Footwear Footwear referred to types of clothing worn on the humanoid body part , the foot . Typically , footwear came in the forms of shoes and boots . Historically , the practice of making footwear was a role performed by a cobbler or sandal maker . ( ; ) Footwear typically prevented unnecessary wear and tear on one ' s flesh from walking or standing . It could also be used to enhance the performance of certain difficult tasks that one ' s feet could not normally perform based solely on their genetic ability . Examples of footwear . Starfleet uniform s included regulation black boots . Women ' s boots usually had somewhat higher heels than the men ' s . Starfleet uniform s starting in the 2350s included a loop at the bottom of the pant leg , which wrapped around the bottom of the boot to hold it in place . Aboard an adrift alien starship which lost its artificial gravity , a boot was among the items sliding through a corridor . ( ) In 2269 , Spock requested ( among other things ) a special pair of boots for his trip backwards in time to rescue his younger self . ( ) Also that year , Leonard McCoy complained about sand in his shoes while traversing the desert s of Lactra VII . ( ) One unique design was the footwear of the early - 2270s , which was entirely different from any other Starfleet - issue boots . The footwear was the same color as the wearer ' s uniform , and the female variety had high wedge - type heels . ( ) In 1953 , Jimmy claimed that the only way Africa n - American s would be allowed in space was " " if they need someone to shine their shoes " " . ( ) While trapped on Galorndon Core , Geordi La Forge stated to Centurion Bochra that " " I never lie when I ' ve got sand in my shoes . " " ( ) The dog Maura was fond of Geordi La Forge ' s boots and chewed both boots . ( ) Jake Sisko almost forgot his shoes when he left the quarters for school . ( ) While under the influence of the Saltah ' na energy sphere s , Jadzia Dax told Kira Nerys " " You know what they say - put the shoe on the right foot first , but put the left foot first in the bathtub . " " Kira seemed confused after this statement . ( ) In 2371 , after Tom Paris and Lidell Ren came inside from the cloud burst on , he joked that " " there must be a centimeter of water in my boot ! " " and he tried to take it off , but Lidell began kiss ing him . ( ) In the " Julian Bashir , Secret Agent " holoprogram , Julian Bashir has a secret compartment in his shoes where he stores the chamber of a gun . ( ) Kathryn Janeway was able to see a trap when her Alsaurian resistance movement contact wore polished military boots what identified him as a Mokra Order soldier . ( ) Worf apparently chose the color of Jadzia ' s shoes for their wedding . ( ) " In the mirror universe , a Klingon officer accidentally lost the key to Garak ' s bindings . It fell into his boot . " ( ) In early 2373 , Molly O ' Brien obtained a new pair of purple shoes . ( ) In 2378 , while The Doctor was forced to impersonate several officers ( including Captain Janeway ) he hid his mobile emitter under his pant leg on his boot . ( ) On Takar II , during Arridor and ' s reign as " gods " , footwear could be traded for goods or services . ( )