LEARNING CENTER: FOOTWEAR
Stack Height
How to choose he best stack height shoe for your run
One factor to consider when choosing a running shoe is how the shoe feels under your foot. This underfoot experience is largely determined by the amount of material between you and the ground, which is referred to as stack height.
At Running Warehouse, we group shoes into six stack height classifications. Lowest to highest they are: Barefoot, Minimal, Low, Medium, High and Maximal. Generally speaking, lower stack heights deliver more feel for the ground and higher stack height shoes deliver more feel for the cushioning materials of the shoe.
Comparison Spectrum
| Feel the ground | Some feel for the ground | Some feel for the shoe | Feel the shoe | ||||||||
| Barefoot 1-8mm |
Minimal 9-13mm |
Low 14-18mm |
Medium 19-23mm |
High 24-29mm |
Maximal 30mm+ |
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*Stack height classifications are determined by the forefoot measurement of a shoe.
While flexibility and softness of the shoe, weight of the runner, and speed and distance of the run influence the underfoot feel, stack height is the main factor in perceived cushioning. Thus, shoes with lower stack heights tend to have a firmer, responsive underfoot feel, while higher stack height shoes tend to have a softer, more compliant feel.
Buying Guidelines
In the most general and simple context, follow this idea: If you are feeling beat up, move up a stack height. Need more speed? Try moving down a stack height.
High or Maximal: Best for long runs. The longer the run, the more this height may provide a benefit. Also, they are a great option for easy runs or recovery runs.
Medium: Most runners, regardless of experience log most of their miles with this stack height. If you seek a little more padding for daily use then go to a high stack height shoe.
Low: Best for faster pace workouts. Advanced runners often use this height for regular training as well. Beginning runners may look at this height as a starting point for their first race-specific shoe.
Minimal: Most racing-specific shoes are found here. Can also be used for faster training if you are an efficient runner, or regular use if you seek a minimalist running experience.
Barefoot: Best for limited use such as speed work or strides. May be used for occasional short runs on soft surfaces like grass.
Use Stack Height as factor while looking for shoes
While shopping for shoes, look for Stack height in our Footwear Performance Characteristics located below the description of the shoe or in our Shoe Finder, which is accessible from all of our shoe pages.
Stack Height:
| Barefoot | Minimal | Low | Medium | High | Maximal |
Other things to consider when shopping for running shoes are: Pronation Control, Shoe Type, Heel-Toe Offset and Surface.
Shop Men's Low Height Shoes
Shop Men's Medium Height Shoes
Shop Men's High Height Shoes
