Heel Drops
A Beginner's Guide to the Hotly Debated Topic
How do you decide which heel drop is the best for you?
To kick things off, lets define heel drop and what it does. Heel drop is the difference in height between the heel and forefoot of a shoe. Heel drop also does two things.
- It changes the aesthetics of the shoe.
- It alters your posture and gait.
Secondly, it's important to ask yourself something...Who are you buying these shoes for?
If it's for you, think about what matters most to you and go with that. We'll break down what each heel drop in more detail as we go.
Let's start with Zero Drop (0mm).
Aesthetically zero drop is the most casual looking shoe. This is because it lacks a heel, but it also dresses the shoe down in a way that can be desired. For instance wearing a pair of drawstring linen trousers, a knitted polo, and zero drop loafers can be quite the look; and certainly incredibly comfortable.
Zero drop is the most healthy, it's the most comfortable, it's the best choice to benefit your posture and gait. The longer you are on your feet or walking throughout the day, the more this choice matters; and the more happy you will be in a zero drop.
Because the zero drop is flat all the way across there is no additional pressure on the forefoot. Your weight is more evenly distributed.
If your main objective is a shoe that focuses on health, or you experience more discomfort at the ball of your foot or your arches, then this is the shoe for you!
Next up is Low Drop (4mm).
This a blend of health and aesthetics. You have a low heel that gives just enough of that classical style, without throwing off your gait too much.
From a visual perspective this can be worn in any setting, from casual to formal. While it is lower than majority of other mainstream dress shoes, the presence of a heel still lends itself to the classic image of a dress shoe.
Check out low drop's versatility.
Low Drop makes a difference mostly when walking. Just standing it's difficult to notice a difference between this and zero drop. The heel strike portion of your gait is where we notice low drop, but the rest of the gait cycle does not feel affected.
In terms of posture the shift of your body forward with low drop is extremely minimal.
If your main objective is a shoe that has the best blend of versatile style and health features welcome to low drop!
Finally, the Traditional Drop (15mm).
The traditional heel needs no introduction. It’s what everyone pictures in a dress shoe. It also has the added perk of making you taller. This shoe is the most formal, in terms of heel drop, because of it's traditional roots. Aesthetically, the look on boots with the stacked leather heel block is something we enjoy.
From a posture and gait perspective, this one is the least natural. There is a harsher angle you experience with walking at the heel strike position as your stride ends. There is more pressure on the ball of your foot when standing.
If you love this look and this is what you're used to in your current shoe lineup, you will still have the Free Form Toebox to keep your toes comfortable. I've personally worn a pair walking all over Chicago for 3 days with no complaints.
If you're looking for the truest classic aesthetic, or you want the extra height, or you don't notice or mind the shift in posture and gait; this is the heel drop for you.