Product:

Parnell Hiteshoes

Cost:

$130

Country of Origin:

USA
Parnell have had quite a long internet presence for a company selling height shoes, a lot longer than most of the companies that appear when you perform a Google search for height shoes. From the information that we’ve blatently taken from the website, Parnell are based in Los Angeles and have been selling shoes since 1993. The vast majority of the shoes that Parnell sell are dress shoes, with nothing currently selling in the sneakers section, and only one model selling in the ‘boot’ section. As well as the aforementioned models, the Parnell website also has a casual shoes section with height shoes that have a little bit more colour and style than the other sections. We are guessing that the target age range for the company is 25+ , since most of the styles seem aimed at the more mature customer.

Service – time to deliver

Hmmm, swanky shoes! Nobody’s going to think that these are height increasing shoes, and they look cool too.
We ordered our selected model of height increasing shoes and received them just over one week later, which is quite fast for an international delivery from the USA to the UK. We’ve heard that our American friends receive them a day to few days later, so there are no complaints with their delivery service. They offer a 15 day returns policy which starts upon receival of the item. This is long enough for those based in the USA, however it does mean that if you are an international customer then you would have to send the height shoes back almost immediately upon receiving them to get them back in time. Perhaps it would be better if this could be extended a little those of us that order from overseas?

The returns policy happily though does mean that it is possible to receive the shoes, wear them about the house for a while to see if they are comfortable, and send them back if you are in any way unhappy. Luckily, given how great these things are, it is unlikely that you will want to send them back!

Looks

One thing that is noticeable about Parnell Hiteshoes when looking at their website is that almost all the have a certain similarity with each other – they all seem to us to be of the same basic design with slight variations of colour on the outer layer. Luckily though, the basic design is excellent and stylish. The model we ordered was a basic black model, with a slight depression running down the middle of the shoe. I’ve had a few people compliment me on these shoes and asking where I got them from since getting them. The height increase from the shoe is quite large at 2.5 inches, and the design makes it almost impossible for others to tell that there is an elevated heel in the shoe at all.So altogether Parnell’s Hiteshoes do a good job of looking stylish while hiding the fact that they have a height increasing sole – in fact the design is better than most designs for normal, non-elevated dress / casual shoes that are in shops nowadays.

Initial Comfort

View from above – with the Parnell branding.
The initial impression of the shoes comfort-wise is very positive. The slanted sole of the shoe is shallow enough that the centre of gravity is not too far forward, making the shoe incredibly comfortable. The upper layer of the shoe grips the foot tightly and ensures that the sole does not move around while walking – something that can be a problem with lesser height shoes. Parnell’s Hiteshoes also feature a raised heel support at the rear that seems to support the ankle very well while walking.

Have we mentioned how light these things are yet? They are lighter than a comparable dress shoe, and yet they are rock solid and feel extremely well made.

Long-term Comfort

As far a long term build quality goes, the pair are still going strong after nearly 2 years of continuous use. They are a little bit scuffed on the outside heel from bumping off steps and the like, but other than a few marks they are still in great condition. I still wear my shoes to formal occasions with a little bit of polish, and they are still as comfortable as when they were first received, so plus marks here also.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a quality, height increasing dress shoe, we at heightshoereview.com fully recommend Parnell Hiteshoes. They look good, they are stylish, they are very comfortable and it is nearly impossible to tell that they are elevator shoes. As for price, they are not the cheapest at around $125 – $130 at the time of writing, which is a litte bit more than a standard shoe. If you are on a tight budget then maybe these are not the shoes for you, maybe try heel lifts to begin with instead. However the build quality is excellent, and if you do purchase them they should last you for a couple of years at least.

Recommended.

8/10

Pros: Good build quality, long lasting, stylish, nigh-on impossible to tell that they are height increasing elevator shoes

Cons: Most of the product line look quite similar, more expensive than a normal shoe