1. Saucony Men’s Cohesion 10 Zero Drop Running Shoes
2. Hoka One Men’s Clifton 2 Zero Drop Running Shoes
3. Altra Men’s Torin 3.0 Zero Drop Running Shoes
4. Merrell Men’s Vapor Glove 2 Trail Running Shoes
5. Altra Men’s Escalante Running Shoes
6. Inov-8 Men’s Bare-XF 210 V2 Sneaker
7. Brooks Men’s Pure Cadence 6 Running Shoes
8. New Balance Men’s Zante V4 Running Shoes
9. Topo Athletic Halsa Men’s Running Shoes
10. Xero Shoes Pio Zero Drop Sneaker
Zero Drop Running Shoe Buying Guide & FAQ
How We Chose Our Selection Of Zero Drop Running Shoes
Brand - When it comes to footwear, where comfort and performance reign supreme, your best bet is to stick will well known and reputable brands within the category. In particular, that’s true when it comes to zero drop shoes which are a relatively new subcategory. Lots of research and development have gone into the technical aspect of these shoes, so we’ve included plenty of the industry’s leading brands in our review today.
Reviews - Customer experience is critical and a really good indicator in determining whether the product is going to be suitable for you or not. We carefully examine both positive and negative reviews to add that to our own research and user experience to pull together out comprehensive product reviews.
Price - We prefer for our reviews to feature a range of price points that will appeal to everyone. From our premium picks to our value choices and everything in between, our selection features a variety of prices to suit everyone's budget.
Features To Look For In Zero Drop Running Shoes
There are plenty of features to look out for in a Zero Drop Running Shoe as with any technically based or performance-enhancing shoe, but some will be more important to you than others. We’ve listed out the key criteria below that we recommend you consider and evaluate their importance to you before you go ahead and invest in your new low drop running shoes.
Toe Box - Look out for a wide toe box which will provide your foot but especially your toes with plenty of wriggle room. By allowing your toes to splay while running naturally, you can get into a much more conformable and natural rhythm.
Zero Drop - Not all shoes will be totally zero drop from heel to toe. Some might be low profile. If you want to truly experience that natural barefoot running sensation then go for something that is 0 mm.
Comfort - If your running shoe doesn’t feel comfortable to wear it’s going to be a non-starter. There are plenty of options available that while still having that zero drop outer sole does feature an element of internal cushioning which you might find more comfortable overall.
Stability - It’s essential that the shoes you purchase feel stable and supportive and are neither to narrow nor too broad. Running in zero drop shoes is a very different experience to running in your regular athletic trainers, so it really is vital that you try on the shoes first before you commit to purchasing them to ensure that they deliver a stable and secure feeling fit for your foot.
Grip - It’s a common trait of a zero drop running shoe that it’s going to have a thinner style outsole and less cushioning than you are perhaps used to, however, the thicker the sole and the more responsive and stable the grip, the more your knees will be protected. Depending upon what kind of surfaces you prefer to do your running on will determine the level of grip and the amount of cushioning that you require. For softer trails, you can afford to go for something thinner, but really it’s down to you and how stable and smooth you prefer your ride to be.
Size - It’s also a good idea generally when you are purchasing a new pair of shoes to try them on wherever possible. So many brands and styles have slightly variable sizing charts, and so it’s crucial to get the right size for you which may be different in a low drop shoe to what you might normally wear in your trail running shoe.
Fit - If you are already used to running in low drop or zero drop shoes, then you will be accustomed to the fit and feel but for anyone new to this design, going from a 12mm heel to toe drop to a 0mm one is inevitably going to take a little bit of adjustment. In that case, it's recommended that you ease your activity and the duration of your sessions wearing your zero drop sneakers in gently. When it comes to accommodating issues such as high arches or overpronation, unfortunately, zero drop running shoes offer limited options so getting a pair that fit overall and feel comfortable is going to be your main priority. As your body adapts to this new and more natural feeling when running and the various muscles begin to strengthen and change in form, you will start to really benefit from and enjoy the sensation of wearing your new zero drop sneakers.
Zero Drop Running Shoe FAQ
Q: What is a zero drop running shoe?
A: A Zero drop running shoe basically allows the foot to sit level with the ground from the hell to the heel to the forefoot without having the usual sloped or triangular-shaped wedge more commonly found in athletic shoes. The idea with zero drop running shoes is that you can run more efficiently and effectively, (not that that isn’t possible with a regular running shoe that features a raised heel). However, by featuring a heel and toe that are the same distance off the ground, the premise is that the shoe better mimics how your foot naturally moves anyway when it’s in barefoot mode.
Some brands have created a bit more of a halfway house with a lower ramp angle while there are some very notable big brands out there who’ve fully adopted this technology namely Vibram, Merrell, Saucony, Newton, and Teraa Plana. zero drop shoes are intended to mimic and emulate the style of barefoot running in a safer and more practical way. When you think about it for a second, it makes complete sense! Our feet don’t have elevated heels so really, why should our shoes? Yes, we know. Try telling that to all the ladies out there who love a 4-inch stiletto heel. While they’re certainly not for everyone, they definitely have plenty of benefits.
Q: Are zero drop shoes good for running?
A: The short answer is yes, but they do take a little bit of getting used to as you’d expect. Medical and sports experts recommend that you take your time to transition to this style of running with a lower ramp or no angles, especially if you’ve been a regular runner for years. That’s because anatomically, your muscles and body will naturally have developed to that style and adjusted themselves accordingly so unless you’ve been purposefully working on your form and strength. Initially, you are going to find that your calf muscles will ache more as will your feet.
Overall though, there are tremendous benefits for both men and women from running and working out wearing Zero Drop shoes. They help to put your foot into a natural partner of alignment when you are running and can provide a liberating and natural feel when you’re running with can be very empowering. It’s like tapping into your ancestry and emulating how early man would have run!
By moving pressure away from the knees and spreading the load more evenly bringing in your calf muscles to act as natural shock absorbers, Zero Drop shoes can help prevent the risk of injury as well as minimize lower back pain.
Q: Do zero drop shoes help plantar fasciitis?
In case you’re not familiar with plantar fasciitis, it’s the connective tissue that goes between the heel of your foot and your toes and as such is the primary supportive structure for the actual arch of your foot and therefore under constant pressure and stress. That’s actually why it’s there, to take the strain, however, if it becomes torn or ripped, it can create stabbing pain and a burning sensation and is one of the most common sources of heel pain.
Whether you spend hours on your feet, are overweight or have overdone it with the running, plantar fasciitis can occur, but the great news is that it can be helped and even prevented in the first place by wearing appropriate footwear.
A: Unfortunately, the jury is very much out on whether Zero Drop shoes can help plantar fasciitis and there are two very opposing schools of thought on the subject and not enough conclusive evidence either way. On the one hand, placing your foot in a shoe with a wide toe box, Zero Drop style, with a flexible sole can help to naturally strengthen the feet which will help. On the other hand, the best way to deal with the complaint is to support the arch, cushion the sole and heel and invest in orthotics. One thing we do know is that prevention is better than cure any day of the week, and if you regularly only wear minimalist style shoes, your toes will automatically have more wriggle room and your feet and calves be naturally stronger. Getting back in touch with your original sense of motion, the one you were born with, can help and that, of course, is very much achievable with a Zero Drop shoe so make your own decisions and always seek out expert medical advice.
Sources:
- What’s The Deal With Zero-Drop Shoes - Runner's World
- Shoe Selection For Plantar Fasciitis - Running Physio
