allheel

Good picture, nice to see the detail of the finish and a with a foot to give it life. Wish I had the skils

Ritchie, agree on the looks on those boots, very acceptable. For some reason - my somewhat flat feet - any curve in the shoe making the heel part of my foot less angled than the arch part is uncomfortable for me - I have to look for boots or shoes where the slope from heel to the flat part is an even steady slope, and I've been finding that hard of late

When you start finding your heels useful, I guess it must be a fetsh. First time was when we needed to test whether the carpenter had replaced all the floor boards the termites reached - a small indentation of your heel is ok on a pine floor, but when your heel goes right in, the termites have been there - a bit unnerving. A bit similar, on outside decks. Rain over the years causes dry rot in some boards - ordinary block heels won't find it but stilettos will find the weak spots and the boards that need replacing. Any other 'useful' heels?

Thanks for the pictures. That extra thick tip giving the extra quarter inch - and as you get used to the 5 1/4 inch the tip will be wearing down bringing you back to 5 inch - but hope that won't stop your progress

To buy the tips, look for Boot and Shoe Supplies - i.e. firms which supply the components - I bought my first lot a gross pairs 35 or so years ago. Some will sell so much a pair - about $1 a pair. With a good stock you can replace the tips before they wear down too far

Heels under jeans, blade and block, attractive black boots, just enough visible to keep you watching

I have read many comments of people enjoying the sounds of heels. Can you tell as someone approaches if it is a metal heel or plastic etc and which do you like better. I've noticed that a small metal heel seems to be quieter than a larger one but too large and its liable to slip on a smooth floor. What do you like?

Those of us who haven't visited the fetish and extreme didn't realise we had been missing you there

I can't beat boots with about 7 cm heel with metal tip, lace ups, they seem to take me everywhere

Ever found you read what you think you see. At first reading thought Inga was saying she regularly cycled 100 km in 5 inch heels.

Attractive heels in the fashion flyers dropped in the mail box but not so much in the streets is common in Australia too. Then there is a preference for comfort in the streets, change at the office or destination

Is there an ideal heel height - for an individual or their feet for an outpit for an occasion or is it a function of all these and other factors. I often wonder when we are trying to accustom to higher heel heights, might the ideal be exceeded? Any comments?

I guess there are no more robust tips than metal ones. At least they are usually quick and easy to change if you can get a supply of the right size.

It is possible with metal tips to use a pair of pliers to turn the tip around 180 degrees say to even up the wear. Don't exert a lot of force - could break something - but usually it will turn fairly easily

Fortunately we don't have ice. The most challenging I found in spikes is industrial flooring consisting of just a grid of wires, just wide enough to rest you heel if you position it right - have to watch every step if you can to care for your heels and not look clumsy. quite a challenge

I was wearing short trousers when cycling in 3 inch black lace up spikes, visited the odd shop, no one seemed react. Usually my heels are pretty much hidden under my trousers.

Today holiday Easter Monday I cycled (obeying the rules) 110 km or 68 miles in 3 inch lace up stilettos (if high enough to call them that). No problems but I think I have more power in lower heel height. Not bad I thought approaching 60 age.

I'm cycling most days of the week and if less than about 15 km each way ride in 2 1/2 to 3 inch boots with a spike heel. As Firefox advises, usual technique, sole on the pedal. No trouble at all. Now if only I could get rid of these Comfy Loafers on my message - did I do something wrong when I registered to get these. They are a pain for my flat feet and I'll just lurk rather expose myself to these uncomfortable things.

Thanks for the messages. My steel tips stay flat for quite a while before becoming uneven and even when they become uneven it doesn't usually affect the feel or walk, but when they wear quite a bit I'm more careful of wearing them on wooden floors. By the way, when a friend or guest comes in with very fine heels, at most they only make a few marks that will add a bit of character to the floor (unless its a stand up party) but wearing your own heels on your own wooden floor daily can be a problem.

I agreed with xaphod, only drive in what you can comfortably handle walking all day. More often I'm cycling in heels, up to 3 inch don't notice them but above that some loss in power - just seems to be harder to push, something to do with the mechanics. No problem with that back of heel scuffing on a bike. I remember back at school admiring the teachers with fine stilettos and tight skirts, and they managed well. ..

Today notice extra height on the heels I was wearing, I measured when I got home and found 3 1/2 instead of my usual 2 1/2 to 3 inch range - nothing for many of you but I'm a comfort person, and the usual height takes the pain out of my flat feet. However in measure to compare, I noticed how the heel tips on my shoes wear unevenly. Is that the way I walk or does it happen to every one. I noticed that only a few millimetres actually was resting on the floor as I measured, not sure what happens when my weight is resting on it. These were metal tips about 1/3 inch or 7 mm across. One plastic type the plastic had worn away from the central metal tip which was exposed and resting on the wooden floor. May be why they seem to mark. Any comments on walking that doesn't wear unevenly or when to change the tips or other comments. I find the small tips much easier for walking than wide heels and observing others the look is more attractive as many of us agree.

On uneven ground I find a spike heel, small a heel tip as possible, is the most stable, a large block heel the least stable and hardest on the ankles. Its not always best for the heels