Anatomy of a Running Shoe – with Infographic
Too many brands hitting you with shoe-specific jargon? Cut to the chase with our simple guide to the anatomy of a running shoe.

First off, your shoe is split into 2 main sections – Upper and Sole Unit. Each of these have several components which all work together to create your ideal ride.
The other thing to mention at this point is the Heel Drop. It’s not an actual part of the shoe but it makes a huge difference to the way your foot strikes/lands with the floor. Heel drop a.k.a as offset is essentially the measurement of the thickness of the heel.
The drop will be the measurement difference between the height of the heel part and the toe part of your shoe.
A higher heel drop encourages heel striking whereas a small heel drop drop will give you a more midfoot or forefoot strike.
However, it’s worth remembering that usually thicker heel drops are more cushioned compared to a racing shoe which has minimal support.
The Last / Lasting – When a shoe is being constructed it is shaped over a 3D foot model. These foot models are called Lasts and appear in many shapes and styles.
When it comes to running shoes, the manufacturers use 3 types of Last to create the 3 most common shapes of running shoe.
These 3 lasting shapes are – curved, semi-curved and straight. These shapes help describe how the upper is attached to the midsole and have different benefits to the wearer.
A curved last is c-shaped, the majority of racing shoes and spikes are curved offering a light yet unsupportive ride.
Straight lasting is found in motion-controlled shoes for over pronators and stability shoes. Straight shoes have more support under the arch of the foot and are therefore heavier.
Semi-curved lastings are a hybrid. The majority of running shoes are semi-curved and offer a combination of speed and support.
Now that you’ve mastered the 3 types of last, you can read on to discover there are also 3 ways in which the last is attached to the rest of the shoe. These three techniques for joining the upper and the midsole together are called slip lasting, board lasting and combination lasting.
In slip lasting, the upper of the shoe is pulled over the last and glued or stitched directly to the midsole. This makes for a lighter shoe.
In board lasting the upper is attached to the bottom of a flexible board on top of the midsole. This approach is great for stability shoes.
Combination lasting uses the board method in the heel and the slip method in the forefoot of your shoe. This ensures a stable heel and a flexible toe area.
With all this knowledge you can now go forth and buy your next pair of running shoes with complete clarity and mastery.
Here you’ll find all the info in a convenient infographic format!
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