Tap shoes are like any other shoes, in the sense that they come in many different styles. Perhaps the most popular ones are black patent leather, with a ribbon or strap that goes across the top of the foot. However, many other kinds exist, including tap shoes that look like sneakers, high-heeled tap shoes and leather, lace-up taps that look like oxfords. Most tap instructors will require a certain type of shoe, so that shoes will be uniform during performances.
Although many tap shoes are made from leather, they are also available in canvas and synthetic materials. Leather shoes are usually excellent quality, but they can be a bit expensive and stretch over time. Many synthetic shoes still perform well, and at a much lower cost.
This is where tap shoes start to get technical. All taps are divided into one of three categories—teletone, duotone, and supertone. The different tones of the taps are determined by the number of screws holding the tap in place. Although teletone shoes are the most common, more advanced tap dancers sometimes use duotone and supertone.
Tap shoes are also available with double taps, which have an extra piece of metal attached to the tap. However, these are generally only used by experienced tap dancers.
Like most other shoes, taps are available in various heel heights. Although these can look nice during a performance, they may make tap-dancing especially challenging. As a general rule, the lower the heel, the more stability and better sound you will have.
Full sole tap shoes look and feel like a normal shoe with taps attached. Split soles, however, have taps on the toe and heel of the shoe, but are soft and flexible in the middle. Once again, split soles are recommended for more experienced dancers.
Tap shoes also vary based on the reinforcement in the toe. While many shoes have a soft toe with no reinforcement, some shoes come with sturdy, reinforced toes. This addition provides support during certain dancing maneuvers.
Taps can also be purchased separately and attached to most types of shoes. However, this is rarely done, due to the convenience of buying shoes with preattached taps.