I did this for years as a young man. Sneakers and toe clips. If you always use the same sneakers, the rat-trap pedals will wear grooves in the sole, plus the soles are soft enough even before that happens so that it's almost impossible to pull the shoe out. I always buckled the left shoe in, but only pulled up on the strap for the right shoe so I could get out quickly. That said, for sure clipless is safer but I do understand the OP's desire.

You want a pair of rat traps with strap slots in the inner and outer plates, similar to these:

It's odd how few have proper slots now. The straps have to be leather.