A low drop puts more of each landing on the forefoot and asks more of the calves. If you've run in one drop for years, move down over a few weeks.
What we look for in a low-drop shoe
4 mm of drop or less. We use the maker's figure, or the two stacks when that's all they give.
Enough foam for your runs. Drop says nothing about stack, so we show both.
A shape that suits you. Many low-drop shoes also have roomy toe boxes, which suits some feet and not others.
The most cushioned low-drop shoes
New Balance
Fresh Foam X More v5
- Stack
- 44 / 40 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Its heel sits 4 mm higher than its forefoot.
New Balance
Fresh Foam X More v6
- Weight
- 306 g
- Stack
- 44 / 40 mm
- Widths
- Regular, Wide (2E), Extra wide (4E)
Its heel sits 4 mm higher than its forefoot.
Altra
Vanish Carbon 3
- Weight
- 220 g
- Stack
- 40 / 36 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Its heel sits 4 mm higher than its forefoot. The toe box is foot-shaped.
Mizuno
Wave Rebellion Pro 3
- Weight
- 224 g
- Stack
- 40 / 36 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Its heel sits 4 mm higher than its forefoot.
New Balance
SuperComp Elite v4
- Weight
- 221 g (US 9.5)
- Stack
- 40 / 36 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Its heel sits 4 mm higher than its forefoot.
Light low-drop shoes
Mizuno
Hyperwarp Pure 2
- Weight
- 136 g
- Stack
- 38 / 35 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Its heel sits 3 mm higher than its forefoot. At 136 g it's the lightest on this page.
Adidas
Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2
- Weight
- 136 g
- Stack
- 39 / 36 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Its heel sits 3 mm higher than its forefoot. At 136 g it's the lightest on this page.
Mizuno
Hyperwarp Pure
- Weight
- 137 g
- Stack
- 34 / 31 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Its heel sits 3 mm higher than its forefoot.
Cheap low-drop shoes, $149 or less
Saucony
Axon 3
- Weight
- 221 g
- Stack
- 35 / 31 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Its heel sits 4 mm higher than its forefoot.
Saucony
Kinvara 12
- Weight
- 184 g
- Widths
- Regular
Its heel sits 4 mm higher than its forefoot.
Topo Athletic
ST-4
- Weight
- 207 g
- Stack
- 16 / 16 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height. The toe box is roomy.
Low-drop shoes sold wide
Altra
Torin 9
- Weight
- 269 g
- Widths
- Regular, Wide (2E)
Zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height. The toe box is roomy.
Altra
Torin 8
- Weight
- 286 g
- Stack
- 30 / 30 mm
- Widths
- Regular, Wide (2E)
Zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height. The toe box is foot-shaped.
Altra
Paradigm 8
- Weight
- 308 g
- Widths
- Regular, Wide (2E)
Zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height. The toe box is roomy.