What Shoes Work Better for Shoe Lifts?

The Best Shoes for Shoe Lifts Usually Have Smooth Sole Edges

In general, the best shoes for shoe lifts have soles that are not overly sculptured. That means fewer dramatic curves, less deep carving, and less decorative waviness on the edges.

Shoes with smoother sole edges tend to give:

• A cleaner-looking finished result
• A lift that blends in more naturally
• Better visual balance between both shoes
• A less noticeable modification during everyday wear

Shoes with heavily sculptured soles can still be lifted, but the lift may show more.

Lifts On Dark Soles Are Less Noticeable Than White Soles

Another thing to keep in mind is color. Large white areas tend to stand out more prominently than darker colors.

For example, shoe lifts are often less noticeable on:

• Black soles
• Brown soles
• Gray soles
• Dark hiking boots
• Work boots with darker midsoles and outsoles

They may stand out more on:

• Multi colored athletic soles
• Thick white foam midsoles
• Shoes with large high-contrast sidewalls

That does not mean white-soled shoes cannot be used. They can. It just helps to know ahead of time that darker soles usually camouflage the lift better.

Brands We Commonly See for Shoe Lifts

Over the years, we have added lifts to all kinds of shoes for customers around the USA. Some brands and styles we see often include:

• Danner boots
• Merrell shoes and boots
• L.L.Bean footwear
• Cowboy boots
• Hiking boots
• Everyday walking shoes

Personally, I have had very good luck with the L.L.Bean catalog. They often offer good quality, long-wearing products at reasonable prices for how long they last.

Danner, Merrell, and everyday utility footwear

Danner boots and Merrell shoes and boots are the kinds of practical footwear many customers already own, and many of them work very well for shoe lifts. These are often solid, usable, everyday choices rather than flashy or fragile shoes.

You Do Not Need Expensive Shoes

People sometimes ask whether they need to buy expensive or high-end shoes before sending them in. The answer is: No.

We add lifts to shoes from:

• Target
• Walmart
• Sporting goods stores
• Department stores
• Mail-order catalogs
• All kinds of local shoe stores

Some lower-priced shoes work very well. Some expensive shoes are not ideal. The price tag does not matter.

Shoes That May Not Be the Best Choice

Some shoes are harder to modify neatly than others. For example, certain Asolo hiking boots are probably not the best choice. If you are considering those, see our page about them.

Other shoes that may be less suitable include:

• Shoes with exposed air pockets
• Shoes with exposed springs
• Track shoes with spikes or cleats

That said, most shoes work well. We rarely have to tell a customer that we cannot add to their shoice of shoes.

What Usually Makes a Shoe a Good Candidate?

A shoe is often a good candidate for a lift when it has:

• A smoother sole edge
• A darker sole color
• A sturdy structure
• A practical, wearable design
• Enough sole construction to shape the lift neatly

Honestly, just about any shoes work very well.

Not Sure If Your Shoes Will Work? Email a Photo

If you are not sure whether your shoes are a good choice, the easiest thing to do is simply email us a photo.

We look at shoe-lift candidates all the time, and we can usually tell pretty quickly whether a pair looks like a good option.

If you are deciding between two or three pairs, send photos of all of them. We will be glad to help you choose the one that is most likely to give the best result.

If you are unsure whether a specific shoe will work well, send us a photo and we will get right back to you.