# What kind of shoes do you prefer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 30, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143 "2009-09-30T18:49:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brainiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@Brainiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/1 "2009-09-30T18:49:31Z")
[Study Finds Women Wear Shoes That Cause Pain](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/health/research/06patt.html?hpw) ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/2 "2009-09-30T19:08:07Z")
I’m a woman. I highly prefer hiking shoes; specifically Merrells. I have 4 pair of hiking boots, a pair of Jungle Mocs, and Merrell flip flops. I love them. I hate heels and pumps. I always feel like a hoochie mama wannabe when I wear them. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/3 "2009-09-30T19:15:01Z")
I said “other”. I like very low heels for work - for one thing, if all my work shoes are the same height, I don’t have to worry so much about having all different lengths of pants, and low heels (less than 1") means I can wear women’s “average” length pants without hemming them. Also, I find heels higher than that uncomfortable to wear all day. For non-work, I usually wear Converse sneakers, unless of course I’m exercising, then I wear sneakers appropriate for that. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/4 "2009-09-30T19:54:31Z")
High heels. Every time. ---
**Author:** ![LunarPlexus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LunarPlexus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunarPlexus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/5 "2009-09-30T20:19:13Z")
None. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/6 "2009-09-30T20:35:13Z")
I voted “sandals” since that’s what I’m wearing now and what I usually wear, but to be fair, although I usually wear flat sandals … it’s the open-toe that’s important to me, not the lack of a heel. I do have some strappy heels that I’m happy to teeter around in when they suit the occasion, and I find them quite comfortable - though I couldn’t, y’know, run from the cops in them or anything. But it’s gotta be an open toe, no matter how hoochie-momma high the heel is. The Other Horseshoe, along with most of the men I know, find high heels to be more mystifying than sexy (as in, “Why the eff would you strap that to yourself?”) but I run with a crowd that doesn’t include many high-maintenance girly-girls anyway. Birds of a feather, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/7 "2009-09-30T20:38:26Z")
I usually wear sandals, but I have a sexy pair of red strappy high heels that is TOTALLY inappropriate to wear to work…but I do it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/8 "2009-09-30T20:38:36Z")
Most definitely sandals, in my prefered mode of dress in my prefered season. But for dress up, I like fancy schmancy asskicking Italian dress shoes, and for everything else I like sneakers. But when I can get away with being barefoot, I do so. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/9 "2009-09-30T20:39:06Z")
Where do Chuck Taylor All-Stars fit in this poll? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/10 "2009-09-30T20:43:19Z")
I hate shoes and wear them only when I have to, like in public. At home, it’s barefoot in the summer, socks only in the winter. When I go out, it’s strictly running-type sneakers, which I have found to be cheap and the best compromise. ---
**Author:** ![fructose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@fructose1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fructose1)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/11 "2009-09-30T20:46:59Z")
I prefer something comfortable. Doesn’t have to be a particular style, since I change my shoes depending on my outfit. But comfort is most important. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/12 "2009-09-30T21:11:22Z")
About 98% of the time, I’m wearing Timberland boots because my orthotics fit in them. To be unnecessarily specific, at the moment, I’ve got 8" [“Super 40”](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150376572748) boots on, (but polished and even blacker than those pix) and yesterday, I was wearing [Timberland Pro](http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2262548) boots. The other 2% of the time something’s on my feet, it’s Tevas. ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/13 "2009-10-01T00:26:04Z")
Hiking boots. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/14 "2009-10-01T03:11:59Z")
I’m a bank teller and on my feet all day. I need supportive shoes, comfy shoes to get through the day. ---
**Author:** ![wunderkammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@wunderkammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wunderkammer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/15 "2009-10-01T03:38:16Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > Where do Chuck Taylor All-Stars fit in this poll? Good question. I voted for “sneakers” even though my shoes (not Chucks, but Chuck-type shoes made from bald tires) are flat-soled and squishy, but not very supportive. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/16 "2009-10-01T03:42:46Z")
Sandals, specifically Birkenstocks. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/17 "2009-10-01T03:59:29Z")
Women are complex, have you noticed? They usually own several types of shoes for different occasions. This is a poorly constructed poll in my humble opinion. And, it’s the first poll I clicked on that I didn’t even bother to vote in, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/18 "2009-10-01T04:05:44Z")
I have LOTS of shoes, but John Fluevogs are my absolute favourites-- in sandal, high heel, boot- whatever- form. The most comfortable shoes in the world, and I just love their looks. So… on the poll I answered high heels, but it’s not that simple. Another note: **elbows** is right, I don’t see how a poll can apply both to women and men, there simply aren’t enough choices. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/19 "2009-10-01T05:05:11Z")
I’m short and a big fan of heels. Platforms are my favorite, though. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143/20 "2009-10-01T10:17:58Z")
I picked “other” because I don’t think Clogs are sandals or shoes. I wear Dansko’s at work (and I walk 7 hours a day) and these shoes are the bomb, even with the fact they are 10 years old, the sole does look worn. ( The leather, however, looks like it was held to a belt sander.) At home I wear my Birkenstock clogs and have so for 20 years. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-shoes-do-you-prefer/512143.md?page=2)