The biggest disadvantage with slip in shoe lifts is that it does not always compliment the shoe. So if a shoe lift that is more than 2 inches high makes the wearer uncomfortable. Running with slip in shoe lifts is out of the question as the chances of twisting the ankle and causing grievous injury increases manifold. Elevators are designed in such a way that the height of the insole is factored in while making the top and front of the shoe. So the ankle fits inside the shoe and does not protrude out. These shoes have good ankle support thus reducing or eliminating the chances of a twisted ankle. Running with elevator shoes is easier than running with slip in shoe lifts.

Since normal shoes are not designed to fit shoe lifts they lack the heel locking area that all elevators have. The slip in shoe lifts are free and move around inside the shoe while elevators have the height increasing insole firmly stitched or glued inside the shoe to keep it in its place. Another disadvantage with slip in shoe lifts is that if the shoe lift is too high the wearer is likely to get blisters on the heel and ankles where they rub against the shoe. (Please refer to Introduction to Elevator Shoes for more details about elevator shoes structure)

These new shoes come in different styles like sneakers, dress, and casual shoes. However, you need not go overboard and buy elevators that have insoles higher than 3 inches as it may prove uncomfortable.

Generally, elevator shoes is a better choice than shoe lifts. If you are looking for long term height lift, you definitely should choose elevator shoes because it gives your more comfort and more height. However if you just need a height lift for occasion and you have limited budget, shoes lift will work for you.

What are Elevator Shoes?

Elevator shoes are also known as height increasing shoes, lift shoes or shoe lift shoes. They are specially designed to invisibly increase the height of the wearer. The basic idea is to put thick insoles (lifts) in the shoes, so that the wearer can get taller. (See “Inside Elevator Shoes” for more information.) Elevator shoes look normal from outside. Well designed elevator shoes are as comfortable as normal shoes. It may take several days for wears to get used to it. Normally, elevator shoes increase 2.5-4 inches in height. There are 5 inches extra-height elevator shoes, but it will loose comfort and is more noticeable.

History of Elevator Shoes

You may raise the question “Who invented elevator shoes?” Elevator shoes history can be chased back to early 1500s when cowboy boots came out in Spain. Since 1700s, men’s footwear with Cuban heel became popular along with a brief resurgence in higher-heeled shoes for men.[1]

In modern life, people are more concerned about health. People with flatfoot feel uncomfortable when they wear normal shoes. Some of them try to put soft insoles inside shoes to make to more comfortable. Also, orthopaedic doctors sometimes recommend use thick insoles to help patient increase height. Later on, this kind of thick soft insoles became a shared secret within a particular group of people. Shoes manufactures started to design special shoes with thick insoles and keep the normal look and comfort. They call it “Elevator Shoes” or “Height Increasing Shoes”.

In the past, elevator shoes are only for men but in late 1990s, women’s elevator shoes came out. Although women can wear high-heel shoes or platform shoes to increase height, some women don’t want to show people they wear high-heel shoes. Women’s elevator shoes usually come with flat, low or middle heels with a thick insole.

Inside Elevator Shoes

It seems simple to put thick insoles inside shoes but it’s not that easy to keep the shoes comfortable and look normal. All the components of the shoes need to be re-designed to achieve this goal.

A pair of elevator shoes consists four parts:

Upper

Insole

Mid-insole

Outer-soles

Upper
The upper needs to be designed to accommodate the thick insole. There is more slope between the face and the post. Also, the post curve is higher than normal shoes.

Insole
This is the magic part to increase height. It can be made from plastic, cork, or foam. The front part is lower than the back part. There are different designs in the slope and curve to fit different feet.

Mid-insole
Because insole is usually made with soft and expensive material, it is easy to be worn out. The mid-sole provide some level of buffer between insole and outer-soles. It prevents the deterioration of your insole and provides aeration.

Outer-soles
The outer-insole helps keep the wearer from feeling uncomfortable and allows a natural instep. The natural rubber heels can be replaced by an ordinary heel.

Although the components of elevator shoes are different from normal shoes, it looks just the same when they are assembled.

It is noteworthy that elevator shoes and shoe lifts are different. Shoe lifts are separate thick insoles that can be inserted into any shoes. The disadvantages of lifts are that they need to be replaced every few months (due to hygienic reasons), they may be uncomfortable, and the larger-sized lifts may not fit in smaller shoes.[2]

Who is Suitable to Wear Elevator Shoes?

As we all know, there is no effective way for adult to naturally grow taller. Elevator shoes are designed for people who want to be taller effectively. They are for both men and women, though women’s elevator shoes are not popular. Also, if you are flatfoot, you should give it a try because most people with flatfoot feel more comfortable when wearing elevator shoes.

You can choose elevator shoes for long term wear or just for a special occasion. Some people choose to wear elevator shoes for long term because they get used to it and they like the feeling of being taller. In some occasions such as wedding, it is important for a man to be taller, especially taller than “her”. People choose elevator shoes in these situations. Most people feel normal when they wearing elevator shoes but to other people, the wearer looks taller and more confident.

Who are Wearing Elevator Shoes?

You may not notice, but actually many people around us wear elevator shoes including some famous men. For example, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, famous movie star Tom Cruise and famous venture capitalist Aviv Nevo. Over 1,000,000 elevator shoes are sold every year!

References

1. Wikipedia High-heeled footware, section “Men and heels”
2. Hudson’s Guide: Men’s Shoes in Small Sizes and Lift Shoes, secion “Appearing Taller: About Shoe Lifts and Shoes with Built-in Lifts”.