How picky are you about the drop in your shoes?

Neutral, midfoot runner here. I used to run pretty exclusively in Bostons, but started mixing in some bigger stacks as my mileage grew.

Nowadays, I rotate so frequently that I don't feel a need to pay much attention to stack height. Running 7 days (~9-10 runs) a week, I rarely wear the same shoe more than twice in a week, and even more rare is wearing the same shoe two days in a row.

Current rotation includes Peg 37s, Infinity Reacts, Endorphin Speeds, Kinvaras, Bostons, and Rincons. So drops from 4mm - 10mm+.

The only stack height that is noticeably different at all is zero drop, mainly because it's a little flatter during toe off. Still, I do have a pair of Escalante Racers I take out every now and then, and they are OK.

My $.02 - Variety is a good thing. Regular rotation through different drop heights makes shoes last longer and helps my feet/legs stay healthy and strong like bull. YMMV.

I’m super picky because I’m prone to Achillies Tendonitis. My heel drop has to be 8mm min.

I've settled on the Asics GlideRide , 5mm drop. With the new shoes with a lot of rocker , this spec seems less important . I use the Metaracer for fast stuff and racing .

I don’t really worry about drop at all, but I have somewhat large feet so a few millimetres don’t really make a big difference to the ramp angle.

Stack height will definitely affect how flexible a shoe is an I find that stiff shoes give me problems if I wear them too often so that’s a bigger consideration.

All other things being equal, I will always choose a more flexible shoe.

For me in my marathon training, drop has to be 6mm or lower.

I got into running in the early 2010’s with the minimalism trend. Ran in New Balance MT110 and MR00 and Nike Frees. Currently have the Atreyu, Altra Escalante Racer, New Balance Beacon... I enjoy shoes with that 6 mm drop or lower and generally a lower stack height overall.

About 18 months ago I tried the Adidas Adizero Prime with a 10 mm drop and I started to feel shin splints come on, so I gave those away. I also tried the Hoka Rincon, but I felt unstable (risk for rolling an ankle) with the 31-26 stack height.

I’d like to try the Saucony Kinvara and more low-profile Hokas in the future.

Low drop is a relic of the Born-to-Run crap that was around several years back. I would bet if you were blindfolded you wouldn't be able to tell by feel what the heel to toe drop on your shoes is.

another idea wrote:

Low drop is a relic of the Born-to-Run crap that was around several years back. I would bet if you were blindfolded you wouldn't be able to tell by feel what the heel to toe drop on your shoes is.

I agree. You should wear these:

Great for ankle stability.

Dark Winter wrote:

I've settled on the Asics GlideRide , 5mm drop. With the new shoes with a lot of rocker , this spec seems less important . I use the Metaracer for fast stuff and racing .

I have wore this shoe but am interested in trying it.

What do you mean “new shoes with a lot of rocker”?

Thanks.

another idea wrote:

Low drop is a relic of the Born-to-Run crap that was around several years back. I would bet if you were blindfolded you wouldn't be able to tell by feel what the heel to toe drop on your shoes is.

Not necessarily. If you tend to land midfoot or forefoot and you wear a Pegasus 37 (10mm) the day after wearing a Newton Distance (4mm), you feel the difference. In fact, I experienced it two weeks ago.

SeattleSilver wrote:

another idea wrote:

Low drop is a relic of the Born-to-Run crap that was around several years back. I would bet if you were blindfolded you wouldn't be able to tell by feel what the heel to toe drop on your shoes is.

Not necessarily. If you tend to land midfoot or forefoot and you wear a Pegasus 37 (10mm) the day after wearing a Newton Distance (4mm), you feel the difference. In fact, I experienced it two weeks ago.

What feels better for you?

I’m also a mid to forefoot runner.

Question time wrote:

SeattleSilver wrote:

Not necessarily. If you tend to land midfoot or forefoot and you wear a Pegasus 37 (10mm) the day after wearing a Newton Distance (4mm), you feel the difference. In fact, I experienced it two weeks ago.

What feels better for you?

I’m also a mid to forefoot runner.

I love the Newtons, and intend to keep a pair in my rotation. But I also like switching between at least two pair of shoes, and I don't want all my shoes to be Newtons because it doesn't give me variety and it can be a bit tough on the metatarsals if running more than about 9 miles.

The Pegasus37 Zoom Air has taken some getting used to because of the drop. It is a good shoe, but you have to strike right to get its sweet spot.

Nike is in the 37th iteration of the shoe for a reason: It has been their best upmarket daily training shoe for decades. It seems to me that the idea for the Peg is that the foam cushions the landing and the air pod gives you pop on the push off. In fact, it works, but it works best if you land more or less directly over your foot, landing with your food fairly flat or only slightly weighted forward. If you do that, the React foam cushions your landing and ‘reloads’ your Achilles tendon for the next foot strike and as your weight transfers forward it depresses the air pod (enhanced with compressive fibers) to give you the dynamic pop. I have done that in the last two runs and gotten a very good ride.

If you land on your heel with the shoe forward of your body I suspect the React foam absorbs the energy and by the time you get to push off you aren’t providing the air pod with enough energy to give you the return you are looking for.

The 10mm drop makes it all harder, but at age 68 I wanted a bit more cushioning for one of my shoes, so that is the price I am paying. Bottom line is that I suspect it will work out ok, but my preference would be a shoe with no more than a 8mm drop, preferable no more than 6mm.

Great information, thank you ?