Good idea, but not always so great in practice. Shoes pretty much have to be tried on. Just knowing someone's size isn't enough.

A nice pair of new boots will put a smile on my face every time.

I received two new pairs of sneakers this year- you can never have enough pairs of new sneakers. Always a good gift!

You just ask for trouble if you give footware. Footware is some thing that usually needs to be tried on because you never get the right size and/or style. If they really need shoes get them a gift certificate and save you self the pain.

Let them buy their own shoes

I'm pretty picky about shoes so I trust no one but myself.

Not really a great gift idea for me personally because I have feet that are as flat as boards. Now, if it's slippers that's a different story, but tennis shoes or boots--forget it.

I think a nice pair of shoes are a great gift - but you have to do it the right way. If you try and buy shoes for someone, it's likely to be a disaster. But if you go with them, or give them the cash to buy a pair for themselves, it can be great. My mom just got me a beautiful pair of Bostonians for X-mas (that I picked out). A nice pair of shoes is something that I will have for a couple of years, and now, everytime I look at my feet, I will think of my mom. Or something like that.