I have worn elevators for about 10 years and lifts for the previous ten. I myself wish I had known, a long time ago, a lot of the things I have told you in some of my articles over the past five years! And when guys ask questions, in essence they revolve around very similar issues – “can you tell I am wearing them? How much height can I gain?”. But also specifics like ‘detection on flights’ etc are common – the real thing with these questions is this: you cannot truly tell until you have tried them! And for someone like myself, once I did, I never looked back.

The advice someone like myself gives – which I would have welcomed 10 years ago – helps but you have to make the decision.

So let’s start with some practical things that guys ask all the time, related to walking, running, comfort etc.

How comfortable are elevator shoes?…can you run in them? how easy are they to walk in?

OK, I have worn 4”, 5” and 6” elevators for almost a decade, and one of my friends has worn several 3” pairs. Here is our take on this. For him and his 3” pairs, and my 4” pairs, basically they feel no different to wear than any other good pair of quality shoes. The sole is of a standard thickness and the shoes or boots can be worn with anything. In fact because of the general quality, they are probably MORE comfortable than most non-elevator footwear you buy in the average high street or mall. In these you can do everything that we would do in any other shoes.

Now the 5” and 6” are different as they have slightly thicker soles and you have to learn to carry yourself a bit differently and with a little greater care. But here is the thing – which ones do I myself wear every day? My 6” boots! So it’s not a major performance at all. It takes very little effort and I found it really worthwhile.

But in the bigger 5” and 6” boots you simply do not run! They are comfortable, no problem, you can walk in them easily, but running is not recommended. With the others up to 4”, then yes you can but a very important thing is this. Elevator shoes are designed to do all the things you normally do – but you need a period of getting used to the slight differences before you just do anything and everything.

On this front I suggest you do what I have always done – when you get your shoes, particularly your first pair, wear them several times out and about to non important things (going to get something from the shops, any shortish trip) just to get kinda used to the feel. You will actually love the experience.

Now the comfort thing leads me to the next issue that guys ask – how comfortable are shoe lifts?

If you are serious about adding height, but worried about spending on elevator shoes, then you will of course have considered or used shoe lifts. But they are both a blessing and a curse. They are a blessing because, very cheaply, you can see how you can add a couple of inches without anyone knowing or realising.

But they are a curse because even at just 2 inches or 5cm, they are almost certainly uncomfortable and tricky to wear for more than a short time. And this then gives the false impression that adding height is always uncomfortable. Which it is not. So the experience you are getting is misleading and it might put you off doing it right with properly made elevators. When I used to wear lifts, they would slip around, and for example make the top of the foot ache because of the pressure caused by putting added height into a space not designed for it. I did this for many years, and became as expert as anyone could, I suppose, but it was never really that comfortable.

And this is the thing – elevators are DESIGNED with the space to add the height. Normal shoes are of course not – so putting much more than in inch in your normal shoes causes the upper to press into the foot. But as I say, if you have the room to add a couple of inches you are amazed to see that no one realises you are adding any height – and you FEEL taller. In that sense they are a good preparation for ‘the real thing’, where you can get that height AND MORE in comfortable and properly made elevators.

And finally in this bit about practicalities, guys ask if elevators are ‘good for you’.

Well of course you can make up anything you like to fit your own case as to what is good or bad for you. There are many publications online which supposedly “proves” that wearing FLAT shoes is “bad for you”! So maybe the government should make every man wear elevators! A lot of rubbish is talked about what is good and what is bad, usually with no actual fact, just opinion based on shoddy partial research and sensationalism to get readership. I have added height for 20 years and even my dodgy old lifts have caused me no long standing problems.