
Being zero drop they will take you longer to transition to. Next you have the Altra range – all zero drop – with firmer cushioned midsoles. Some of these shoes also provide modest guidance and support for over-pronation. However, transitioning tends to happen fairly quickly. Transitioning to these requires a little time to get used to the lower heel drop and can put a strain on calf muscles initially. The Hoka range, Brooks Pure shoes and Saucony Kinvara fall into this category, none with more than 4mm offset. They will feel a bit lighter, may not be as durable, but otherwise similar to your standard shoes. There are many low heel drop running shoes that have standard road running shoe levels of cushioning. A running shoe is classed as minimal if the heel drop falls lower than 8mm and usually sits closer to 4mm. Now brands tend to vary their heel drops lighter models will often fall between 7mm and 10mm. Running shoes used to be uniformly 12mm higher at the heel than the toes. There are several things to consider before you start to run in minimalist running trainers, such as: do you land on your heels, do you over-pronate, and just how minimal do you want to go? It's really a good idea to visit your local specialist running store, try on a variety of shoes, discuss your needs and get advice from qualified staff.Ī key consideration is how firm and low profile. How do I choose the right Minimalist shoe for me? Our range of options cover Zero Drop fully cushioned models to lighter and firmer low heel-drop running shoes, so you can choose the model that will offer the right level of protection for your running style.Ĭushioned Road Running / Low-Profile / Trail Runningīest Minimal & Low Heel-Drop Cushioned Road Running Shoes In minimal running shoes the offset is between zero and 6mm, to discourage heavy landing at the heel and to move you towards a more mid-foot or forefoot strike. Minimalist Running Shoes vs TraditionalĪll Minimal Running shoes have a lower heel drop than conventional running shoes, which are typically around 12mm higher than the forefoot. Minimal and low heel-drop running shoes encourage this progression, and feel lighter and more flexible than their normal road-running counterparts. Building good running form technique is essential for this.
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Minimalist Running, or Natural Running – as advocated by running form analysts such as Chi Running Instructors – lessens our dependency on highly cushioned, supportive running shoes. For a runner to achieve their best results they need to run efficiently.
