One of the major differences between running shoes is the amount of drop, also known as the offset. While there is no ideal drop—you’ll find both high and low drop options in our round-up of the best running shoes—runners tend to have a preferred offset that they stick to. If you’re new to the sport, it’s worth learning more about the topic when choosing between running shoes.
What Is Drop In Running Shoes?
The drop of a running shoe is the difference between the height of the footbed at the heel and the height at the forefoot. Most running shoes have chunky cushioning in the midsole so this stack is usually higher at the back of the shoe than the front.
Looking side-on, if you divide a shoe in half, the heel stack height is measured roughly halfway along the back half and the forefoot stack halfway along the front half. Subtract the forefoot stack from the heel stack and you get the drop.
