7 Best Low Drop Running Shoes in 2022
The “drop” in road or trail running shoes refers to the difference in height between the forefoot (or toe box) and the heel section. The higher the “drop” in a shoe, the steeper the angle will be between the forefoot and the heel.
Low drop running shoes are designed to promote a more ‘natural’ gait. Their overall construction is also a great choice for forefoot and midfoot strikers. Having a lower drop allows the feet to make a full ground contact instead of catching the heel first.
We’ve rounded up 200+ low drop running shoes in the market and tested all of them for this comprehensive guide. We selected our picks in five categories from the best overall to great options in road or trail running.
How we test running shoes
Our aim at RunRepeat is to make the lives of other runners out there easier and more fun. We do in-depth research and testing to give you the best low drop running shoes that suit your training and racing needs.
Here’s our following process:
- We purchase all the running shoes on this list with our own funds. This is for the sake of transparency and freedom from bias.
- We cut the shoes into pieces to get the accurate measurement of the stack, drop, and other 30+ parameters.
- Our testers give us their feedback after they put in 30 to 50 miles of running wearing a particular model.
- We gather more information from shoe experts and regular runners who have tried the shoes.
Finally, we give our final verdict for each pair using our CoreScore system, which ranks the shoes based on the aggregated data above. A final rating is assigned ranging from 0 to 100. All the best performing low drop running shoes make it here.
Best low drop running shoes overall
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 2% in trail running shoes
- Top 4% in Altra running shoes
- Top 2% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Fits true to size
- Excellent all-round grip
- Highly durable
- Great ground feel
- Feels like it makes you run better
- Great pull tab
- Gaiter compatible
- Brilliant lacing
- Roomy toe box
- Fully gusseted tongue
Cons
- Stain magnet
- Not enough cushioning for some
Verdict
Best road low drop running shoes
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 6% in road running shoes
- Top 8% in New Balance running shoes
- Top 8% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Insanely soft underfoot
- Efficient stride
- True to size
- Accommodates wide feet
- Stable platform
- Should last a lot of miles
- Max cushioned
- No break-in
- Good lockdown
Cons
- Runs warm
- Feels a bit heavy
- Grip is subpar on loose terrain
Verdict
Best trail low drop running shoes
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 6% in trail running shoes
- Top 12% in Altra running shoes
- Top 6% most popular running shoes
Pros
- True to size
- Wide toebox
- Built for long runs
- Superb cushion
- Excellent traction
- Durable Vibram sole
- Light for a maximal shoe
- Gusseted tongue
- Very comfortable
- Breathable
Cons
- Not very responsive
- Expensive
Verdict
Best Nike low drop running shoes
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 6% in road running shoes
- Top 4% in Nike running shoes
- Top 7% most popular running shoes
Pros
- True to size
- Extremely lightweight
- Bouncy and responsive ride
- Breathable
- Carbon-plated
- Excellent grip
Cons
- Not made for high mileage
- Unstable platform
- Feels tight in the midfoot
Verdict
Best Asics low drop running shoes
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn morePros
- Fast and lightweight
- Comfortable
- Outstanding traction
- Perform well on muddy trails
- Responsive
- Good cushioning
- Reflective features
Cons
- Outsole lacks durability
- A little stiff
Verdict
Best value low drop running shoes
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 9% in road running shoes
- Top 18% in Saucony running shoes
- Top 8% most popular running shoes
Pros
- True to size
- Stable
- Roomy toebox
- Plush upper
- Gusseted tongue
- Durable
- Good traction
Cons
- Heel slips
- Firm and not flexible
- Excessively high stack height
Verdict
Most popular low drop running shoes
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 12% in road running shoes
- Top 24% in Hoka running shoes
- Top 1% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Next-level comfort
- Great lockdown
- Molds to the feet
- Breathable
- Stable
- Awesome for heel strikers
- Great grip on roads & light trails
- True to size
- 3 widths for men
- 2 widths for women
Cons
- Feels big & heavy
- Pricey
Verdict
What are the most popular low drop running shoes in 2022?
- Hoka One One Bondi 7
- Altra Lone Peak 6
- Altra Torin 5
- Altra Escalante 3
- Saucony Peregrine 12
- Altra Superior 5
- New Balance Fresh Foam More v3
- Altra Paradigm 6.0
- Altra Timp 4
- Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 7
- Altra Vanish Carbon
- Merrell Trail Glove 6
- Saucony Endorphin Shift 2
- Altra Provision 6
- Saucony Freedom 5
What are the cheapest low drop running shoes in 2022?
- Skechers GOrun Razor Excess - from $55
- Merrell Rubato - from $65
- Skechers GOrun Razor TRL - from $70
- Saucony Xodus 11 - from $74
- Altra Torin 5 - from $75
- Skechers GOrun Razor+ - from $75
- Inov-8 Terraultra G 270 - from $76
- Saucony Switchback 2 - from $79
- Merrell Vapor Glove 5 - from $80
- Asics Fuji Lite 2 - from $86
- Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 7 - from $90
- Saucony Axon 2 - from $90
- Topo Athletic Terraventure 3 - from $97
- Altra Superior 5 - from $99
- Salomon S-Lab Cross - from $100
