Get More Grip and Look After Your Skin – How Boots Can Help
15 Jul 2007
Lucy
19 Comments →
Struggling with your pole dancing moves and want a bit more grip? Need some extra leg protection for those extended pole sessions? Want to look fabulous at the same time? Then you need a pair of boots in your life!
Not all boots are good (check the tips below for some pointers), but choose the right ones and you’ll benefit from significantly more grip while pole dancing.
Ankle boots
Ankle boots are a great way to get some extra pole purchase while still having the option of a small heel. The added support they provide around the ankle will help you with some inverts and spins. And of course they add some useful padding to protect your feet from any scrapes and bruises.
Knee high boots
If you’d like a bit of extra help with your inverts – particularly those that rely on the feet and lower legs – then a pair of knee high boots is ideal.
They’re also great for climbing the pole – they can give you a real boost when your arm strength is waning at the end of a long pole dancing session. I personally own a fabulous shiny pair!
Thigh high boots
The Pretty Woman boot, so perhaps not something to wear out on a Saturday night (or maybe only over a pair of skinny jeans)!
You should definitely consider getting a pair though, as these boots are simply amazing at gripping the pole. I’ve worn them while doing public (and sometimes very stressful) performances and the extra help they gave me was invaluable.
Thigh high boots are great for learning moves like the knees – the padding around the knee joint makes the experience a little less painful, and their stickiness gives you some useful extra security while you practise. 
Chest high boots
I’ve never seen these worn on the pole (please do send pictures if you have any!). I’m sure the grip would be phenomenal though – moves like the superman would be almost too easy!
Be a material girl
Before you fall in love with a pair of pole dancing boots, do make sure they are made of the right material.
Soft leather boots are not good for pole dancing – they can be extremely slippery and offer you no grip at all. Plastic or shiny boots are a much better bet, but unfortunately there’s no sure-fire guarantee of stickiness, so – unless they come Pole Approved – make sure you check the refund policy before you buy!
Keeping your boots on
Boots with zips on the inside leg are usually the best option for pole dancing, though if you can find a pair of slip on boots that fit perfectly then that’s ideal. Hooks will tend to bend and may damage your pole, and laces in the wrong place will provide no grip on the pole.
For bigger boots in particular, make sure they fit you very well. If the boots are too loose then there’s a danger they will get stuck half way up the pole as you slide to the bottom – never a good look!
Give your boots the boot
Just as with pole dancing grip aids, don’t get addicted to your boots! Take your boots off once a while – you may be surprised how much harder it is to stick to the pole with your skin. As well as ensuring your pole dancing prowess remains top notch, many competitions do not allow boots because of the huge advantage they give.
Pole Approved boots
Tony L-4 (first image above) – These boots are Pole Approved for stickiness (and shininess!). I have no connection with the company other than owning a pair. A number of other pole dancers I know also rate them highly.
Tony boots are available from: Heels for You [US] · How Cool [US] · Nitelife [UK] · Snaz 75 [US] and other good shops.
Pleaser also have a fine range of fine boots, but I don’t know anyone who owns a pair and so can’t comment on their stickiness. For places that sell Pleaser, please take a look at the previous post on pole dancing shoes.
Update:
- Pleaser Expose 2000 – Starr has a pair of these knee high boots, which she says are sticky – and really comfy – too.
- Pleaser Sultry 3000 – Nurse Bettie rates these thigh high boots.
- Funtasma Exotica 2000 by Pleaser – Sarah says these are not only grippy, but the most comfortable boots she has.
Do you have a pair of sticky boots? Please post details below! We’d love to build up a list of pole approved boots to help others find a good pair.
19 comments
Perfect timing, Lucy! I just bought my first pair of pole boots- knee high platforms by Pleaser. They are super comfy and stick to the pole well!
Starr - Oooh really? Do you have the model number, cos I’ll stick them on the approved list.
Hi there- the ones that I got are PLEASER, Expose 2000
Hey again - thanks for the info! I’ve added a link to the post.
I like the SULTRY-3000 by Pleaser. It is a thigh high boot that opened up a whole new world of tricks for me on the pole. I am now doing things I never thought possible! I think any boot made of patent leather works pretty well.
Thanks a lot for the info Bettie - added it to the post. And I’m glad the boots are helping you - they really do make a huge difference!
You’re right that patent leather boots are almost always good, though I know a couple of girls who bought a pair from eBay that don’t grip so well. Perhaps I was a little cautious in the post because of this…
Thanks for all the fantastic information on this site. I own the Pleasers dull leather style Knee high boots and just love them for pole work. Although the shiny materials tend to work better, I find these have enough stickiness to hold me up. But, as you said in the article, I have to be careful of scratching the pole with the hooks.
Would just like to say that I think i’ve found the perfect pole boots! They’re knee-high platforms from SkyHighShoes on ebay & they are super-shiny PVC, come up true-to-size & are possibly the most comfy boots I posess! I’ve only been poling for a week so far & was finding climbing tricky till I tried these! The code on the box is: EXO2000/B EXOTICA-2000 by Funtasma, I hope this helps someone out!
Thanks for that Sarah! I did a little bit of digging and it seems that it’s another Pleaser boot. There are more details and colour options on Pleaser’s site.
As well as SkyHighShoes, I found them for sale at Amazon, Blue Velvet and The Red Door. I’ve added your recommendation to the post.
I’m having a really hard time gripping the pole with my thighs! I just fall straight off. Does anyone have any tips?
Lara – Lucy responded to this in another post.
[…] Click here for the post about […]
Can you please tell me who makes the trainer shoes
you show pictures. I am located in Michigan USA
Shelagh – Sorry, I don’t know what you mean. Do you mean the ones Lucy wears in the rotating header images?
I was refering to the plastic coated trainer shoes that are pictured in black and hot pink. I was wondering who makes them and if they are available in the USA
I’ve just had a look around – I originally chose that picture just because it looked pretty. :) They are made by McKenzie, which is a brand exclusive to JD Sports, a UK-based sportswear chain (though I did find a few pairs on eBay too). They also don’t appear to make those shoes any more, though the McKenzie Nymph shoes (only on eBay?) look similar.
While hunting for that, I came across the Puma Le Set, also in black and hot pink. (It looks like they have quite a bit of fabric on the side of the shoe, which wouldn’t be great for pole.) I think this may have been discontinued too, but it is still available in the US at the moment. (Though strangely in a much less exciting pink.)
So I’m afraid it doesn’t look too hopeful, but good luck.
Heya, sorry I know patent leather has already been discussed…just wondering wether PU leather will grip aswel? Dying to buy these… http://www.exoticdancewear.co.uk/categories/kinky-boots/thigh-high-boots/2823-Sexy-Fetish-Style-Thigh-High-Length-Boots.htm?page_num=4&page_size=15 .
Just personally prefer the PU version, will buy the patent though if its going to make a significant difference :) Thanks for any help! Awesome site btw. xx
hot peppers!!!
they stopes making them tho
if anyone knows where i can find plain stiletto vinal boots with a ROUND toe .. please let me know !!! ive been looking for them everywhere but all i can find id pointy toe .. or thoses boots the the chunky heel
hi - just a bought a pair of pleaser thigh-highs boots and have found that they are really slippery on the pole (so frustrating cos they were really expensive). i thought i was getting the right type of vinyl but it doesnt seem so. does anyone have any tips for making slippery boots stickier? thanx!!
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