Different types of shoe – standard shoe names

Different shoe types and designs come in many formats and with a number of varying names and descriptions. The list below is far from complete, however it does cover the majority of shoe types found in the UK, North America, Australia and New Zealand. It is also possible for a shoe to be described by two or more different names depending upon its appearance. The list below is alphabetical.

A
ankle boot, army boots, athletic shoes, activity shoes

B
ballet shoes, beach shoes, boat shoes, bowling shoes, boots, bowling shoes, brogues

C
cleats, climbing shoes, clogs, comfort shoe, court shoes, cowboy boots, crocs, cycling shoes

D
deck shoes, diabetic shoe, dress shoes

E
elevator shoes, espadrilles

F
figure skates, flip-flops, five finger shoe

G
galoshes, golf shoes, gumboots

H
hand made shoes, heels, hiking boots and shoes, high heels, high-top sneakers, hiking boots

I
ice skates, inline skates

J
jackboots, jump boots

K
kamiks

L
loafers

M
Mary Janes, moccasin, mukluks, mules

N
No entries

O
open-toes shoes, orthopedic shoe, orthotics (inserts), Oxfords

P
penny loafers, platform shoes’ pointe shoes, pumps

Q
No entries

R
rainboots, riding boots, rollerblades, rollerskates, running shoes

S
saddle shoes, sandals, shoes, skates, skate shoes, ski boots, slides, sling-backs, slippers, sneakers, steel-toe boots, stiletto heels, swim fins

T
tap shoes, tennis shoes, toe shoes, track shoes, training shoe

U
No entries

V
valenki

W
waders, walking shoes, wedge shoes, wedge sandals, Wellington boots, wide fit shoe, wingtip shoes, work boots

X, Y
No entries

Z
zories

Other ways to classify a shoe

The first big breakdown of shoe classification is into men's shoes and women's shoe. There is a further sub-division into children's shoes, both boys and girls.

Shoes can also be classified as fashion shoes or function-activity-performance shoes. In the case of fashion footwear, they can be further sub-divided into high heels and flats. In the case of shoes used for an activity, the activity is normally used in the name of the shoe.

When it comes to shoes featuring high heels the following heel descriptions can be applied to further describe the appearance of the shoe and its style.

High heel definitions
Stiletto heels, Kitten heels, Cone heels, Prism heels, Spool heels, Wedge heels

Orthopedic shoes

Shoes with high heels and shoes that do not offer any lateral support or do not have strong and flexible soles (and insoles) are not generally considered to be orthopedic shoes.

High heels prevent the foot from working as it was designed to do and shoes with limited support and poor soles are not generally seen as being ideal for the surfaces that we walk on during the course of a typical day. Even so, fashion shoes have, and will continue to have, a prominent place in the footwear industry, however wearing them should be tempered with wearing healthy comfortable shoes at every opportunity.