Where the height has to hide
The same lift looks completely different depending on what shape you put it in. This is the honest version of that trade.
| Style | Shoes | Lift range | Cheapest | Median per cm | Carries up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sneakers | 432 | 5–10.2 cm | $24.99 | $21.13 | 8 cm |
| Boots | 324 | 5–14 cm | $49 | $29.36 | 9 cm |
| Dress shoes | 513 | 5–15 cm | $49.99 | $66.33 | 6.5 cm |
| Casual shoes | 237 | 5–15 cm | $34.99 | $22.38 | 7 cm |
| Sandals | 46 | 4–8.1 cm | $59.99 | $14.54 | 2.5 cm |
| Insoles and lifts | 36 | 1–10 cm | $2.99 | $7.16 | 4 cm |
"Carries up to" is our figure, not the maker's. It is the amount of lift we think that shape can hold before it stops reading as an ordinary shoe, and it is one of the four inputs to every score. The reasoning is here
Sneakers
The easiest place to hide height. A thick midsole is normal on a trainer, so the lift reads as a shoe rather than a lift.
324 shoesBoots
The most forgiving shape. A shaft covers the ankle, so the extra sole has somewhere to disappear into.
513 shoesDress shoes
The hardest brief. A formal last has a thin sole by convention, so every extra centimetre has to go inside the shoe.
237 shoesCasual shoes
Loafers, derbies and everyday leather. A middle ground between a trainer sole and a formal one.
46 shoesSandals
An open shoe has nowhere to hide anything, so what you see is what it adds.
36 shoesInsoles and lifts
Drop-in height for shoes you already own. Cheap, limited, and it costs you room inside the shoe.