10 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.
Overview of this guide
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 15% in road running shoes
- Top 27% 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
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 10% in road running shoes
- Top 19% in Saucony running shoes
- Top 6% 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
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 18% in road running shoes
- Top 27% in Saucony running shoes
- Top 5% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Perfect fit
- Wide feet friendly
- Balanced and reliable ride
- Fantastic foot lockdown
- Tongue stays put
- Great laces
- Insanely flexible
- Removable insole
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not for cold days
- Non-durable outsole
Verdict
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 7% most popular running shoes
Pros
- True to size
- Dialed-in cushioning
- Responsive
- Superb comfort
- No adaptation period
- Lightweight
- Stylish
Cons
- Too plush for some
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 2% in trail running shoes
- Top 4% in Altra running shoes
- Top 2% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Great for wide feet
- Superb grip (rocks, mud, ice, snow)
- Stiff and durable
- Sheds mud easily
- Great water drainage
- Balanced and stable ride
- Removable Ortholite insole
- Great for road-to-trail transitions
- Extremely breathable
- Rock plate for technical terrain
- Gaiter-friendly
- Easy to clean
Cons
- No ground feel
- Too cold for winter days
Verdict
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 3% in trail running shoes
- Top 4% in Saucony running shoes
- Top 8% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Fits true to size
- Grip is great in good conditions
- Great cushioning
- Excellent lockdown
- Lightweight
- Chart-topping laces
- Vibrant looks
Cons
- Need to keep the same insoles for proper cushioning
- Some discomfort from overlays
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.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. It also has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few ratings unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 22% in trail running shoes
- Top 24% in Nike running shoes
- Top 8% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Energetic and responsive ride
- Grippy on light mud, dry rocks & loose trails
- Protective cushion
- Amazing heel hold
- Upper doesn't need break-in
- No lace bites
- Airy even during hot days
- Cheaper price
- A stunner
Cons
- Poor grip on wet surfaces
- Might hurt feet on hard surfaces
Verdict
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 7% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
- Responsive
- Stable
- Versatile grip
- More fit than other Altras
- Durable
Cons
- Laces become untied
- Heel slippage
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 6% in trail running shoes
- Top 8% 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
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 6% 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
What are the most popular low drop running shoes in 2022?
- Hoka One One Bondi 7
- Altra Lone Peak 6
- Altra Torin 5
- Altra Olympus 4.0
- Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next%
- New Balance Fresh Foam More v3
- Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 8
- Altra Vanish Carbon
- Saucony Kinvara 13
- Saucony Peregrine 12
- Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 7
- Hoka One One Speedgoat 5
- Altra Superior 5
- Altra Escalante 2.5
- Merrell Trail Glove 6
What are the cheapest low drop running shoes in 2022?
- Merrell Trail Glove 6 - from £59
- Skechers GOrun Razor Excess - from £64
- Merrell Rubato - from £69
- Altra Escalante 2.5 - from £71
- Asics Fuji Lite 2 - from £72
- Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 7 - from £74
- Salomon S-Lab Cross - from £82
- Hoka One One Zinal - from £85
- Inov-8 Terraultra G 270 - from £88
- Saucony Endorphin Shift 2 - from £89
- Saucony Peregrine 11 ST - from £91
- Altra Superior 5 - from £94
- Altra Rivera 2 - from £95
- Saucony Mad River TR 2 - from £97
- Merrell Trail Glove 5 Leather - from £99