- Tag: Shoe Guides
What Is a Neutral Running Shoe?
What is a neutral running shoe? And how can a running shoe be "neutral"? The word neutral in this context has nothing to do with running shoe colors or brands. Instead, a running shoe is neutral if it doesn’t interfere with your natural stride.
Some shoes have features that provide additional stability or make corrective adjustments to improve your mechanics. On the other hand, neutral running shoes focus on making sure that your run is powered by natural movement.
Altra’s running shoes for men and women are most often neutral shoes. They’re designed from the inside out to encourage your natural movement, not alter it. One of our most common features is a Zero-to-Low Drop platform, which keeps your heels and toes aligned. The idea is to improve your posture and facilitate balanced movement.
Neutral vs Stability Shoes: What’s the Difference?
So, which is best for you – neutral shoes, or stability shoes? This tends to be a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” If you prefer running in your normal stride without significant soreness or pain, you probably have a steady gait. Neutral and zero drop running shoes are built for runners who have this healthy, natural stride. They provide freedom of movement and let you move as you would without shoes.
On the other hand, if a professional tells you that you have overpronation in your stride, stability shoes might be the right choice for running. Overpronation is when your feet roll inward in the course of your stride. It can cause discomfort and can even lead to injury.
People with flexible arches also sometimes appreciate the structure of stability shoes to keep them in place.
Ultimately, the choice between neutral running shoes and stability shoes depends on your specific running mechanics and how you feel in both types.
Who Should Wear Neutral Running Shoes?
To understand if neutral shoes make the most sense for you, the first thing to do is find out if your stride suffers from overpronation. To get your gait evaluated for this issue, consult a professional, such as an expert at a running shoe store or a physical therapist. Our Shoe Finder can also help.
In the case of overpronation, stability shoes might correct the issue. But otherwise, you may be most comfortable in this style. Without a need for extra stability, you can just let your natural stride do its thing.
Altra Shoes Made for Neutral Runners
The best neutral running shoes will depend on the amount of cushioning you want, which is another way of saying how much you prioritize comfort as a feature of your running shoes. If you’re intimidated by neutral shoes because you feel that there might be more pain due to less support than usual, Altra has a few models that provide cushioning underfoot in combination with Zero-to-Low Drop alignment.
The Torin Family is a neutral running shoe that also provides a soft feel underfoot from EGO™ MAX cushioning in the midsole. They’re proof that neutral shoes can be both comfortable and cushioned. Check out the Altra Experience Flow, which has neutral features like our roomy toe box, but has a slight rocker shape, so you can ease into the zero drop lifestyle.
Looking for wide sizes? Check out Altra’s men’s and women’s wide shoes.
The Benefits of Owning Neutral Shoes
In many cases, neutral shoes can also be more comfortable than shoes with more support. At Altra, our shoes always feature our FootShape™ toe box, which is a component of neutral shoes because this lets your toes splay naturally, instead of scrunching them together. This feature improves balance and puts your feet in a neutral position with respect to your stride. And doesn’t it also sound a little more comfortable?
It’s reasonable to ask, “What is a neutral running shoe going to do for me?” A neutral shoe gives you the chance to experience your stride in its most original form possible. The benefits to this are significant, including the chance to engage more muscles in your stride, which builds more strength over time.
Whenever you’re ready to try them, a neutral running shoe that’s perfect for your chosen exercise is waiting for you at Altra Running.
