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Looking for a Karting (racing) shoe for a 15 year old. Some have high-tops while others have a low profile.
Some high-tops do not have a cut out above the heel. Would a cut out be beneficial or not? Should the shoe fit snug at the ankle or be a little loose?
Why do all the karting shoes have a rounded sole but only some have a cut out?
The primary consideration is safety with athletic performance being secondary.
Having raced karts and cars for many years, the only crucial factors for motor racing shoes are that they can fit into what is often a very reduced space, and they can protect your fit from fire and other damage.
A high top will offer more protection, but can be a little restrictive, which is why many opt for lower ankles.
For karting the fire risk is low, and you tend to have ample space, so I would go with whatever is comfortable.
High-top or Low-top
In my opinion, high tops are better because most of them are fire rated and add that extra protection. If you were to burn your ankles, they do not recover well from burn damage. This results in a long and painful recovery time. In a non-fire resistant shoe, the best buy would still be a high top so there is less edge to catch a pedal on. So my answer would obviously be the High-Top.
Hint: After tying your laces, stick them into the shoe to avoid getting them caught in and around the pedals.
Size
The shoe should feel comfortable when you put it on. It can be a little snug at first, but you know it's going to loosen up a little bit. A driving shoe shouldn't be uncomfortable, but you want it snug enough to do the job. All I can say is to make sure the shoes fit perfectly, for safety's sake.
I race karts regularly. I have first hand experience.
I'm assuming that you are talking about short-circuit karting (i.e. non-gearbox). Long-circuit karting is a whole different story (and one where I have no experience).
If possible, try your boots while sat in the kart. I have some really nice, comfortable Puma racing boots but as soon as I get in the kart I find that the rear portion of the ankle cutaway simply rubs/presses on my achilles heel - not especially comfortable after even 10 minutes of racing (and I usually race for 90 minutes - these boots are now gathering dust!).
In terms of high-top versus low top, there is a marginal argument on the grounds of safety and protection (imo) but in reality I think this is negligible in karting and it simply becomes a matter of comfort and protection. Similarly, space restriction is rarely an issue in a kart.
In the UK at least (and I'm pretty sure any FIK affiliated environment), flame/fire retardancy is not a requirement at all given the low-risk of fire. You will be pushed to find kart-specific equipment that is fire retardant. The consequence is that karting kit generally looks and feels the same as circuit racing kit but is considerably cheaper.
As far as fit is concerned, comfort is key again. Kart boots have thin soles to assist in the "feel" of the pedals but unless you have a gearbox kart, you won't be swapping pedals with your feet so "sensitivity" is much less important than in car racing.
Edit:
I meant to add - the presence or not of a cut out for the heel will very much be a factor of your (son's) stature and consequential position within the kart. A taller driver will need less "pivot" in their heels and will approach the pedals from a more "top-down" position - meaning less room required in the back of their boot. A shorter driver, like me, will have their legs a full extension (almost flat) and therefore their ankle more pivoted and require more room at the back of their boots. Again though, it's comfort!
