Best Tap Shoes Reviewed & Rated

You’re more likely to find Oxfords when looking for tap shoes. The Oxford design is the most common, but you can find other styles as well, including Mary Janes, or shoes with a heel. More importantly, the design elements of the way the shoe was constructed can determine quality as well as style.

Construction and Stitching: The upper stitching will help note if the shoe will have more flex or durability. More stitches will give a stiffer and sturdier hold but reduce the flex of the upper. This can be concerning to some tappers. Those dancers just starting out may need a stiffer shoe for support, but more advanced dancers can sometimes require more flexibility in the foot for quick moves back and forth, or combinations that require dexterity of the foot to create the desired percussion.

Material: The heel on tap shoes historically was made from wood, but modern days it can be made from plastic, synthetic, material blends, or leather. Many entry-level shoes have a plastic or synthetic heel, usually half an inch to an inch in height. Plastic heels don’t create the same rich, quality sound that a stacked leather heel can make, but they are inexpensive and more affordable.
Height: Higher heel height can also affect dance style in tap, and if too high, can cause discomfort by place weight more so on the toes than evenly distributed across the foot.

Support: The toe box design of a tap shoe can allow for a snug fit without pinching the foot, so it’s important to understand your fit and foot width, for individual needs. A toe box that has a “cage-like” build can act to decrease flexibility, especially if the upper is designed with synthetic materials that tend to be less flexible than leather. A toe cage can be beneficial for beginners, as it helps alleviate foot strain when learning to use the muscles in your feet for tapping.

Comfort: Selecting a tap shoe with a comfortable toe box is crucial. Narrow or rounded toe shapes can cause discomfort for those with a wider foot or can cause pinching in those with normal width feet. Having a shoe made of leather or a leather blend can help with toe box fit while maintaining functionality, as leather tends to mold to the shape of the foot.

Topline: The topline is the portion in the upper's build that is the rim line of the shoe. Some tend to demonstrate a lower topline, while others a higher line. A lower line allows for greater ankle flexibility while an elevated line means much better ankle stability. Some designs have a cut out at the heel for the Achilles tendon. Occasionally tap shoes will also have top line padding, which cuts down on discomfort or blistering.

Leather: Several materials are used regularly in tap shoes, but the use of leather is highly practical to build a tap shoe. Leather is strong and hold up to a lot of use-and-abuse. Typically, the leather is usually cow skin, and quite resistant to water. Another type of leather commonly used is goat skin. Some of the most quality grade shoes utilize a process that has goat skin leather.

It's recommended to go with the least pliable material from which your shoes were made. A stiffer material or leather may take a bit of time to break in but will endure more pounding and use than a softer leather. Patent leather is another popular material, especially for performances, as it creates a luster unparalleled to other types of leather. For some tap dancers this is the greatest appeal they look for in a shoe.

Synthetics: Synthetic, synthetic blends or other fabric textiles can sometimes be used to design the uppers of a tap shoe. Though not quite as diverse as leather, each has its benefit when it comes to function and style.

Synthetic or synthetic blends: For those conscious of animal welfare, this can be a lovely option as PU or PVC don’t contain any animal product. Be more careful with synthetic blends, as many incorporate some leather for aesthetic purposes. Synthetics can be more cost-effective, and usually, are found in beginner styled shoes. They provide a stiffer feel to the shoe at a reasonable cost, similar to more expensive leather designed shoes. However, the fit is less pliable and can cause soreness if not fitted properly.

Fabric or Textile: There are a few shoes out there that have a fabric or cloth-like feel and look for a tap shoe. These usually are designed for beginners or those who may not enjoy the stiffness of other tap shoes. Note that good tap work is usually done because the shoe has a stiffness to it, allowing for precise toe and heel strikes. So although footwork may not be the best, for those who simply enjoy dance or want to try tap, this is a less expensive option in shoe material to consider.

Taps on the shoe are the what creates the noise due to ground contact. Usually they reside under the forefoot and heel.

Tap Material: Wooden soles were first responsible for tap, and leather soles incorporated later. Nowadays, metal taps are used, but this varies in quality based on the type of metal. Most modern tap shoes have an aluminum base or combine various composites to create lighter or heavier taps, depending on the dancer’s preference. The lightest, and usually most popular metal is aluminum. Check that the taps are not made from steel, as they are heavier and typically not durable.

Tap Shape: The actual tap shape can vary to create different pitches and tones, and when combined with soundboards, adhesives, or specific sole materials, further adjust the sound that resonates from the contact of the tap with the dance surface.

Concave vs. Convex: Taps can be designed to have a concave or convex design, which can create vastly different percussion sounds.

Tap Build: Taps can also be designed to be smaller in relation to the shoe, or larger, based on the preference of the dancer. Larger taps can create a deeper tone, and smaller taps create a slightly higher pitched or snare drum-like sound.

Tap Fixation to the Sole: Taps can be fixed to the sole in several manners. Many brands now manufacture tap shoes with taps already attached.

Screws vs. Nail: Taps that are nailed to the sole are permanently fixed and create one sound and tone. These usually are found in beginner style shoes for those whose preferences to how the shoe sound has not yet been considered. Taps that are screwed into the shoe allow for how tight or loose the tap is affixed to the sole and can create varying tap sounds and tones.

Adhesive: Some taps may also use an adhesive instead of screws. There is some debate on how different adhesives may affect the sound quality, but those taps affixed with adhesive will have a fixed tone.

Soundboards: Many of the modern style tap shoes will have a soundboard to which the screws insert to keep the tap on the sole of the shoe. The material from which the soundboard is made is usually a fibreboard, but other materials can be used and can affect the weight of the shoe, or sound of the tap.