Heel-to-toe drop explained
What it is
Heel-to-toe drop, also called offset, is the difference in midsole thickness between the heel and the forefoot, in millimetres. A shoe with a 36 mm heel stack and a 28 mm forefoot stack has an 8 mm drop.
Drop describes a height difference, not how soft or thick the shoe is. A shoe can have a high drop and little cushioning, or zero drop and a very thick midsole.
How it is measured
Brands publish a drop for one size, usually a men's US 9. Independent labs measure at a defined point in the heel and the forefoot, sometimes including the insole. That is why two sources can differ by a millimetre or two for the same shoe.
On ShoeGeometry the drop is stored with its source and labelled manufacturer stated or externally measured; the shoe page shows every recorded value.
Values on this site
- Heel-to-toe drop (mm): Difference between heel and forefoot stack height.
- Heel stack (mm): Total sole thickness under the heel (midsole + outsole, sometimes insole, per source convention).
- Forefoot stack (mm): Total sole thickness under the forefoot.
Questions
- Is drop the same as heel stack?
- No. Heel stack is the thickness under the heel; drop is heel stack minus forefoot stack.
See it in the data
These pages describe product measurements. They are not medical advice or a recommendation for any person or condition. More: methodology, all explainers.