit.
Sizing and specifications
Sizing and technical specifications
Size conversions are approximate and vary by last and brand; they are not a production grading chart, and your own brand size chart replaces them if you have one. Technical measurements are set on your last and samples, recorded on the approved sample and controlled in bulk.
Close fit; junior sizes for young drivers on separate lasts.
Size charts: Unisex sizes, Children's and junior sizes
Unisex sizes
One last across the run; US men's and women's equivalents shown. Unisex fit is usually based on a men's width.
| EU | UK | US men's | US women's | Foot length (mm) | Foot length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 5 | 225 | 22.5 |
| 36 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 6 | 230 | 23.0 |
| 37 | 4 | 5 | 6.5 | 235 | 23.5 |
| 38 | 5 | 6 | 7.5 | 240 | 24.0 |
| 39 | 6 | 7 | 8.5 | 250 | 25.0 |
| 40 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 9 | 255 | 25.5 |
| 41 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 10 | 260 | 26.0 |
| 42 | 8 | 9 | 10.5 | 265 | 26.5 |
| 43 | 9 | 10 | 11.5 | 275 | 27.5 |
| 44 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 12 | 280 | 28.0 |
| 45 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 13 | 290 | 29.0 |
| 46 | 11 | 12 | 13.5 | 295 | 29.5 |
| 47 | 12 | 13 | 14.5 | 305 | 30.5 |
Children's and junior sizes
Junior sizes need their own last proportions, not a scaled-down adult last.
| EU | UK | US kids' | Foot length (mm) | Foot length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 10 | 11 | 172 | 17.2 |
| 29 | 11 | 12 | 178 | 17.8 |
| 30 | 11.5 | 12.5 | 185 | 18.5 |
| 31 | 12.5 | 13.5 | 192 | 19.2 |
| 32 | 13 | 1 | 198 | 19.8 |
| 33 | 1 | 2 | 205 | 20.5 |
| 34 | 2 | 3 | 212 | 21.2 |
How to measure foot length
- 01Stand on a sheet of paper with full weight on the foot, heel against a wall.
- 02Mark the tip of the longest toe and measure from the wall to the mark in millimetres.
- 03Measure both feet and use the longer one; measure later in the day when feet are largest.
- 04Compare with the foot-length column, not the shoe's outside length.
Technical measurements for this style
| Dimension | For this style |
|---|---|
| Sole thickness | Thin sole for pedal feel |
| Collar height | Ankle coverage |
| Ball girth | Close, glove-like fit |
| Heel width | Narrow heel for pedal control |
| Insole length | Set by the last |
| Weight per pair | Measured on approved samples |
| Size grading | Adult and junior size sets |
| Construction tolerances | Agreed before bulk |
Values are set in development; no figures are published.
Sampling, production and quality
From sample to bulk order
Sampling charges, MOQ and timing are quoted per project. The full development route is explained on the manufacturing page.
Sampling for this style
- Proto sample to confirm design, pattern and construction
- Fit sample on the agreed last, checked on wearers in the core size
- Driver wear test in a kart before size-set approval
- Pre-production sample approved as the sealed bulk standard
MOQ for this style
- Synthetic colours have supplier minimums.
Quality checks for this style
- Perforation clean and aligned
- Heel wrap bond
Packaging
- Shoe bags or boxes.
Testing and compliance
Frameworks relevant to this style. Obligations depend on where and how the product is sold, and the brand placing it on the market carries them. General information, not legal advice.
Karting and motorsport footwear standards (FIA)Product-specific conformity
Some FIA karting competitions require driver footwear to meet FIA standard 8877-2022; car racing uses FIA 8856-2018. Approval is granted by the FIA after testing and comes with official labels. We do not claim FIA approval for any style; footwear for series that require it needs that process completed first.
EU REACH restrictions (Annex XVII)Market obligation
Restricts chemicals in articles sold in the EU, including chromium VI in leather in contact with skin (entry 47, limit 3 mg/kg), certain azo dyes, PAHs in rubber parts and dimethyl fumarate. Leather and component suppliers' test reports are collected per order where a buyer requires them.
EU footwear labelling (Directive 94/11/EC)Market obligation
Footwear sold in the EU must indicate the material of the upper, the lining and sock, and the outsole, using the directive's pictograms or wording. Labels are produced to the buyer's market requirements.
EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988Market obligation
Applies since 13 December 2024 to consumer products placed on the EU market, including traceability information on the product or packaging. The obligations sit with the economic operator placing the product on the market; we supply the production information they need.
UK footwear composition labellingMarket obligation
The UK keeps equivalent requirements for indicating the composition of upper, lining and sock, and outsole on footwear sold to consumers.
US requirements for children's productsMarket obligation
Children's footwear sold in the US falls under CPSIA requirements (including lead limits and tracking labels) where applicable; testing is carried out by accredited third-party labs arranged per order.
Khairay Footwear does not state any certification, approval or test result for this style unless documentation exists for your order.
Sampling, quality control and shipping explainedFAQ
Lightweight Racing & Driving Shoes: questions buyers ask
Can this be used for competition karting?
Only where the series does not require footwear with FIA approval. No FIA approval is claimed.
Is it suitable as a road driving shoe?
Yes, the thin sole and heel wrap suit driving-shoe positioning.
Can the shoe be laceless?
Elastic or hook-and-loop closures are possible.
How light can it be?
Weight is measured on samples; we do not publish figures before that.
Can we customise the perforation?
Yes, with cutting dies or laser, depending on the material.
Do you supply karting shoes with FIA approval?
No FIA approval is claimed for any style. Footwear for competitions requiring FIA standard 8877-2022 needs that approval process completed before such use.
What information do you need for a karting quotation?
Design or references, colours and logo files, adult and junior size breakdown, quantities, personalisation list and destination market.
Can we submit our own karting shoe design?
Yes, with or without choosing a reference style.
Related reference styles
Related styles
KF-KRT-001
High-Ankle Karting Shoes
KF-KRT-004
Motorsport Team Footwear
KF-SNK-003
Running & Performance Trainers
KF-MOT-001
Motorcycle Riding Shoes
KF-KRT-002 · Karting & Motorsport Footwear
Develop this footwear style for your brand
The quotation form opens with karting & motorsport and KF-KRT-002 selected. You can change any specification, or upload an entirely different design, tech pack or sample photos.