higherheels

@Shyheels The 100 meters were manageable. I'm curious how the walk around the block (170 m) will turn out. It sounds a lot, but for really wearing them out you quickly get a few hundred meters, so that's my goal to get as comfortable as possible in them to be able to wear them out more. By more comfortable than the Hot Chicks I mean the general shape and fit. The higher heel makes them more uncomfortable for walking, but the rest compensates a little for that. @Puffer In Germany it's the same with Deichmann. They almost only have "standard" shoes, nothing too exciting. @mlroseplant What a pity, a broken heel is a bad as it can get, but sounds like you managed it very well.

For me it's the same. For longer walks I always use such heels and they're really comfortable. @mlroseplant Yes, platforms where everywhere. Mine in the beginning were about 10 cm effective heel height or maybe a bit below, later they got higher. I don't have any of them anymore, but it was always fun. They gave such an height boost, it was crazy. And as you say, now they don't even seem high anymore. You really get used to it.

@Shyheels I'm sure that helps! 5 km is quite a bit of walking, so even if it's "only" in 8 cm heels it will get you used to them very well. Yesterday I wore out my new boots for the first time 🙂 It was only a short walk from the car to the restaurant, about 100 m one way. But it was enough to feel the bit of extra height to the Hot Chicks again. Other than that, they're even more comfortable than the Hot Chicks, which is really nice. A very nice shoe for occasions with less walking and more sitting. I'll try them soon for my walk around the block. For further distances I still have to practice to make them more comfortable.

That's really nice! I can't say that about me. Maybe for them it's even more fascinating that you're a man wearing them, than if a woman wears them and it's still rather normal. I was never aware that I grew up in the era of super high heels, but as I've read a bit of your historic experience already it seems so. When I started wearing heels I liked platforms the most. Then when I started wearing them for everyday life I shifted towards non-platforms which I still prefer until today. But I still have a few with smaller platforms that I like to wear now and then. It's like a love of my youth that never really let me go 🙂 Haha yes, and for others it's "I could never walk in those"

I feel like most of the girls today who wear heels for such events don't really do it for joy but because "nicer clothes" as you say are expected. In my days of youth, for most girls in my area it was more that we were excited to be able/allowed to wear heels and looking for every possible occasion where we were allowed to do so. The classic black pump wasn't really a thing for us younger girls. Pumps yes, but almost everything had a platform 😄 this was mid-2000s.

It's better to not take a risk if the conditions outside are bad. There will come a time when you can wear them out again.

I can imagine that it must be hard for you to find heels in your size. I'm not very often at Deichmann, but their stock on high heels generally degraded, not speaking of size. I'm looking forward to wear out my new boots this weekend. All the snow is gone again, so this might be a good chance. I wore them indoors everyday now and also did stretching exercises. In difficulty they now feel similar as the Hot Chicks did before, so I made some progress 🙂

Now that's a nice compliment you got 🙂

Yes, winter can be a tough time for the higher heels. In snowy or icy conditions I also prefer something lower and a block heel, such conditions can even be difficult in flats. But boots with a low block heel can be just as good. It's been like 15 years ago that I last wore any flat boots for winter, and I never had any problems since. This reminds me of a funny story a few years ago. We were (once again 😉) out at a christmas market with friends. Because snow was everywhere I wore a pair of boots with a block heel, something around 8 cm. While at the christmas market, we saw that on a nearby mountain there was also a christmas market which looked nice, so we decided to visit this one too. It was only a small mountain, something like 150 meters of altitude from the bottom and only accessible via a footpath. My husband and friends asked me "are you sure you can handle this path in your heels?", but I had no doubt because they had a good sole, block heel and weren't that high. And I wasn't wrong, it was really easy. Uphill was pretty much the same as with flats, and downhill I even had a bit of an advantage when walking on the side of the footpath where the snow was a bit softer. Because my heels could grip into it. I sure got some funny looks when other people obviously struggled more in their Uggs and such than me in my heels 😀 So this is my proof that heels can be as good as flats or even better in snow.

So they should be like a 10 cm heel in "standard size", I also like such a height for office days.

Sounds like a nice pair of boots for work. In a bigger size they won't be that steep and comfortable for a whole workday.

I only know our german christmas markets, so I also have no comparison. From your descriptions it may be better that I don't know others 😀

I didn't know that our markets are object to a bad imitation, crazy. Yes that's the issue with stilettos. At our christmas market were paths and places with cobblestones and my heels were stilettos, that's really not the best combination. Your idea with bringing your 12 cm boots with you sounds great!

Indeed they are very nice. Oh, so in britain they try to imitate the german christmas markets? Yes, it's really great to try something new from time to time. And I'm sure it would've not been as comfortable if I didn't have the recent training from our challenge! Your experience sounds great too 🙂

As I've understood you never wore any heels before, right? I know it's tempting to start off with the desired heel, like a 5 inch heel for you, but you can save yourself a lot of pain and trouble by starting with a lower heel and taking your time. Trust me, I'm speaking of experience 😉 I would recommend to start with something like a 2,5 - 3 inch heel and wear these until they feel normal for you. Then slowly proceed to higher ones until these feel normal as well. The higher the heel gets, the more a small increasement will make a big difference. For example (sorry for speaking in centimeters) the difference between a 7 cm and a 8 cm heel will be barely noticable, but the difference between a 12 cm and a 13 cm heel is huge! Also, as already said by the others a good fit and quality is important. Especially with less supportive forms like pumps or sandals it's very important that they have a tight fit, otherwise you'll be bothered too much with slipping around in them/out of them. Also it would be easier to start with block heels than stilettos. Good luck 🙂

@mlroseplant I only know strip clubs from movies or tv series, and am probably even too young to have recognized that "normal" heels were used in the 90s. Interesting indeed, I only have huge platforms in my mind when I think about stripper heels. It makes sense for manufacturers to use the same heel height for a few sizes to save costs. There probably will be many models out there which are manufactured that way. Wow, as if the height challenge is not enough you're also making a distance challenge! 60 miles in a month sounds a lot. I wonder how much I would make in a normal month. For the christmas market on the weekend I chose a pair of 11 cm boots. Up to now I've always chosen some lower heels like 7-10 cm for christmas markets, so it was really nice to wear something different this time. We were there for about 3 hours, so with all the standing it was not as comfortable as with lower heels, but it was OK. I now definitely want to wear 12 cm boots to a christmas market too, but therefor I will pick a smaller one where we won't stay as long.

Ah, that sounds really interesting. You probably seen a lot then.

I've worn 12 cm heels for a whole day, but It depends a lot on what you're doing. I wouldn't wear them if I had to stand or walk for hours consistently. Giving a tought about it is always useful. Regarding the height calculation/conversion discussion: Another factor probably is that different manufacturers will use different scales. Then you'll never be able to have an exact calculation formula for all, but it doesn't have to be 100 % accurate anyway. @mlroseplant That makes sense, in this case I also wouldn't wear heels to the "office".

OK, so we have the same definition 😉 I was just asking because you said upper limit of not-stripper-heels. 13 cm or 14 cm heels without platform sure are extreme, but I wouldn't describe them as stripper heels. But a 14 cm heel with a 6 cm platform might be a typical stripper heel in my eyes. I've also always been a big fan of 12 cm heels, but liked the Hot Chicks from the moment I first saw them. And now that I'm wearing them out more, I like them even more 🙂 Still not an everyday shoe though, mostly because of (dis)comfort. Style-wise it would work, but definitely always be an eye-catcher in every outfit. This weekend we're going to a christmas market already. Maybe I'll try some 11 cm boots for the beginning. Mostly there's standing for a long time at christmas markets, so I don't wanna regret it in the end if 12 cm were too much.

You guys must have or have had interesting jobs, I can't even really follow from the descriptions 🫢 How come that you would long to, but still wouldn't wear them? Good categorization, I also go with that! Is there actually a definition of stripper heels, or do you have a personal one? For me, the only type that comes to my mind are the ones with huge platforms and rather low heels (if you subtract the platform). Of course, join us if you want! I can also recommend trying something higher if you like the style. And yes, it really helps with lower heels too. I can feel the difference especially in something like a 11-12 cm heel, they became more comfortable for longer walks. Now that all the christmas markets and events are starting, I might as well try some higher ones for that and see how it goes. Not my new 13+ cm boots though, that would be too much. But I wear them everyday at home and it's getting better. I'm close to wearing them out for the first time.

Ah, of course if you have to wear specific work shoes you don't have that much time left for heels. I have an office job so I can wear whatever I want at work, that's a plus when it comes to heels.

Pretty much the same for me except I don't do kayaking. @Shyheels Yes that's the great thing about it. I never had a problem with 12 cm heels, but now they become even more comfortable. Now I'm even more confused about units in the UK, it probably can't get more complicated 😀

Haha, now that came quickly! No longer practicing in these low 12 cm boots, 20 cm is the new thing 😄

I somehow thought since you're walking so many miles in heels you usually wear them all day. As this is what I do most of the time, I can tell you: Like everything else it becomes standard. For me it would rather be exciting to spend a normal day in flats, but as I don't like them I won't try that 😉 And the good thing about heels is that I can still vary between so many styles, so it never gets boring. You mean 10 cm, right? 😉

@mlroseplant Wow you really studied walking a lot. I never thought about it that much, which makes it interesting for me to read. And I know exactly what you mean. Speaking of myself I'd say I have the "right" walk. I don't feel like I have excessive heel tip wear, but of course I recognize it way more with stilettos than with other heels.