Footwear for RLSH

One of the most important items you will wear as an RLSH is footwear. Every time you go out, no matter what you wear, you always wear shoes and the wrong shoes can leave you in pain or at the mercy of the weather.

Combat Boots

Combat boots are super popular for RLSH, but you have to be aware of shoe construction. You want boots that are going to hold up to wear and tear, fit your feet comfortably, and provide ample traction. Avoid boots that give you blisters or leave your feet too hot or too cold. Also, when it comes to boot issues, as I have learned from experience, some boots don't fare well on snow and ice, but are just fine for rain and dry weather. Specifically, Doc Martens are like ice skates on snow and ice, whereas my pair of Steve Maddens provide ample traction. The difference is in the material of the sole.

Sneakers

Sneakers are traditional superhero footwear, but they are super comfortable, come in a variety of styles/colors, and they are totally made to move athletically. If you need to give your feet a break from boots, sneakers might be an option. I prefer trail running shoes since they provide traction on flat surfaces to wet grass to hiking trails.

Heeled Boots

More specifically, high-heeled boots. The higher the heel, the higher the risk for twisting an ankle. These do come in some flashy styles and colors, but they have little traction (typically) and are often uncomfortable for long periods of time.

Knee-High Boots

Knee-high boots are often sought after unless you have monster calves. These are usually the most aesthetically pleasing since we see them so much in comic books. The cool thing about these boots is that they come in so many different styles, colors, sole types, and shaft heights that you shouldn't have too many issues finding something. The downside of these boots is they can cause some blistering with poor fit, they are not accommodating for extra large calves typically, and there are a lot of cheap (and poor fitting) boots out there.

Custom Boots

Custom boots usually range from $200-700. For that amount, you should expect them to fit you properly, look the way you want, and have the style you are looking for. Period Boots by CA Boots does have a selection of custom leather superhero boots. Girotti also has a huge selection of custom footwear. You can find links to both under Resources.

Knee-high boot (left) and custom boot from CA Boots (right)

Testing Your Footwear

Since we need functional footwear, not just something that looks good, we have to put our shoes to the test. You may want to set up an obstacle course to test out your shoes.

• Can you walk a mile in the shoes?

• Can you run a mile in the shoes?

• Will they handle the weather and terrain in your area?

• Can you jump: on flat surface (jump rope) for 60 seconds, do 10 box jumps, and jump down from a 6-foot object?

• Does any part of the footwear rub along your feet or calves?

There are some shoe/boot options under the Resources tab. If you have a footwear preference, favorite brand, or method for testing your footwear, leave something in the comments or in the forum.