Men and women are being impeded by their height and are looking to change that. levator shoes are a quick and easy way to add a few inches to your height and change your life. But there are so many options on the market. Which ones to get?

Our 10 best elevator shoe picks are a great starting point for you to begin your search for the elevator shoes that best suit you. To save you even more time, below we will go through some criteria you can use to evaluate and choose elevator shoes.

The Right Expectation

While elevator shoes are great at adding inches to your height, do not expect miracles. If you are looking for elevator shoes that are inconspicuous, do not expect more than 2 to 2 ½ inches of gained height.

If you are willing to go for elevator shoes that look a bit different from regular shoes, you can get as much as 4 inches of gained height. Anything more than 4 inches is really not recommended.

Comfort

Height is not everything. You also need comfort. You should be able to stand and walk in your elevator shoes for a whole day without feeling pain. You also want shoes that do not trap perspiration and can keep your feet dry. Look for soft upper material that is also breathable.

Cushioning is important for protecting your feet from impact and shock. For that, you want elevator shoes with a soft midsole.

Just as important, you do not want a big heel-to-toe drop as that would force you to stand and walk on your tiptoes. So look for shoes that have a raised flat toe to minimize the heel-to-toe drop.

Styles

Elevator shoes used to have a reputation of being ridiculous looking. Fortunately, modern elevator shoes have managed to look normal and discreet. Most of them do not look any different from regular shoes.

Tip: Build a wardrobe of elevator shoes of similar raised heights that cover a whole range of occasions. For example, Oxfords for formal occasions, Chelsea boots for playing, Chukka boots for everyday casual wear, etc. That way your perceived height will not vary as you go from one pair of shoes to another. This helps to keep your use of elevator shoes inconspicuous.

CALTO Men’s Formal Oxford – 3 Inches Taller

CALTO is a famous name in the elevator shoe market, and it does not disappoint with this formal dress Oxford. The shoe is made of high quality, soft, and supple leather. It looks very stylish. It is a formal Oxford, so you can wear them to the office or weddings without looking out of place.

The heel height is only about 1 ¼ inches so it does not look conspicuous at all. There is a leather insole that brings the total raise to a bit less than 3 inches.

They are 100% handmade and the craftsmanship is very good.

CALTO Men’s Derby – 3 Inches Taller

Another great shoe from CALTO, this time it is a Derby that is a bit less formal than Oxford. That means they are more versatile than Oxfords – they are formal enough for the office, but also casual enough for a night out on the town.

As usual for CALTO, these shoes are made of high quality and supple leather. They look very stylish. They are 100% handmade with good craftsmanship.

The heel height is only about 1 inch so it looks very discreet, just like any other regular shoes. There is a leather insole that brings the total raise to a bit less than 3 inches.

CHAMARIPA Men’s Monk Strap – 2.76 Inches Taller

These are high quality monk straps from CHAMARIPA, an elevator shoe specialist. Monk straps are less formal than Oxfords but more formal than Derbies. They are formal enough to wear to work or weddings, but they are also uncommon enough to give you a bit of an edge.

The shoes are made of high quality leather. The double monk strap design looks great. The steel buckles are stylish and understated.

CALTO Men’s Chelsea Boot – 2.8 Inches Taller

Another winner from CALTO. This is a beautiful Chelsea boot. Very sleek and stylish. Perfect for going out and clubbing. It gives out a “Swinging Sixties” vibe. You can also wear it to work if your office dress code is not too formal.

The boots are made of high quality leather, as usual. This is a CALTO so it is 100% handmade. Craftsmanship is good.

Heel height is only 1 ¼ inches so this boot is very inconspicuous. Total raise is 2.8 inches, which is admittedly not that much.

CHAMARIPA Men’s Brogue Oxford – 2.76 Inches Taller

This is a sophisticated wingtip full brogue. It is an Oxford so you can wear it to a lot of formal occasions including work and weddings. It also has a wingtip full brogue that adds an extra edge and tone down its formalness. Wear it for clubbing and you will not be overdressed.

The upper is all leather. It is 100% handmade. Construction is good and the shoe looks great.

Raise is only 2.76 inches (7 cm). That may not be enough for some people.

CALTO Men’s Chukka Boots – 3 Inches Taller

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This Chukka boot is in nubuck, which gives it a rugged, tough look that goes very well with jeans or khakis. You can wear them to social gatherings, pub crawls, or any casual occasions.

The nubuck leather is soft and comfy. The chocolate brown color is beautiful. There is a rubber outsole with a deep tread pattern that gives excellent traction. As with all CALTO, it is 100% handmade.

Heel is just 1 inch, so this is a very discreet elevator boot. Total raise is a very respectable 3 inches.

Calden Men’s Dress Boots – 3 Inches Taller

This black dress boot looks formal, but not so formal that you cannot wear it in more casual settings. It can go from a formal office to a casual night out with no problem.

Upper is high quality leather. Construction is good. The rubber outsole gives a good grip. There is a cloth inner lining that helps keep your foot comfy.

Heel height is 1 ½ inches. Some might find that a bit indiscreet. Total raise is a good 3 inches.

CALTO Men’s Dress Loafer – 3 Inches Taller

This loafer has a very unique design. It has a cap toe. Part of the shoe upper is in embossed leather. The leather itself is supple and has a very interesting, aged patina. They all combine to make this an uncommonly classy loafer.

It is 100% handmade. Craftsmanship is good.

Heel is just 1 inch high, so it is very discreet. Total raise is a respectable 3 inches.

Weight is 19 oz, quite heavy for a loafer.

CHAMARIPA Men’s Casual Sneaker – 2.76 inches Taller

This sneaker comes in various styles and colors. The chance is, you will find a look you like.

Upper is soft leather. It is very comfy. Outsole is rubber. It provides good traction.

This is a stylish sneaker that is perfect for casual, everyday wear. It is not a performance sports shoe, so you probably won’t want to wear it for running or basketball.

UBFEN Women’s Sneakers – 5.5 cm Taller

This fashion sneaker comes in multiple colors from black to white to hot pink.

The upper is synthetic PU leather. The outsole is rubber and MDI-based polyurethane.

The platform is only 2 cm (less than 1 inch) tall, so it is very discreet. There is a 3.5 cm insole that increase the total raise to 5.5 cm (2.2 inches)

Advantages for Being Tall

Life is not fair. There, I said it. We would all like to believe that how you look does not matter, that it is what is inside that counts – your personality, hard work, skills, and disciplines are what will determine how you fare at work, in love, and in life.

Over and over again, it has been proven that how you look matters. A lot. Specifically, tall people have a huge advantage. Repeatedly, studies have found that taller people get paid a higher wage, are more popular in dating, and are considered more charismatic, more intelligent, better in leadership quality, and… well, you get the idea.

Contrary to common beliefs, this “Tall Dividend” is not limited to men. Taller women, just like taller men, also make more money and are considered more intelligent, assertive, successful, and independent.

According to one study, each inch of height above average (5 feet 9 inches for men, 5 feet 3 inches for women) is worth $789 in extra income per year. That means the average 6 feet tall person earns $166,000 more than the average 5 feet 5 inches tall person over a 30-year career, even after controlling for gender, age, and weight.

Below is data from OkCupid, an online dating website. According to this data, the taller the man the more popular he is in dating. Someone who is 6’2” receives almost twice as many unsolicited messages as someone who is 5’4”.

Men’s Height	5’0”	5’2”	5’4”	5’6”	5’8”	5’10”	6’0”	6’2”
Unsolicited messages received per week on OkCupid	0.25	0.4	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.85	0.9	0.95

In another study, tall men and tall women are consistently perceived as better leaders, more dominant, more vital, and more intelligent than short men and short women, respectively.

	Leader	Dominance	Vitality	Intelligence
Short Men	5.91	5.01	6.88	6.72
Tall Men	7.48	6.26	7.52	7.50
Short Women	5.30	4.95	6.01	6.22
Tall Women	5.80	5.42	6.40	6.72

As can be seen in the table above, both tall men and tall women score higher in perception of leadership, dominance, vitality, and intelligence than short men and women.

So yes, it is better to be tall than short in all aspects of life. But what can you do with this information? It is true that once you become an adult you cannot get any taller naturally. But that does not mean there is nothing you can do about your height. Perception is everything. While you cannot make your body physically taller, you can certainly make yourself look taller to other people.

You can improve your life by making yourself look taller. You can change the way you stand and wear clothes that slim down and elongate your body. And you can wear elevator shoes. Many people have a preconception that elevator shoes would make them look ridiculous. Not true. High quality elevator shoes can be inconspicuous and stylish. And they can make you taller by 2 to 4 inches.

How To Look Taller Naturally

Before you get elevator shoes, the easiest and quickest way to look taller is to adopt good posture for both sitting and standing.

Good posture for standing:

• Pull your shoulders back
• Suck in your belly
• Place feet should width apart
• Keep your weight on the balls of your feet

Good posture for sitting:

• Keep your feet flat on the floor
• Do not cross your legs
• Keep your back straight
• Do not slouch down in your chair

If looking taller is not enough incentive for you to adopt good posture, here is another benefit: standing and sitting with a good posture can also help you prevent back pain and headaches. So you will look taller and feel better. What are you still waiting for?

How to Dress To Look Taller

Another way to look taller is to wear clothes that slim down and elongate your body. This trick works for both men and women.

8 ways men can dress to look taller:

1. Wear slim fitted clothes
2. Avoid baggy clothes
3. Wear V-necks instead of crew necks
4. Have no break on your pants
5. Avoid cuffed pants
6. Wear monochromatic clothes
7. Wear shorter jackets
8. Tuck your shirt in

9 ways women can dress to look taller:

1. Wear vertical stripes
2. Wear monochromatic clothes
3. Avoid capris pants
4. Avoid horizontal stripes and busy patterns
5. Wear V-necks instead of crew necks
6. Tuck your shirt in
7. Wear high-waist skirts and pants
8. Wear slim fitted clothes
9. Avoid baggy clothes

What About Elevator Insoles

When it comes to making yourself look taller, elevator insoles are another option you can choose instead of elevator shoes. Both options can add to your height. So, how do you decide which one to go with? There are a few major differences between the two.

First of all, elevator insoles are significantly cheaper than elevator shoes. You can get elevator insoles for less than $10 while most elevator shoes will run you at least $100.

Second, with elevator insoles, you can keep wearing all your existing non-elevator shoes. All you need to do is to put your elevator insoles into your regular shoes and, voilà, you can get taller.

Third, many elevator insoles come in layers. That way you can adjust the amount of height increase you want. For example, if you want to increase 1 inch of height, you put 1 layer into your shoes. If you want to increase 1 ½ inches of height, you put 2 layers into your shoes. It is all very flexible.

With all these advantages, why wouldn’t you want to choose elevator insoles instead of elevator shoes? Turns out elevator insoles have a few major shortcomings.

The biggest problem with elevator insoles is that realistically, you will not be able to add more than 2 inches in height. Any more than that and it becomes hard to walk around with the insoles. With elevator shoes, on the other hand, it is possible to add 4 inches of height.

Another problem with elevator insoles is that they do not work well with all types of shoes. Shoe types such as loafers or low-top sneakers do not usually have enough room to accommodate an elevator insole. As such, elevator insoles are better suited for roomier types of shoes such as boots or high-top sneakers.

Key Takeaway

In this article, we have looked at the 10 best elevator shoes on the market and some criteria you can use to choose your elevator shoes. In closing, I’d like to recap a few key points:

• Taller people make more money, get more attention in dating, and are perceived to be better leaders.
• The world is not fair, but you can make yourself taller.
• Both good posture and appropriate clothing can help you look taller.
• Elevator insoles can only realistically add 1 to 1 ½ inches to your height.
• Elevator shoes can add up to 4 inches to your height. They can also be discreet and normal looking.
• You should build a wardrobe of elevator shoes of similar added heights. That way your height will not fluctuate as you go from one pair of shoes to another. This helps to keep your use of elevator shoes inconspicuous.

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Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API