RobV said on 11/Aug/14
@ Liking Lifts. For myself I always buy, if I can, a size-and-a-half-up, but this is partly because I like to wear stuff that I can add a little further lifts to if poss. But if you are wearing elevators, the key is comfort and I now never feel any problem at all with them - I used to have more issues with lifts than with elevators, as with lifts you are adding something to footwear which is not expecting both a foot and an extra wedge! It took me a while to get the real hang of them, and even now I am amazed at how different lifts work in different boots/shoes, and it really IS trial and error to get it both to the max and feeling comfortable.
The plus with lifts of course is that you can have almost any type of shoe, specially if you are younger and into fashion. Elevators are getting better, way better than 10 years ago, but still have to catch up quite a lot. I really will try those very trendy looking ones that I posted about but they are just so expensive.
I suspect you have worn the 5.5" ones too often to exchange them for the next size up!
LikingLifts said on 7/Aug/14
My feet are getting more used to the 5.5" lifts but it seems I just need to buy a larger size like you mentioned. It just feels like they're squishing my feet horribly if I wear them more than a couple hours. I'll keep looking around for the next size up or maybe even 1.5 size up
RobV said on 25/Jul/14
Has anyone ever bought Guido Maggi elevators? I've only just picked up on them. They look incredible but also incredibly expensive (like 500 euros+ which is 400 sterling/700 US dollars). The interesting point in their promotion is that, a bit like my Don's d'Etnas, they are current and fashionable - and the styling appears to break that usual 'elevator rules' that you should never expose the heel for fear of detection.
They demonstrate something I have said before - that when big boots are fashionable (which they are a lot of the time and in lots of ways), then practically ALL big boots look like that could (just could) be elevators because of their chunky styling and heavy duty heels etc. It therefore means you can wear them with a bit more confidence of non detection. If they all look chunky then your elevators are 'no different' to others in similar styles (only you know they are).
Of course, you look at the clips and know that you are looking at elevators because it is flagged up for you. The danger is that you then think you can 'tell'. But a lot of these look great. Check them out on youtube. I would love to know if anyone has bought anything from these guys and how it looks, specially in the boots and at the fashion end.
[Editor Rob: they are even more expensive than Dons, but then high fashion shoes from some Italian brands are in that range aswell.]
RobV said on 23/Jul/14
@likinglifts I think whether you go for lifts or elevators or a combination, you are always best getting stuff in a size or two larger to allow you to experiment and add. Whatever you do, the boots will fit fine if you make allowance. They will certainly not end up being too big. Otherwise, you will curse. I did that recently when I saw a fab pair of (non elevator) boots, and made the mistake of assuming that that style in a particular size would allow me to add 3" of lift. It was similar to another pair but better, same brand though. The upper was just tighter and therefore I could only get less than 2" in. They didn't have a size larger than that anyway, but had they had a pair, I would for sure have got more in.
I will post once I have received my new 5.5"/6" d'Etnas. They will give me about 4" I think.
RobV said on 22/Jul/14
Something just posted on 'General Height' might be of interest here. Someone understandably asked how I can get from 6'2" even to 6'5" just using lifts. Well you can but it is very difficult. I tend to use the words lifts and elevators rather interchangeably and I often say 'using lifts/elevators'. By and large for achieving that kind of height lift, I use elevators AND lifts. Currently I wear my 5" d'Etnas (by Dons) a lot, in a size or so larger than my own with added 1" lifts. And it takes me to probably 6'6" ish (with allowance for the boot and angle). I've actually now ordered the ones of his still not advertised but which I discovered on a youtube video (the extra inch to 5.5"/6", they look cool in the video and I prefer the sole, much more trendy).
Lifts alone are way more tricky. It can be done - but almost solely with big boots like Docs and Rangers in sizes much bigger than your own size (I have several and manage to get the 3" out of them OK - they were the first ones I ever did, when I was in my late teens 15 years ago and I very accurately measured my height in them as having got the extra 3" I wanted). But no way in your kind of day to day office type shoes, and even in the boots brands I mention, there are some styles you can achieve it in, some you cannot.
Likinglifts said on 20/Jul/14
@RobV
I think youre right about getting a size or two bigger with higher lifts. My 2" inserts that give me an actual 1.5" height increase fit nicely inside my normal size work boots. The 5.5" lift boots I bought which give me 3.5" of actual lift over wearing my work boots without lifts are very snug on my feet since I ordered them in my normal size. I assumed since they were made with the lifts inside they would take that sort of stuff into account, but I assumed wrong. It seems the stated height increase for any shoe is versus your barefoot height.
Ive wanted to order a pair of dons for year. I think the time to order them is coming up quickly. Especially now that they're offering styles of boots that basically never go out of fashion and in 6" lift.
RobV said on 18/Jul/14
@ Finlander Yes it is funny that 2" taller seems to be quite a common aspiration. Interestingly, when one of the posters on here did a survey on "how tall ru, how tall would u like to be", that was what from memory seemed to come out more than anything. Even guys around my height and slightly taller would like to be 2" taller. That may be almost a sort of 'realistic' aspiration in a way - you can just about get 2" more by careful use of footwear etc and it is just and just easily attainable through that, but it is not a kind of situation where you feel like an almost different person.
But trust me once you are around that height you will probably want an extra inch, because if you are a tad under 6' now, you will already be 6'1" in boots. Go for what you feel comfortable with, but bearing in mind the loss of extra lift you do get by angle etc, my instinct is you'd be better with the 3.1". It's a small difference I know to the 2.75" but an elevator of 3.1" on your 'almost 6 foot' will 100% certainly keep you under 6'3" and within the height parameters you describe. And I bet you will want to go a bit higher in future.
Finlander said on 17/Jul/14
@RobV
Thanks 'bout the info. I'm getting more and more certain about buying the gran sassos(2.75" or 3.1").
About my height, I was measured recently and I was 182.5cm(a fraction below 6') barefeet. And about how tall I want to appear. I want to be like 6'3 or a notch more in boots so people would assume that I was a legit 6'2" guy. Kinda funny isn't it, I mean like I want to be 6'2" and you're 6'2" and want to be more than 6'4". Also I know like a ton of guys who would like to be 6'.
RobV said on 17/Jul/14
@ Finlander, on Don's sizes. I have just checked and I thought he did in fact do bigger sizes. It slightly confusingly says you can get a maximum EU 46 in the gran Sasso for example (max size) but also says that 13.5 is the max UK size available (now that is 48.5 in Europe). I have had them made to the bigger UK size through Dons, and am expecting in the mail soon a pair of 13.5 UK size d'Etnas in the highest lift. Good luck, and do think about the 3.1" or even the 4" Gran Sasso. Both will keep you under 6'3" in real terms imho (ie as a 6'3" guy in boots)!
RobV said on 17/Jul/14
@ Liking Lifts. I am really surprised you have had so much problem with the higher lifts, but it may just be that the boots/shoes are not of the right kinda quality (and, possibly, shoes size) you need at that height. My 4" d'Etnas + 1" lift inserted are the most comfortable boots I own, which is why I have gone for the 5.5"/6" version that he has just developed (but not put on his site yet, for some reason).
You also mentioned that you put lifts in at first and that people asked what was wrong, and you thought you might look like you were limping. I have to say that this can happen if you do not get the balance right, or if you are trying to put too much in too small a space (sometimes it is deceptive when you first add the lift - 'hurray I can get all that in"). I cured this completely by always buying boots and shoes a size (or 2) bigger) when adding lifts. The problem is that there is always a limit as to what you can add by way of lifts. So you have to get it exactly right - comfort and max height. The temptation to add more than comfort allows appears to be greater when the shoes are your normal size. When the shoes are bigger, you get a little more in and are happy with the result so you tend to stick at that. I had superb motorbike boots in my late teens but could never get the lifts right - the boots ended up too tight or not enough lift and I felt a bit like you do. And then I bought another pair two sizes bigger and never looked back.
Finlander said on 16/Jul/14
@LikingLifts
Thanks, I'm probably gonna go with the gran sasso(2,75") boots. About lifts, I have a pair of homemade lifts(1"-1,50" range) in my Nike airforce ones. They give me just enough that I look like a legit 6'1" guy but, they are somewhat uncomfortable and took time to get used to. Then why the boots, you may ask? Well I just want a really good pair of boots(and to look like 6'1"-6'2") and also I'm aiming for the greater comfortably.
Oh... and Rob? Any idea why you can't order(from DON's) larger shoes than EU size 46. I am just wondering cause in Finland sizes like 47 to 49 are big but not that rare(I mean like if you are buying new sneakers you would find size 48 shoe pretty easily). And my size is 44, so no problem with that just wondering. :)
[Editor Rob: maybe Don's haven't got the shoe lasts for such big sizes, so you would need to try to contact them and see if they make bigger sizes to a special order?]
RobV said on 16/Jul/14
@ Finlander. I have ordered from Dons and they were delivered no problem to the UK. I am not exactly sure where they are based but it's not the Uk so mail seems to get through no problem.
You are similar to me in some ways - you are tall (6') and want to be taller but no more than 6'3". I am 6'2" and want to be taller, but max 6'6" (so just up a notch!). You are concerned that you don't want to appear too tall if you buy the Gran Sasso boots in 2.75" elevator. You most certainly will not and might wish you had at least gone for the next size up, the 3.1". The reason? You have to bear in mind one thing. If you wear any boots at all already, say like these ones or like Timberlands, but with no lift, you will already be adding an inch or maybe even a tiny bit more. So as Editor Rob often points out, an elevator that says 2.75" will NOT give 2.75" on TOP of what you normally are in boots. PLus there is a kind of slight lessening in what you gain from the 2.75" because of the angle of the foot etc. You will certainly not exceed your desired height with the 2.75" elevator - and never mind the 3.1", you might even wish you had gone for the 4"! It depends upon whether you are saying "I am 6' barefoot, 6'1 to 6'1.5 in my boots, and only want an extra inch and a half in boots to get to 6'3". Or whether you want to be like a 6'3" guy in boots, which inevitably takes you a tad taller.
And 2.75" in these boots is no way too tall. I like the look of those ones actually. I have just ordered a 2nd pair of Don's d'Etnas in his new 5.5"/6" elevator. And although I am 6'2" they will probably only just get me to the 6'6" mark because of the limitations I have mentioned.
I have had a lot of experience with elevators and lifts and I realise that even an extra half inch makes you yourself feel way taller than you are. It takes quite a lot of elevator or lift in the right kind of boot to actually genuinely get an additional 2"+ extra height on top of the height you are in your usual footwear. Feel free to take advantage of my experience and ask any questions.
LikingLifts said on 16/Jul/14
@ RobV, thanks for the info, let me know how you like the boots when you get em. In your shoes I would feel the same, it seems no matter how much taller I can make myself I would still rather be even taller. With a 6" lift that would make me over 6'2" at any point of the day, & I would still likely be shorter than a few people during the day. Disappointing being short to start with :/
@Finlander
My very first lift was the insert into my normal work boots. 2". They were actually quite awkward at first, but the boots I put them in already made me 1.5" taller, so it was adding 2" on top of that. For about a month people kept asking me "what's wrong" and they would say it looked as if I was limping.
With that said I would say anything under 3" is a good starter lift size. I'm so used to my boots with inserts that I can run/train in them as if they were regular shoes. My 5.5" lift boots are another story. I wore them all day today at work. They destroyed my feet. I took them off for my breaks and lunch, my feet still hurt 4 hours later without any shoe on my feet.
It is awesome to be viewed as "tall" but I'm not sure it's worth this much pain. I have heard many good things about Dons shoes and that they're more comfortable than run of the mill elevator shoes, so they might be even easier to adapt to, but I have no experience with Dons yet.
Finlander said on 14/Jul/14
Hi, I'm thinking of buying the Gran Sasso boots(w. 2.75 increase probably) from Don's and I was thinking, has anyone from like really far(I'm from Finland, myself) ordered shoes from Don's?
Also I'm about 182cm-183cm(6ft) and would like to look more than 185.5cm(6'1") but I don't want to look over 191cm(6'3"). So if you have experience about this, could you tell me how it all played out. Oh... And I'm a first time elevator shoe buyer, so please tell me if 2.75 is too much to begin with.
RobV said on 14/Jul/14
@ LikingLifts. Don's d'Etna 5.5"/6" boots ordered, apparently completed and on their way to me. I can't wait to get hold of them and will let you know how they stack up :) For the record I currently have a pair of the d'Etnas with the 4" elevator and an additional 1 inch of lift and they are incredibly comfortable. I saw the 5.5"/6" ones by chance in the video (still not on the Don's site yet - they really should put them on there) - I went for these higher ones because the existing ones look good, because I wanted them higher and because the sole that has to be used on the 5.5"/6" is in fact much more fashionable. In these new higher ones I have gone for the glossy version. If you are at all bothered by detection, shiny/glossy is better - you can start to worry (slightly unnecessarily imho) that the matt ones look like orthopaedic boots! Trust me they don't.
And in fact, I wear these matt ones fully exposed with skinny jeans, which some might think breaks all the rules - these 'rules' are that with elevators and lifts, specially above a certain height, you should usually wear as much cover as poss through bootcut jeans to disguise the possibility that the lift is visible at the heel (that clumpy look). And I usually do that with other footwear I have lifts or elevators in, specially during the day. But not with these, and I have 100% confidence in them. If you look at most big boots (currently trendy again) like Docs and rangers etc, they actually ALL look like they might have elevators in them!
And yes mate, you really get used to them - I am already 6'2" tall and I love being around 6'5"/6'6" by using good lifts and elevators. And it is just so weird that people never really notice that you are actually taller - don't forget, of course, that you can't really just measure from barefoot. People see you mostly in shoes. Most shoes with nothing in at all give you an inch or so already, so really for added height purposes you have to take your normal shoes/boots and then see where you get from them. On that basis, I expect my 5.5"/6" to give me about 4.5" advantage, maybe a bit more if lucky, on top of my usual height in average boots. Bloody good. Good luck and if ever you need any advice or tips I'm robfranklin980 @ yahoo.co.uk. I've really made elevators and lifts work for me using logic and sense, and I know loadsa guys who would like to try but don't quite get into it because they fear detection etc.
LikingLifts said on 13/Jul/14
First I must say thanks for this article and keeping up on new developments. It have me the courage to try lifts for the first time, and now I've been wearing lifts for years!
Anyone tried out the 6" version of Dons new boots? I've been thinking about it.
I've worn inserts in my boots for a few years now. I'm 5'8.25 to 5'8.5 depending on what part of the day I measure. The inserts claim 1.5-2" taller depending if you use the booster or not. I use them inside of typical store bought work boots like caterpillar, survivors etc. which give me about 1.5" taller than barefoot height by themself. this combo makes me 5'11.25-5"11.5" again depending on what point in the day I measure. Not bad for only $11.99! They were quite awkward at first, but now I don't notice them at all, & can even run in them just fine.
Most recently I bought a set of 5.5" elevator shoes that are in the $150 price range. These make me a full 5" taller than my barefoot height @ over 6'1"! These shoes apply more pressure onto your feet and are not very comfortable to wear at first. After a few days of wearing them they are reasonably comfortable and I could easily wear them all day. Anytime I wear them around people that know me I get asked "have you lost weight?" I weigh about 165lbs so I'm not exactly overweight to begin with.
From my experience with elevators(which is only what you see above) they make me .5" less than advertised taller. When I measure the inserts inside of my boots it measures right at 3.5" from the ground to the top of the insert, & they make me 3" taller. Same with the new boots. They measure 5.5" from the ground to the top of the lift, & make me 5" taller. This does require extremely good posture to attain these gains, but once you're used to it it feels normal.
RobV said on 21/Jun/14
I just made a point elsewhere that is worth making here on this section related to elevators. It's about fitting your own style to what you wear and how fashion trends and how you dress can be used to your advantage (or play against you).
I have actually managed to wear my Don's 5" d'Etnas bought last year undetectable with skinny jeans tucked in, which I know I know kinda goes against what indeed I have always believed myself about the need to wear such heights with bootcut jeans covering much of the boot.
A lot is about looking at what current styles/trends are and what suits your image - just look at sites like TopMan and their models are often wearing skinnies with big Doc-type boots, tucked in or rolled up exposing the boot. If someone said to you "they are elevators the guys are wearing", you would say "Oh yes, I can tell". But they are not. All big chunky boots like that can look like they are built up (even when I didn't wear elevators in them years ago, my mum called them my Herman Munster boots). So it's also about tailoring the lift to your own style - sometimes you are lucky and a style which suits big elevators comes in. Sometimes you are not. The more off centre to your own image you are, the more it can look like Vin Diesel, Robert Downey Jr et al and their big cheap boots worn with suits at red carpet events - yuk and obvious. It then seems at the very least that you are wearing something that does not really suit or is not fashionable in order to give you more height.
RobV said on 19/Jun/14
@ Editor Rob on the Don's boots. I meant the new 5.5"/6" ones that he has done on a youtube video, not the 5" ones you have. He doesn't have them yet on his site, but he posted a video of them them a few months ago, basically saying 'at last, after many requests'. I can post a link if you want. I happened across it by total chance.
If these ones are an additional half inch to inch on top of the 5" version you have, then that would take the gain to 4.5" to 5" in comparison with the average sneaker/shoe. I actually prefer the look of the sole on these new ones, more fashionably chunky, which possibly accounts for a little of the additional height!
[Editor Rob: the 5.5 probably will give 4.3 inches, it might change a little if you have a longer foot, but still getting nearly 4.5 inches is a remarkable amount as you can then genuinely look 3.5 inches taller than what you used to look if you wore 1 inch shoes]
RobV said on 17/Jun/14
Just to let you know I have ordered the new-ish highest elevators from Don's (the 5.5"/6" d'Etnas on the facebook video). I like the style as they are quite fashionable to wear with current jeans styles. I will let you know - they will probably give me up to 4.5"/5" which is a tad more than I tend to go for and will take me to 2m (over 6'6").
[Editor Rob: the exact measurement from the
BIG ROB versions that Dons sent me (it is the 5-incher model) is just in the 3.8 inch zone, so you are basically gaining 3 inches in height on average, compared to the typical sneaker or basic shoe.]
Height master said on 2/Jun/14
Rob, do you think shoe lifts could possibly cause your spine to decompress more than usual? I wear lifts because I want to hit the 5'10 mark. I'm 5'8.5 for my day low, and wear one inch shoe lifts. I noticed that I measure at least an quarter of an inch taller when I don't wear them. So technically my low would be 5'8.75.
[Editor Rob: maybe the lifts mean your back is under more pressure so you are reaching your low faster than not wearing lifts?]
J.Lee said on 19/May/14
Rob these are 2.4 inches? how much taller are u in them than jenny? How high are her shoes in the pic?
[Editor Rob: those are the elevators I measured on the dons youtube video, about 2.3 inch range, her sneakers are like 0.4 inches, there was around 2 inches really in the photo...although in photos sometimes 2 inches can look anywhere from 1 inch up to 3 inches!
]
RobV said on 14/May/14
@ Heylo on wearing a bit of a lift to get you to 5'11". You'll find that adding an inch is very easy and you will for sure notice the height increase but it will not cause you any concern at all and will be undetectable really. The thing is, though, that once you have added an inch, you will probably want to add another a few months/weeks down the line to get yourself to 6'! That's the funny thing about wearing lifts/elevators - the extra height is very welcome and you do kinda end up going higher.
RobV said on 12/May/14
@ Saint 6-1 As I am another Rob, not the Editor!, who bought a pair of the Don's 5" d'etna elevators last year, you might poss have been asking me! And yes I wear those all the time. Apart from anything else, they are in a style which is quite trendy right now with straight/skinnies and they are very comfortable. Of all the stuff I wear - lifts/elevators/combo - they are actually the easiest to wear for daily activities and in spite of being big workboot style, they do not look like elevators, just big boots. I just hope they stay fashionable. As I'm 6'2", they're the only footwear I have that easily takes me to 6'6".
But with this type of boot you MUST keep them well polished, even if only at the heel, or at some point a kind of ridge could appear where the elevator section meets the rest of the upper.
I am tempted to try his military style ones as well in a similar height, and on reflection would have preferred to order the shiny black leather rather than the matt style finish for the d'etna. But i can wear them day and night for ages and no probs.
Heylo said on 12/May/14
You say you are 5'8 but in a video where you show some Don boots you are 174.3cm?
[Editor Rob: that would be earlier in the day, but the stadiometer adds 1/8th inch, I drop to 5ft 8.25 usually on stadiometer so I am 5ft 8 1/8th.]
Heylo said on 12/May/14
Hey Rob. I'm 5'10 and live in Sweden. As you may know swedes are tall and the average are at 181.5.. However, I've been thinking about buying some 1inch insoles to put in some of my shoes but I feel awkward at the same time. When did you start to use lifts? Seem like 2 inches and above is usual in here to use but I think that's too much, i would feel a bit pathetic with it. Which is the most usual kind of lift that you are using?
And 1 inch for me would make a pretty big difference since i get over the 5'11 mark.
(S)aint 6-1 said on 11/May/14
Hey Rob, do you ever wear your Dons during daily activities?
[Editor Rob: personally I don't wear elevators or lifts at all apart from anything to do with the site or a height test.]
John said on 3/May/14
Actually the pain went away
RobV said on 2/May/14
@ John on elevators poss causing pain in knee. Funny how it comes back to you. When I started using lifts, no way would I buy elevators. They were all in small sizes, off the peg ones were crap, handmade were old fashioned (happily it has now changed). And I wanted to use my own trendy styles of footwear in my late teens and early 20s anyway. And I started using kinda home made/put together lifts to get as high as I could. I'm tall already, 6'2" but wanted to be around 6'5"/6'6". And I noticed that when I went really high, the balance could easily go (not crazy but just a tiny bit). And that was enough to give me a bit aggro too. The lifts you show in your shot are quite a few stacked on each other and up to a point that works but it is not really quite like a woman wearing heels and I suspect that you may have the problem that I had - that there is a slight imbalance from one foot to another, even if you think that what you have there is exactly the same. Also the pressure on the top of your foot if it presses into the upper causes mild ache in some parts.
A few tips - Measure the lift stack from both boots (is it exactly the same?). Put pressure on both of them (does one compress more than the other even slightly?). Are these the only boots you go so high in? They look fine and are the sort of boots that I would wear in some situations but I also wonder how you get so high in them without real pressure on the top of the foot. Get some more lifts and do some replacements. Don't chuck old ones away, keep them, but things do wear: maybe try for a few weeks with all new ones and knock an inch out if necessary. Just try different things for comfort. And make sure you wear a good variety of footwear - it really doesn't matter if some are a little lower that the 4". Heights vary anyway with boots etc. Hope this helps. Have been doing it v successfully for 15 years now!
John said on 28/Apr/14
@RobV Yes I wear the 4'' lifts in my boots. Here is the picture of them
Click Here I've been expeirencing knee and ankle pain only on the right leg for some reason my left leg is fine.
RobV said on 26/Apr/14
@John you say you have been wearing 11cm lifts for 3 years. That's well over 4", and as a long term lift wearer myself, I would say that is quite a lot for lifts (as opposed to elevators where you can get some that are fine for the feet at tat height and more). You don't mention whether you have pain in one or more knees. This is important because at that height with lifts, you really really have to make sure that they fit the boots/shoes. Lifts at that height can become unbalanced by wear etc. And getting that sort of lift into even most boots is not tat easy unless you are buying sizes a good bit bigger than your feet. I have had so much experience at this that what you say intrigues me.
A lot of potential problems come from trying to fit too much into a space which is just not there, and you then get pressure on different parts of your foot. I would be interested to actually know how you are fitting 4"+ into your boots/shoes and what sort of footwear you are doing this with.
BOBO said on 26/Apr/14
I purchased a pair of dress boots from Don's Footwear (aka Donnelly) and received them as promised in a few weeks. The shoes are of very high quality leather and the styles are both conservative and contemporary. These are by far the best dress shoes I have purchased online. Allen who makes the custom shoes was very responsive to my emails and a real pleasure to work with. I emailed Allen to order another pair and asked if he can make them with a few changes in the style and he yes of course. This is the type of high quality service you get for very affordable custom dress and casual shoes. Also, the boots are the most comfortable I've ever had. I will always purchase my dress and casual shoes from Don's Footwear. Thanks Alen for a great job and great custom service.
John said on 25/Apr/14
hello Rob i have been wearing 11'cm lifts in my boots for 3 years, I've been lately experiencing knee pain at the end of the day. What does this sign mean?
[Editor Rob: maybe too much stress on knee joints...wise to take a break now and then]
RobV said on 17/Apr/14
@ dan on which firm celebs use for elevators. I wonder if anyone has noticed something. Some of the celebs who are commented on most for possible elevator use (Robert Downey Jnr, Stallone, Diesel) wear truly truly terrible boots. Great big clumpy things with outfits for which they are not suited - ie with suits at red carpet events etc. Others though clearly have it sussed and I suspect that most aim to add about 2 inches just to gain that vital bit of extra (like Bradley Cooper, Brad Pitt etc who I think go for more made to measure) - these ones you just don't quite know whether they do lift, but kinda suspect it.
Truth is, as an elevator wearer myself, I know that there is a kind of limit for different situations, and you have to get the style of the shoe/boot right with what you wear, specially in a full-on red carpet situation. You rarely see what celebs are wearing on their feet anyway unless they are at showpiece events/awards and are shot full length, and you can never tell from movies because of the way things are filmed.
Most stars really hate being photographed full length with others and in the club nights that I run, on the odd occasion we have someone well known come in, it is always interesting that they really do not want to be photographed with guys who are taller and are very very tricky about anything like that. If you don't aim to prevent it, then they will never come again and you will find that you don't get others come either.
dan said on 17/Apr/14
Hey rob i have a question. what company do celebrities actually use? yes dons shoes are expensive but they are worth it. im just curious to know what company do celebrities or people with more money use?
[Editor Rob: they might get a custom shoemaker to create special shoes, but I'm sure a few might have used Don's, not that I am privy to any sort of info. I would be surprised if some celebs hadn't bought them!]
RobV said on 16/Apr/14
@ John and using 11cm (4") shoelifts. Adding my thoughts as a lift/elevator wearing of almost 15 years. Firstly, as Rob says, lifts of that height have to be able to fit the boot in question and there are not many styles that easily fit 4 inches. I would ALWAYS have preferred lifts to elevators simply because the idea of adding 3-4inches in any style of shoe of my choice is preferable to making do with what is, after all, a limited range of elevators (at least they are way way better than when I started). But I learned pretty quickly that there were not many styles I could easily add even 3" to.
One problem I had was that the top of my foot would press too tight into the upper of the shoe. Get them and try them in any boot and you'll see what I mean. But the funny thing is this doesn't apply all the time - I've bought boots which I likes but thought would be a problem (and they were fine) and the other way round - bought ones that I thought would easily fit and it was 'wow no way'. A thought - one thing you can do is buy your footwear a size or so larger and you will be able to fit more in there. But if you are not used to wearing lifts then it really is trial and error. Don't rush things. When you are really trying something out totally new it is often best to do it at night or in situations you can control - there is sometimes an incredibly fine line as to what is great (and looks it and feels it) and what is a fail. I can fit 3" lifts into one pair of big boots that I love, walk all night and day in them, but no way on earth even a cm more.
John said on 14/Apr/14
Hey Rob what do you think of these?
Click Here
I was thinking of buying the 11cm shoelifts would those be hard to walk in? I would be wearing them in my boots I am 5'2 so If i were to wear them i would 5'7 or so
[Editor Rob: they are ok as a cheaper option to buying elevator shoes. It would be a good way to test whether you can walk ok in them. The 5-layer looks quite thick, you are going to need a boot really to fit them in, and probably a boot that is a size bigger than normal, as it is going to push your foot quite high.
I think you'd be best starting with smaller lift and building it up. Get used to 2-layers for a while and then try 3 or 4. It might turn out to be too awkward starting with a big lift.]
j said on 13/Apr/14
hi, the shoes you were wearing here, were they these?
Click Here
which height increase are yours? there's 2.5, 2.75, 3.1 and 4
[Editor Rob: the ones I got were the first incarnation I believe, they give near 2.3 (advertised I think as 2.75). It is a nice shoe, of course you might need trousers/jeans that are an inch or so longer so they cover the shoe and it doesn't look like half-masts.]
RobV said on 13/Apr/14
@ John - Rob is quite right about gradually getting used to higher elevators, and even with the 5"+ elevators you will get about 4" (still v impressive). That is what I did when I started. It kinda just happened incrementally. You have to make sure that you, er, don't run before you can walk so to speak and get comfortable with what you are doing. I bought a pair of the highest Don's recently but he has put on his facebook page some slightly even higher ones which I think could actually give you 5". Look at what I said on 29th March about these. They are very convincing, and just look like current trend chunky Doc/Gettagrip styles which are back in to some degree. But most elevator styles max out really at about 3" before looking a bit weird. If you want more inches occasionally, then the 5"+ ones are great to wear from time to time. If you want the extra extra height all the time in other shoes, you can buy those lower lift elevators in a size or so bigger and add a bit more height with lifts. Every half inch counts but learn when/how not to push it! It really also depends upon what you are wearing with them. Trainers are cool for adding inches easily - just buy way larger and add lifts.
j said on 13/Apr/14
hi rob, i just bought 2.75 inch don's elevator shoes because i was disappointed with the calden shoes i purchased (2.6 inches - about $80 for the shoes). can i expect more height from the don's pair than the calden pair?
[Editor Rob: the 2.75 might give you a bit less than actual 2.75, like 2.3-2.4]
John said on 12/Apr/14
Alright Thanks Rob. I've been using shoe lifts for quite awhile, I feel like I want to upgrade to more inches I heard about elevator shoes and how they can give you 5'' of height. But what I wanted to ask some questions before i buy them.
Are they hard to walk in?
Do they hurt your feet if you wear them to long?
[Editor Rob: they are shoes which you should gradually wear so that you get used to them. You try wearing them 3-4 hours the first few times and they'll probably hurt your shins/feet a bit, but if you build up slowly and wear them shorter times then it might be easier.
realistically you get between 2-3 inches out of most of the elevator shoes, getting 4 inches requires a very big boot and a lot more practice to walk about in than the 2-2.5 inch styles.]
RobV said on 5/Apr/14
...and John if you want to add a bit of extra lift, buy them a size or so larger and use the gel lifts. I have done that in some Timberlands in the past.
John said on 4/Apr/14
Hello Rob I was going to ask you I am planning on buying some Timberlands How much inches do they add exactly?
[Editor Rob: some give about 1.3-1.4 range, there is one model which gives 1.6 (tackhead) which is a little thicker than the standard timberland style of boot]
RobV said on 29/Mar/14
@ A.K. You say you are planning to buy some Don's. I have bought one pair so far and they are very good. Expensive but worthwhile imho. As I am more used to wearing elevators all the time, I went for the highest (the 5 inch d'Etnas) and they look cool. They give me about 4 inches (I am 6'2" already, yeah yeah I know, seems mad!). Those also happen to be in a style which is quite fashionable right now. A word of suggestion if you ever go for high-lift black boot elevators. Buy the shinier finish ones, not the matt ones, because the matt finish is often used on surgical boots! The matt ones are fine but it is just my observation for those who want to be totally sure that nothing is detectable. My ones are completely undetectable and v v comfortable.
A.K. said on 23/Mar/14
rob, i am planning to buy one of these Don elevator shoes, i just wanted to ask if they are comfortable enough to wear to Office everyday ? I would be buying the ones with a 2.5' heel.
[Editor Rob: I think that's about the limit because it will take getting used to, if you bought them I'd test them for longer periods in the house or just out and about, it is a big change to suddenly have your ankles higher up.]
RobV said on 16/Mar/14
@ french guy. I have worn elevators for 15 years, since I was late teens and have never had any issue at all other than when I have wanted to push things too far in a particular style - in one pair of non-elevator boots I tried to put too much in by way of shoelift and so my feet were sore. But elevators themselves are fine, as are lifts if there is enough room. I weigh 220lb and am 6'2" without elevators so if anyone would suffer knee problems wearing elevators/lifts 24/7 it would be someone like me, and I have no issues there at all.
french guy( 184-182 cm) said on 11/Mar/14
rob do they hurt? I read a lot that they are painful, even if it mainly depends on the quality of the shoes.I also read that they should not be worn for more than 3 hours because it could damage your knees and make you shorter?
[Editor Rob: look at the percentage of women who wear heels much more of an angle than elevator shoes. If you wear very high elevators then it may increase chance of problems with shins, ankles, knees...lower elevator not so much.]
RobV said on 2/Mar/14
Something like those Jadon style Docs look way cooler to add height than the stuff Robert Downey Jnr or Vin Diesel wear. I have never grasped how, with all their access to styling and cash they can't get something simple like that right.
Rhonda said on 25/Feb/14
I've bought some New Rock boots give nearly 3 inches about 5-6cm. Lots of people wear them who are into rock music and the Jadon style Dr Martins(Jesy from Little Mix wears them) are larger than the normal Dr Martins if you want to gain some more height.
RobV said on 23/Jan/14
@ c-mo175cm-night. Miaow
spillywilly said on 23/Jan/14
I would like to know if anybody can make one shoe 3inches(Left) taller then the right shoe?
c-mo175cm-night said on 22/Jan/14
men who are 5'8 or taller barefoot and use elevator shoes are pussies
RobV said on 22/Jan/14
If you want my guess, Editor Rob, as to where the elevator market will go, it is towards far more mainstream products in which lifts are barely referred to. That's because height does appear to be a little bit more of an aspiration nowadays (let's face it, like so many things which were once barely thought of to do with appearance). If I were to sum up the attitude of many guys today it is that opening paragraph in your entry on actor Bradley Cooper. A taller than average guy who is around 6', talking about himself being "6'2"" and all the while expressing the thought that when he was a teenager he'd hoped/thought he'd be 6'5" when he fully grew. That kind of thinking is quite common and I think that those who make footwear will grasp it. A lot of trainers are already v chunky and add well over an inch. It's not much of a step to see that moving on a notch. I would suspect that the biggest wearers of elevators are possibly people In groups which are shorter comparable to those around them, wherever in the world they are. But as the styles become more varied and fashionable, so more younger guys of all sorts of heights will go for them, simply for aesthetics, in the way that heels become fashionable every now and then. That will also end up making them less of an issue or a kind of joke and they will not be marketed as 'elevators'.
[Editor Rob: the last 2-3 years I notice with women's footwear, really big heels are much more popular, ones with 2-3 inch platforms at the front.
Another trend I've noticed with women last few years is the introduction of these wedged sneakers, specifically
I do see more women wearing them, even a few celebrities - in fact on the Jenna Louise Coleman page I said i wasn't sure of her footwear and it was because it was either a 1-inch type sneaker or one of these 'hidden' wedge sneakers. I only had a brief moment to look at them and couldn't really tell either way.
]
RobV said on 21/Jan/14
PS one small additional point. Detection is WAY less likely when the footwear is either quite fashionable - like the ones I linked to - or really suits the clothes being worn. That plus quality.That's why with elevators, it is good when you can either find someone to make stuff (like a bootmaker you can level with) or who has some sort of an interest in aesthetics and fashion. I only have one experience with buying elevators 'off the peg' (Dons, recently) and they are definitely well made and convincing, certainly the style I bought. But I would like to see them all expand the ranges if they could to include more stuff which is quite current (they could start by checking the footwear sections of high st fashion places like in the UK Topman or River Island for example - a lot of the stuff is pretty standard). I see the possible argument about it not being economic. I think the idea is for them to try a few styles and see what happens. They might be surprised.
[Editor Rob: there's quite a number of lifts/elevator shoe companies around. I'm always curious as to discover the percentage of men who might wear them in America/UK compared to countries like Japan/China.]
RobV said on 21/Jan/14
@Y.D. You ask about adding insoles to the boots that already have a very big lift (you mention the Don's 4" lift). I do this at times (!) and I agree totally with Editor Rob and would add a couple of things by way of confirmation. Firstly you cannot really add much unless you buy the boots a size or two larger. I did in fact buy my recent Don's a size-and-a-half larger just to see if this were possible and I have added another inch - I have always tended to buy other trainers and boots larger for the purpose of adding max lifts to standard stuff bought without elevators. It has absolutely no bearing on how I walk at that level (the extra inch), but in those new Dons it would definitely do so if I added even more - I know because, er, I tried (aaargh) and yep I could get more in but walking more than a little would not be so easy. Just that tiny bit extra and it goes from total comfort to 'no way'. Bear in mind that even if the boots are 5" elevator and you add another inch, you will still only get 4"-5" in extra height.
I did this recently because I wanted to be as tall as a guy who comes to one of my nights! But that's another story. Normal jeans long enough will cover it fine, and I have to say I have even been easy enough with these new ones to wear them (minus the extra lifts) under skinny jeans, partly because there is one particular style he does which is quite fashionable to wear with them. Look at these jeans and boots from a UK store
Click Here and the boots look v little different to the ones I bought and others like it, the nature of that back shot is such that you could even think they too had lifts as the look is quite clumpy. So if it's an actual look or style that is around you can really get away with it. But being safe and wearing them with normal jeans? No worries.
One other little thing - different insoles work in different ways in different boots. Sometimes for comfort you really are best with the longer foamy ones which go into the full length of the shoe (heel part higher obviously, the rest thin, cut to shape if necessary), others are best with the gel lifts which fit into the heel area and nowhere else. You actually don't know until you try them out.
Y.D said on 20/Jan/14
you know these dons shoes, which add 4 inches inside? would it be possible to add one of those 1-2 inch insoles inside aswell? so you could then be 6-7 inches taller inside? and cover it with long jeans if that were possible that would be totally awesome! rob or rob v?
[Editor Rob: getting 4-inches is a helluva lot to begin with, but I don't think you could put anymore in the boots unless they were a bigger size than you normally wear, even then it might just be an extra little cm]
RobV said on 19/Jan/14
@teej about elevators being obvious. The most obvious thing about the boots worn for example by Stallone/Diesel etc is that they are great big clumpy-soled boots which do not go with the clothes you see them in (suits of all things! Aaargh) - specially at awards and red carpet events where you see the whole length of the person captured by the photographer. They look heroically appalling, and the joke is that some of these may not even have lifts or elevators - they might be just normal boots worn to make them look a little taller because those boots DO add an inch+.
But you are wrong about the others having to look obvious, and elevators generally if worn properly and with care taken for aesthetics can be undetectable. Very well made elevators do not make you walk funny, but of course you have to do stuff by stages and degrees. I would always suggest that someone starts with up to 2" and then sees if any more fits their lifestyle.
No-one is aware, for example, of my own new high ones from Dons, but I am already tall (which kinda helps oddly) and I do understand what to wear them with and what not to - if I wore them with a suit I think people would indeed do a doubletake specifically at the boots because they are just so out of place and actually look strange the way all such boots (elevators or not) ride up over a suit leg. But as Editor Rob says, in bootcut jeans making sure you have the right length - no-one would ever know.
teej said on 17/Jan/14
5'5 inches?! Jesus christ! I know what to buy my 5'6 friend for christmas next year! I have to say, wouldn't shoes that large be obvious from the way you walk that your wearing heels? Rob and Rob V? Like you see girls, walk in 4 inch heels, from behind a counter and you can tell they are wearing heels, because of their body movement, also actors like sylvestor stalone, tom cruise, and vin diesel, when they walk in an unusual walking movement
[Editor Rob: those dons boots - if you wear boot cut jeans (you'll need to buy a pair several inches normal than normal) should cover them so nobody can really tell.]
Zach said on 13/Jan/14
Rob, which shoes(smart/casual) would you say give the most height, but aren't specially made elevator shoes?
RobV said on 22/Dec/13
@ Kelvin and Editor Rob on the Don's 5'/5.5" inch lifts (he has three or four different styles of boot that come in that kinda size lift). These were ones I recently bought and yes, they add 4 inches. For me, getting to 6'6", they are ideal and I can wear them with most stuff as the particular style of his I bought is quite fashionable right now with skinny jeans and you cannot tell there is elevation when the boot is exposed even though they have a pretty big amount there.
I would say though you have to keep them in good condition/polished etc at the heel (even thought the fashion is for them to be quite scruffy!), because if the heel were to get too soft and beaten in, the lift might create a kinda ridge where it ends (where the boot meets your own heel). If that DID happen eventually, it's OK if you are wearing them under jeans but if the boot is in any way exposed (with the trend to tuck very skinny jeans into the boot) then it has to be perfect and no area where it might appear obvious to a sharp eyed person. I would just add that I have had Doc Martens that I have added 4" to in the past and even when they have gotten old and battered like that, no-one has ever noticed or said anything. They all tend to look quite clumpy anyway, which is the current style.
RobV said on 21/Dec/13
@ Grottesca you say it is "sad" wearing elevators and that people will at some point realise "your true height". Sorry to disappoint you, but they don't tend to unless you tell them. As it is, boots and shoes vary and give you anything from almost nothing to an inch and a half in extra height anyway. People aren't going around with tape measures working out that you have an inch advantage on themn because of your Timberlands. Most people just don't care and cannot work out the height of others unless there is a reason - they band people together in "he's taller than me, much taller, about my height, shorter etc". I will grant that if you are very short and wear very big elevators there is way more chance, but in that case it is about degree and care. For me I am tall anyway, have worn them all the time and no-one is aware.
kelvin said on 14/Dec/13
hello, I wonder how many actual inches of the shoe don's 5-inch provides? he will give at least 4 inches? thank you
[Editor Rob: I think he has a 5.5 inch model, now that boot should give you 4 inches of height]
Brad said on 10/Dec/13
On the picture above:When you wear these shoes you are 2.4 inches taller than when you are barefoot, or do you have to add the sole to the 2.4 inches as well which is usually about an inch?
[Editor Rob: the shoes have the lift already built into them - they are stuck inside them.]
Emily said on 6/Dec/13
@Powerhouse Sounds like you're jealous of your dad
RobV said on 1/Dec/13
@Grottesca. It's a mistake to dismiss elevators so easily. Apart from anything else, unless you are trying to achieve too much in the wrong type of footwear, it really is not obvious, you can wear them a lot and people are often uncertain about others' heights anyway. Indeed some boots and trainers give a lot of lift anyway and unless you are trying for massive gains, using elevators is not much more than wearing a thicker soled pair of sneakers. I have worn them for 15 years, or boots with lifts in, and no-one has ever noticed.
Grottesca said on 19/Nov/13
This is sad...No matter how tall you are, you should be secure enough with yourself to not feel the need to wear elevator shoes. You can't wear them 24/7...sooner or later people are going to realize your true height.
Matt 185cm said on 29/Sep/13
@RobV do what makes you happy:) thats what I always say and dont worry about negative opinions.
mr.rashid said on 24/Sep/13
@rob, how much height in cm in normal converse/vans shoes?
[Editor Rob: about 1.5-1.6cm, but after a while they can lose a little and be 1.4cm. I had a pair that was brand new 0.6 inch, but after about six months I checked and they were 0.5 inch]
RobV said on 21/Sep/13
What Editor Rob says about people not being able to tell, by and large, is true and is borne out by my own experience. I wear very high elevators (3"+) even though I am 6'2" and provided I wear the right jeans/pants it is simply not possible to detect anything. Every pair is different and you just have to make sure you look in the mirror carefully. I have never been detected by anyone in 15 years doing it.
Dmeyer said on 8/Sep/13
Rob the dons You have CAN pass for normal thick shoes like 1.3-1.4 type
[Editor Rob: if you wear boot cut jeans/trousers that cover a lot of the shoe, then someone looking down at them won't really be able to tell much...]
Powerhouse said on 18/Aug/13
I'm 5'8 and i would never wear elevator shoes. My dad is 5'7 and puts a 2 inch insert in his boot that already gives him height so he is like 5'10 1/2 and wears them everywhere. In my opinion its phony and pathetic and it makes me want to punch him in the face.
Zach said on 15/Aug/13
Rob, any chance you will purchase a pair of Hogan's aka Stallone 'munsters' to do a review on them?
[Editor Rob: I have to watch spending]
RobV said on 11/Aug/13
@ Hemlock Exactly so, when I tell people on here that at 6'2" I add inches by lifts and/or elevators some think that's crazy. But it's good to hear your story which is similar and it really does make a difference doesn't it? At that level of lift that you do by insoles, I am sure you have realised that no-one ever thinks you have added to your height and never notices - all they see is that you are tall, and the height you would like to be. It's funny but if they felt they could guarantee they would not be detected, I think lots more tall guys would add a bit to their height. Maybe the odd inch or so. But they just don't know how easy it is provided you make sure you get it right in each different pair. There's only one person I have actually met who I have talked about this to and that was by a funny chance: quite a few years ago a pretty well-known young guy, taller than my 6'5" when I am wearing lifts, used to come into the old Intrepid Fox in Wardour St, Soho where I worked a bit and we got on well, and I complimented him a lot on his incredible height and always said how fab he looked and how much I'd just love to be his height. One day we were going onto a late party in a neighbouring bar and when we were there and in private he actually asked me if I had ever thought of wearing lifts etc if I wanted to get taller up to his height and was saying what a good idea it was if I did it and telling me what was available! I didn't tell him about mine but I showed real interest and asked where I could get them as I might try (!)and he then took me upstairs to the manager's room and showed me in strict confidence - he had specially made really cool and fashionable boots with elevators and additional lifts. That's when I also realised that what I myself did was so very unlikely to be detected as it had just never in all the times we had met occurred even vaguely that he did that as well - and I as a 6'2" guy was doing it myself! And so of course that's when I told him about mine and he too was totally shocked. We've stayed in touch ever since and it's useful because you get to learn techniques when you talk with others (about certain types of boot, how much height you can get etc, where to get really good fashionable stuff that's not clumpy etc) but it's not something I would talk about to anyone I know unless we were both doing it. And I don't need to - I want others to think I am really tall!
Hemlock said on 7/Aug/13
Rob V I am 6ft but I wear insoles as I have always wanted to be 6ft 2. I know it sounds pretty stupid to a lot of people, but I know where you are coming from.
maria w. said on 29/Jul/13
I want to ask , the shoes cost + $35 fr delivery is $323 , after ordering does it have any other hidden charges whch are nt included in $323
I have to order thm dats y want to knw abt d cmplete charges
[Editor Rob: your country may charge customs tax fee on the shoes, I don't know how much]
Don said on 27/Jul/13
ive seen some elevator shoes which are 5.5 inches, im 6ft1 and a half 187cm so if i wore these id be 6'7! basketball players height, jesus! but to be honest they look stupid and i dont think people would get away with it. maybe 2-3 inch ones would do the job but people with 4 inch plus ones would look like their wearing stilts.
RobV said on 22/Jul/13
@ Cruise Missile. What you say in both your posts about insole lifts and getting the hang of it is exactly right. You've also grasped that even family do not really notice. A lot of people who agonise over doing it imagine that everyone will be aware. They just are not. I do exactly the same as you, putting gel insole lifts in my sneakers, and I get a three inch lift which for me is just perfect. And you are right about elevators - you have to get the right sort of styles, specially if you are young. And yes it is v true that with a little practice walking around you get the hang of it v quickly and forget that you have them. In fact I would now feel wrong without them.
Bob Lun said on 17/Jul/13
Why do you care so much about height? I'm just wondering.
[Editor Rob: because it is an interesting enough topic and I am able to earn a living from it. I'd rather do a site I have some interest in and incorporate some fun (like conventions) into the work than working for someone else...]
Cruise Missile said on 10/Jul/13
In addition, for those of those afraid your family might notice the height difference, posture can go a long way. My parents are both 1.7 m (5'7") and I slouch around them slightly when wearing my high tops with insole lifts. With both of them pushing 60 they probably feel as though they are getting shorter with age rather than me getting taller going into my mid-20s. I put 2 cm (0.75") gel insole lifts in my running shoes and low top sneakers and couldn't imagine much higher feeling comfortable without ankle support, for those interested in trying out insole lifts. I have a thick pair of Nike low tops I can fit a 3.25 cm heel support into, but they are an exception rather than the rule.
Insole lifts and elevator shoes are a much cheaper and more practical alternative to leg lengthening surgery. You *can* seemingly "grow" after puberty, just take it with a grain of salt and expect an increase of no more than 5 or 6 cm (2 to 2.5 inches) over your barefoot height with insoles or discreet styled elevators. You'll be surprised how much of a difference it can make if you feel just barely below average height like I did.
Cruise Missile said on 10/Jul/13
I'm an honest 1.75 cm (a touch under 5'9") and have been wearing insole lifts for about 6 months now since the age of 23. I put them in my Nike or DC high tops and wear jeans on a regular basis. I went from feeling slightly short to feeling solidly average. Lifts work best for those like myself slightly below average height, like 1.69 m to 1.76 m (5'7" to 5'9") as long as you don't go too high like Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr. can with their 4" lifts while looking like their legs are on stilts. The only time I could consider buying true "elevator" shoes is for formalwear. Daniel Craig and Joseph-Gordon Levitt look great in suits when wearing formal lifts without an issue. Get some high top sneakers or laced boots from reputable brands and try insole lifts. Ankle support is essential for insole lifts over 3 or 4 cm. Nobody thinks I'm wearing ugly purpose-built elevator shoes when they see the Nike swoosh or DC logo. With a little practice walking around, you'll get the hang of it. You DON'T need to buy special elevator shoes to feel lifted. Indeed, the strange styles some of them run in might just give them away.
RobV said on 29/Jun/13
Hi there and I just want to add to what Blue Knight said back in March in favour of elevators. Do not give up on elevators. Yes you do have to make a few minor adjustments to your thinking and posture, particularly if you are going for a lot of extra height, but from my experience it is worth it. I am probably unusual here in that I am already tall - 6'2" - and have always wanted to be as tall as poss. So I wear elevators that make me get to around 6'5". Quality of the shoe is important, as is making sure that you have different styles that fit the different clothes you wear, and don't forget that every normal shoe/trainer/boot gives its wearer some extra height. So really don't be too self conscious or afraid that someone might notice in certain situations. And just cos you have 3 inch gain in one pair of shoes, that doesn't mean to say you have to have the same in all - those riskier and more detectable shoes, like trainers worn where you see the top of the shoe, can have smaller lifts. People are not going to suddenly think you have gotten smaller - but of course you notice it yourself. I myself am sad that flares only came back into fashion for a few years in the UK and then went out again a few years back! When I wore these real long they easily covered a pair of boots that gave me an undetectable 4 inch lift. But just because I have dropped back an inch or so doesn't mean to say that everyone notices! And just asking, is there anyone else out there who is tall like me but likes to gain an even more unfair advantage?! I'd be interested in knowing.
michael j rox said on 18/Jun/13
I'm always reading how elevator shoes are suposed to make you feel more confident. I have owned several pairs of elevators over the years but they seem to have the reverese effect on me. While the slight height increrase is nice, (at best you maybe get a 1.5 inch extra lift on top of what you would get wearing a normal dress shoe)the tilt in the heel makes you contantly aware that you are tip toeing around the room. If I go to a crowded club where I will drink & dance, I feel way less steady on my feet than in regular shoes, quite often just walking I feel i could almost roll my ankel.Also i feel that if some drunks decided to beat me up I wouldnt be able to run away or stand and fight for that matter as they would find it far easier to knock me down in my elevators. Also running across roads to avaoid traffic or walking up or down steep hills can be harder. On top of that I always worry that a friend will notice my shoes if I take them off or by the fact that if they run somewhere I wont be able to keep up ( Like a girl in high heels). I have recently ordered some dons mid sole tech elevators as they are suposed to feel like wearing normal shoes. I hope this is the case because mostly the hassel & discomphort of getting around in elevator shoes makes the extra 1.5 in height seem pointless.
shortdildowearer said on 18/Jun/13
you people don't know what it's like to be four foot ten. and by the way, i'm female and have no desire to be anyone's little pocket bitch. the only way these shoes would work for me is if they made me six inches taller. and i'm no stupid-ass girly twit so I have no desire to wear retarded looking stilettos.
TheVerve180cm said on 4/Jun/13
I think that if at least 170cm or more you dont need them ;)
Sidewinder said on 3/Jun/13
I have a pair of Mint Don's elevator shoes for sale for 150$. The Model is Lucca size 42, with nearly 3" height increase. You can see the model here:
Click Here
Pictures can be sent on request: sidewinder (at) gmail dot com
SirE said on 28/May/13
As a guy that's shorter than 5'3" .. and I'm in a weird business where there are rarely short men..I need shoes like this. My question is, how comfortable are some of Don's Shoes? And Will people even notice? I myself wear slim jeans and hate bootcut, but I'm currently in the process to lose a lot of weight. So I guess my main question is how comfortable are they? And do you think Dr. Scholls insoles might help with the pain?
[Editor Rob: it depends if you are wearing them to work every day. It would take a while to get used to the higher angle of your feet. It won't be as comfortable as normal shoes, but they have decent insoles.
If you were planning to wear elevators a lot, make sure you take exact measurements that are shown on dons site and wear them gradually, like an hour a day, then build up so your body adapts easier.]
SAK said on 24/May/13
If a shoe company advertises a elevator shoe to give 6 or 6.5cm, in reality will that mean they actually give 4-5cm of added height to barefoot height. I am trying to look for shoes that give 4-5cm of added height no more.
Elfoersaan said on 17/May/13
Elevator shoes are a piece of ****. I received mine of tallmenshoes.com a couple of days ago. I decided to order real cheap ones, because I would wear them very rarely and it was just out of curiousity. So that's why I decided to order extra height increasing shoes that would add 4 inches to my height. I measured myself several times before and after wearing the shoes, it seems the shoes don't even add a full 6 cm. So the products from tallmenshoes.com that claim to make you 4 inches taller, make you in fact only 2.36 inches taller. So I don't recommend them for people who are not short at all. But then again, it was just for fun.
fairweather said on 11/May/13
---I think, height aside, the shoes make you look more "proportioned"...If you look at Rob's "before" pic, his legs look a bit shorter than his torso would warrant---in the "after" pic, his legs look the perfect length for his body.....As for friends wondering why you appear "taller," most dress shoes add at least an inch---what's another inch? I think if people visually see a small heel (as Rob's shoes have), they automatically assume any extra height is caused by wearing dress shoes (like wearing cowboy boots)...If a guy wants to be a couple inches taller, so what? I don't understand what the big deal is...we women wear 4 inch heels all the time---2 1/2 inches is tame in comparison....Good for you!! (They look great, too)....
[Editor Rob: if you have shorter legs compared to your body, then as you say, adding an extra inch and a bit can make you more proportioned and with wider pants/trouser hems the shoe would be covered even more so nobody would be able to really spot elevators unless they really paid attention closely.]
truth177cm said on 2/May/13
So they can give you whole 3 inches. That is like skipping a whole height range.
Kevin buckles said on 29/Apr/13
Im sorry but these just look silly,the proportions look all wrong and it makes your feet look to big for your height.i dont advise these enless your really worried.guys enless your like 4'11 or 5'2 then i wouldnt worry.there are plenty of people below your height or same as.
hurricane brat said on 12/Apr/13
Rob, i gotta say..it cracked me up to see that for the 'after' photo you also went and put on a blazer and proper trousers.
[Editor Rob: yeah, it's a bit of a joke on the type of adverts you get]
Anon said on 5/Apr/13
Rob, if you walk daily with some elevator shoes (let's say 1-2"), will this wreck your posture on the long-term? Or will it get painful? Can't really walk with elevator shoes and then with flat soles the next day..
[Editor Rob: some women over time do get damage from wearing heels, but the heels can be a bigger angle than elevators.
If you stick to about 1 inch (or 2-inch type elevator) and use a good pair, then it should be ok, but if you started to notice pain or anything after a while it's best to either reduce the size of the lift a bit.]
Mosho said on 1/Apr/13
Let's make this short and sweet- I have been all over the Internet and had shoes shipped from everywhere around the world in search of elevator shoes. It was always the same deal- too cheap looking, too painful, too "not stylish", and too noticeable! Then I found Don's Footwear. Allan is a shoe god. He is a true craftsman who knows how to make a shoe stylish, comfortable, smooth to walk in, and completely natural looking! This man is the best, and buying your elevator shoes from anywhere else is only doing yourself a disservice. Yes he takes some time, but the wait is worth it for the amazing final product. Couldn't be happier with my Fossato boots, worth every penny and all the time Allan put into them. These are the best! Do yourself a favor, get some Don's.
Benjamin said on 1/Apr/13
Had a bad experience with Dons. Ordered shoes in October '13, promised them by Christmas. But they forgot about my order and when I reached out to them in February, they said all of my emails were going to their spam folder and weren't apologetic. So even though I paid $300, they really didn't show much remorse in forgetting to get me my shoes. In their haste, they made me some pretty bad shoes. Here are some pictures of the problems I had.
Click Here Click Here
When I asked for a refund he (at this point I was talking to Don himself)said that I was trying to "take the piss". I actually wasn't. I basically wasted a few hundred dollars on shoes that I can't wear. Therefore I would steer clear. The leather work is great, but the other details are bad. I had to take all three pairs of shoes to a local cobbler to try to get them fixed (wrong size lift, uneven heels, scuffed sides, different height heels.
saaudi said on 19/Mar/13
i am going to buy elevators shoes but i want to know what sizes does it comes in and i also wanted to know how much time it will take to grow 7 inches
Eric said on 16/Mar/13
I have bought a pair of Don's shoes in the model 'Todi', which offers a 3 inch lift. Personally, I cannot fault the quality of the product. It is quite impeccably made. However, I must add that without pants long enough to cover the sides and back of the boot, the shoe itself does not looks completely natural. Perhaps this is the side effect of wearing a boot with too large a lift (3 inches) or perhaps the Todi was one of the older models that weren't so well designed. For anyone who's had a positive experience with Don's shoes, what models do you own and how invisible is the effect of the lift?
P.s All things aside, I still enjoy wearing my pair.
[Editor Rob: yeah, you really need to buy a pair of trousers 2 inches longer than your normal length, and also try not to wear slim fit or trousers with a small hem width, as they won't cover the shoe/boot well enough to hide it's size.
Having boot cut jeans are probably a good idea for elevator shoes/boots to hide their appearance. ]
Blue Knight said on 15/Mar/13
I have read some of the comments here and for those of you who have become disillusioned with elevator shoes..dont be, if you are serious about being successful at your career you obviously need to work hard and be good at what you do but we all know sometimes u need to add a few more weapons to your artillery...agreeing to spend that extra hour at a work function....taking on the majority of work hoping your boss recognizes you for it..etc..they sometimes work out but are not consistently in the face of the people who decide your future paychecks..Extra height does that, I am talking from experience but make an effort to do the research online.
So now that I have assured you that these shoes are worth it, please get the right shoes and the right relationship with your shoe designer - the right shoes because you need something that looks normal and does not raise questions, looks great and that feels comfortable. The second, relationship with shoe designer, may not seem obvious but it really does help if you find something isnt working for you on the shoe or if you need something custom made urgently for you, if youre comitting to wearing these then you need to make sure youhave adaptability on your side...one more thing, dont expect to pay for a BMW and get a Ferrari...it never happens, pay more now but gain long term, we all know that is the case for everything else so dont expect it to be any different with elevator shoes.... I hope my review here helps you to solve the above issues:
Don's Shoes....I could stop but after my long introduction, I owe it to you to explain further. I came across Don's almost two years ago and wasnt sure how things would turn out so I bought some other elevator shoes that were much cheaper at the same time...The difference was obvious, I didnt focusnon the quality of the leather or craftsmanship I just wanted a shoe that added height unnoticed..the cheap shoes were too obvious and raised some eyebrows but then when I put on my Dons I never had an issue, you obviously have to pick the right design for the clothes you wear but that you can discuss with Allan, owner and shoemaker...thats right your taken care of by the owner so its obvious that the service I have received has been excellent but Allan is also a reallly great at building a relationship with his clients and this really puts you at ease to ask him questions and get the right shoe. I have truly been gratefulmto him for his support and efforts. A few months ago I ordered my fourth pair of Dons but these had to be custom designed for a particular event that would need me to have a shoe that was not on dons website...my greatest fear was going to come true...There would be serious questions raised about why I was wearing formal boots to a on formal event...in my panic I called Allan immediately not realizing that it was probably 1 am in his time zone and told him my situation, instead of telling "I will email you when I get into the office cos its 1 am here.." he startted brainstorming with me for about 40mins, we exchanged designs and within 3 days we knew what we needed, he worked through the weekend and got the shoe to me well before I required..here is an extract of the email I sent thanking him..".I received the second shoe [in the same month] you sent (the black one), I know I probably bore you with these comments but the craftsmanship is AMAZING. Your shoes are really an expression of the Da Vinci in you, the shoes not only look elegant but also include a technology that changes lives." Basically, thank you for helping me with both shoes, I really do appreciate it." here is the link to Dons Shoes
Click Here
Richard said on 13/Mar/13
I recently purchased 3 pairs of Don's new Midsole tech shoes, they are a lot more comfortable than the old standard elevators from everywhere else, pretty much like normal shoes. So I ordered a few more pairs, including customised designs not from his site, Allan worked on those designs with me.
But people need to be aware that Don's shoes take some time to make, about a month.
Just wondering, Rob, are you able to do a review on a pair of midsole tech, it's a game changer in elevator shoes, and your words have a lot of weight in here.
[Editor Rob: I've not seen a pair up close, but altering the insole a little so the angle isn't too harsh is beneficial I believe. ]
julius said on 6/Mar/13
I own several pairs of Don's and they are QUALITY shoes. I just replaced the heels and rubber outsole of an older pair and they're like new again. They're made in Thailand apparently and take forever to get to the US, but worth the wait and the premium price.
71 inches said on 3/Mar/13
those woodland mountain shoes , rob, do they give 2 inches , i wear them and dont really feel it or is it the case that 2 inch diff is not that much as one thinks it 2 be?
[Editor Rob: doubt they give a full 2 inches, maybe 1.5 inch]
krx said on 3/Mar/13
at the moment i am wearing Nike Air Max, which give me a boost about one inch ( if you measure at the end of the shoes it is about 3.5-4cm but if u measure barefoot and then in shoes, it is about 2.5cms) are this shoes as comfortable as the nike air max ? i already wore some sole lifts, and i did not feel realy comfortable with them...
Mikhael said on 16/Feb/13
I had a very bad experience for buying shoes online.
I ordered the "giraffe shoes" and I had to pay $ 100 fees and taxes customs.
A tip: when you buy, look at the country of purchase ...
I may be ordered to "Don's elevator shoes" but they are the orders sent from thailand?
I live in the germany; is that you paid taxes Rob? From where are the commands sent from the site "Don's elevator shoes?"
I hope they are sent from the UK, because allan live in scotland, no?
Thank you for your reply.
[Editor Rob: they are made overseas so not within the EU.
unfortunately as you know, if the full value is declared then you are very likely going to get hit by customs charges. I don't know what Allan writes on the packages, you are best emailing him, I'm assuming it's the exact value you pay so if they go awol he can claim the correct amount back.]
Shocked101 said on 8/Feb/13
Ok. I have been wearing them for a while now. 5 years. Most of these elevator shoes are too obvious and the style and quality are bad. Others, charge you an extortionate amount of money (200 bucks) and provide an average product. Making money out of our physical defects (sorry to be harsh but it is true). Anyway here is the best tip you will get all day. Go sales shopping. Buy a really nice pair of leather Chelsea or other such boots for about 50-60 bucks (Buy 1 size up) Something you like the look of. I now have about 5 pairs of really nice elegent ankle boots. They come with a 1 inch heal mostly standard. then go on eBay and order the 5cm sole lifts. 7 bucks. Slip them in and away you go. High street shoes and 3 inches taller off the ground (2 inches taller then you would ordinarily be) and no one will no. All you guys that think ordering the 4 inch taller shoes is a good idea, don't wast your money. You ever seen a lady walk in high heels? That's how you will look. Like rob said, you can only get a maximum 1.5 to 2 inches taller . Anything on top of that and walking gets hampered. Even with the 2 inch lifts it talks a while to get used to it. Took me 6 months to feel normal and still to this day, running in them is awkward and my ankle turns over a fair few times a week whilst walking. But don't worry you learn to style that out after a while. Rob... Great site... Keep it up.
michael said on 28/Jan/13
Rob, ok about the risk of some foot problems,it sounds logical!But is it possible or risky to lose real height from wearing elevators shoes a long time?Thank you again for your reply!
[Editor Rob: I don't think you'd lose height, I wouldn't worry about that.]
Bran said on 27/Jan/13
@SolidSnake It took awhile for my shoes to arrive but Allan kept in touch with me and let me know what was going on. With Dons mst shoes its hard to notice that there is a lift. My dress shoes have an inch lift inside and you cant tell at all.
michael said on 26/Jan/13
Hi Rob!I wear elevators shoes about 3 years ,every day.Is it possible to have future problems in feet cause of the elevators shoes or is it possible to lose barefoot height in the future because of the shoes? Thank you very much!I am waiting for your reply!
[Editor Rob: it is an unnatural angle, like women who wear heels a lot, long term it may raise risk of some foot problems developing.]
SolidSnake said on 26/Jan/13
If you start wearing elevator shoes one day, will many of your friends be suspicious that you're suddenly 2 inches taller?
[Editor Rob: if you suddenly wore big 2.5 inch shoes yeah, some would notice.]
frop said on 24/Jan/13
Thank you for reply, Rob
I ordered "DONS SHOES" I hope it will be fast.
To answer the question below, I think that beyond 2.5 inches, people look at your shoes with emphasis ...
It isn't naturel, look at that
Click Here
[Editor Rob: if you wear long trousers/pants that cover most of the shoe/boot, it becomes harder for others to notice - when you look at shoes from up above, the heel (and overall size) won't look as big compared to if you are looking from the ground or side-on]
SolidSnake said on 23/Jan/13
Click Here
Rob this shoe 'terni' from Dons come in 2.5'', 2.75'', 3.1'', 4''. I was wondering what the actual difference in the shoes are (what is put in to add height) and the real height given. 4'' really gives under 3''?
[Editor Rob: I've not measured any for a while, so Dons could have made the insole a little bit higher so the 2.5 might give very close...or it could still give 2.3, which is close enough, 2.75 might give 2.5, but as I say I haven't measured any. ]
Height obsession said on 23/Jan/13
Rob are there really elevators that make you 5.5 inches taller?!
[Editor Rob: not that I've seen...in some movies in Humphrey Bogart days, to get 5-inches they would literally make shoes with 4-inch blocks of wood on them!]
bran said on 22/Jan/13
I bought some dons shoes a few months ago and I love them. Amazing quality and no one can ever tell they have a lift in them. One complaint though, I asked for 2.75" increase and he accidently sent me the shoe with 2" increase. I know when I order again he will give me a better deal because of this mistake.
frop said on 20/Jan/13
Hello Rob, I bought 4 months ago shoes on bugarrishoes.
They claimed 6 cm, they are only 4 cm maximum and after 1 month, they lose 0.5cm (I weigh only 66 kg!).
I want to know if the shoes "DONS" really increase of 7 cm (2.75 inches)?
Because in reality, I do with shoes that actually increases 1.5 cm becaufe at my university (France), people often wear shoes 1.5cm to 2 cm. (3.5-1.5 = 2 cm)
Especially the shoes "DONS" seem better made and more expensive ..
[Editor Rob: The 2.75 might give 2.3-2.4 range, but it's still a good boost. Expensive though...but then, they do look better than other companies elevators.]
Aragorn 5'11 said on 16/Jan/13
Rob, do you know of a dress shoe that give you a real 3 inches?
[Editor Rob: some large cowboy boots can give 2 inches, but getting 3 in a dress shoe, you're gonna need a big lift to get anywhere near it.]
SolidSnake said on 16/Jan/13
Can you spot elevator shoes by people lacking the proportions of their new height?
[Editor Rob: maybe if they are wearing really big shoes, the kind that give 2.5 inches you could see their knee-foot ratio appear longer than normal]
Olek said on 16/Jan/13
Hey Rob, I saw some shoes on Don's that say they give you a 2" increase. Is that true? Or is it more closer to 1.5". It might sound weird but I am not looking for too much of a height increase and I feel 1.5" to 1.75 feels perfect for me.
[Editor Rob: the bit that says 'increase' and has 2.5, 2.75 etc? It says 2 inches in some cases? That's the total height it's supposed to give, it might give like 1.8-1.9 though, which is like putting in a 1-inch lift into a 1-inch shoe]
SolidSnake said on 11/Jan/13
How can elevator shoes be spotted. This guy who walked past me today was about an inch taller than me but it just looked weird. They had a small head, their legs didn't even seem long either. In my head I was just thinking theres something not quite right lol
[Editor Rob: sometimes the back of a shoe will be curved a bit and the front section look thicker at the laces.]
John (Tottenham) said on 31/Dec/11
I can't wear elevator shoes. I have tried. I can't seem to walk in them at all ( I have tried cheap chinese ones and Don's, they're all the same). I can't walk. Luckily I am 185 cm so it doesn't matter, but I have always wanted to be legimitely "Tall".
maaz said on 30/Dec/11
hey king rob . a question the don elevators website says that some of the shoes can make you 4 inch taller .. is that true ? i thought i would take an opinion before buying it
[Editor Rob: they may be measured at the very back as 4-inches, but you might get 3 actual inches. I've not measured those ones, so can't confirm exactly their height as opposed to the advertised height.]
Alex said on 28/Dec/11
Hey Rob, I'm considering buying my first pair. Should I get a 2.75 inch increase or 3.3 inch increase? Would the 3.3 inch increase be noticeable and uncomfortable, considering I've never worn elevator shoes before?
[Editor Rob: 2.75 is already a big shoe. When you see true elevator shoes, if they aren't concealed inside a boot, then the style is very obvious. Of course when your trousers cover a lot of the shoe it becomes less obvious. I wouldn't bother with bigger amount unless it's within a boot.]
Raph said on 20/Dec/11
I'm actually 5'8" tall but when I started using the the height increasing shoes, it gave me a lift in my confident level.. At 5'10" tall, people look at me differently and it seems that I get more respect with my friend. With time these height increasing shoes get comfortable but you need to buy boots to support your ankle and avoid some drastic physical activity. You can twist your ankle but with good boots may not happen. Also, it's good to buy an extra size in your shoes so you are a 9 size shoes, buy 10 size shoes to get more comfortable.. Overall I like it and I feel good wearing it.. You'll see the difference...
Raph said on 20/Dec/11
I'm actually 5'8" tall but when I started using the the height increasing shoes, it gave me a lift in my confident level.. At 5'10" tall, people look at me differently and it seems that I get more respect with my friend. With time these height increasing shoes get comfortable but you need to buy boots to support your ankle and avoid some drastic physical activity. You can twist your ankle but with good boots may not happen. Also, it's good to buy an extra size in your shoes so you are a 9 size shoes, buy 10 size shoes to get more comfortable.. Overall I like it and I feel good wearing it.. You'll see the difference...
WhyTallerGuysUseElevation? said on 6/Dec/11
I'm at an honest 1.81m. As a teenager I worked as a model (they cast me as 1.82, but I think I was never 1.82) and I had some girls my size around me. It felt SO disempowering - like, whatever, as if I wasn't a man, but a child. Therefore, I used silicone heels sold "to diminish impact in sports" (lifts) that got me about one or two inches taller. Man, did I feel almost back to normal.
Then later I went to live in Belgium. If you're not ultratall, DON'T EVER GO THERE. On a second thought, DON'T EVER GO THERE any way. The average girls were about my height and looked stretched - without a womanly shape. And the younger sis of a friend of mine was super cute and f*cking hot with huge breasts (rare there) and was desperate to get it on w me... and was TALLER than me. So I wouldn't be too cocky around them, her and her mother (who was also very much into me AND taller than me) joked with me I was short. F*CK THAT!!! I won't ever take that attempt at humiliation as a joke, that c*nt. When I went to live in northen Italy, I remember I was at a supermarket and I felt SO good and powerful and didn't know why... I was back to being tall again, as people are about average/lower avarage height in there... AHHHH.... OH F*CK, DOES THAT FEEL GOOD.
I totally back any short man who wants to get taller. It's not about height, it's about DIGNITY, for goodnessakes. Us, average-to-tall guys, do it because of Power - or in situations where our dignities are at risk, like in my story.
Dmeyer said on 29/Nov/11
Men under 6'2 Will wear lifts
dmeyer said on 13/Nov/11
i looked around the streets and i see in france average footwear are 0.7 in many guys wear sneakers in the 0.5-0.7 in type also in france many dress shoes give 0.8-0.9 in , i use to live in l.a over there average footwear was more 1.1-1.2 , in france when someone is wearing a 1.2-1.3 in type it is a big shoes , in us a big shoe will be considered a cowboy heel of biker boots or thick timberland , if someone in france wears a 2.3 in elevator he will get a good amount over the 0.7 in footwear
jim said on 11/Nov/11
elevator shoes are a great boost especially for blokes who need that little extra confidence boost.....I have used them and SERIOUSLY they make a difference especially as regards your confidence with women....what ever women may say....they always notice height....urrrrgh...but we are meant to ignore if they have a backside the size of a juggernaut he he......I'm short 5ft 7" but I can get a decent 5ft 10" with elevator shoes and by god it makes all the difference lads....I would say to any bloke considering it....go for it....look at ALL the boosts women use to get men yet would think it odd that a short bloke may like to enhance his chances by employing a bit of subterfuge...??? You're knackered though if you have to take your shoes off anywhere so some creative thinking is called for...any suggestions??? Wonder what Tom Cruise does???
an0n said on 7/Nov/11
The discount code "TheAllies1944" doesn't seem to work. At checkout the discount is listed as $0 and the total does not change. (Not that 10% is much.)
shoesone said on 31/Oct/11
Lifts Question says on 3/Sep/11
Thanks for all of the helpful info. I have been wearing a pair of boots that give me 3" of lift for awhile. They're just a plain boot I bought from walmart with a 2" lift insole inside of them. I have been wearing them for nearly a year and they're as comfortable if not more comfortable than most other shoes I own. I was just curious if any of you guys have tried out the don's 5" lift shoes? I'm really considering buying a pair, but if they aren't actually going to give me anything close to a 5" lift I'll just keep getting my boots from walmart and using the insoles and save the $250+ Thanks
paula marozzi said on 18/Oct/11
i had hip operation that left my right leg 2inchs shorter---i need a pair of shoes elavated only on the right side --can you make a pair of shoes???
Marcos said on 16/Oct/11
I just wanted to share my experience with Don's Shoes. I did quite a bit of research prior to ordering a pair of Don's because not only did I want the best deal, but in my profession I also need to look elegant and put together. Once I made up my mind I emailed Allan (the owner/shoemaker) my foot measurements to have it made custom and told him he would receive my order through his website shortly. From the moment I sent that email to the moment I received the shoes at my home in NY state, it had been about a month. Though Allan told me it would take 10 to 15 days, throughout the whole process I kept on emailing him and he usually always responded within 24 hours which was awesome. Then he finally emailed me telling me the shoes had shipped, and I got them a few days later. Once I got them and opened the box I was blown away by the quality of the shoes, I had mentioned it to my room mates that I had ordered a pair of custom made european shoes so I showed them and they were also blown away by the quality. Now whenever I wear anything other than the Don's they are like "wow those shoes look so crappy now in comparison to your new shoes." Comfort wise, they were a bit stiff to begin with but once you break them in, they are literally as comfortable as any regular shoe. As to my specific characteristics, I'm 5'5" and in pretty good physical shape, I ordered the Catanzaros black and glossy with a 3.1" lift, and the difference is incredible, it literally puts me at an almost regular height when it comes to my coworkers and friends, my shortness no longer becomes obvious and therefore you become more confident and almost forget that your short. I love it and as Allan knows I've already ordered more, a pair of dark brown Savonas, I cannot wait. I hope he's around for a long time because for the price and style, I will be buying from him for years to come. Also, the new website he just put up looks awesome. I'll let you guys know how everything turns out with my new order, but so far like always, communication has been amazing.
Anonymous said on 15/Oct/11
finally, could you tell me... Don's footwear is a reliable site??? If i order a pair of shoes, will this come to me???
[Editor Rob: as of 13th Novemeber, Dons is up and running again, I would recommend them as they make good quality shoes, none of this cheap junk.]
m said on 11/Oct/11
rob....are there shoes that can make you 5 inches taller?
[Editor Rob: goth boots can give 3-3.5 inches, maybe extreme goth boots with 3 inch platforms can give in 4-4.5 range, but they look pretty ugly :)]
mary-o said on 9/Oct/11
hahahaha silvio berlusconi 167??? maybe in his dreams!
Marcos said on 30/Sep/11
I just wanted to jump on and mention my experience with Don's Shoes. I placed an order with him on July 2011, and by the time I received the shoes at my house about a month went by. Sure at first I thought 10 to 15 days, but throughout the process I stayed in touch with Allan and he gave me status updates on the shoes. When I received the shoes I was amazed at the quality, the leather, the stiching, everything was perfect, and the fit was just like I hoped custom to my specific measurements. For the first couple of weeks I had to break them in since the leather was still a bit stiff, but now they are as comfortable as any shoe. I'm 5'5" and I asked for a 3.1 increase on my catanzaros, and I'm more than pleased with the result. I just put in an order for a pair of Savonas in dark brown, it would be awesome to get them in fifteen days but I could wait the month for shoes of this quality no doubt. Lastly for all of you who are skeptical about dropping the cash for one of these shoes, I took my catanzaros the day I got them to a local shoe maker/shoe repairer who was as old as my grandfather and has been doing this forever, he told me that a shoe of that quality would not be found in Buffalo NY for under $300, and when I told them they were custom made he said there's no way, I wouldn't be able to get custom made shoes like those for under $500. The catanzaros are $210 with shipping included. I cannot wait to get my brand new savonas.
A said on 29/Sep/11
probably 3.2 inches.
AK said on 26/Sep/11
If the product claims 4.25 inches taller, this means you can expect like 2.25 inches as the reality. This is my experience because contrary to a female's heel which is outer heel, iner heel is not hard and it is soft. Therefor you will not get 4.25 inches as stated. And there is not 0.25 inches. It should be like 4 and 1/4 inches as the measurement. Thanks.
A said on 22/Sep/11
Hi, Anthony. You are correct. Contrary to outside heels, inner heels (elevator shoes) do not bring high as indicated. For example, if you purchase elevator shoes with 5 inches taller, this means you can expect that you will gain only 3 inches in reality. I know that you will purchase elevator shoes with 5 inches taller because you want to be 5 inches taller, but you will be disappointed once you wear those. Those bring only 3 inches. So, when you purchase elevator shoes, you can expect 2 inches - from the product indicates.
If you do not believe this, please just experience it. You will find the reality.
jeremy said on 20/Sep/11
hey rob are those shoes comfortable?
[Editor Rob: the ones Dons made are better than the cheap synthetic leather ones.
But any shoe at an angle is going to hurt after a while, I think you'd need to get used to the different height they give. Women are used to the change from flats to a heel, but not many men are!]
Jimmy said on 20/Sep/11
@ Tall tales, your a idiot and no one cares about your dumb woman opinion. Go make some spagetti or something, you dont belong on a computer.
Anonymous said on 18/Sep/11
When I got divorced (I'm 44)I knew I would be going out again. I bought a pair just for the fun of being taller when shooting pool or what not. So I ordered Tennis shoes that were 2.8 inches. Most shoes already give you about and inch so really it's just about 2 extra inches. I'm 5'8. ACTUALLY I'm 5'7 and a half, but who's going to go around saying "I'm five seven...and a half! So I say I'm about 5'8. With the shoes I'm like 5'10
The first time I wore them out was quite a sensation.I wore pants because I thought maybe people could tell, though they look totally like regular tennis shoes. I have to say though people didn't react to me much different. I started wearing them around family and friends and found myself hunching over a bit because I was afraid they could tell. None of them did though. what you have to be careful of is doing any physical activity because you can twist your ankle much like a girl can when wearing high heels.
I do notice women being a bit more receptive to the extra height. I think just two inches would have been adequate though instead of 2.8.
I have enjoyed mine.
Australia said on 12/Sep/11
Having just ordered from Don's shoes and living in Australia I just wanted to say that Allan has been absolutely fantastic- He sent me a photo of the shoes being made and several days later DHL sent me a tracking number. He also emailed personally to check I had received them. I have bought shoes before from other companies but the service from Dons has not only been far quicker but far more personal and friendly. I wouldnt have minded if it took 4 weeks for handmade shoes- but its taken all of 11 days from when I placed the order to when they arrived in Australia.
To anyone considering Dons, dont be put off by the few negative comments below. I highly recommend them and Allan seems like a good bloke!
Alex says on 7/Sep/11 said on 7/Sep/11
Hi Rob, if an elevator shoe claims to make you 5.2 inches taller (in a boot style) approximately how much height can i expect to gain? Maybe 4 inches? Thanks and Regards.
Lifts Question said on 3/Sep/11
Thanks for all of the helpful info. I have been wearing a pair of boots that give me 3" of lift for awhile. They're just a plain boot I bought from walmart with a 2" lift insole inside of them. I have been wearing them for nearly a year and they're as comfortable if not more comfortable than most other shoes I own. I was just curious if any of you guys have tried out the don's 5" lift shoes? I'm really considering buying a pair, but if they aren't actually going to give me anything close to a 5" lift I'll just keep getting my boots from walmart and using the insoles and save the $250+
Thanks
Anthony said on 28/Aug/11
Hey Rob, if an elevator shoe claims to make you 4.25 inches taller (in a dress style shoe) approximately how much height can I expect to gain? I'm guessing around 2.5 - 2.75 inches, but I wanted to hear your thoughts. Thanks.
[Editor Rob: maybe 3 inches]
Allan Donnelly said on 24/Aug/11
Hi Rob.
I know some people start to get restless during the wait for their shoes but everyone always receives them in the end, The reason it takes time is because I make the shoes to order, The process can take up to 10 days, but the good news is that I'm now using DHL and so the shipping is a lot quicker, II feel Im making a good product and I'm proud of the shoes, I will try to make them quick and build stock, I enjoy making the shoes to order, Many other shoemakers and high-end Suit tailors ask up to 6 weeks to produce. Im an honest man, and there is not a better feeling when I dispatch the shoes.
Allan Donnelly said on 24/Aug/11
Ive also just completed Dino Shoes. Im sorry about the delay
Allan Donnelly said on 24/Aug/11
What else can I do?
16 Delivered - Signed for by : A CHIKA T112 MIAMI - TAMIAMI, FL - USA 11:51
15 With delivery courier MIAMI - TAMIAMI, FL - USA 08:41
14 Arrived at Delivery Facility in MIAMI - TAMIAMI - USA MIAMI - TAMIAMI, FL - USA 08:33
Anonymous said on 24/Aug/11
Hi I'm Allan. The owner of Dons and the shoemaker. I would like to mention that Ken, Who is attacking me left Right and Center Was sent his pair of Shoes With DHL tracking, Ive sent him the details and checked the tracking myself to see that they arrived at his workplace. Im working with DHL to try to get to the bottom of it, and will try my best to fix it.
Maximus Meridius said on 18/Aug/11
@Doug your exactly the same height as me are you still growing how old are you.
Mark said on 17/Aug/11
Sadly, I have to corroborate what Ken says- however good the shoes from Dons may be, his business practices are really poor. I ordered a pair on 5/20, last time I had an email response from Allan at Don's was mIf-July, promising he'd get back to me. I called my credit card company after almost three months from ordering. I was foolish to be so patient; I hope I get my money back....
Matt said on 30/Jul/11
@arie, being 6'1 would be great (ideal seems to be 6'2). you wouldn't be a freak at 6'1 at all, that's completely ridiculous.
Maximus Meridius said on 29/Jul/11
@short stack i telled matt about you your 5ft 5in i have 2 inches on you i'm 5ft 7in you said you would love to be 5ft 9in if that's the same i would love to be 5ft 11in wanting to be 4 inches taller is too much if want to be taller 2 inches is the most you will get 5ft 7in at the most i wish i was 2 inches taller i would be being 5ft 9in i'm sure you would love to be 5ft 7in 5ft 11in is too much for men i'm 4 inches away from like your 4 inches away from 5ft 9in 5ft 9in is too much for you the most we can expect like all men 5ft 9in and under is 2 inches which is from doing lots of stretches for a very long time i would love to 6ft but i changed my mind i'm 5 inches away from that so now i'm saying i would love to be 5ft 9in i'm going stick with that because that's the most i can expect to grow from stretching short stack don't say you would love to be 5ft 10in your 5 inches away from that say you would love to be 5ft 7in because that's the most you can expect to grow from stretching short stack i'm 27 how old are you.
Thomas 6ft0.5in 184cm said on 29/Jul/11
Everyone in my family are average height people, around 5´4" - 5´5" for the women, and 5´9" - 5´10" for men, exept for my uncle, who is 6´1". My father is 5´10", and my Mother is 5´6", so my height-potential was about 5´10.5" - 5´11", but I was lucky enough to grow from 5´10.25" to 6´0.5" after I turned 19. Eventhough I was a late bloomer, and barely scraped 5´9" at age 16, which isn´t all that short, I was labled as "short" by most of my freinds. Many of them hit puberty much erlier than me, and throughout my teens I was pretty much 2" + shorter than most of my guy-freinds. 6´0.5" is a brilliant height, not too tall, and not too short, but I like to give myself a couple of extra inches when I go out. I usually wear 2.5" elevated shoes, and it feels even better to look 6´3", which is pretty tall. Elevated shoes are awesome! Everyone should wear them!
dmeyer said on 27/Jul/11
i have nike tlite home they give 1.05 1.1 in plus 1.7 1.8 in lifts they give 2.4 in i mesure 188cm in them
Dino said on 23/Jul/11
I totally agree with Ken. They too charged my debit card but then never sent the shoes. I emailed the owner and he ignored me, until finally after several inquiries said he'll send them right away. He didn't. Don's might have good shoes, but good luck getting them to send you any. Their customer service is awful, and now I have the impossible task of trying to get a refund from that a**hole (good luck with a debit card, but at the time I didn't have a credit card and had no choice). Bugarri's, you're about to get yourself a new customer. Don's sucks, DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM.
Phil said on 21/Jul/11
I agree with SolidSnake. They cripple your feet really bad.
dmeyer said on 18/Jul/11
high cut sneakers with a 1 in lifts is great you can get 1.8-2in up to 2 in its comfies over that you need elevators or 1.4 timbs with 1 in lifts you coud get 2.2 in , nike air force with 1.25 in lifts you could get 2.1 in 1.5-2.2 in is easy to get over that it gets complicated
Emman said on 11/Jul/11
I am 5.4ft ,i need to look 5.6ft...What type of shoes i have to wear? Cost ?
Leo said on 29/Jun/11
I have worn elevator shoes for years. At first they were so painful, but a conquered them and now I walk even better, its really helped my posture. I am a legit 6'0 foot. But I love to tower over everyone with lifts. I am a pro bodybuilder and 280 pounds so the extra height does wonders for my look. I wear 3.5" lifts, but am now thinking of getting me some 5" lifts. I have truly mastered the art of wearing elevated shoes. It took me about a year. But now they are so comfortable. Theres a certain way you have to walk. Theres vids on youtube. I look forward to standing to 6'5 with my five inch lifts. And btw NOBODY has ever noticed that I wear lifts. I lived at home with them for years and nobody noticed. Not my parents or brothers or sisters. So I recommend any guy that wants to be taller to get some lifts. I love my shoes....6'5 here I come!!
-LEO
Maximus Meridius said on 26/Jun/11
Hey Rob how many pairs of shoes do you have.
[Editor Rob: at the moment I have about 3 boots, 3 shoes and 15 pairs of sneakers. This will get me through the next 20 years ;)]
Ken said on 12/Jun/11
Do not buy shoes from Don's - total rip off. I placed an order and my credit card was billed but the shoes were never sent - Allan/owner is a liar and claimed they were on the way, I would get them soon, total BS - now he will not repond to my inquires. Save yourself the time, money and aggrravation - STAY AWAY - TOTAL SCAM
[Editor Rob: if you never receive goods from any company, then go through your cc company to make a refund claim.]
onion said on 10/Jun/11
im going to go and buy me some of those bad boys, an extra 2 1/2 inches thats what im talking about .........
Johan said on 10/Jun/11
I am about 5ft 6 3/4 inch throughout the day.... Does anyone know of a shoe (preferably a cowboy boot styled shoe) that can increase my height to 5ft 10in? are there any custom shoe makers who could create a 3.5 inch increasing cowboy boot? Thanks
Drinky McDrinkalot said on 3/Jun/11
Would anyone be interested in a pair of (slightly) used elevator shoes? I have two pair which I've worn maybe three times each - one from Don's and one from Bugarri. I've decided they're not for me and would rather wear regular shoes.
Anon said on 3/Jun/11
Ed says on 27/Mar/11
I'm 6'3" and thinking of getting some... Everyone in my family is 6' 4" and up, however, so my situation is a bit different
Yeah sure.
sean89 said on 2/Jun/11
hey rob do elevator shoes have slight tilt foot forward like womens high heel i had a pair a while ago and made my shins ache slightly. when walking up hills.
[Editor Rob: yes a bit of tilt, I can believe if you wear them a long enough time you will get some shin aches]
Shaun said on 31/May/11
Click Here you should buy a pair of these 7 inch heeled goth boots. I want to see just how much height gain you could get from these which would make even Downey's or Bono's look modest...
Shaun said on 31/May/11
I'm convinced that no celebrity gets over 2.5 inches from footwear unless they are disco platforms like Downey Junior. I doubt lifts would give any more height than say standard Caterpillar boots or Cuban heels. If the front part of the shoe is low than however raised the back is surely its not possible to gain more than this. If however the foot is level on a platform like platform shoes and the front part of the shoe is high like the goths like Marilyn Manson wear then massive height gains are possible. A strong 6'1"guy like myself could probably pull off looking close to 6'6" in those goth boots, I'm pretty sure Marilyn looks 6'5" in them.. Personally I think they are extremely ugly looking things and don't know how anybody normal could wear them. Rob I think you should try buying a pair of Manson goth boots and seeing if you can break 6'. Up for it?
[Editor Rob: if I could figure it as part of a business expense maybe I would! I know a guy who walks about in these goth boots he always looked like a 5ft 10 to me but in normal sneakers he was about my height.]
Rachel said on 22/May/11
I am a
5'7" girl and have been dating my 5'5" guy for over 3 years. I find him perfectly attractive, and would never think of leaving him becasue he is shorter than me, but it would be nice to be able to have him at eye level when we kiss or take pictures together. I felt kind of bad when I asked him about his opinion on useing lifts or elevator shoes to add 2", but he was fine with it! There are some cool styles out there, and I'm so excited I wont be a giant next to him in our wedding photos! :)
advice.. said on 7/May/11
dont wear anything that makes u over 1.5 inches tallers, you're entering ridiculous town population you and some other creeps, youll get found out.
rafa said on 15/Apr/11
Sarkozy, Medvedev, Putin, Hu JIntao these
guys very PROBABLY wear lifts
Mr Yeah said on 10/Apr/11
Hey how long does it usually take to ship the shoes (Germany), I ordered on the first of April. ? But there was nothing happening, also not on the information ordering page ? Please tell me any experience you made, thank you in advance.....
[Editor Rob: I would expect if there is a backlog of orders for it to take a few weeks.]
SolidSnake said on 9/Apr/11
Hush puppies are basically elevator shoes- they have about 1.5 inch heel and a huge insole. At least 2.5 inch total gain.
G said on 3/Apr/11
As a tall Latin male at a real 6'2" I do see the advantages of being tall. I see that I am treated better in business and generally in public. I am a big guy too (around 225lbs) and I can tell that people are intimidated when they see me coming towards them. So I'm left alone so to speak. Sometimes it's an issue when I want to meet people. I don't want to be taller either. It's sad that society judges so much on height whether taller or shorter. I say if you need an extra few inches to make you happy go for it. Just remember you don't have to always "measure" yourself against others.
Ed said on 27/Mar/11
I'm 6'3" and thinking of getting some...
Everyone in my family is 6' 4" and up, however, so my situation is a bit different
Ted Palen said on 23/Mar/11
Being above average height to begin with(6'3"), so I've never thought of lifts. I do however own a pair of Tony Lamma cowboy boots that give me a solid 2.5" or so, and I do admit it is fun to walk around at close to 6'6", plus lifter shoes usually look kinda goofy. Where as my boots are strictly utilitarian and not ornate or flashy, so simply pull my pant legs over the tops of the boots and they more like beatle boots and dont make you walk goofy.
Geoffrey said on 12/Mar/11
To Michael: A woman judges the height of a man not against herself, but relative to other men. It is for this reason you typically hear shorter women teasing men below average height. Women know they are the shorter sex. When a woman who is say 5'0 sees a man who is say 5'5, she is not thinking, "He is taller than me, so let's go", she is thinking, "Wow, he is short!" since most men are 5'9-5'11. Many women (regardless of their height) tune out shorter guys and these elevator shoes can really make that much of a difference when approaching women in the real world if you are below average. If you look at that above picture of Rob, you can easily see why a woman like that MAY totally tune him out in a nightclub setting. See how he can look down at her after he puts them on? That eye (her) to lip (him) advantage would help him score.
Veer said on 10/Mar/11
My height is 5'3" .bt i wnt 2 make my height 5'8".plz tell the shoes cost in indian curency .elevator modal xn 66024
Editor Rob said on 9/Mar/11
The picture is showing the height those dons give over barefoot, that's the purpose. My posture is no different, if it was then I should appear an inch shorter than Jenny in the first photo rather than the difference being the same as her sneakers.
If you want to see a photo that is biased (the joke is about the exaggeration of Elevators), then do view this: -
Click Here - I am wearing converse in the first and 2.3 inch junk elevators. Now I am dropping 3-4cm of posture on purpose to make the 'Stallone Effect' even more dramatic...
maybe you can see why I'm wearing a suit with longer trousers when wearing an elevator for a photo...look at the the trousers on that Stallone Effect, they are like half masts.
someone said on 6/Mar/11
I'm 5ft 9 in the morning and 5ft 8.5 in the evening and I wear Nike Airforce 1's with a 0.6 inch lift inside, when I wear them I stand at 5 ft 10.5 / 5ft 11.
and when I take my shoes off it isn't noticeable at all. for people of average height that want a little undetectable boost I would recommend getting a half inch lift.
Alex said on 3/Mar/11
@ Rob. The picture is biased, because normal shoes add height to you, and in the first picture your not wearing any footwear, so it's just your bare height against another person whose wearing footwear. Can you take this picture again, with normal footwear against Don's Elevator Shoes? Also, wear the same clothes and stand in the same stature/pose, because the stature and suit in the second picture creates automatic appeal, making your shoulders look bigger - adding an extra illusion of height and power
SolidSnake said on 2/Mar/11
Even George Bell who is 7 foot 8 wears size 19 shoes
SolidSnake said on 27/Feb/11
I saw a pair of size 18 elevator ish shoes in a shop today. In a years the same shoes will probably be there lol. The Big Show and Great Khali wear this size and they are 7'0 and 7'1 respectively
dmeyer said on 26/Feb/11
rob if you wear shoes that give 2.5 in you will go to 5 ft 10 5/8 you will look like a 5 ft 9.75 men wearing normal shoes with small lifts you will be 5 ft 9.5 and monsters 5 ft 10.25 range
dmeyer said on 26/Feb/11
rob elevor shoes thats are advetized 5.5 in how mush do they truly give
SolidSnake said on 26/Feb/11
If you are 5 ft 9 or more you really don't need elevator shoes. They cripple your feet really bad. If you wear them everyday you probably won't even be able to walk when you get old
anonymous said on 24/Feb/11
Rob, you're right about needing to get a higher midpoint in the shoe to get 3 inches if the shoe measurement is 3 inches. Strange but true. I bought some elevating shoes and they do indeed measure 2.5" increase with the heel and inner mold insert. However, my true height increase is only around 2". Still, I am happy with the 2" increase. From your YouTube video it appears you are slightly taller than 5'8.5 and not .25.
Editor Rob said on 22/Feb/11
To Frankenstein, no way do they give 3 inches. I actually went up to my loft and found the shoes and redid the measurement!
Click Here you look at the video and see the end of my thumb, that gives an idea of how high the lift has to be just to get 2 and 1/3rd inches. You also see the size of the heel compared to a heel which is like 0.8 inches, it looks really big up close!
L said on 18/Feb/11
I'm 5'8.5" and just bought a pair of Don's. This is my first time in elevators and lifts. It must feel great to stand at 5'11"!
sean89 said on 16/Feb/11
if your 6 ft go to large supermarket or whereever count how many men are shorter and how many you pass are taller the majority would be shorter by about 2-3 inches 3-4 inches since the average range for men hieght is 5'8 to 6'2.
peejay said on 14/Feb/11
Elevator shoes are definitely NOT indetectable. First, they make you walk funny, second your trouser bottoms 'snag' on the heightened part of your shoe, thirdly your knee appears to bend in the wrong place. Any increase of more than 1" looks wierd.
And think what that unnatural posture is doing to your foot-joints, knees, spine, and just about everything else!
Sean said on 6/Feb/11
I've seen similar things before. Shoe lifts are definately the only option for people who need that extra height and they have stopped growing. I guess these inserts for shoes are the ones such as the ones at
Click Here
Michael said on 3/Feb/11
personally I don't understand short guy's obsession with their height... I know I'm making a generalization but most short guy's I've met seem to like taller women... and some, the taller the better... like one guy about 5'7 I know would be chasing a girl that was 6'2". Obviously that is extreme, but basically the thing is that there are plenty of cute or beautiful short girls out there... so if someone is say 5'4, there are many 5'0 or 5'1 girls... so I just don't understand the shorter guys that write comments like they wear lifts to get girls. On the flip side, I do know that the shorter the girl is, the more she appreciates a tall guy - it has something to do with them feeling more safe and secure, but the important thing with most women is just that a guy is taller than them. So my advice is to forget about trying to catch women taller or as tall as you and find women shorter than you, unless you are 5'0 or shorter, there are plenty out there... my 2 cents
Frankstein said on 30/Jan/11
rob, in "how to measure a celeb height" you said that from eyelevel to top forehead it is about 4 inches, in these pics jenny is the same height as you before and at you eyelevel after. Those shoes give you at least 3 inches, at least... Jenny is a little bit over your eyelevel, being completely honest, but she is wearing shoes too and she is a quarter of an inch taller than you, so it comes that you are like 3 inches taller than her and not 4 in the second pic..
NeverSettleWithAverage said on 20/Jan/11
I may be 5'11" but I have a long neck, or low shoulder placement if that fits better. Wearing some insole boosting helps to offset the appearance of my longer neck by increasing my height from below the shoulders. If I actually was taller some more length would go to my neck. I use 1/2 inch insoles which may not seem like much but people noticed I got taller with them on but there is no obvious giveaway that it's insoles as my ankle placement is still fine in my shoes. But I do feel like I shrink too much when I take the shoes off which does suck.
To one of the comments below, Brad Pitt is 5'11" so he might be wearing a very subtle small insole, Vin Diesel is 5'11" but I don't think he elevates himself because notice how he is eye level with people on his movies like Pitch Black.
Get Real said on 16/Jan/11
I really could care less about what people think with regards to me wearing Elevators. I'm 5'6 and with shoes like these can pull off a strong 5'8-5'9. These taller people who are saying "Be comfortable in your own skin", "Obsessing over height shows insecurity", "She's going to be disappointed when they come off". Go screw yourselves. Height doesn't mean jack to you because you are all average-tall. Us short guys know what time it is, and women GENERALLY don't like smaller guys. We can wait around and watch you have all of the fun, or jump in the ring too. Those two extra inches brings you eye level to all of the shorter women wearing heels and will allow you open your mouth or face immediate rejection because women subconsciously tune shorter men out. I proudly wear these and am honest and upfront about them with the women I date. This is survival of fittest and we have to do what we have to do. Sorry if it offends you all but who gives a damn!
steve said on 16/Jan/11
I'm like 5'11 and bought some elevator shoes that bring me to 6'1 and they're still very comfortable.. I actually feel better walking with them than walking with feet straight flat. I don't give a phuck if somebody thinks I'm a loser for using them. I do it for me, not for you. I'm gonna buy some shoes with 5,2 inch elevators next. o yeah and I might reach 6' naturally if I get lucky. Come at me, brahs.
Marc Shapiro said on 7/Jan/11
Maxaz, why are women allowed to wear lifts, but men no? A bit of a double standard?
I also think that in "the sack" its not such a dissapointment at all. Also, you act as if height horizontally is very proportional to height vertical. The correlation is low.
And I am wearing shoes. I talked to the owner at Richlee Shoes and he told me that his customers have expressed gratitude. None felt like they were lying. Their site is here:
Click Here
JD said on 5/Jan/11
Actors like myself require lifts in a industry that Feeds on a strict syrupy diet of superficial vanity. I would be totally ok with being 5'7" but if you're not 5'10" or taller you get passed over for jobs. It sucks but that's Hollywood for you.
ReelGuy said on 1/Jan/11
Maxaz... women put on makeup, fix up their hair, wear high heels, rely on pushup bras, and you can't stand the thought of a man wearing an elevator shoe? With all due respect, you need a reality check. Allow me to enlighten you.
You obviously have a preference for taller men, you're pretty tall for a woman. However, I seriously doubt you can spot the difference between 1.2 inches (a regular shoe heel) and a 3 inch shoe. I will admit, that the ridiculous 5 inch elevator shoes I've seen are painfully obvious.
Every time you've slept with a guy, did you have him stand up to juxtapose your height with his? Didn't think so...
Let me tell you, I'm 5'9, wear elevator shoes when I go out, and I've been with girls MUCH taller than me, and plenty of girls much shorter than me. Every time I've taken them to bed, the girl has NEVER been "disappointed" with my height, or my performance ;).
It all balances out. You wear shoes out, we wear shoes out. Gain a couple inches here, gain a couple inches there... it really doesn't matter.
anonymous said on 22/Dec/10
I'm gonna let you in on a little secret; everyone every day is looking for an edge, whether it be the illusion of wealth, looks, intelligence, etc. Get over it.
Adawg said on 15/Dec/10
cmon people havent you seen surragtes or movies like it? this is just the beginning lol. people are not satisfied with their legit height so they resort to desperation, i can understand maybe if ur like 5'4 or like 5'6, but otherwise cmon shoe lifts are weakkkkkkkkkkkk...
Alex says on 30/Nov/10 said on 30/Nov/10
Rob, how many inches do you really get with a pair of elevators shoes that are advertised 4.8 Inches? Thanks and Regards.
maxaz said on 13/Nov/10
Hey, these shoes are a lie. What are you gonna do next, invest in a medieval rack?? Height is just as felt horizontally (if you get my drift), so once the lifts come off, it's just disappointing for us tall girls (me 5'10) who think we're getting 6'1 and we end up with 5'9 in the sack. I would say shoe lifts for men are the exact same thing as stuffing your bra, padding your butt or wearing serious body slimmers. Then the guy is just like... Hmmm... when he sees you naked. Just another disappointment about something that should be pretty straight-forward.
octopus paul said on 9/Nov/10
these shoes looks good..
it can add to one's height and so appearance..
but you can't wear it always..
good things come with some drawbacks..
if a person doesn't care he should go for this..
just good for short men..
star said on 23/Oct/10
hey! I'm 5'1 ! haha.. but I'm a female..... so bad ay?:( lol.... but just like to say I know how short guys feel! when I wear high heels I feel tall but I'm still short!hahaha so really I think it a mental thing. It's important to feel good about yourself. Don't let others tell you how u should look. Who caressss bout others~pls~.... these girls I know wear heaps of make up and have gorgeous bf's.. haa! ther all ugly wihout make up, yes:)) but they don't care! so what? ... go get 'em!!! be taller by whatever inches! you all tall people will never understant:((( it's like this with us; omg if only I was just 1 inch taller! to all you tall ones its like; whatever! 1 inch is nothing who cares!......... appreciate what u have b4 u lose it! haaaha! lol
Shaun said on 21/Oct/10
Brad Pitt is at least 5'10" and wears lifts. Telly Savalas, Burt Reynolds, Vin Diesel, all lift wears and 5'11" range. Are you suggesting they all have serious issues and are extremely ugly? Each has a height complex for sure but I guess it is a confidence booster for them looking 6' or 6'1".
Andrew said on 20/Oct/10
What about guys who intend to be entirely up front? Psychologically, height tends to seem to be rewarded with greater responsibility. I am not going to lie about the fact that I will wear these shoes. I've actually talked to several women about it and they seemed to think the idea of a guy who wore them but was honest about them was actually a pretty good idea.
Heights said on 5/Oct/10
In the photo of Rob with Socks, Rob looks 0.5 inch shorter than Jenny. In the photo with shoes on, Rob looks 2.5 inches taller than Jenny.
Rob is 5' 8", Jenny is 5' 8"
Jenny with Sneakers is 5' 8.5" (Sneakers are 0.5 inch heels even though they may be advertised as 0.7 inch brand new, the heels compress with usage and a used pair of sneakers have heels of just 0.5 inch)
Rob with Elevators is 5' 11" (The elevators are probably 3 inch heels)
dmeyer said on 3/Oct/10
hey rob , shoes that are advertized at 5.5 in how mush do they give 3 to 3.25 ? maybe
Rocky89 said on 20/Sep/10
I REALLY want to buy these shoes, woman don't really want men who are smaller. These shoes could do the trick for men, and boast their conference.
I wear elevator shoes said on 17/Sep/10
First off let me address "Anonymous" being ok with my height doesnt mean I dont wish to be a little taller it just means I really dont give it much thought..ever. Questions about Airport Security well Ive flown a couple of times since Ive started wearin them and had zero problems problems with security. In light of the stupid ass shoe bomber I can see your point though
Editor Rob said on 14/Sep/10
meoww - Jenny in her sneakers that moment is between 5ft 8.6-8.7 range.
When I put on the elevators I measured 5ft 10.75, so the difference is only like 2.1-2.2 at most!
Mike said on 8/Sep/10
Tall Tales, you're a woman. Unless you don't wear make up, don't even try to talk about us guys hiding something by wearing lifts. Guys have been putting up with all the make up nonsense for too long. Some of the most hideous women can look good with the right makeup.
Greg said on 7/Sep/10
angryshortguy I have much respect for you man. All these people who are 5'10 and taller have some serious issues if they're considering wearing lifts. They're probably extremely ugly lol.
meoww said on 30/Aug/10
wait, rob are you saying there is only a 2 inch difference between you and jenny in the photo on the right..? it looks closer to 3.5 inches to me
Brace said on 22/Aug/10
Can any elevator shoe wearers report on dealing with security at airports?
Brace said on 17/Aug/10
Question: What experience have any of you elevator wearers had with airline security. I'm about to travel and don't want any hassles. Thanks.
Anonymous said on 16/Aug/10
You know what..some (shorter)guys here said that they are happy with their height and blah blah..the truth is you guys want to be taller...at least 6'..just admit it and stop being in denial.
It's like women with small boobs saying they are happy with their small boobs but in reality wanted bigger boobs.
It's a fact. It's just that men and women want different thing.
I wear elevator shoes said on 13/Aug/10
Im 5.8 and 45 years old Ive heard about elevator shoes a long time ago but I really dont have a short guy complex and never gave them a serious thought. I also have flat feet, my feet have no arch what so ever. About two years ago I had a conversation with a guy who was about 6.3 and his flat feet were about as bad as mine. He knew what i meant when I said it fells like the meat on the front section of my foot is pulling apart when on long walks. He then shared a secret with me. He was wearing elevator shoes which transfer more of you body weight to your heels. This works! yeah it felt funny the first couple of days but I love them. No one has ever noticed Im a little taller, I even tell some people and they dont believe untill I take off my shoes. All you people claiming its obvious reall dont know what your talking about. I find the opposite is true often having to take off my shoes and show them when they dont believe me.
Jimmy said on 2/Aug/10
As far as staying unnoticable when wearing elevator shoes, I wouldn't buy anything that gives you over 2 inches. An increase of 1.5 inches is better than 2 inches.
Normal shoes already give about 1 inch (more or less depending on the shoe). Plenty sneakers give more than 1 inch. So if you wear elevator shoes that give 1.5 inches height increase, the difference with a normale shoe is only 1/2 inch. Nobody will really notice 1/2 inch height difference. I think it's when going over 2 inches where it starts to become noticable. Also, the less increase, the more comfort for your legs when you walk. So my advice would be to keep the maximum at 2 inches. It's not a big difference but it's better than nothing right?
Anonymous said on 28/Jul/10
Standard deviation is 2.8 inches for height. The average being 5'9.5. This means that for every 5'3 male out there, there is one 6'4 male out there. The reason why you see more 6'4 people? Because they buy elevator shoes(or shoes in general that give them more lift)/ don't go out as much. TBH, It is OBVIOUS when someone is wearing elevator shoes. It just doesn't look right.
ano said on 24/Jul/10
Guys, women can definitely tell and it can get really embarrassing at work if people find and the info spreads. Don't waste you time and money!! Just embrace your height!
Editor Rob said on 23/Jul/10
sean, that photo is only about a 2.1-2.2 inch difference, no more.
Anonymous said on 15/Jul/10
If at 5'10 man feels short there must be something wrong with him. Average height for man in many countries is about 5'9 or so, and there is many tribes around the world where lives very short people, so worldwide average height can be only 5'7 to 5'8. It's just here in "wellbeing" countries where we are taller and make this height -thing so stupid important.
pete said on 13/Jul/10
thats so laughable :D how can wear a man shoes which lifts him up from 179 cm to 190 cm ??? I mean that must look like so bad cause they are fault Body proportions etc.
sorry for my bad school english
Jimmy said on 11/Jul/10
@ Tall Tales. Do you really think that men who wear these shoes are trying to deceive people? They want to feel better about themselfs. And a woman dumping a man because he wears elevator shoes is a sad woman and has a bad attitude about life. If you're a woman, I'm sure you wear make-up. So aren't you trying to deceive men into believing that you're more beautiful than you really are? If you would ever get intimate with a man and he sees you without make-up, then what? Should the man then dump you!? How shallow is that? I would be more keen to believe that someone with this doesn't deserve the best life has to offer than a man who wears elevator shoes.
AngryShortGuy said on 9/Jul/10
You're all complaining that you feel short at 5"10 and above? I'm 5"4 and I'm a fully grown man. I made sure I was tested multiple times for any sign of a growth hormone deficiency or any growth related problems whatsoever, and I have none. None of my family are little people either. I was born prematurely so I guess that makes me the shortest one. But how rude of me to interrupt the 6ft+ people, I know they're seriously insecure about their height, the poor short-asses. Excuse me whilst I continue my pointless search to find a decent woman shorter than myself! Jesus christ...
sean89 said on 8/Jul/10
rob looks about 3 inches taller with the shoes good huh jennys head comes just above robs eyebrows so hes looks 3 inches taller.
Kyle said on 4/Jul/10
Honestly, guys wearing these shoes are no different than girls wearing makeup. What are you hiding?
PatB said on 12/Jun/10
"I cant' believe that people who are 6ft+ are even considering elevator shoes!"
Why not? Being taller makes you feel better. I was recently cast as Bartolo in a production of The Marriage of Figaro. The Figaro was 6'5". I'm 6'4". I was uncomfortable sort of like the High Heels incident between Hines and Corelli at La Scala.
I guess I won't be getting a pair of these. They only come in sizes up to 13. I wear size 15.
PatB said on 12/Jun/10
"I cant' believe that people who are 6ft+ are even considering elevator shoes!"
Why not? Being taller makes you feel better. I was recently cast as Bartolo in a production of The Marriage of Figaro. The Figaro was 6'5". I'm 6'4". I was uncomfortable sort of like the High Heels incident between Hines and Corelli at La Scala.
I guess I won't be getting a pair of these. They only come in sizes up to 13. I wear size 15.
FORLAN said on 10/Jun/10
this site caused me to buy elevator shoes... my height is 190 cm and the site shows as 190cm not tall and i will use extra givers that will show me as 190cm barefoot + 1.5cm shoes + 5cm lifts = 196.5cm... Iam n depression now!
Tall Tales said on 7/Jun/10
Guys, its really sad that the only people you are deluding is yourself. If you get as far getting intimate with a partner, the shoes, along with the rest of your kit comes off, ain't no way you can disguise the fact that you are short. Take if from me there's nothing more unattractive and embarassing than a man who is uncomfortable in his own skin and who lies about his height. Quickest way to get dumped is to deny what you really are. And sorry but its a matter of basic biology. Some women genuinely prefer tall muscular men who can protect them and give them strong off-spring. Although this may be a genetic imperative, for the majority it's not an issue. For me personally there is nothing more unnattractive than a man who lacks confidence and honesty and has done little to cultivate a personality and mature approach to life. Such obsessiveness about height is one big massive turn-off and if you can't think of anything other than your height perhaps you don't deserve to have the best that life has to offer.
Anonymous says on 19/May10 said on 19/May/10
I have a pair Calden lace boots providing 5,2 inches taller.But i have to take about 2cm off because i,m 179.6 cm barefoot and in that case i should be about 193cm with them on and i,m not.I,m just 190.8cm, rounded up 191cm. But it is pretty good anyway.
italiandude said on 19/May/10
i think the moderator of this site should delete comments that are trying to advertise sites that sell these shoes.c'mon,this is a place where people come for help not to be fooled
Don't be silly... said on 13/May/10
This guy in the office started wearing them and I did not even notice he had grown taller - I just noticed immediately that his shoes looked very weird. The minute I saw the shoes I knew what they were. Guys, don't be silly! It's better to be short than to be short and ridiculous :) I'd never wear those ghastly shoes and I am 5'3.
Mark said on 5/May/10
@Gazinder
I know how you feel. I go to school where over 50% of students come from families making $300,000 per year or more. At 5'10" I feel very short.
sean225 said on 4/May/10
yeh i dont like elevator shoes whats point 3 inches taller and take ur shoes off u drop 3 inches shorter hey dude u shrunk hahaa well since im 6 ft i have no need i just wear regular trainers and i gt measured again to my suprise i am 6 ft i must grown but dont buy them unless ur 5 ft 3 or shorter and its not even real hieght
Martello said on 4/May/10
To reply to the anonymous post. The reason that men over 5'9 are using elevator shoes is to feel superior. 5'9 is the average height for a man and a man whom is 6'0 or 6'1 feels more confident. Men just want to appear taller
Anonymous said on 2/May/10
If you want to make a stronger presentation when meeting new people the extra couple inches do seem to make a difference. Look at the pictures above; I'm convinced; just don't get busted. Could be embarrassing.LOL
sean225 said on 25/Apr/10
the shoes i have are calden thre are comfy shoes and feel normal and give around 2.8 inch 7 cm over my barefoot hieght so i can to rougly 6 ft 2 in them and not loose comfort and 181 cm tall without shoes
sean225 said on 25/Apr/10
i have pair calden elevator shoes im 180.5 cm barefoot and 187 cm 6 ft 1.5 in them quite comfortable and dont hurt your feet if u use seperate insole its not as comfortable nd feet ache
Anonymous said on 23/Apr/10
Sarozi and Putin are both only about 5'5,5" (166 cm). I don't understand why over 5'9" men are using lifts! I'm 5'7,75 at the best and using 1,6 inch heels most of the time which makes only about 1 cm more to normal 1 inch shoes.
Neon10 said on 22/Apr/10
There's this girl from work, she claims to be around 6', but she's really 5'9.5-5'10 at most. This is because they are now making good thick-soled shoes with hidden lifts, including the standard type ones for both girls and guys. Believe me, where I work, they're selling em like crazy. I've also seen alot of people wearing them. That may have been the reason why others think the younger generation is getting taller, but they're actually downsizing due to poor nutrition. Some maybe getting taller, but many are not. I've also been hearing other people say that taller girls will downgrade their heights so they won't feel bad, but they can also exaggerate their heights. It's possible that many girls claiming to be like 6 feet and over aren't really that tall. People can get away with looking taller due to high shoes and splitting hair.
Me said on 17/Apr/10
@ Arie
That's very interesting Arie, because I am in California and am a flat 5'11" in normal shoes and I fell short compared to other men. I am slightly below 5'10" barefoot, which is interesting because my shoes are not over 1" thick. They must improve my posture. Anyways, ever since I started looking at reflections when I passed people by, I noticed that people who I thought are my height are actually taller. I was pretty bummed out.
Editor Rob said on 13/Apr/10
J.J. - on the left Jenny has on like 0.4 inch sneakers, like old vans or something. So the actual difference on the right is only 2.1-2.2 inches, the shoes themselves give 2.5 inches.
McFan - those shoes are ok to walk about in, but you probably would need a few days to get used to it and to have some trousers (pants) long enough aswell. But you definitely feel that your stance is 'firmer' than a pair of sneakers.
Big Bob said on 6/Apr/10
i have ones similar to this gives me about 2 and 1/4 inches and im 6 feet tall as it is and there kinda comfortable
Michael said on 30/Mar/10
@ someone
5'7 is better than 5'4. Just saying
Ziggy's back said on 7/Mar/10
I'm back from nearly a 3 year absence from this site. If any of you were around back then, I was very involved in having several custom boots made for me starting back in 2005. Since then, I have amassed about 20 pair, ranging from regular leather to alligator and ostrich skins. I wear about a size 9, but these are all customized to fit much larger inserts than anything you'd find commercially available. Since they were all prototype that I never wore because they were design studies, I am willing to off these at giveaway prices. I am currently trying to sell them on craigslist. If anyone is interested, please email me at finavest@aol.com.
johnno said on 5/Mar/10
I cant' believe that people who are 6ft+ are even considering elevator shoes! Clearly their problems are not with height! I'm considering buying my first pair, and at 20 years old and 5'2", I think I have a valid excuse!