The 7 Best Zero-Drop Shoes, Tested

We Also Tested

• Altra Women’s Paradigm 8: These shoes caused one tester to experience tight calves and persistent discomfort, noting the shoes never fully broke in during runs. She also felt a lack of ankle support and too much impact from pavement. The wide toe box was a plus, but overall, we do not recommend this style.
• Reebok Women’s Nano Zero: Based on extensive testing, we do not recommend these shoes for running. They are much better suited for weight training or for a brief workout at the gym. Our tester reported pain in her Achilles and shins after treadmill runs, along with heel rubbing that caused a blister. While balance and form were maintained, the shoe felt stiff and uncomfortable for long strides, so we don’t endorse it for running.

How We Tested the Zero-Drop Shoes

To find the best zero-drop shoes, our team of expert testers put each pair through warm-ups, gym workouts, runs, walks, and everyday use. Testing took place over a month on various terrains and conditions, with four testers logging nearly 90 miles and more than 50 hours of combined wear across all nine zero-drop models.

We focused on shoes that encourage natural foot mechanics while providing enough support for a safe transition. With guidance from podiatrist Brandon Park, PT, DPT, our team tracked comfort, cushioning, responsiveness, and stability, noting calf and Achilles tightness — common during the zero-drop adaptation period. Considering fit, performance, style, and value, they embraced the minimalist movement with maximum effort.

By pounding pavement, trails, and everything in between, our testers created a report card to help you find the best zero-drop shoes for your lifestyle while keeping your feet strong and happy.

What to Know About Zero-Drop Shoes

• Stack Height: This refers to the thickness of a shoe’s cushioning. The lower the stack height, the more you will feel the ground beneath you. Higher stack heights remove some of that feel, but provide extra cushioning during high-impact exercises like running. More cushioned options generally fall between 25mm and 35mm, while most minimalist options are less than 5mm high.
• Arch Support: Many zero-drop shoes have no built-in arch support. This forces the muscles in your foot to be more engaged as you move to help absorb some of the load of each step. If you’re newer to zero-drop shoes, you may want to look for models with some arch support to help make the transition easier.
• Width: Zero-drop shoes have a range of fits on the forefoot. Some are wider, letting your feet spread out. Others are more narrow, giving the feeling of being more locked in. Zero-drop shoes often fit wider than typical athletic shoes. People with narrow feet may feel this creates too much movement inside the shoe. 
• Traction: The grip of the outsole is a feature you’ll want to consider based on how you intend to use the shoe. Gym and road running shoes tend to have flatter outsoles designed for even ground. The lugs on trail shoes are often deeper or more pronounced, giving a better grip on uneven surfaces like rocks and gravel.
• Cushioning: Zero-drop shoes can have different levels of cushioning even though they lack a heel drop. Many zero-drop shoes are more minimalist, with minimal cushioning and a barefoot feel, whereas others have added cushioning that’s evenly distributed between the heel and toe.

Benefits of Zero-Drop Shoes

• Improved Posture: If you are standing barefoot on the ground, your feet are on a level plane. Shift onto the balls of your feet and you’ll notice that your hips have to rotate forward to keep your body upright. (That is what’s happening when you are wearing shoes with a lift in them.) Zero-drop shoes bring your body into better alignment.
• Shift in Foot Strike: Higher heel drops can create a greater heel strike by changing the angle at which the bottom of your shoe touches the ground. For some people, heel striking can cause added stress or discomfort to their knees. Midfoot and forefoot striking moves that load to the Achilles tendon. 
• Possible Injury Prevention: Carefully strengthening the Achilles tendon to handle a heavier load (which it is designed to do) can help prevent certain overuse injuries. Zero-drop shoes also spread your weight evenly across your heel and forefoot, rather than having increased pressure along the ball of your foot, says podiatrist Alissa Kuizinas, DPM. Over time, this helps build strength more evenly across the lower leg and foot muscles, which helps reduce strain on the knee and hip.
• Better Running Form: Zero-drop shoes may help improve running form and performance for some athletes. Research suggests that zero-drop shoes can shift you to a forefoot strike pattern and ease stress on the knees when worn for short periods of time.
• No Existing Foot Pain: “If someone is not experiencing pain and just worried about over-pronation or rigid high arches, or they have been told they need a specific shoe based on the structure of their foot, I would say it would be a great time to start trying zero-drop shoes,” says physical therapist Jen Fraboni, PT, DPT.
• For Short Workouts: The great thing about zero-drop shoes is that they aren’t good for just one thing. From walking and running to hiking or strength training, your body can benefit from the neutral stance that these shoes encourage. However, just like we wouldn’t tell a new person lifting to load up a barbell, we shouldn’t be telling someone who is used to a very supportive and structured shoe to suddenly go for a long walk or run in zero-drop shoes, says Fraboni.

When to Avoid Zero-Drop Shoes

• If You Have Foot Pain: In general, if you are currently experiencing foot pain, Fraboni would not recommend zero-drop shoes as they can exacerbate pain symptoms. “A more supportive shoe during a new onset of symptoms like plantar fasciitis, plantar plate pain, metatarsalgia, or neuroma is recommended during initial pain,” says Fraboni.
• For Long Workouts: “There needs to be a period of slowly adapting and building up time in these shoes with easier and shorter activities, and slowly building in more time with longer walks, hikes, and dynamic workouts that require more demand of the feet,” says Fraboni. Eventually, you will be able to wear zero-drop shoes for longer workouts.

Why Trust Shape

Elizabeth Hole is a Shape writer with more than six years of experience covering wellness, fitness, and gear. A former gymnast turned tennis enthusiast, she also loves yoga, watersports, walking and hitting the trails and treadmill. For this story, she personally tested zero-drop shoes recommended by podiatrists, and she wore them through a variety of workouts and climates. 

For this article, our writers interviewed the following foot experts to learn more about zero-drop shoes and provide the best possible recommendations:

• Brandon Park, PT, DPT, at Fuel Sport and Spine 
• Jen Fraboni, PT, DPT, physical therapist and the founder of The Mobility Method
• Alissa Kuizinas, DPM, podiatrist and foot and ankle wellness specialist 
• Mark Cucuzzella, MD, competitive runner and professor at West Virginia University School of Medicine