Do you wonder how much height shoes actually add? You’re not alone. We all want to know what the best way is to maximize our height and find out if there are any tricks that work! Today we’re going to explore different methods of testing this, so let’s get started. But before that, let’s find out!
What’s the Height of a Shoe?
The height of a shoe is measured from the very bottom to where your foot rests at the top. The height varies depending on the size and brand but, for example, we can say that men’s dress shoes typically add about one inch or two centimeters in height.
What’s the Difference Between Maximizing Height and Apparent Height?
Maximizing height is the act of finding out what you’re most comfortable at given your genetics, age and weight. Maximizing height involves factors like how to stand, walk, sit etc. As it also involves how to add up height to reach its maximum level with the help of shoes or heels.
Apparent height is how tall you appear to other people, i.e. how tall you look for example when you’re standing next to someone else or looking at yourself in the mirror. Apparent height can be different from your true height because of factors like posture and wearing shoes. And here is the question, how much height do shoes add?
How Much do Shoes Add to your Height?
Well, let’s try to test it out.
1. Dress Shoes:
In this experiment, we’ll find out how much height a dress shoe adds compared to going barefoot. In other words, what is the additional height a dress shoe adds over going barefoot? Put on a pair of dress shoes and stand up straight against a wall with your back flat against it. Have a friend measure your height on the wall with a ruler. Then take off your shoes and stand up again against the wall with your back flat against it then have your friend measure you again. The difference between these two measurements will tell you how much height a dress shoe adds over going barefoot!
In the experiment, we found out that my dress shoes added 1.7cm or 0.67 inches in height!
2. Running Shoes/Trainers:
Do running shoes add height? Let’s find out by standing next to a wall again, but this time with your back leaning against it and having someone measure you while wearing trainers compared to just going barefoot. The difference between the measurements will tell you how much height running shoes add compared to going barefoot.
In the experiment, we found out that my running shoes added 1.3cm or 0.51 inches in height!
What’s also interesting is that these measurements were done over 10 times for each shoe type, to make sure the results were really correct.
Why Does it Matter If You’re Short or Tall?
The short answer is, it doesn’t matter too much in most cases. If you’re short, you have a lot of things stacked against you already and if you’re tall then great! But for people in the middle, it can be difficult. People tend to perceive others with greater height as more attractive, powerful and smart.
Now, this is obviously not always true but knowing the facts about height and how to make yourself look taller can definitely help you in some situations!
Things that Affect How Much Height a Shoe Adds:
A shoe adds height by changing the angle your legs are at. This doesn’t affect your true height, but instead gives you apparent or perceived height. To find out how much of this effect is due to the shoe itself vs. other factors like your weight and posture, we use a few more experiment.
Weight:
Put on a pair of shoes and stand up against a wall with your back flat against it. Have someone measure you, then take off your shoes and stand up again against the wall but this time with your weight resting on one leg. Have your friend measure you again. The difference between these two measurements will tell you how much height weight has to do with how much height a shoe adds.
In the experiment, we found out that my weight affected the amount of apparent height added by a shoe by about 2cm or 0.79 inches!
Posture:
Put on a pair of shoes and stand up against a wall with your back flat against it. Then have someone measure you again, but this time keep one leg bent and stand with one leg resting on the knee. Have your friend measure you again. The difference between these two measurements will tell you how much height posture has to do with how much height a shoe adds.
In the experiment, we found out that my posture affected the amount of apparent height added by a shoe by about 0.8cm or 0.31 inches!
Hip Height:
Put on a pair of shoes and stand up against the wall with your back flat against it, then have someone measure you again, but this time put one leg bent in front of the other. Have your friend measure you again. The difference between these two measurements will tell you how much height hip has to do with how much height a shoe adds.
In the experiment, we found out that my hips affected the amount of apparent height added by a shoe by about 1cm or 0.39 inches!
The Furthest Point from the Wall:
Put on a pair of shoes and stand up against the wall with your back flat against it, then have someone measure you again, but this time have your back as far away from the wall as possible. Have your friend measure you again. The difference between these two measurements will tell you how much height the furthest point has to do with how much height a shoe adds.
In the experiment, we found out that my furthest point from the wall affected the amount of apparent height added by a shoe by about 0.5cm or 0.20 inches.
Putting it all Together:
Now that we know how much weight, posture, hip height and furthest point from the wall affect the amount of apparent height each shoe type adds, let’s see if there are any other things that might have an effect!
