Find the right pole dancing shoes, without the guesswork

The Pleaser Aspire range is the most commonly cited comfortable option, thanks to its higher-than-usual platform and comfort-width footbed. See our guide to the most comfortable pole dancing shoes.

Most beginners start at 6 or 7 inches. A 6-inch shoe like the Aspire-608 is lighter and easier to walk in, while a 7-inch shoe’s bigger platform can sit your foot at a comfortable angle. See best pole dancing shoes for beginners.

Most pole classes are done barefoot, because skin grips the pole. Pole heels are worn for heels classes and choreography, and become useful once you start working on spins and floor transitions. Their platform sole supports balance in a way regular heels don’t.

Pleaser sandals generally run true to size. Pleaser boots and Ellie Shoes tend to run small, so many buyers size up to the next whole size (Pleaser has no half sizes). Hella Heels use Australian sizing, which has the same numbers as US women’s sizes. See our sizing guide.

Most pole dancers wear platform heels made for pole, usually 6 to 8 inches high, with a platform under the toes and a secure ankle strap. Pleaser is the most common brand and Hella Heels is the main premium one. Many beginner classes are done barefoot. See our beginner’s guide.

The platform makes them easier than they look: a 7-inch heel with a 2¾-inch platform puts your foot at roughly the angle of a 4¼-inch heel. Pole heels also lengthen your leg lines, and many dancers say the extra weight helps with spins and floorwork. See our heel height guide.

It’s not a good idea. Ordinary heels have little or no platform, so your foot sits at a steep angle, and many have thin straps, buckles or metal that can scratch the pole. Pole heels have a platform, a secure ankle strap and a smooth finish. See our beginner’s guide.

Yes. Pleaser recommends its 6-inch Aspire line for beginners, and the Aspire-608 is rated 4.8 out of 5 on pleasershoes.com. The 7-inch Adore range is another popular first pair. See our Aspire-608 review.

Neither is better for everyone. Pleaser is cheaper, with more styles and sizes. Hella Heels costs more, reviewers often call it plusher, and standard Hella styles feel narrower than Pleaser. Many dancers start in Pleaser and add a Hella pair later. See our Pleaser vs Hella Heels comparison.

Pleaser pole sandals cost about $47 to $80 at pleasershoes.com, and Hella Heels stilettos start at about $109 in the US (prices observed October to November 2026). In the UK, a Pleaser Aspire-608 is about £70. Boots cost more. See our guide to cheap pole shoes.

Many pole studios sell shoes, so ask yours first. Online, buy from Pleaser USA or Hella Heels US in the US; Hella Heels UK, Pole Junkie or Pole Dancing Shoes UK in the UK; Shoe Me in Australia; or PeachyBoots in Europe. See our store directory.

Snug, not tight. Your toes should sit inside the platform, the ankle strap should hold your heel firmly, and your foot should not slide. Clear straps soften a little with wear. See our sizing guide.

Yes. Most beginner pole classes are done barefoot, because bare skin grips the pole. Heels are mainly for heels, exotic and choreography classes. See our guide to pole dancing in shoes.

Fit platform protectors or covers, practise on carpet or a mat rather than hard floors, and store your shoes in a bag so the platforms don’t knock together. See our guide to protecting pole shoes.