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Heel Height

The heel height of a shoe is the measurement of the height of the heel itself. A heel height is normally referred to when speaking about women's shoes, as they more commonly have more of a heel than men's shoes. There are several types of heels which describe the height, such as:

  • Low heels
  • Mid heels
  • High heels
  • Platforms
  • Wedges
  • Pumps

While some of the above mentioned shoe styles such as platforms might not have a distinctive heel, they still have height in that area. The heel height of a shoe directly corresponds to the angle under which the foot is placed. In a very high heel, the foot would have more of an extreme downward slope, whereas a low heel or a pump would only cause a slight sloping of the foot. The higher the heel, the more risk there is for foot, ankle, knee, hip or back injury. High heels have a reputation for being sexy, but could cause harm to the leg, especially if the wearer stands in them for a long period of time. On the other hand, high heel shoes put the foot in a very unnatural position. The low to medium height heels are easier to walk in and cause less stress on the body than higher heeled shoes. The height of ones' shoe is really a personal decision. Some people like to be taller and thus will go for the highest heels available, while others lend more toward functionality. High heels can be more difficult to walk in while low heels provide the same style with less risk for injury.