Road shoes with a heel-to-toe drop of 6 mm or less: a middle ground between traditional 10 to 12 mm trainers and zero-drop shoes.
51 current models, ranked by their average score from published reviews (how we rank). Updated October 2026. Want a personal pick? Try the shoe finder.
Drop is the difference in height between the heel and forefoot. Lower drops tend to suit midfoot strikers and put a little more load on your calves and Achilles, while higher drops take some of that load off.
If your current shoe has a drop of 8 mm or more, switch gradually: alternate shoes for a few weeks before going all in. If you want to go all the way to level, see our zero-drop guide.
A featherweight carbon racer for runners who lengthen their stride as they speed up. Bouncy and propulsive, with a softer heel and roomier fit than its predecessor.
A plated super trainer that takes over from the SC Trainer, pairing Infinion foam with a carbon-infused Energy Arc plate. Quick and bouncy for workouts and long runs, with a snug, race-style fit.
207 g4 mm dropPlate / rodspropulsivebouncy£180 RRP
adidas swaps the Pro 4's EnergyRods for a carbon EnergyRim around a new, lighter Lightstrike Pro midsole. The result is a softer, more forgiving marathon racer that feels natural and stable rather than aggressively snappy.
adidas's first sub-100 g racer pairs a new Lightstrike Pro Evo foam with a carbon ENERGYRIM around the midsole edge instead of rods. Soft, springy and very fast, but costly, fragile and hard to buy.
ASICS' lightest super shoe, built on full-length FF Leap foam and a minimal three-quarter carbon plate. Remarkably light and lively, but the narrow midfoot asks for a steady, efficient stride.
A dual-layer Cloudmonster with a Helion HF top layer over a firmer carrier, giving huge, protective cushioning with a bouncy forefoot. Stable for its height, it suits long runs and easy mileage more than racing.
A maximal, non-plated trainer built on a full-length slab of incrediRUN superfoam for soft, springy long miles. Surprisingly stable and flexible for its height, but pricey and better at easy paces than fast ones.
Carbon EnergyRods and more Lightstrike Pro make this a durable, versatile trainer for tempo work and long runs with pace. Lighter and better locked-in than the Boston 12, with a narrower toe box.
254 g6 mm dropCarbon platepropulsiveresponsive£140 RRP
The 860 v15 grows into a big, cushioned stability cruiser, guiding the foot with a broad base and a thin Stability Plane rather than a hard post. Great for easy and long miles in four widths, but too heavy for quicker running.
A carbon-plated max-cushion trainer built for slow, long miles rather than speed. Version 2 is much lighter and has a wider base, so it feels remarkably stable for its towering stack.
A high-stack cruiser built on new Hyperboost Pro foam, with lots of shock absorption and a lively, fun ride. Surprisingly agile for its size and durable, but pricey and warm.
Saucony's most supportive road shoe, now riding on lighter incrediLUX foam over an extra-broad base. Plush, smooth and steady for long easy miles, though it can feel bulky underfoot.
New Balance's tallest road cruiser, with a broad base that keeps a deep slab of soft foam surprisingly steady. Best saved for easy, recovery and long slow miles.
Mizuno’s premium cushioned daily trainer: tall, durable and stable, with a grippy outsole. It takes some breaking in and feels heavy and firm for anything faster than easy running.
A lighter, more modern Ghost built on DNA Hype foam with a gentle rocker and a premium knit upper. Comfortable and flexible for everyday miles, though the bounce is milder than the name suggests.
A cheaper carbon-plated On with Helion HF foam on both sides of the Speedboard. It is comfortable and protective for training and steady racing, but lacks the pop of top super shoes.
210 g5 mm dropCarbon platestableresponsive£190 RRP
A 42 mm, unplated long-run cruiser with a CircleCELL top layer over rubberised EVA, a wide base and a smooth rocker. It is built for comfortable, stable mileage rather than fast running.
Altra's high-stack, low-drop cruiser with a very soft EGO P35 midsole and a gentle, flexible ride. A comfortable entry point for runners new to Altra who want plenty of cushioning.
A big-stack trainer pairing DNA Gold PEBA foam with a nylon SpeedVault plate. Cushioned yet controlled for long runs and steady tempo work, though heavy for an uptempo shoe.
286 g6 mm dropNylon plateresponsivepropulsive£170 RRP
Salomon's carbon-plated PEBA marathon racer with an aero, gaiter-style upper. Firmer and snappier than most super shoes, it rewards heel strikers at half and full marathon pace.
On's marathon super shoe pairs a lighter Helion HF midsole with a curved carbon Speedboard and a notably wide, stable platform. It is more controlled than wild, suiting half and full marathon pace better than short, fast racing.
200 g5 mm dropCarbon platepropulsivebouncy£230 RRP
A Pebax-plated super trainer that pairs a PEBA top layer with an EVA base for long workouts. Deep cushioning and a quick-rolling rocker make it a fast-but-forgiving partner for tempo and long runs.
264 g5 mm dropPlate / rodspropulsivebouncy£170 RRP
The 880 v15 packs in far more Fresh Foam X than before, turning New Balance's workhorse into a cushier, lower-drop daily trainer. It is durable and comes in four widths, though heavier and less nimble than older versions.
HOKA's most supportive road shoe, with a full-length H-Frame wrapped around a soft, rockered CMEVA midsole. It suits overpronators and runners who want maximum stability for easy miles and long days on their feet.
A high-stack cruiser with FF Blast Max foam, a firm three-quarter EVA plate and a pronounced forefoot rocker. Stable, smooth and light for its height, though the ride is muted and the fit narrow.
A taller, softer take on Brooks' budget Revel, borrowing ideas from the Ghost Max for comfortable easy miles. Strong value and durable, though heavier and stiffer than the regular Revel.
Saucony's mild-stability daily trainer, guiding the foot with a broad, rockered platform rather than a firm post. Smooth, comfortable and durable for easy miles, though it lacks pop for faster running.
A softer, bendier take on the Glycerin with a dual-density DNA Tuned midsole and a premium knit upper. Lighter than the Glycerin 23 and easy to run or walk in, but not especially lively.
Saucony's classic low, light and flexible trainer, with a 4 mm drop and plenty of ground feel. Great for quicker, shorter runs, though the firm PWRRUN foam and exposed midsole limit cushioning and durability.
Brooks' tallest, softest road shoe, built on a thick slab of DNA Tuned foam with a rocker. A comfortable cruiser for slow miles, but heavy and short on rebound.
Altra's 4mm-drop road trainer for runners who want the roomy FootShape toe box without going fully zero drop. It is light and nimble, with a more grounded feel than most modern daily trainers.
A rockered, high-cushion Cloudsurfer with a firm, stable Helion ride and a comfortable, breathable upper. Better for easy miles, walking and long days on your feet than for pushing the pace.
On's light, snappy trainer now sits on a taller stack of Helion HF foam over a nylon-blend Speedboard. It comes alive at faster paces but feels firm and a little clumsy when jogging slowly.
The most cushioned and stable of the first Hyperwarp trio, with Enerzy XP foam and a carbon-infused nylon plate. Best for tempo runs and marathon pace rather than short, fast races.
200 g5.5 mm dropNylon platepropulsivelight£220 RRP
adidas's high-stack rockered trainer moves to Dreamstrike+ foam, with a monomesh upper, internal midfoot support and a heel cup. Aimed at comfortable long miles rather than speed.
Altra's first full super shoe, with a max-stack PEBA midsole, a split-toe carbon plate and a 4mm drop. It rolls smoothly at marathon and threshold pace, but fits snugger than usual for Altra.
232 g4 mm dropCarbon platepropulsiverockered£220 RRP
A light, low-drop tempo trainer with supercritical FAST TRN foam over a flexible split PEBAX plate. It is comfortable for threshold and marathon-pace work rather than all-out speed.
A no-fuss ETPU daily trainer for everyday miles, with a moderate 36 mm heel and a 6 mm drop. Roomy up front and secure at the heel, it costs noticeably less than the big brands' equivalents.
A light, low-slung speed shoe with VFOAM for intervals, track repeats and short races. Firm and connected underfoot, it rewards fast running rather than easy miles.
A plush, plateless max-cushion cruiser with PEBA-based foam on top and a wide, stable base. Lovely for easy and recovery miles, but heavy and not keen on picking up the pace.
ASICS
Nike
New Balance
adidas
On
Saucony
HOKA
Kiprun
Mizuno
Brooks
Mount to Coast
Altra
Salomon
