Heel/Toe Drop of Popular Cushioned Shoes - Advice?

you can find the heel/toe numbers for just about any shoe at www.runningwarehouse.com

The manufacturer is probably the most accurate source on shoe specs. If you can't find the information there runners warehouse would be the next comprehensive place. Have you tried the Brooks Pure Flow or Pure Cadence. 4mm drops with some good cushion. IMO, Nike doesn't have any good running shoes.

I work for a leading running shoe vendor and as far as I know, there is no website that exists simply to detail shoe specs. You'll probably have your best luck at

www.runningwarehouse.com

.

You've got quite an assortment of shoes you've selected there. Instead of offering my opinion on shoes that work or don't work, I'm going to let you experiment on your own and find your own shoe.

However, I will challenge you to not get caught up in heel drops, stack height, whatever. The majority of shoes are going to be 10-12 millimeters difference. There is basically no discernable difference in foot fall patterns from 8-12mm, despite what advertising will tell you. Only around 4mm or less does your foot behave differently. My challenge to you is to go to your local running store, try on a few of their neutral shoes in the $100 price range, and make your decision based on comfort. Further, I challenge you to work on efficiency by counting footsteps per minute, doing drills, strides, and dynamic stretching. This will do much, much more to benefit your running than worrying about trivial variables.

There is no magic shoe or magic design, such as lowered heel drops, that will make you instantly run better. It's a process you must constantly work on. I've been running in 12mm drop shoes for 10 years but I take my time each week to work on mechanics and efficiency. Don't be a sucker for a gimmick.

Good advice.

I run in NB. I use a variety of shoes because I think they all have their place depending on what you're doing.

890 v1 (12mm) and v2 (8mm?), MR1400 (8mm), MR10 (4mm), MT20 (4mm), MR800 (0mm).

And runningwarehouse has great information. Look at their blog too.

Thanks for replies guys.

I guess I never tried that website for general info because I am in the UK, not the US so I completely overlooked it. I'll have a look.

Not getting caught up in gimmicks dude, and I do understand where you are coming from. The reason I look for these details is because I get on well with my Boston 3's and I race in Adidas Adios. So if I buy a shoe that has a massive heel, alternating between these 3 shoes will be horrible.

The Glide 4's have 11-12mm difference I believe, I can work with this and alternate to these if it wasn't for the other ankle box problem. So shoes with 12mm difference will be fine for me.... Some shoes have more than this though and weigh alot, so I am looking at staying away from those for example.

Being in the UK (Scotland) I have 1 local running store, which has the choice of 5 neutral shoes, all of which are last years models priced to this years models prices. Hence the Internet buying. It does suck but it's the only way. If I could try all of these on in a store I wouldn't be here looking for advice so much :(

go here wrote:

you can find the heel/toe numbers for just about any shoe at

http://www.runningwarehouse.com

+1.

Went there yesterday for the first time and was impressed with the information they have on shoes. Also, you can look up your shoe and it will list similar shoes that you might be interested in.

Then in that case Running Warehouse is the best you'll find. Good luck! I'd stay somewhere around the Brooks Ghost, Nike Pegasus, Adidas SN Glide, or Saucony Ride. These have had the best legacy over the past seasons and years and have consistently performed and sold well.

I didn't mean to sound harsh with the heel drop talk; there's a benefit and a downfall to all aspects of footwear. Forgive me for my ill prediction of this conversation shifting completely toward minimal shoes being the cure-all.

You sound like you're in a good direction toward finding the right shoe and I think Running Warehouse would be a good place to start. Occasionally you can find 10-15% codes around here as well.

Thanks for RW heads up. It's good it lists similar shoes, quite useful.

No problem at all Lemon, I understand totally what you are getting at and where you are coming from.

Just get either Kinvara 3's or the NB 890 V2. Avoid trash like the Pegasus. It's squishy with a dated upper on an ancient midsole material. Sales do not equal quality.

If your a neutral runner and don't have weak arches then I'd check out the new nike free run 3.0 v4. they give a real bare foot feel. very light, very flexible and a 4mm drop.