Your Ultimate Guide To Pole Dance Heels

Table of Contents

When To Start Poling In Heels
Heel Height
Pole Shoe Styles
Pole Shoes Material
Braking In Your Heels
Pole Shoe Protectors
Pole Shoe Brands
Pole Shoes Discounts

When To Start Poling In Heels

Someone can start pole dancing in high heels in their very first pole class, but whether they should is a different question with a few different answers. It largely depends on the individual, the studio, and their personal goals.

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons and what to consider:

Reasons to Wait

Most instructors and experienced pole dancers would advise a beginner to start barefoot or in socks. The reasons for this are primarily focused on safety and building a strong foundation:

• Building Foundational Strength: Pole dancing itself is incredibly demanding on your muscles, especially your core and upper body. Heels add an extra layer of difficulty and can put significant strain on your ankles, feet, and knees. Learning the basic moves and building strength without heels first is safer and more effective.
• Mastering Technique: Proper form is crucial to prevent injury. With a pole, you need to learn how to engage your muscles correctly, grip with your body, and control your movements. Heels can change your center of gravity and make it harder to focus on proper technique.
• Getting to Know the Basics: Pole dancing involves a lot more than just spinning. You need to get comfortable with basic walks, sits, spins, and floor work. Learning these while barefoot allows you to feel the pole and the floor, giving you better control and a deeper understanding of the movements.

Reasons to Try Heels Early

Some dancers, and even some studios, encourage beginners to start with heels. This is often seen in studios that specialize in “exotic” or “heels choreography” styles.

• Empowerment and Confidence: For many, heels are a huge part of the pole dancing experience. They can make you feel more confident, powerful, and sexy from day one.
• Heels as a Tool: Pole dancing heels are not like regular high heels. They are designed with a platform that helps with stability and balance. They can actually make certain moves easier by providing a grippy surface on the pole and adding momentum to spins.
• Specific Class Style: If a class is specifically titled “Heels Fundamentals” or “Exotic Pole,” it’s designed for heels and the instructor will teach you the specific techniques needed to be safe and successful with them.

Key Considerations Before Starting in Heels

If you’re determined to start in heels, here’s what to keep in mind:

Be Patient with Yourself: It’s normal to feel wobbly and uncoordinated at first. Pole dancing with heels is a skill in itself. Don’t compare yourself to others and celebrate every small victory.

Listen to Your Instructor: Some studios have policies that require beginners to take a certain number of barefoot classes before moving to heels. This is for your safety. Always follow the studio’s guidelines.

Choose the Right Shoes: This is non-negotiable. You need pole-specific heels, like those from the brand Pleaser. A 7-inch heel is a great starting point because the platform provides a good balance of height and stability. Do not use regular high heels, as they are not designed for the movements and can be very dangerous.

Heel Height

When you’re first getting into pole dancing with heels, the ideal height is a balance between stability and function. The most common recommendation for beginners is to start with a 7-inch heel.

Here’s why a 7-inch heel is often considered the sweet spot for beginners:

• Stability: While it might seem counterintuitive, a 7-inch pole heel is designed with a significant platform. This platform reduces the angle of your foot, making the shoe feel much more stable than a regular high-heeled shoe of the same height. This allows you to feel more grounded and secure as you learn new moves.
• Functionality: A 7-inch heel is the standard height used for many pole moves. The platform provides a perfect surface to grip the pole with your feet and execute “edgework” or heel-specific maneuvers. A shorter heel (like a 6-inch) might seem safer, but its smaller platform can actually make some moves more difficult and limit your progression.
• Balance of Support and Challenge: The 7-inch height is a great way to start building the ankle strength and stability needed for dancing in heels without jumping to the more extreme 8-inch or higher styles. It provides a good foundation to master your form before you move up.

A Note on 6-inch and 8-inch Heels:

• 6-inch heels: These can be a good option if you are genuinely very intimidated by heights or have limited experience walking in any type of heel. However, many dancers find they outgrow the 6-inch height quickly and want to upgrade to a 7-inch soon after, as the larger platform provides more versatility for pole moves.
• 8-inch heels: Some instructors and dancers suggest that the 8-inch heel can feel easier for certain “toebox” moves because the angle of the foot is less steep. However, this is generally only true if you already have the ankle strength and mobility to handle the extra height and weight. For most beginners, it’s a good idea to start with 7-inch heels and move up to 8-inch heels once you feel confident and stable.

In summary, when choosing your first pair of pole heels, a 7-inch heel with a supportive platform is an excellent and widely recommended starting point.

Pole Shoe Styles

Choosing the right pole shoe style is a major decision, as it impacts everything from your comfort and safety to your dance style and aesthetic. There are a few main categories, each with its own pros and cons.

1. Pole Sandals (or Pumps)

These are the most common style of pole shoe for beginners. They are similar to a platform high heel, featuring an open toe, a strap over the toes, and a strap around the ankle.

• Pros:
  • Versatility: They are great for a wide range of pole styles, from sensual floor work to more acrobatic tricks.
  • Ankle Strength: Because they offer less ankle support than boots, they force your ankle muscles to work harder, helping you build strength and stability over time.
  • Cost-Effective: Sandals are generally more affordable than boots, making them a great entry-level option.
  • Showcasing Footwork: They allow you to beautifully point your toes and showcase your arch, which is a key element of pole dance aesthetics.
• Cons:
  • Less Protection: Your toes and ankles are more exposed, making them vulnerable to injury, especially during drops, floor work, and more technical moves.
  • Toes Can Slide: For people with narrow feet, toes can sometimes slide out of the shoe, which can be a distraction and a safety concern.

2. Ankle Boots

Ankle boots are a popular choice for all levels, from beginners to advanced dancers. They provide more coverage than sandals, with a shaft that extends up to or just past the ankle.

• Pros:
  • Ankle Support: The main advantage is the extra support they provide to your ankles, which can make you feel more secure and confident as you learn.
  • Protection: They protect your toes and the top of your foot from scrapes and injuries during floor work and drops.
  • Grip: The boot material can provide a fantastic surface for gripping the pole during climbs and other moves. Patent finishes, in particular, offer excellent grip.
• Cons:
  • Less Flexibility: The added structure of the boot can make it more difficult to fully articulate your ankle and foot, which can limit your ability to beautifully point your toes.
  • Weight: They are generally heavier than sandals, which can be an added challenge for tricks that require lifting your feet.
  • Can Get Hot: They can get hot and sweaty, especially during long training sessions.

3. Knee-High and Thigh-High Boots

These boots provide maximum coverage, often extending to just below the knee or all the way up the thigh. They are often a favorite for “exotic” and “flow” styles of pole dance.

• Pros:
  • Aesthetics: They create a powerful, dramatic, and leg-lengthening visual line.
  • Protection: The extended material protects your knees and shins during floor work like knee slides and transitions.
  • Grip and Confidence: The material of the boots provides a large surface area for gripping the pole, which can be a confidence-booster for more advanced tricks.
• Cons:
  • Cost: They are the most expensive type of pole shoe due to the extra material.
  • Heaviness: The extra weight can make certain aerial moves much more difficult.
  • Training vs. Performance: Because of their weight and cost, many people reserve their thigh-high boots for performances or special choreography, using sandals or ankle boots for regular training.

Open-Toe vs. Closed-Toe Boots

Within the boot categories, you’ll also find a choice between open-toe and closed-toe styles.

• Open-Toe: These offer a hybrid feel, combining the protection of a boot with the ability to show off your pointed foot and toes like a sandal. They are a popular choice for many dancers.
• Closed-Toe: These provide maximum protection for your toes and are often favored for more “hardstyle” or technical pole dance that involves drops and kips. However, they make it impossible to showcase your foot and can feel a bit more restrictive.

Pole Shoes Material

The material of a pole shoe is a crucial factor that influences its grip, durability, and how it feels to dance in. Each material has different properties that make it better suited for certain styles and skill levels.

Here are the most common pole shoe materials and their characteristics:

1. Patent (Glossy)

This is arguably the most popular and versatile material for pole shoes. It has a shiny, smooth, and often plastic-like finish.

• Pros:
  • Excellent Grip: The glossy surface provides a significant amount of “stick” on the pole, which is a major advantage for climbing, inverting, and leg hangs. This extra grip can be a huge confidence booster for beginners.
  • Durability: Patent material is generally very durable and resistant to scuffs, though they will show up over time with heavy use.
  • Versatility: The grip makes it suitable for both pole-heavy routines and some floor work.
• Cons:
  • Can be “too” sticky: The high grip can be a disadvantage during certain floor work moves, where you want to be able to glide smoothly. You’ll need to learn how to adjust your movements to avoid getting stuck.
  • Shows Wear: While durable, deep scratches or scuffs are very visible on the glossy surface.

2. Matte Faux Leather

This material has a smooth, non-shiny finish that provides a different feel from patent.

• Pros:
  • Great for Floor Work: The non-stick surface allows for smooth glides, slides, and transitions on the floor, making it a favorite for dancers who focus on flow and floor-based choreography.
  • Versatility: It’s a great middle-ground material. While it doesn’t offer the same grip on the pole as patent, it’s still possible to perform many pole tricks.
  • Hides Scuffs: The matte finish tends to hide minor scuffs and wear better than glossy patent material.
• Cons:
  • Less Pole Grip: The lack of grip can make some climbs and holds more challenging, especially for beginners who are still building strength.
  • Can feel less “secure” on the pole, depending on your style and comfort level.

3. Faux Suede / Velvet

These materials are known for their soft, plush feel and are primarily used for boots.

• Pros:
  • Exceptional Glide: Faux suede and velvet offer the smoothest glide for floor work. They are the ideal choice for routines that are heavy on floor slides, rolls, and glides.
  • Comfort: The material is often softer and more flexible, which can feel more comfortable and luxurious.
  • Unique Aesthetic: They have a beautiful, elegant look that stands out.
• Cons:
  • Zero Pole Grip: This is the most significant downside. These materials provide virtually no grip on the pole, making climbs and pole-specific tricks very difficult, if not impossible. They are best used for floor-focused choreography.
  • More Delicate: Suede and velvet can be more susceptible to dirt and damage compared to other materials.

4. Clear Plastic (PVC)

Clear plastic is a classic and timeless choice for sandals and boots, often called “jelly” heels.

• Pros:
  • Versatility: It can be used for both pole and floor work. The clear material offers good grip on the pole, similar to patent, and is often used by all levels of dancers.
  • Aesthetics: The transparency can make your legs look longer and more seamless.
  • Cost-Effective: Clear heels are often one of the most affordable options available.
• Cons:
  • Can be Stiff: The plastic material can feel stiff and a bit uncomfortable at first, especially around the straps. It can take some time to “break in” and mold to the shape of your feet.
  • Less Breathable: Clear plastic can trap heat and moisture, which may lead to sweaty feet.

Breaking In Your Heels

New pole shoes, especially those with clear plastic or patent straps, can feel stiff and uncomfortable at first. Breaking them in is essential to prevent blisters and discomfort during your first class.

• Wear Them Around the House: The simplest method is to wear your shoes around the house for short periods. This allows the heat from your feet to soften and mold the material to your unique foot shape.
• Use Socks: To prevent rubbing and speed up the process, wear a thick pair of socks with your new shoes. This will gently stretch the material and provide a comfortable barrier.
• The Hair Dryer Method: This is a popular and effective technique, especially for clear PVC shoes. Put on the shoes with a pair of thick socks, then use a hairdryer on a low heat setting to warm up the plastic straps. While the material is warm and pliable, move your foot around to help it stretch and conform to your foot. Be careful not to hold the heat in one spot for too long to avoid overheating the material.

Pole Shoe Protectors

Pole shoe protectors are important for several key reasons, mainly centering on protecting your investment, improving your dance, and preserving the studio space. They are a small but essential piece of gear for anyone who takes their pole dancing seriously.

Pole shoes are not cheap. They are a significant investment, especially if you’re buying high-quality brands like Pleaser or Hella Heels.

We recommend Pole Mom Design pole shoes protectors.

Pole Shoe Brands

Pleaser

Pleaser is the gold standard and the go-to brand for pole dancers worldwide. They are a staple in almost every studio and are often the first pair of heels a dancer will buy.

Why they are so popular: Pleaser offers an incredibly wide range of styles, heel heights, and materials at a relatively accessible price point. Their shoes are specifically designed for the demands of pole dancing, with reinforced platforms and soles that provide a good balance of grip and stability. The “Adore” and “Flamingo” models, typically with a 7 or 8-inch heel, are classic starting points for new dancers.

Hella Heels

Hella Heels is a UK-based brand that has become a major competitor to Pleaser. They are known for their unique designs, patterns, and collaborations with popular pole artists.

• Why they are popular: Many dancers find Hella Heels to be a bit more durable and comfortable than Pleasers, with a slightly different fit that some prefer. They are also known for their creative and fashion-forward aesthetics, making them a favorite for performances and social media.

Pole Shoes Discounts

Use the links below to use a $10-$15 OFF coupon on your pole shoes purchase:

Take $10 OFF Your Hella Heels Purchase

$15 Off Your First $100 Pleaser Shoes Purchase