IF YOUR dearest wish is to walk tall, you have to talk shoes. Those with interests - or obsessions - with footwear can definitely be classified as soul mates. Shoe sites are a breed of their own - each one with its own unique style - making surfing an interesting option.

Shoes for vegans

If leather is not your thing, visit www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk (self explanatory) and www.mooshoes.com (similar vein) to get on the track of vegan footwear. But beware of www.bananashoes.com - the height of the heels may not be a dizzy option.

Comfort zone

More and more people are talking about Masai Barefoot Technology shoes. A local firm is trying to become Cumbria’s first and only supplier of the Masai range. These are specially designed shoes, using research into the famous-for-walking Masai tribes. The shoes are reputed to get rid of back pain, help people with posture and even aid in weight loss. Visit www.mbt-uk.com to find out about this new shoe technology. The site is quite detailed. Also in comfort shoe zone, check out www.camper.com - their virtual tour lets you look at side, sole and top down views.

Traditional wood

One of the best-known styles in the shoe culture closet is clogs. They have stood the test of time. Visit www.woody2shoes.com to get a taste of Holland - and a racy pair of clogs to add to your collection. They have clogs decorated with the black and white pattern of dairy cows, windmills scenes and stencils. But if you are clog mad, they also have birdhouses, pencil holders and wine bottle holders. Now that could be the perfect gift for that someone who has everything.

Shoe experiences

Some years ago, Japanese women driving - or rather crashing - cars in platform shoes made international headlines. At www.tokyoshoes.com/blog/ you can see what one Tokyo diarist did online to record memorable shoe experiences.

Boarders’ footwear

Surfing did turn up a large number of skateboard shoe sites - as youths take to wearing ‘sturdy’ shoes that meet their need for speed and grip. Visit www.soapshoes.com and www.dcshoes.com for a taste of what’s out there for boarders. The virtual design options let you take a pair and colour in and label all parts of the shoe. They are a bit costly, so you may want to wait until your feet have stopped growing.

Match your music

At www.underground-shoes.co.uk you can find shoes to match your music. Mod, grunge, English rock, gothic are all there for the picking. If you are into customising shoes, visit www.nike.com and choose the colours and stitching to go on your trainers. A visit to Doc Martens site at www.dmartens.com was frustrated by the site locking up.

But if you just want a something for everyone site, check out www.shoe-shop.com.