Understanding stack and drop is essential when choosing a running shoe suited to your stride, comfort and goals. These two parameters directly influence your sensations, stability and the way you run. Here is a clear, simple and precise explanation to help you make the right choice.
Stack and drop are two technical values that describe the geometry of a shoe’s sole. They influence how your foot contacts the ground, your stability and comfort, as well as your risk of injury.
Understanding Stack:
Stack corresponds to the TOTAL height of your sole. This measurement is visible on the outside of the shoe.
The higher the stack, the more cushioning and soft comfort the shoe offers, but the less stability it provides.
- High stack: 36–40 mm maximum cushioning
- Moderate stack: 28–34 mm versatility
- Low stack: 20–27 mm natural sensations
Understanding Drop:
It is an invisible slope inside the shoe that determines the incline between the heel and the front of the foot. Drop is expressed in mm and ranges from 0 to 12 mm. The higher the value, the greater the incline, and vice versa.
“No technical criterion — drop, stack, cushioning, weight or stability — can on its own determine which shoe is suitable for a runner.”
At Tripp Sport, this information is considered alongside your practice, your sensations and the observations made during the gait analysis.