Zero-drop shoes load the calves and Achilles more than a shoe with 8 to 10 mm of drop. If you're coming from a higher drop, change over a few weeks.
What we look for in a zero-drop shoe
A drop of 0 mm. Some makers round, so we only count shoes listed at zero.
Room for the toes. Most zero-drop shoes come with a wide toe box, and runners rate how roomy each one is.
Foam for your distance. Zero drop comes with thin soles and thick ones, so check the stack.
The most cushioned zero-drop shoes
Altra
Vanish Carbon 2
- Weight
- 230 g
- Stack
- 36 / 36 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height. The toe box is roomy.
Altra
VIA Olympus 2
- Weight
- 323 g
- Widths
- Regular
Zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height. The toe box is foot-shaped.
Altra
Torin 7
- Weight
- 278 g
- Stack
- 30 / 30 mm
- Widths
- Regular
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.
Roomy zero-drop shoes
Altra
Torin 6
- Weight
- 303 g
- Widths
- Regular
Zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height. The toe box is foot-shaped.
Altra
Torin 5
- Weight
- 255 g
- Widths
- Regular
Zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height. The toe box is foot-shaped.
Altra
Vanish Tempo
- Weight
- 232 g
- Widths
- Regular
Zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height. The toe box is foot-shaped.
Cheap zero-drop shoes, $142 or less
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.
Topo Athletic
ST-5
- Weight
- 187 g
- Stack
- 14 / 14 mm
- Widths
- Regular
Zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height. The toe box is foot-shaped. At 187 g it's the lightest on this page.
Topo Athletic
ST-6
- Weight
- 187 g (M9)
- Widths
- Regular
Zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height. The toe box is foot-shaped.