In this product guide:
- 1. Versatile trainer for forefoot strikers: Asics Novablast 4
- 2. Daily trainer for forefoot strikers: Saucony Ride 17
- 3. Cushioned stability trainer for forefoot strikers: Saucony Tempus
- 4. Marathon racer for forefoot strikers: Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris
- 5. Versatile cushioned shoe for forefoot strikers: Asics Superblast 2
- 6. Max-cushioned trainer for forefoot strikers: New Balance 1080 V13
- 7. Tempo trainer for forefoot strikers: Hoka Mach 6
- 8. Speed trainer/5K racer for forefoot strikers: adidas Takumi Sen 10
- How we selected
Don’t let the 8 mm heel drop scare you; the Novablast 4 is as much a midfoot striker’s shoe as it is heel striking-friendly. A beveled heel and deep transition channel prevent the heel from catching the ground.
The Novablast 4 is a tall shoe with a generous amount of ride comfort. At 33.5 mm, not only is the forefoot tall, but it is also wide enough for planted midfoot landings. The Flytefoam Blast midsole has a rocker shape that ‘tips’ the foot forward for quicker transitions. The tight upper fit locks the forefoot over the midsole for efficient power transfers.
The cushioned midsole makes the Novablast excellent for everyday runs and pre-marathon training. The cushioning works equally well at an easy 6:00 min/km (9:40 mile/min) pace as it does during a 4:30 min/km (7:00 min/mile) tempo run.
The neutral trainer category is very competitive, but the Saucony Ride has held up over the years. Now in its 17th year, the brand-new midsole swaps the EVA foam of the Ride 16 for a full-length Pwrrun+ foam midsole – the same material that’s on the Triumph 21, but in a firmer density.
This gives the Ride 17 several benefits over the Ride 16, notable of which are higher durability, better rebound, and resistance to freezing temperatures – which would otherwise cause EVA foam midsoles to stiffen.
At the core of the Ride 17 is a character that appeals to runners of all experience classes and footstrike patterns. The 8 mm heel drop midsole has plenty of cushioning, no matter where you land. Half-marathons are easily doable, and the midsole is durable enough for everyday mileage.
The wide forefoot is 27 mm tall with a greater share of the outsole rubber coverage. The heel midsole doesn’t stick out too far, and is beveled for gradual landings.
Despite the 100% Pwrrun+ midsole, the Ride 17 isn’t a very soft shoe. It’s relatively firm over the Triumph 21, and that’s a nice trait to have when building up speed.
The comfortable upper is true-to-size with smooth interiors. The upper has a snug fit, so Saucony offers the Ride 17 in an optional 2E (wide) sizing as well.
- Saucony’s marketing pitch: A truly versatile shoe, from warm up to tempo runs.
- Upper: Engineered mesh, internal gusset.
- Midsole: Expanded Polyurethane (Pwrrun+) foam. 8 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Carbon rubber in high-wear areas.
- Weight: 282 gms/ 9.9 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 35 mm (heel), 27 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed), 2E – Wide.
- Previous model: Saucony Ride 16.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Daily training, tempo runs, half-marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Recommended paces: 4:30 min/km (7:30 min/mile) and slower.
- Median lifespan: 500 miles.
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Just-right upper fit
- Neutral and supportive ride
- Smooth cushioning
- Versatile ride character
- Optional widths
- Comfortable interiors
Cons
- Upper runs warm in summer
- Low reflectivity
- Heel loop needs to be bigger
The Saucony Tempus 8 mm heel offset is the result of a 28.5 mm forefoot and 36.5 mm heel. So regardless of which part of the shoe you land on, there’s plenty of cushioning to manage the footstrike.
The forefoot gets a cushy PEBA foam stack and most of the outsole rubber, so full-contact landings are supported with a transition-friendly design. The wide midsole base translates into a high level of stability.
Speaking of stability, the Tempus is a unique running shoe that blends a firmer EVA frame with a softer Pwrrun PB (PEBA foam) core.
So this lightweight (8.9-ounce) stability trainer is cushioned, supportive, and extremely versatile – whether you’re using it as an everyday trainer, long-distance cruiser, or tempo trainer at 4:30 min/km speeds.
And like most contemporary Saucony shoes, the true-to-size upper is breathable, secure, and comfortable on the inside.
Some readers may be surprised to see the Nike Alphafly 3 left out of this guide. By all accounts, it’s an excellent racer for landing forefoot first.
We chose to do so for two reasons. First, the insole placement inside the Alphafly is a roll of the dice, and a few unlucky runners may get blisters. Secondly, the Alphafly 3’s forefoot is much firmer than the heel, so the midsole tends to negative drop during mid-stance. You need near-perfect form and speed for the Alphafly to be on its best behavior.
So in its place is the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris – an excellent update by Asics to last year’s shoe by the same name. And why have we recommended the Metaspeed Sky over the Metaspeed Edge?
The Edge has the forefoot plate closer to the ground. On the other hand, the Metaspeed Sky plate is separated by a thicker layer of Flytefoam Turbo. The outsole is also softer due to the exposed windows. Thus, forefoot strikers will benefit from cushioned landings, but without the speed trade-off. The Sky also happens to be the lighter of the two Metaspeeds.
The Carbon plate makes the loading quick and efficient, and the Flytefoam Turbo midsole is sufficiently comfortable for marathons.
Mated to the midsole is a lightweight, breathable, and true-to-size upper.
The Asics Superblast V2 is proof that a higher heel drop – in this case, 8 mm – doesn’t decide whether a shoe is forefoot-striking friendly or not.
The Superblast is a premium, softer, and more responsive version of the Novablast – a versatile trainer with a cushioned ride and rocker midsole.
The Superblast 2 has a rocker forefoot for quicker transitions during toe-offs, and the 37 mm thick forefoot provides a lot of padding during full-contact landings. The midsole blends the Flytefoam Turbo foam over a firmer base, thus balancing long-distance comfort with decent levels of stability. The Superblast V2’s redesigned outsole comes with improved forefoot grip over the Superblast V1.
The upper fits snug around the midfoot with plush padding in the heel. The toe-box has more room than the Superblast V1 and also breathes better.
One of the great things about a thickly-stacked shoe like the 1080V13 is that mileage-friendly cushioning is available no matter how or where you land. The 6 – 8 mm heel offset is the perfect middle ground too.
The outsole is segmented into multiple pieces, a layout that allows it to flex together with the soft midsole. The soft-blown rubber on the forefoot muffles the landings and delivers dependable traction.
The Fresh Foam 1080V13 is every bit as enjoyable as last year’s V12, but with one difference – the cushioning is much softer than before. That makes the 1080V13 a better choice for long-distance cruising, but slightly less versatile than the 1080V12.
Also, the 1080 V13 is the ideal long-distance cruiser for forefoot and midfoot strikers who also like their uppers to be comfortable.
The soft upper loses the stretchy mesh from the 1080V12, but it’s still very comfortable. Due to the updated mesh, the toe-box isn’t as accommodating as the previous model. Wide and extra-wide widths are optional if you need them.
Hoka positions the Mach 6 as a speed shoe, but it’s a lot more than that. It’s very different from the Mach 5; the new midsole is more resilient, responsive, and has a rocker that was missing on the previous model.
This 5 mm heel drop trainer has stack heights of 35 mm (heel) and 30 mm (forefoot). That’s enough cushioning for everyday runs and half-marathons, yet doesn’t get in the way of tempo efforts. The new foam has a smooth, bouncier ride than before, and the rocker promotes a roll-forward effect.
The low heel-to-toe offset (5 mm) and support midsole make the Mach 6 ideal for forefoot and midfoot striking.
The racer-like upper complements the lightweight midsole. The true-to-size interior combines comfort-oriented features like a padded heel with the minimalist design of a road racer. Though the Mach 6 has a narrow forefoot fit, there’s an optional wide sizing for sale.
If our review didn’t make it obvious, we loved the Takumi Sen 10. But you should know what you’re buying it for; this is a shoe that works best during short races – like a 5K, for example.
We’d limit the Takumi to a 10K though – the midsole lacks the comfort for longer distances. The upper also fits super tight, so it’s going to get uncomfortable over a long run.
But if you want to go fast during a shorter race, the Takumi has a lot to offer than comparable racing flats like the Hoka Cielo Road and Nike Streakfly.
The low-profile midsole made of Lightstrike Pro has a nice bouncy feel to it; it also keeps the foot protected during a 5K – 10K race. The upper fits narrow, as it should for a shoe of this category. The tight upper creates a seamless bond between the foot and the midsole for smooth power transfer.
What makes the Takumi Sen 10 special is the Energy Rod setup inside the midsole. These stiff tubes carry the foot over the midsole efficiently and add a nice snap during push-offs. Unlike a solid plate, the foot can work through fork-like Energy rods. However, a brief break-in period is necessary.
Forefoot strikers will get the dependable grip of the Continental rubber outsole as well.
How we selected: What to look for
If you’ve been around for a while and have tracked the evolution of running footwear, you’d agree that as recently as the mid-2000s, shoes were purposely designed for rearfoot striking.
For example, most of the cushioning tech was crammed under the heel. Moreover, running shoes with a low heel-to-toe offset did not become popular until the barefoot running boom of the late 2000s.
The thought of altering the footstrike also didn’t occur to most runners, so the market didn’t exist.
Today, we have a slew of balanced choices. There’s something for everyone, no matter what your preferences or running mechanics are.
Do you want maximal cushioning, or for that matter, a shoe with a low heel-to-toe offset? Or do you want both in one shoe? Many products meet these criteria.
Runners who prefer to make full-contact landings are called midfoot/forefoot strikers. Having said that, if you currently land rearfoot and are injury-free, there’s no reason to alter the technique just because the internet tells you to.
While there is plenty of anecdotal support for forefoot striking – we also feel that full-contact landings are more efficient – there’s scant scientific evidence proving that forefoot striking is biomechanically more efficient or leads to fewer injuries.
There are so many components of a good running form, and the foot-strike pattern is just one part of it. However, it makes sense to avoid over-striding and exaggerated dorsiflexion, a state where the toes point skywards when landing heel-first.
Running shoes that are suitable for forefoot and midfoot striking need to fulfill certain qualifying factors.
Ride stability is extremely important. This criterion could be met by either a firm midsole, a wide flare or surface area, or a combination of both – along with a secure upper fit. A high midsole stack isn’t a concern as long as the other two factors add up.
The quality of transition also determines whether a shoe is compatible with full-contact landings – or not. The transition quality is the product of design choices like the foam density and formulation, the outsole geometry and grip, or the midsole shape.
Though some runners prefer a cushioned forefoot, that depends on what the shoe is being used for. Is it just a 5K run or intense interval training? Here, excessive midsole softness will impede your workout.
On the other hand, if one intends to run a marathon, then a cushioned and fast ride is desirable.
A high heel-to-toe drop is not a deal-breaker. We’re not talking about a 12 mm offset shoe here, but even 8-10 mm works as long as the heel midsole doesn’t have a long overhang. That’s the reason why the New Balance 1080 V13 and Asics Superblast feature in this guide.
Also, look for running shoes where the rear midsole edge is flush with the upper heel. A generous bevel is preferable. Here’s an example; this is what the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4’s heel looks like:
Most beveled heel designs work well for ground-contact landings. The New Balance 1080V13 isn’t exactly ‘low drop’, but it works perfectly for forefoot and midfoot strikers. So does the Novablast 4.
The bottomline is, if you get a low-drop shoe, that’s a bonus. Else, it’s a non-issue for most brands.
We cover a lot of categories here across half a dozen brands, ranging from supportive shoes like the Saucony Tempus to lightweight trainers such as the Hoka Mach 6.