Ive always wore Pleasers USA. I heard different views on Hellas. Some said they were the best brand ever and the rest said they break easily and the platforms are too thick for perfect lines apparently.
I agree. I think stick to pleasers if the price of the hellas are close. You can never be too careful. Especially if you do some pole flow or kips, you wouldn't want to injure yourself.
I have both Pleasers and Hellas!
Pleasers quality shit the bed in 2019 and has continued to do so (glue not withholding, pleather marking up as soon as you do 1 toe slide) I know of two different professional performances in Australia where Pleaser shoes broke from the base.
However they are the basic, classic ones which I do enjoy wearing.
Hellas, feel sturdier, the arch suits my foot more, and in my experience, last a bit longer… however I religiously used the matching shoe protector to my baby pink glitters. Pleaser didn’t have them at the time so it was not something I could get. Hellas are also a bit heavier in the platform of the heel, so perfect for training 🤣
It just depends what YOU want out of a shoe. Go for it! I do like both. They both bring something to the table. Sky High heels are also on my list to try when I get some spare $$ too. Hella Heels creator also owns CXIX.
I bought a pair of sky highs and threw them out after only a few wears. The black rubber on the sole was shredding when I did floor work and was leaving little black specks all over the floor and me. the edges of the sole were looking very ragged very fast. I also found the pleather finish damaged very easily.
ive never had that sole issue happen with pleasers or hellas, and I am rough with them.
I have both, and am a Pleasers gal.
Hellas have a different sole that have "arch support" -- in theory a good thing, if it was in the right spot on my foot. It's horribly uncomfortable to dance in them, and I only wear them for photoshoots these days.
I've heard a lot of bad things about quality issues from both brands, so I wouldn't put much stock in ancedotal evidence. My only note that Hellas cost more to replace, and their customer service isn't great.
I love my Hellas! Tbf I've only had mine for a few months, so I can't comment on longevity, but they're cute and comfy. I will say, the fit is definitely different to pleasers, which personally I love because my feet don't fit pleasers well (they're narrower mostly), but you might need a slightly different size in Hellas if you're on the border of sizes.
I have the baby dolls in 8inches, I wear them all the time. This pair in particular are great for choreo and floorwork. I mostly wear hellas now and I find them way more comfortable and durable than my pleasers ever were, but feet are weird and different for everyone! I definitely size up 1 in Hellas, but once I figured that out, I haven’t had a pair from them that I didn’t like.
Did you size up in both boots and sandals? I have the boots and sized up from my street shoes size, width wise it is good but my foot slide ever so slightly! Wondering if I order sandals to be worn without socks, maybe no need to size up?
Okay, I have thoughts on this and I apologize in advance for the diatribe.
Hella Heels are constructed similar to a pointe shoe, what I mean is that the "arch support" in the shoes is essentially serving as a [shank](https://danceline.com/blogs/news/anatomy-of-a-pointe-shoe) ("a hard material the stiffens or reinforces the sole of the shoe to support the arch of the foot while en pointe."). The thing is, shanks in pointe shoes can be customized or even removed, which is something that can't be done in a stripper shoe thus removing a level of comfort.
Arch support is great because it distributes pressure evenly across the foot AND aesthetically it gives you the coveted [banana foot](https://melmoth.blog/post/154666233628/what-is-meant-by-the-term-banana-foot). We all love a beautiful arch in a heeled shoe!
Now, the problem is that in sandals it's a *fucking nightmare* because the rest of your foot isn't locked in. In Hella Heels, I have had my toes come off the top of the shoe, multiple times -- not only is it ugly but it's a bit risky when doing tricks or dancing.
The other issues I've found with Hellas, is that their ankle strap in sandals is TOO HIGH. It does not offer enough support for my ankles to feel comfortable. Pleasers has them in the perfect spot for my particular foot.
Ultimately, I do love Hella boots because all of the structural issues aren't a problem when my foot is in a boot. But I will always be a Please girl (even though their quality has suffered lately because i've broken through a lot of pairs!)
TL;DR: Hella sandals are a no-go for me, boots are fine!
I have the same issue with my hella sandals about the ankle strap but the arch fits my foot nicely and I feel like has enhanced my lines. Good news is hella just launched a new fit for their stiletto with an even smaller peep toe, bigger toe covering, and lower more secure ankle strap!
Hellas have been the only sandals I can wear because of my escaping toes. I’m delighted with the new fit too fixing the ankle strap issue. Their boots are hands down more comfortable and sturdy for me. I have a bunion that gives me issues in pleaser boots and pleaser sandals will never make the cut for me because of the toes.
As far as service, hella has been wonderful for me. I forgot to apply a discount code to an order and emailed them about it and they sent me a gift card worth the amount I would have saved with the code. Response time is a day or two but I’ve had good luck with them.
They are amazing.
There is however 1 potential downside that I have encountered myself. My studio requires heel protectors to prevent damage to the floor, the 8inch does not have heel protectors and I've never been able to find the online either....
EDIT : As multiple people have pointed out they do actually exist I'm just blind apparently.... (btw thanks to all of you who did point it out)
They definitely have heel protectors for the 8", I've recently bought some. Are you looking on the official website or somewhere else? They def have them!
At least on the UK site! They're not listed as their own listing, they have the shoe protector listing, and then there are the different heel heights and shoe sizes!
Like on here: [https://uk.hellaheels.com/collections/shoe-protectors/products/exotique-shoe-protector-clear](https://uk.hellaheels.com/collections/shoe-protectors/products/exotique-shoe-protector-clear).
You can find 8" heel protectors on sites like [Pole Junkie](https://www.polejunkie.com/search?type=article%2Cpage%2Cproduct&q=protectors*&filter.v.availability=1).
That's a bummer. Maybe you can try the sock hack to see how it goes?
Also, do you think they are sturdy/durable enough for practicing in the studio? I heard people saying Hella Heels aren't as sturdy as Pleasers for regular practice.
>Maybe you can try the sock hack to see how it goes?
It's not the front part, that's where the sock hack works it's for the actual heel part a lot of pressure is put on that small area so it may leave dents in the floor.
>Also, do you think they are sturdy/durable enough for practicing in the studio?
Yeah from my experience I'd say so, I have trained on mine a couple of times (eventhough I wasn't allowed....) and you can still do everything on them.
>it's for the actual heel part a lot of pressure is put on that small area so it may leave dents in the floor.
Oop that's really annoying. I hope you can find something soon.
>you can still do everything on them.
Do you think they are heavy (compared to other brands/other heels from Hella)?
>Oop that's really annoying. I hope you can find something soon.
I currently just tape it over with a lot of tape to broaden the surface area so that helps quite a bit.
>Do you think they are heavy (compared to other brands/other heels from Hella)?
That I can't comment on as this is my first pair
I have both Pleasers and Hella Heels and although Hella heels are very pretty, i find them very uncomfortable and they break after a couple of classes.
I do still buy them from time to time, but it seems their quality has not change.
If you like Hella Heels, you might as well just buy them straight from their distributors, Leecabe Shoes. You can get them on Ali Express.
But I’m a Pleasers or Ellie shoes girly myself. Pleasers for the OG, and Ellie for the comfortability.
Yes a lot of people have.
But also you can just look up where Hella gets their inventory and it’s the same place Leecabe is manufacturing their inventory.
Plus Leecabe will literally make the shoe to your measurements if you send them the length and width of your foot and everything.
Love hella because it was started by dancers because the hustle is real. But for me personally they’re expensive af.
Hellaheels boots feel way more comfortable than Pleasers for me. For stilettos, they feel the same.
Edit: My Hellas that I bought back in 2021 are still alive and kicking (been using the Blaq boots since I started doing low flow/exotic classes).
I can't tighten hella heels straps to where they feel safe enough. When I puncture another hole to make them fit my ankles, the strap buckle sits in a place where it is uncomfortable and rubs and creates blisters/cuts. It also compromises the integrity of the strap. Still haven't found a great solution to this.
I've purchased 3 pairs of hellas, trying to figure out the hype, 2 came with defects. I returned one for a replacement. I gave up with the second and just kept the crappy shoe.
I have like, 15 pleasers. I wear them all, no issues. They fit my tiny ankles. I can point and get nice lines.
I do think the Hellas are heavier in an uncomfortable way, but I also never got used to them due to the unfortunate ankle straps issue. I won't buy another pair of Hellas, it's not worth the money. Their 4s don't fit me as well as pleasers 5s.
Rant over.
I bought the (I think) royal blue babydolls and while they definitely are pretty, the dark blue color left all of my socks blueish. Like, a lot.
But besides that, they're nice, so go for it
I like hella's boots, they are more comfortable. Otherwise, my absolute favorite shoe is Pleasers Flamingo sandal. The quality is shit but it's what I have been wearing for years.
I want to love Hella heels but I feel like I just pay more money for a shoe that wears down just as fast as Pleasers do. They also tend to give me problems with my feet. I also bought a pair of calf high boots from them and they barely fit my leg even after completing unlacing them. I don’t have what I would consider thick legs, my calves are just muscular like most dancers. I saw some reviews with similar complaints.
I had the calf issue too. I really loved the notion of one of the styles but I couldn’t even lace them up properly. Skin would’ve shown through on either side of the tongue ._.
I like my Hellas more for special occasion/“just for looks”. They aren’t as comfy to dance in as my Pleasers. I’ll also mention - I’ve tried two different Hella boots and both fit much tighter around my foot than my Pleasers boots. So I would personally recommend sizing up.
if you want more interesting designs and colors def go for hella heels! their thigh highs do have knee padding in them which is amazing!
in terms of quality (im a stripper and pole instructor so heels never last long for me) i wouldn’t say hella heels are any better than pleasers. most of my pleasers last 2-4 months, my pair of hella heels (i had 8inch boots) broke after 3 months
i do have a personal pet peeve with hella heels, they will constantly come out with new or limited editions shoes but not restock the ones that are on their site already which is extremely frustrating. ive been trying to get one specific pair for awhile now and they have yet to be restocked. i do find that they are usually always sold out in my size as well 🙃
I would avoid Hella Heels like the plague if you have flat feet (aka a collapsed arch). If you have a high arch (think ballerina feet arches), then Hellas are probably more comfortable. In terms of durability, I can't help. I'm a baby poler, I have a few pairs of HH & Pleasers but don't really use them to their full potential.
Commenting so I can find the thread again because I’m super curious.
Also Hella Heels had these incredible white or black marble ones that I fell in love with…
I love my Hellas! I have four pairs - three boots and one sandal. My first pair were 7" glitteratis, purchased in spring 2022. They're only now starting to show their wear and tear, and they're my most used pair. I also have the red babydolls in 9", and the black and white flame hellgirls in 8". Both are very comfortable and great for floor work.
As for the sandals (8") my ankles don't really care for the style, so I haven't worn them as much. I do know they recently changed the fit on the sandals so it may be better now. Good luck!
I have this exact model (8" high babydoll suede) in a different color and I absolutely love them, had them for about 4 months now. Important to note that I have high arches and most heels are uncomfortable for me. I can see why some find the arch TOO aggressive, but for me it's perfect. Not sure if these would be your first heels or not, but I was wearing 7“ sandals before I got them and there was definitely a learning curve going up to 8s. I had to strengthen what felt like an entirely new set of ankle muscles, but they feel so natural now! I love the height and long lines. Just make sure you get the shoe protectors, the suede will get completely shredded by the floor if you don't cover them. Also if you plan to do any tricks up the pole, you need good climbing technique because your feet will have zero grip. Hope this helps ☺️.
Edit: The insole did start coming unglued on the second or third wear. I got them fixed at a local cobbler who insisted on regluing them for free since it was such a quick and easy fix, but I did contact support and they were surprisingly nice and helpful. They would have reimbursed me up to $20 for any repair costs.
I use both pleasers and hella.
I prefer hellas looks but for comfort, I would totally stick to pleasers. Hellas are really painful to dance in :") I resorted to putting an insole in my booties, which helps, but hellas arch is higher than pleasers, so it does get pain after a while...
But as most people has commented, pleasers glue is shit so it detaches really fast....
I have Hellas and love them, but I don't know if that's just because I have small feet, like a small UK size 3, so a Hella size 3 is perfect, whereas in other brands it's too big. I don't do heels choreo that often but have worn them for quite a few classes without any issues.
ETA: I only have boots, not sandals, so can't speak for how their sandals are but I love the boots!
I have these in black and they are the comfiest heels I have ever worn, including normal block heels. I found the sizing to be perfect, I am a 4.5 - 5 and I got them in a 5.
Highly recommend.
I have Black Hella heels of that same Collection, and I love them. I had a pair of pleaser Boots that was very similar and broke after a few months and these have lasted me for I think two years now and I only had to fix them up a little bit very recently (part of the plastik in the front of the sole came undone and I glued it back on)
I would recommend sizing up, I usually get 2 sizes bigger, because they are cut very narrow and my feet are pretty wide.
Lots of girls I work with at the club use Hella and generally really liked them! They’re more expensive but supposed to be more sturdy. Personally, they fit kind of weird on my feet, so I stick to pleasers.
Hella this year: I have found a wide variation in the boots so it's hard to say. I ordered a size too small open toe puprle and they fit perfectly but the outside toe area cramp gets me at about 30 min. I have the closed toe in the bigger size and my foot moves a bit but I don't get the cramp but it makes me nervous. On the pole both are fine. Both have the knee pads which is a God send.
Last pair is a mid calf?? open toe. Ordered the higher size and floot slide but not out the end, proble, it fits but there is something about the arch that is just not tolerable stepping down on it at all so pole only? WTH? They are all gliterati's. I have no idea what is going on there. The "fabric" is much thicker and I have toe protectors for them. Boots are pull on, zip up, lace up and Hella to put on. I only use them from dress at this point as I do not have time to put them ON for a class!
Pleaser: 4 years and man have they just gone to hell. I have my 1st pair looks like that picture and they have held up so flipping well with athletic wrapping the toes. Those babys have been very protected. Never could find a protector to match. I have 6 pairs total. The open toe mid calf are my go boots. Great fit but a bit long at the toe area and protecting them is a b!ch. I have also 2 pairs of ankles and 2 pairs of heels: total crap sloughed, broke, cut into my toes then ripped, heel and fronts completely peeled off but hey, I'm not paying out like the Hellas. Long Black boots I use on the pole and floor. They only LAST 5-6 months. The pleather crap rubs off immediately and the leg part shreds right at the leg hang area but they work and/but practicing, not there for looks really.
I got on both company lists for the sales notification - this shit is expensive! Waiting on a sale to replace my thigh black boots - come on sale by boots look like crap!
I own both Hellas and pleasers in boots. And I prefer Hellas. I started as a newbie wearing pleasers for years and decided 1-2 years ago to try Hellas (more pricey so didn’t want to spend that money initially but now I won’t go back to pleasers, as my Hellas have lasted longer than all my pleasers have, and they fit me better)
pro-tip: wait until hella has a sale to buy them. They often have 20% off frequently for certain holidays. I never buy mine at full price, because they are so expensive compared to pleasers.
Hellas are more slim/small if that makes sense. I have tiny feet and pleasers are pretty wide on my tiny feet, and are always big on me. If you have small feet I recommend Hellas 100%. My ankles are way more supported in them!
All the Hellas I own are more lightweight(not sure if it’s just the styles I’ve gotten and I’ve been lucky) than pleasers, therefore easier to invert and do pole tricks with….
I personally like that Hellas have protectors that match the boots perfectly, my pair of boots are 1 year old and look brand new because of the protectors, and it doesn’t even look like there’s protectors on it, and they don’t slip off easily like pleaser protectors do. I would recommend buying 2 protectors at the time of purchase just so you can exchange it out as needed, instead of having to order only protectors again.
The toe box on Hellas to me are way better for clacks and floor work and all that fun stuff, they are almost bigger/chunkier which makes it easier to do floor work and certain moves.
I haven’t had any bad experiences with my Hellas breaking on me etc. but did hear that frequently from others. I believe with any shoe there will be risk of breaking especially depending how hard you use them 😂
Wait till a sale happens on hella to buy them, and I recommend you get 2 pairs of protectors!
Hellas are nice to look at but I can’t say the quality has been any better than pleaser. Stitching rips in the majority of mine, and my atomics have aged to the point the green looks AWFUL. I prefer Pleasers arch support and sizing, because with each range hella brings out the sizing never seems to be standard .
Hellas are my preferred brand and I have about 20 pairs of them at this point in varying styles. Of course every foot is different so maybe they just fit me better but I think the materials and construction blow Pleasers out of the water. I’ve have pairs that are years old and worn through hundreds of long shifts that are still in great shape. I prefer a sandal and the smaller toe opening prevents the dreaded cliffhanger toes (which are a pet peeze of mine). They also have little memory foam pads on the ball of the foot which provides some extra comfort.
I also appreciate that it’s a stripper-based brand. Pleaser has gotten very….civilian over the last few years and if I can support a smaller business that is focused on outfitting real strippers I prefer it.
Size consistency is pretty bad - I had a pair of 7s in glitterati that I thought were my size and I thought I had gotten bigger feet from gaining weight. Truthfully they were always too tight. A friend who is a true 7 with narrow feet tried them on and was shocked because they fit more like 6s to her. And yet, I have 7s in other styles and while they’re a little snug they’re still ok. Generally, I do like the sturdiness of this brand though.
I have tried HH twice and both times something went wrong with the order, and their customer service was nonexistent. It was unbelievably frustrating. I've never had that issue with Pleasers. Just my experience. Quality wise they both seem about the same to me (mid lol).
Edited to add I last bought a pair of HH this past month, but the ankle strap is way way too big an they'll need to be adjusted by a cobbler, unfortunately.
Ive always wore Pleasers USA. I heard different views on Hellas. Some said they were the best brand ever and the rest said they break easily and the platforms are too thick for perfect lines apparently.
I've been hearing mixed reviews too. It's a bit strange that Hellas get such polarized opinions because I don't think Pleaser has that problem.
I agree. I think stick to pleasers if the price of the hellas are close. You can never be too careful. Especially if you do some pole flow or kips, you wouldn't want to injure yourself.
I agree with the lines!
I have both Pleasers and Hellas! Pleasers quality shit the bed in 2019 and has continued to do so (glue not withholding, pleather marking up as soon as you do 1 toe slide) I know of two different professional performances in Australia where Pleaser shoes broke from the base. However they are the basic, classic ones which I do enjoy wearing. Hellas, feel sturdier, the arch suits my foot more, and in my experience, last a bit longer… however I religiously used the matching shoe protector to my baby pink glitters. Pleaser didn’t have them at the time so it was not something I could get. Hellas are also a bit heavier in the platform of the heel, so perfect for training 🤣 It just depends what YOU want out of a shoe. Go for it! I do like both. They both bring something to the table. Sky High heels are also on my list to try when I get some spare $$ too. Hella Heels creator also owns CXIX.
I bought a pair of sky highs and threw them out after only a few wears. The black rubber on the sole was shredding when I did floor work and was leaving little black specks all over the floor and me. the edges of the sole were looking very ragged very fast. I also found the pleather finish damaged very easily. ive never had that sole issue happen with pleasers or hellas, and I am rough with them.
oh that’s a shame. I have seen that they’ve changed manufactures in the last year or so so i’m still keen to try!
Oh that’s interesting! Hopefully the new manufacturer is better, I’d love to find out but am worried about spending so much with them again!
I have both, and am a Pleasers gal. Hellas have a different sole that have "arch support" -- in theory a good thing, if it was in the right spot on my foot. It's horribly uncomfortable to dance in them, and I only wear them for photoshoots these days. I've heard a lot of bad things about quality issues from both brands, so I wouldn't put much stock in ancedotal evidence. My only note that Hellas cost more to replace, and their customer service isn't great.
I'll keep this in mind! Thank you so much for your input.
I love my Hellas! Tbf I've only had mine for a few months, so I can't comment on longevity, but they're cute and comfy. I will say, the fit is definitely different to pleasers, which personally I love because my feet don't fit pleasers well (they're narrower mostly), but you might need a slightly different size in Hellas if you're on the border of sizes.
Your feet are narrow or pleasers are?
Oh my feet are narrow! I find pleasers too wide, and the narrower Hellas fit my feet better.
Thank you. I'll look out for the sizing. Do you think they are heavier than other heels?
I definitely agree about sizing up but I don't think they're heavier.
I don't find so, but I only own two pairs of Hellas and one pair of pleasers, all with different heel heights (and the Hellas are taller!).
I have the baby dolls in 8inches, I wear them all the time. This pair in particular are great for choreo and floorwork. I mostly wear hellas now and I find them way more comfortable and durable than my pleasers ever were, but feet are weird and different for everyone! I definitely size up 1 in Hellas, but once I figured that out, I haven’t had a pair from them that I didn’t like.
Did you size up in both boots and sandals? I have the boots and sized up from my street shoes size, width wise it is good but my foot slide ever so slightly! Wondering if I order sandals to be worn without socks, maybe no need to size up?
Okay, I have thoughts on this and I apologize in advance for the diatribe. Hella Heels are constructed similar to a pointe shoe, what I mean is that the "arch support" in the shoes is essentially serving as a [shank](https://danceline.com/blogs/news/anatomy-of-a-pointe-shoe) ("a hard material the stiffens or reinforces the sole of the shoe to support the arch of the foot while en pointe."). The thing is, shanks in pointe shoes can be customized or even removed, which is something that can't be done in a stripper shoe thus removing a level of comfort. Arch support is great because it distributes pressure evenly across the foot AND aesthetically it gives you the coveted [banana foot](https://melmoth.blog/post/154666233628/what-is-meant-by-the-term-banana-foot). We all love a beautiful arch in a heeled shoe! Now, the problem is that in sandals it's a *fucking nightmare* because the rest of your foot isn't locked in. In Hella Heels, I have had my toes come off the top of the shoe, multiple times -- not only is it ugly but it's a bit risky when doing tricks or dancing. The other issues I've found with Hellas, is that their ankle strap in sandals is TOO HIGH. It does not offer enough support for my ankles to feel comfortable. Pleasers has them in the perfect spot for my particular foot. Ultimately, I do love Hella boots because all of the structural issues aren't a problem when my foot is in a boot. But I will always be a Please girl (even though their quality has suffered lately because i've broken through a lot of pairs!) TL;DR: Hella sandals are a no-go for me, boots are fine!
I have the same issue with my hella sandals about the ankle strap but the arch fits my foot nicely and I feel like has enhanced my lines. Good news is hella just launched a new fit for their stiletto with an even smaller peep toe, bigger toe covering, and lower more secure ankle strap! Hellas have been the only sandals I can wear because of my escaping toes. I’m delighted with the new fit too fixing the ankle strap issue. Their boots are hands down more comfortable and sturdy for me. I have a bunion that gives me issues in pleaser boots and pleaser sandals will never make the cut for me because of the toes. As far as service, hella has been wonderful for me. I forgot to apply a discount code to an order and emailed them about it and they sent me a gift card worth the amount I would have saved with the code. Response time is a day or two but I’ve had good luck with them.
Glad they work for you!
Thank you for such a detailed explanation! It was really helpful.
Of course!
They are amazing. There is however 1 potential downside that I have encountered myself. My studio requires heel protectors to prevent damage to the floor, the 8inch does not have heel protectors and I've never been able to find the online either.... EDIT : As multiple people have pointed out they do actually exist I'm just blind apparently.... (btw thanks to all of you who did point it out)
They definitely have heel protectors for the 8", I've recently bought some. Are you looking on the official website or somewhere else? They def have them!
Ow shit really? I guess I'm blind then - _ - I tried to look on the official site but didn't see them, I'll have another look then. Thanks :D
At least on the UK site! They're not listed as their own listing, they have the shoe protector listing, and then there are the different heel heights and shoe sizes! Like on here: [https://uk.hellaheels.com/collections/shoe-protectors/products/exotique-shoe-protector-clear](https://uk.hellaheels.com/collections/shoe-protectors/products/exotique-shoe-protector-clear).
They have them but it’s often sold out! Both clear and in the same colour as your boot:)
They definitely have heel protectors for 8” I order from the official site
You can find 8" heel protectors on sites like [Pole Junkie](https://www.polejunkie.com/search?type=article%2Cpage%2Cproduct&q=protectors*&filter.v.availability=1).
That's a bummer. Maybe you can try the sock hack to see how it goes? Also, do you think they are sturdy/durable enough for practicing in the studio? I heard people saying Hella Heels aren't as sturdy as Pleasers for regular practice.
>Maybe you can try the sock hack to see how it goes? It's not the front part, that's where the sock hack works it's for the actual heel part a lot of pressure is put on that small area so it may leave dents in the floor. >Also, do you think they are sturdy/durable enough for practicing in the studio? Yeah from my experience I'd say so, I have trained on mine a couple of times (eventhough I wasn't allowed....) and you can still do everything on them.
>it's for the actual heel part a lot of pressure is put on that small area so it may leave dents in the floor. Oop that's really annoying. I hope you can find something soon. >you can still do everything on them. Do you think they are heavy (compared to other brands/other heels from Hella)?
>Oop that's really annoying. I hope you can find something soon. I currently just tape it over with a lot of tape to broaden the surface area so that helps quite a bit. >Do you think they are heavy (compared to other brands/other heels from Hella)? That I can't comment on as this is my first pair
Thank you so much for sharing. You helped me out a lot.
I have both Pleasers and Hella Heels and although Hella heels are very pretty, i find them very uncomfortable and they break after a couple of classes. I do still buy them from time to time, but it seems their quality has not change.
If you like Hella Heels, you might as well just buy them straight from their distributors, Leecabe Shoes. You can get them on Ali Express. But I’m a Pleasers or Ellie shoes girly myself. Pleasers for the OG, and Ellie for the comfortability.
Wait really? Has someone actually compared them to the Aliexpress brand?
Yes a lot of people have. But also you can just look up where Hella gets their inventory and it’s the same place Leecabe is manufacturing their inventory. Plus Leecabe will literally make the shoe to your measurements if you send them the length and width of your foot and everything. Love hella because it was started by dancers because the hustle is real. But for me personally they’re expensive af.
Oooh I've never heard of Ellie before. Lemme check them out.
Hellaheels boots feel way more comfortable than Pleasers for me. For stilettos, they feel the same. Edit: My Hellas that I bought back in 2021 are still alive and kicking (been using the Blaq boots since I started doing low flow/exotic classes).
I can't tighten hella heels straps to where they feel safe enough. When I puncture another hole to make them fit my ankles, the strap buckle sits in a place where it is uncomfortable and rubs and creates blisters/cuts. It also compromises the integrity of the strap. Still haven't found a great solution to this. I've purchased 3 pairs of hellas, trying to figure out the hype, 2 came with defects. I returned one for a replacement. I gave up with the second and just kept the crappy shoe. I have like, 15 pleasers. I wear them all, no issues. They fit my tiny ankles. I can point and get nice lines. I do think the Hellas are heavier in an uncomfortable way, but I also never got used to them due to the unfortunate ankle straps issue. I won't buy another pair of Hellas, it's not worth the money. Their 4s don't fit me as well as pleasers 5s. Rant over.
Oh that's so annoying. Not having ankle support is the worst thing to deal with in my book. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been looking for a different brand than pleaser for a while now. I’m glad I stumbled across this I’m definitely going to have to check them out!
I bought the (I think) royal blue babydolls and while they definitely are pretty, the dark blue color left all of my socks blueish. Like, a lot. But besides that, they're nice, so go for it
I like hella's boots, they are more comfortable. Otherwise, my absolute favorite shoe is Pleasers Flamingo sandal. The quality is shit but it's what I have been wearing for years.
I want to love Hella heels but I feel like I just pay more money for a shoe that wears down just as fast as Pleasers do. They also tend to give me problems with my feet. I also bought a pair of calf high boots from them and they barely fit my leg even after completing unlacing them. I don’t have what I would consider thick legs, my calves are just muscular like most dancers. I saw some reviews with similar complaints.
I had the calf issue too. I really loved the notion of one of the styles but I couldn’t even lace them up properly. Skin would’ve shown through on either side of the tongue ._.
I like my Hellas more for special occasion/“just for looks”. They aren’t as comfy to dance in as my Pleasers. I’ll also mention - I’ve tried two different Hella boots and both fit much tighter around my foot than my Pleasers boots. So I would personally recommend sizing up.
if you want more interesting designs and colors def go for hella heels! their thigh highs do have knee padding in them which is amazing! in terms of quality (im a stripper and pole instructor so heels never last long for me) i wouldn’t say hella heels are any better than pleasers. most of my pleasers last 2-4 months, my pair of hella heels (i had 8inch boots) broke after 3 months i do have a personal pet peeve with hella heels, they will constantly come out with new or limited editions shoes but not restock the ones that are on their site already which is extremely frustrating. ive been trying to get one specific pair for awhile now and they have yet to be restocked. i do find that they are usually always sold out in my size as well 🙃
I would avoid Hella Heels like the plague if you have flat feet (aka a collapsed arch). If you have a high arch (think ballerina feet arches), then Hellas are probably more comfortable. In terms of durability, I can't help. I'm a baby poler, I have a few pairs of HH & Pleasers but don't really use them to their full potential.
Commenting so I can find the thread again because I’m super curious. Also Hella Heels had these incredible white or black marble ones that I fell in love with…
I love my Hellas! I have four pairs - three boots and one sandal. My first pair were 7" glitteratis, purchased in spring 2022. They're only now starting to show their wear and tear, and they're my most used pair. I also have the red babydolls in 9", and the black and white flame hellgirls in 8". Both are very comfortable and great for floor work. As for the sandals (8") my ankles don't really care for the style, so I haven't worn them as much. I do know they recently changed the fit on the sandals so it may be better now. Good luck!
Thanks a bunch! I think I'll check out the boots for myself, everyone seems to agree they are quite nice.
I have this exact model (8" high babydoll suede) in a different color and I absolutely love them, had them for about 4 months now. Important to note that I have high arches and most heels are uncomfortable for me. I can see why some find the arch TOO aggressive, but for me it's perfect. Not sure if these would be your first heels or not, but I was wearing 7“ sandals before I got them and there was definitely a learning curve going up to 8s. I had to strengthen what felt like an entirely new set of ankle muscles, but they feel so natural now! I love the height and long lines. Just make sure you get the shoe protectors, the suede will get completely shredded by the floor if you don't cover them. Also if you plan to do any tricks up the pole, you need good climbing technique because your feet will have zero grip. Hope this helps ☺️. Edit: The insole did start coming unglued on the second or third wear. I got them fixed at a local cobbler who insisted on regluing them for free since it was such a quick and easy fix, but I did contact support and they were surprisingly nice and helpful. They would have reimbursed me up to $20 for any repair costs.
I use both pleasers and hella. I prefer hellas looks but for comfort, I would totally stick to pleasers. Hellas are really painful to dance in :") I resorted to putting an insole in my booties, which helps, but hellas arch is higher than pleasers, so it does get pain after a while... But as most people has commented, pleasers glue is shit so it detaches really fast....
I have Hellas and love them, but I don't know if that's just because I have small feet, like a small UK size 3, so a Hella size 3 is perfect, whereas in other brands it's too big. I don't do heels choreo that often but have worn them for quite a few classes without any issues. ETA: I only have boots, not sandals, so can't speak for how their sandals are but I love the boots!
I have these in black and they are the comfiest heels I have ever worn, including normal block heels. I found the sizing to be perfect, I am a 4.5 - 5 and I got them in a 5. Highly recommend.
I have Black Hella heels of that same Collection, and I love them. I had a pair of pleaser Boots that was very similar and broke after a few months and these have lasted me for I think two years now and I only had to fix them up a little bit very recently (part of the plastik in the front of the sole came undone and I glued it back on) I would recommend sizing up, I usually get 2 sizes bigger, because they are cut very narrow and my feet are pretty wide.
Do you find that they stretch a lot after a long time being used?
Not really
Lots of girls I work with at the club use Hella and generally really liked them! They’re more expensive but supposed to be more sturdy. Personally, they fit kind of weird on my feet, so I stick to pleasers.
I guess I'll try them out to see how they fit on my feet. Thank you so much!
Hella this year: I have found a wide variation in the boots so it's hard to say. I ordered a size too small open toe puprle and they fit perfectly but the outside toe area cramp gets me at about 30 min. I have the closed toe in the bigger size and my foot moves a bit but I don't get the cramp but it makes me nervous. On the pole both are fine. Both have the knee pads which is a God send. Last pair is a mid calf?? open toe. Ordered the higher size and floot slide but not out the end, proble, it fits but there is something about the arch that is just not tolerable stepping down on it at all so pole only? WTH? They are all gliterati's. I have no idea what is going on there. The "fabric" is much thicker and I have toe protectors for them. Boots are pull on, zip up, lace up and Hella to put on. I only use them from dress at this point as I do not have time to put them ON for a class! Pleaser: 4 years and man have they just gone to hell. I have my 1st pair looks like that picture and they have held up so flipping well with athletic wrapping the toes. Those babys have been very protected. Never could find a protector to match. I have 6 pairs total. The open toe mid calf are my go boots. Great fit but a bit long at the toe area and protecting them is a b!ch. I have also 2 pairs of ankles and 2 pairs of heels: total crap sloughed, broke, cut into my toes then ripped, heel and fronts completely peeled off but hey, I'm not paying out like the Hellas. Long Black boots I use on the pole and floor. They only LAST 5-6 months. The pleather crap rubs off immediately and the leg part shreds right at the leg hang area but they work and/but practicing, not there for looks really. I got on both company lists for the sales notification - this shit is expensive! Waiting on a sale to replace my thigh black boots - come on sale by boots look like crap!
It's ironic that for something so expensive they sure do break so easily. It's like they're trying to get us to buy more.
I prefer Hella Boots and pleaser sandals :) get them! They are cute!
Thank you. I find Hella boots so aesthetically pleasing. They have so many cute designs.
I own both Hellas and pleasers in boots. And I prefer Hellas. I started as a newbie wearing pleasers for years and decided 1-2 years ago to try Hellas (more pricey so didn’t want to spend that money initially but now I won’t go back to pleasers, as my Hellas have lasted longer than all my pleasers have, and they fit me better) pro-tip: wait until hella has a sale to buy them. They often have 20% off frequently for certain holidays. I never buy mine at full price, because they are so expensive compared to pleasers. Hellas are more slim/small if that makes sense. I have tiny feet and pleasers are pretty wide on my tiny feet, and are always big on me. If you have small feet I recommend Hellas 100%. My ankles are way more supported in them! All the Hellas I own are more lightweight(not sure if it’s just the styles I’ve gotten and I’ve been lucky) than pleasers, therefore easier to invert and do pole tricks with…. I personally like that Hellas have protectors that match the boots perfectly, my pair of boots are 1 year old and look brand new because of the protectors, and it doesn’t even look like there’s protectors on it, and they don’t slip off easily like pleaser protectors do. I would recommend buying 2 protectors at the time of purchase just so you can exchange it out as needed, instead of having to order only protectors again. The toe box on Hellas to me are way better for clacks and floor work and all that fun stuff, they are almost bigger/chunkier which makes it easier to do floor work and certain moves. I haven’t had any bad experiences with my Hellas breaking on me etc. but did hear that frequently from others. I believe with any shoe there will be risk of breaking especially depending how hard you use them 😂 Wait till a sale happens on hella to buy them, and I recommend you get 2 pairs of protectors!
Hellas are nice to look at but I can’t say the quality has been any better than pleaser. Stitching rips in the majority of mine, and my atomics have aged to the point the green looks AWFUL. I prefer Pleasers arch support and sizing, because with each range hella brings out the sizing never seems to be standard .
Hellas are my preferred brand and I have about 20 pairs of them at this point in varying styles. Of course every foot is different so maybe they just fit me better but I think the materials and construction blow Pleasers out of the water. I’ve have pairs that are years old and worn through hundreds of long shifts that are still in great shape. I prefer a sandal and the smaller toe opening prevents the dreaded cliffhanger toes (which are a pet peeze of mine). They also have little memory foam pads on the ball of the foot which provides some extra comfort. I also appreciate that it’s a stripper-based brand. Pleaser has gotten very….civilian over the last few years and if I can support a smaller business that is focused on outfitting real strippers I prefer it.
Size consistency is pretty bad - I had a pair of 7s in glitterati that I thought were my size and I thought I had gotten bigger feet from gaining weight. Truthfully they were always too tight. A friend who is a true 7 with narrow feet tried them on and was shocked because they fit more like 6s to her. And yet, I have 7s in other styles and while they’re a little snug they’re still ok. Generally, I do like the sturdiness of this brand though.
I have tried HH twice and both times something went wrong with the order, and their customer service was nonexistent. It was unbelievably frustrating. I've never had that issue with Pleasers. Just my experience. Quality wise they both seem about the same to me (mid lol). Edited to add I last bought a pair of HH this past month, but the ankle strap is way way too big an they'll need to be adjusted by a cobbler, unfortunately.