Heel-Lift Insoles vs. Elevator Shoes | 2.5 cm or 5–8 cm, Which Should You Choose?
Read Before You Buy | Insole vs. Elevator Shoes
Elevator Shoes
Which Should You Choose?
We compare the roughly 2.5 cm insole with 5–8 cm elevator shoes: height and price by the numbers, and natural look, comfort and versatility by how each is built. By the end you will know which one is right for you.
"I'd like to start with an insole, but how different is it from a pair of elevator shoes?" It is a question we often hear from customers who want to look taller in a natural way.
The short answer: choose a heel-lift insole if you want to try a change of about 2.5 cm in shoes you already own, and elevator shoes if you want a stable lift of 5 cm or more. LEVANO's Heel-Lift Insole no38 adds about 2.5 cm for ¥3,580 (tax included), while our elevator shoes add 5–8 cm and start at ¥11,980 (tax included), so both the height and the price are clearly different. In this article we compare the two on the same criteria and cover the limits of insoles, what gives them away, and how to combine them for extra height.
What You Will Learn in This Article
- The differences between heel-lift insoles and elevator shoes (comparison table)
- How many cm an insole can add: the no38 figures and its limits
- What gives a height insole away, and which shoes work with it (and which do not)
- A comparison of 4 elevator shoes at 5 cm (price, material, weight)
- How to combine the two for extra height, and what to watch out for
- Our verdict by goal: insole, 5 cm, or 8 cm
POINT 01
Heel-Lift Insoles vs. Elevator Shoes | Compared on 6 Criteria
A heel-lift insole is a tool you add to the shoes you already have; elevator shoes are shoes designed from the ground up around the added height. That difference in starting point affects everything: the maximum height, how natural it looks, and how it feels to wear.
Heel-Lift Insole vs. Elevator Shoes: Comparison Table
The height ceiling differs by more than 2x: about 2.5 cm vs. 5–8 cm
The Heel-Lift Insole no38 adds about 2.5 cm. Elevator shoes come in fixed heights of 5–8 cm (set per model), so even the lowest 5 cm model gives you 2x what the insole does. For a detailed look at which height looks natural, see How Much Height Should Elevator Shoes Add? Comparing 5, 6, 7, and 8 cm.
How natural it looks comes down to whether the shoe was designed around the height
Elevator shoes get their height from an internal insole structure and are designed to look like ordinary shoes on the outside. An insole does not change how the shoe looks, but because your heel rises by 2.5 cm, it is more likely to ride up out of the shoe opening, and depending on the shoe the edge may show or your heel may lift.
POINT 02
How Many cm Can an Insole Add? Heel-Lift Insole no38 Figures and Limits
How much height can an insole realistically add? In the case of LEVANO's Heel-Lift Insole no38 the answer is about 2.5 cm. It comes in one size that you trim to fit your shoe, is made of synthetic leather, and is produced in Korea. Because it raises only the heel, there is no extra bulk under the toes, and it fits both dress shoes and sneakers.
2.5 cm may sound modest, but the more height you try to gain from an insole, the more your heel lifts out of the shoe opening and the less the shoe can hold your foot. Since you cannot change the depth of the opening, there is a physical limit to how much height an insole alone can add while staying stable, and about 2.5 cm falls within that range.
Limit 1: Height tops out at about 2.5 cm
Stacking several insoles raises the number on paper, but your heel lifts out of the shoe and your gait falls apart, taking you past what looks natural. If 2.5 cm is not enough, switching to elevator shoes will give you a better result.
Limit 2: Can be unstable in shoes with a shallow heel
In shoes with a low-cut opening, such as loafers or slip-ons, your heel may slip out more easily. We sort out which shoes work well and which do not in POINT 03 below.
Limit 3: Your shoes need some spare room
Adding an insole takes up space inside the shoe. In a pair that already fits snugly, it can feel tight or push your toes forward. Start with a pair that has a little extra room.
Once you know from your own shoes whether 2.5 cm is enough, it becomes much easier to decide which height to choose next.
POINT 03
Will a Height Insole Get Noticed? What Gives It Away, and Which Shoes Work With It
Whether a height insole (another name for a heel-lift insole) gets noticed depends almost entirely on how well it matches the shoe. There are 3 main giveaways.
Giveaway 1: The insole is visible when you take your shoes off
At an entryway, in a tatami room, or at a restaurant where shoes come off, the insole inside your shoe is in plain view. On days when you expect to take your shoes off, elevator shoes are the less stressful choice.
Giveaway 2: Your heel lifts and your walk changes
In a shoe where the heel sits shallow, your heel bobs up and down with every step and your stride gets shorter. What people notice is not the thickness of the shoe but the change in how you walk.
Giveaway 3: The edge of the insole shows above the shoe opening
In shoes with a low-cut opening, the edge at the heel can poke up and show. There are 3 fixes: choose shoes with a deeper opening, re-tighten the laces on lace-up shoes to lock your heel in place, and trim the edge to follow the inside line of the shoe so there is no step.
Good matches are sneakers you can tighten with laces, and dress shoes or boots with a deeper opening. Poor matches are loafers, slip-ons and other shoes with little structure holding the heel. If you want height in a loafer, rather than adding an insole you will get a more stable result with the Suede Elevator Loafers no07 (5 cm lift, ¥14,980 tax included), which are built around the height from the start.
The tips for walking naturally are the same whether you wear elevator shoes or an insole. See also How to Walk in Elevator Shoes Without Being Noticed: Tips and Practice.
POINT 04
Compared With 5 cm Elevator Shoes | no01 / no05 / no13 / no29 by Price, Material and Weight
If the insole's 2.5 cm is not enough, the next step up is a pair of 5 cm elevator shoes. Here we line up 3 sneakers and 1 leather shoe from LEVANO's 5 cm range by price, material, size, weight and occasion (see POINT 03 for the loafer-style no07).
5cm UP Elevator Shoes: 4 Models Compared
"—" under weight means no official figure is listed. ◎ = ideal / ○ = suitable.
For everyday wear on a budget: no01 or no05
Both add 5 cm, cost ¥11,980 (tax included) and are made of synthetic leather in Korea; the only difference on paper is the size range. The no05 starts at 23.0 cm, so choose the no05 if you have smaller feet. Compare the designs on the product pages. Both are ◎ for everyday wear and long walks around town, but neither suits business, job hunting, formal occasions or the Coming-of-Age Ceremony (Seijinshiki).
For a pair that also works on dates: no13
The no13 adds 5 cm and costs ¥13,980 (tax included). It is the 5 cm sneaker that scores ◎ in all 3 occasions: dates, everyday wear and long walks around town.
For wearing with a suit: the Japan-made cowhide no29
The no29 is a Japan-made cowhide leather shoe that adds 5 cm, costs ¥29,680 (tax included) and weighs 390 g. It is ◎ for business, job hunting and the Coming-of-Age Ceremony (Seijinshiki), and ○ for formal occasions. Compared with putting an insole in a dress shoe, a pair built around the height is steadier underfoot and spares you any worry when you take your shoes off and on. Its silhouette does not look like a platform shoe, so it pairs easily with a suit.
You can see the full 5 cm lineup in 5cm UP Elevator Shoes. For how 5 cm compares with 6 cm and 7 cm, see Elevator Sneakers Compared: How to Choose Between 5 cm, 6 cm and 7 cm.
POINT 05
Combining Both for Extra Height | What to Know About Elevator Shoes + a Heel-Lift Insole
You can also use the no38 inside LEVANO elevator shoes to add extra height. Put a no38 in the 5 cm no01 and on paper you get about 7.5 cm. That said, an insole layered on afterwards lifts your heel out of the shoe opening, so the visible gain tends to shrink, and it will not feel the same as a 7 cm model. Think of it as an option for going one step higher without replacing the 5 cm pair you already own.
There are, however, 2 things to keep in mind.
Caution 1: Less room inside the shoe, and the heel sits shallower
The insole structure inside elevator shoes is not designed to be removed. The no38 sits on top of it, which takes up spare room inside the shoe and makes the heel sit shallower. If you normally choose an exact fit, be sure to check this when you try them on.
Caution 2: The higher you go, the more you need to get used to walking
Your ankle angle changes between 5 cm alone and 5 cm plus the insole. Break them in indoors at first; the advantage of combining is that if anything feels off, you can take the insole out and go back to 5 cm. For how to think about walking comfort, see Are Elevator Shoes Hard to Walk In? How to Choose a Comfortable Pair.
The basics of choosing a size are covered in Elevator Shoe Sizing: Why Your Usual Sneaker Size Is the Right Choice.
POINT 06
Which Should You Choose? Our Verdict by Goal (Insole, 5 cm or 8 cm)
Here is the breakdown by goal.
Want to try it first in shoes you already own → Heel-Lift Insole no38
For ¥3,580 (tax included) you can test a change of about 2.5 cm. Slip it into lace-up sneakers or dress shoes with a deeper opening and use it to find out whether this height is enough for you.
Want 5 cm for everyday wear at a lower price → no01 or no05
Both are ¥11,980 (tax included). If you wear 23.0–24.5 cm, the no05 is the one to choose. If dates are on the agenda too, the no13 at ¥13,980 (tax included) is worth a look.
Want a natural look with a suit or at work → the Japan-made no29
Made in Japan, cowhide leather, 390 g, ¥29,680 (tax included). It is ◎ for business, job hunting and the Coming-of-Age Ceremony (Seijinshiki), and ○ for formal occasions. Compared with adding an insole to a dress shoe, you will not have to think twice even when taking your shoes off and on.
Want maximum height from the start → the 8 cm no20
The 8cm UP Cowhide Leather Elevator Business Shoes no20 (¥20,980 tax included, 445 g) are ◎ for dates, everyday wear and the Coming-of-Age Ceremony (Seijinshiki), and ○ for business. Rather than stacking an insole for extra height, a pair designed around 8 cm from the start gives you a more stable feel.
You can browse every model in All Products (Shoes, Pants, Insoles), or just the sneakers in Elevator Sneakers. With TryBee on the product page, you can also have a pair at home for 7 days at ¥0 before deciding, and pay only afterwards (for size-exchange terms on regular purchases, see the FAQ below).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How much taller will I look with a heel-lift insole alone?
The no38 adds about 2.5 cm. It raises only the heel, so the shoe looks the same from the outside. If you want 5 cm or more, choose elevator shoes rather than stacking insoles.
Q. What kinds of shoes can I use the insole in?
It works in both dress shoes and sneakers. It comes in one size; trim it to fit your shoe. It may be unstable in loafers, slip-ons and other shoes with a shallow heel, so we recommend using it in lace-up shoes or shoes with a deeper opening.
Q. Is it OK to put an insole in elevator shoes?
Yes, you can combine them. However, the built-in insole structure cannot be removed, so the insole sits on top of it and takes up spare room inside the shoe. If you normally wear an exact fit, check for tightness when you try them on.
Q. Can I exchange the shoes if the size does not fit?
If the size does not fit, you can exchange it once within 7 days of delivery (return shipping is paid by the customer; we cover the shipping of the replacement pair). Only unused pairs that have been tried on indoors are eligible, with the product labels and accessories still attached and the packing slip included.
LEVANO
Try 2.5 cm First, or Start at 5 cm?
If you are undecided, start with the insole you can use in shoes you already own. If you already know you want 5 cm or more every day, choosing elevator shoes from the start gives you better comfort and a more natural look. Free shipping within Japan, and orders usually ship within 1 business day of confirmation.
Summary
The Heel-Lift Insole no38 adds about 2.5 cm, costs ¥3,580 (tax included) and comes in one size. You can try it in shoes you already own, but it can be unstable in shoes with a shallow heel, and the height tops out at about 2.5 cm.
Elevator shoes add 5–8 cm. Because they are designed around the height, they win on heel fit and a natural look. At 5 cm you can choose from the no01 and no05 (¥11,980 tax included), the no13 (¥13,980 tax included), and the Japan-made no29 for suits (¥29,680 tax included).
Combining the two adds about 2.5 cm to a 5 cm model (about 7.5 cm on paper), but it takes up room inside the shoe, so you need some spare space in your size. Choose the insole to try about 2.5 cm first, and elevator shoes for a stable 5 cm or more.
Products Featured in This Article
2.5cm UP Heel-Lift Insole no38 | About 2.5 cm lift, one size (trim to fit), ¥3,580 (tax included)
5cm UP Elevator Sneakers no01 | 5 cm lift, synthetic leather, ¥11,980 (tax included). For everyday wear
5cm UP Heel-Lift Sneakers no05 | 5 cm lift, from 23.0 cm, ¥11,980 (tax included)
5cm UP French Heel-Lift Sneakers no13 | 5 cm lift, dates ◎, ¥13,980 (tax included)
5.0cm UP Cowhide Leather Casual Shoes no29 | 5 cm lift, Japan-made cowhide leather, 390 g, ¥29,680 (tax included)
8cm UP Cowhide Leather Elevator Business Shoes no20 | 8 cm lift, cowhide leather, 445 g, ¥20,980 (tax included)
5cm UP Suede Elevator Loafers no07 | 5 cm lift, suede, ¥14,980 (tax included)
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