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Running Shoe Specs Guide

Learn how the comparison fields are defined and see their distribution across the 920 registered shoes. Unknown values are counted separately.

Weight

Weight is the registered single-shoe figure for the sample identified by the source. It helps compare how much material a model carries, but it is not a controlled measurement across one universal size.

Size, sex, width and measurement conditions vary by source. The original sample context is kept on each shoe page instead of converting values to a common size.

View the lightest racing-shoe ranking

Current registered data

Median 274g

Known 856

Unknown 64

Under 200g59
200-249g186
250-299g411
300g+200

n = 856

Heel-to-toe drop

Drop is the height difference between the heel and forefoot stated by the source. A smaller number does not mean a shoe is thinner; a high-stack shoe can still have a low drop.

When a source publishes heel and forefoot stack but not drop, any derived difference is distinguished from a manufacturer-stated value.

Open the table sorted by lowest drop

Current registered data

Median 7mm

Known 857

Unknown 63

0mm51
Over 0–4mm79
Over 4–8mm550
Over 8mm177

n = 857

Stack height

Stack height is the total material between the foot and the ground at a stated point, usually heel and forefoot. Running Shoe DB uses total-stack figures and does not silently substitute midsole thickness or outsole thickness.

Brands use different terms and sample sizes. If a source says only ‘sole thickness’ or provides an ambiguous diagram, the field remains unknown until the measurement convention is clear.

View the highest-stack ranking

Current registered data

Median heel 35mm

Known 720

Unknown 200

Under 30mm132
30-39.9mm461
40-49.9mm123
50mm+4

n = 720

Carbon plate

The carbon field records whether the model uses a carbon plate or a clearly identified carbon propulsion structure. A plate-like system made from nylon, TPU or another named non-carbon material is recorded as non-carbon.

Unknown is distinct from No. If a brand names a Speedboard, Wave Plate, rods or another structure without disclosing the material, carbon status remains unknown.

Open carbon-plated shoes in the table

Current registered data

139 carbon / 667 non-carbon

Known 806

Unknown 114

Carbon139
Non-carbon667
Unknown114

n = 920