Running shoe geometry explained
Short definitions of the measurements this site uses and how each is measured, plus guides to choosing shoes for common complaints.
Heel-to-toe drop explained
What heel-to-toe drop (offset) is in running shoes, how it is measured and why the same shoe can have different published drops.
Stack height explained
What stack height means in running shoes, how heel and forefoot stack are measured and why published figures differ.
Rocker geometry explained: apex, radius, rise angle and onset
What a rocker sole is and how its geometry is described: apex position, radius of curvature, toe angle and onset, how ShoeGeometry estimates them from photos, and why definitions differ between sources.
Toe spring and toe tip height explained
What toe spring is in running shoes and how it is measured relative to shoe length on ShoeGeometry.
Running shoe plates explained
What carbon, Pebax, nylon and TPU plates are in running shoes and what they change about a shoe's construction.
Forefoot bending stiffness explained
What longitudinal (forefoot) bending stiffness is in running shoes, how it is measured in a lab and how ShoeGeometry turns it into a 0–100 score.
Midsole firmness explained
What midsole firmness means in running shoes, how foam hardness is measured with a durometer and how ShoeGeometry turns it into a 0–100 score.
Midsole width and toe box width explained
The difference between a shoe's platform (midsole) width and its toe box width, how each is measured and what they tell you about stability and fit.
Choosing shoes for common complaints
Experience-based guides to the shoe characteristics and terrain runners commonly choose when the foot, ankle or lower leg is sore, with current matching shoes. Not medical advice.