Shoe Reviews
Every shoe on this site is assessed by Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS — a double board-certified foot and ankle surgeon. Each page states its evidence tier up front, and no brand has ever paid for a review, a score, or a place on this list.
43 shoes published · Updated 9 Sep 2026
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All reviews
Altra Paradigm 8
Spec AnalysisZero-drop, wide toe box with a medial GuideRail — not yet tested.
Altra Torin 8
Spec AnalysisSpec analysis only. Zero-drop, 30 mm stack, FootShape Standard toe box; not yet worn or measured.
Altra Torin 9
Spec AnalysisZero-drop daily trainer with the widest toe box in the category — not yet tested.
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28
Spec AnalysisLight neutral gel trainer, 8 mm drop, 4E available at $145 — not yet tested.
ASICS Gel-Kayano 32
Spec AnalysisUntested. The most honest spec sheet of the stability trainers - every figure within 1.4 mm of measurement.
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28
Spec AnalysisMax-cushion neutral, 8 mm drop, lighter than the 27 — not yet tested.
ASICS GT-2000 15
Spec AnalysisLight, soft, geometry-guided stability at 8 mm drop — not yet tested.
Brooks Addiction Walker 2
Spec AnalysisMotion control, leather, four widths, high drop — not yet tested.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24
Spec AnalysisUntested. A 13.5 mm measured drop makes this one of the highest-drop mainstream trainers on sale - which is the point, not a flaw.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25
Spec AnalysisSpec analysis — not yet tested What this page is. A podiatrist’s reading of the published specifications for the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 — Brooks’ own figures and an independent lab’s measurements,…
Brooks Beast GTS 26 (Ariel GTS 26)
Spec AnalysisThe last true maximum-support shoe, 10 mm drop, APMA-listed — not yet tested.
Brooks Ghost 17
Spec AnalysisUntested. Unusually honest spec sheet - every published figure lands within half a millimetre of the lab measurement.
Brooks Ghost 18
Spec AnalysisBrooks publishes a 10 mm drop; a lab measured 12.2 mm. Four widths. Not tested by us.
Brooks Ghost Max 4
Spec AnalysisRockered max-cushion neutral, 6 mm drop, orthotic-friendly fit — not yet tested.
Brooks Glycerin 23
Spec AnalysisSpec analysis — not yet tested What this page is. A podiatrist’s reading of the published specifications for the Brooks Glycerin 23 — Brooks’ own figures and an independent lab’s measurements, side…
Dansko XP 2.0
Spec AnalysisOccupational clog with a removable dual-density footbed and slip-resistant outsole — not yet tested.
HOKA Arahi 8
Spec AnalysisLight H-Frame stability at 8 mm drop, three widths — not yet tested.
HOKA Bondi 9
Spec AnalysisUntested. HOKA states a 5 mm drop; an independent lab measured 9.1 mm, and the forefoot stack is nearly 6 mm off the published figure.
HOKA Bondi SR
Spec AnalysisUntested. HOKA publishes the drop, the weight and the price, but no stack height at all and no slip-resistance standard on a shoe whose name is Slip Resistant.
HOKA Clifton 10
Spec AnalysisUntested. HOKA states an 8 mm drop; an independent lab measured 12.4 mm - the largest published-to-measured gap we have logged.
HOKA Clifton 11
Spec AnalysisHOKA Clifton 11: A Podiatrist’s Spec Analysis Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFASBoard-certified foot & ankle surgeonSpecification analysis published 9 September 2026 · Last verified 9 September 2026 Spec analysis — not yet tested…
HOKA Gaviota 6
Spec AnalysisHOKA's most supportive road shoe, 6 mm drop, $180 — not yet tested.
HOKA Mach 7
Spec AnalysisThe HOKA that is not the cushioned one. HOKA publishes 5 mm drop, 8.37 oz, $145, and calls the Mach 7 its firmer, low-profile model — a foot and ankle surgeon reads…
HOKA Transport 2
Spec AnalysisUntested. HOKA and an independent lab disagree on the drop by more than 6 mm.
KURU ATOM 2
Spec AnalysisLow, firm, 10 mm drop heel-cup walking shoe, heavy — not yet tested.
New Balance 928v3
Spec AnalysisLeather motion-control walking shoe, ROLLBAR post, ABZORB cushioning — not yet tested.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v15
Spec AnalysisWhat New Balance publishes about the Fresh Foam X 1080v15 — 6 mm drop, 261 g, $169.99, new Infinion midsole, men’s 4E and women’s 2E widths — read by a foot and…
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1540v4
Spec AnalysisMade-in-USA motion control, ROLLBAR post, 4 mm drop, widths to 6E — not yet tested.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v15
Spec AnalysisHeavy, plated stability in four widths — not yet tested.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15
Spec AnalysisNeutral, tall, four widths, 6 mm drop — not yet tested.
New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6
Spec AnalysisNew Balance's tallest shoe, 38 mm forefoot, 4 mm drop, APMA seal — not yet tested.
New Balance Made in USA 990v6
Spec AnalysisNew Balance publishes no weight, no drop and no stack height for the 990v6 — but it does publish B through 6E widths. A foot and ankle surgeon on what that absence…
On Cloudmonster 3
Spec AnalysisMax-cushion rocker with a plate and hollow Clouds, 6 mm drop, $190 — not yet tested.
On Cloudrunner 2
Spec AnalysisSpec analysis only. Stability-leaning daily trainer, 10 mm drop per retail listing; not yet worn or measured.
OOFOS OOahh Slide
Spec AnalysisUntested. The number OOFOS repeats everywhere — 37% more impact absorption — names no test method and no comparator, and the sandal is backless, which matters more than the foam for forefoot…
Orthofeet Coral
Spec AnalysisExtra depth, published quarter-inch removable insole, four widths A–2E, 15.7 mm drop — not yet tested.
Saucony Guide 19
Spec AnalysisSidewall stability at 6 mm drop, three widths — not yet tested.
Saucony Ride 19
Spec AnalysisLight neutral daily trainer, 8 mm drop, wider base than the 18 — not yet tested.
Saucony Triumph 24
Spec AnalysisSaucony publishes the full stack on the Triumph 24 — 43 mm heel, 33 mm forefoot, 10 mm offset, 8.8 oz, $170, new incrediLUX foam. A foot and ankle surgeon reads those…
Skechers Aero Burst
Spec AnalysisSkechers publishes a 6 mm drop; an independent lab measured 8.8 mm. Not tested by us.
Skechers GO WALK Arch Fit 2.0
Spec AnalysisRemovable Arch Fit insole, hands-free entry, APMA Seal on some styles — not yet tested.
Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins
Spec AnalysisUntested. A heel panel engineered to stay open cannot also be a rigid heel counter, and Skechers publishes no stiffness figure for it — nor a drop, a weight or a width.
Vionic Walk Max
Spec AnalysisSpec analysis only. Rocker-bottom walking shoe with a removable footbed; not yet worn or measured.
What each tier is allowed to claim
The tier on a page governs what we are willing to say about the shoe. We would rather publish a smaller number than imply we measured something we did not.
Measured, then worn
Weighed and measured on the bench, then worn for recorded miles on recorded surfaces. Scored on all nine criteria. The only tier eligible for the seal.
Measured, not yet worn
Physically weighed, measured and stress-tested for stability, but not worn far enough to judge comfort over distance or durability. Carries measurements and an Orthotic Volume Rating — no overall score.
Not in our hands
A podiatrist's reading of the manufacturer's published specification, plus what the clinical literature says about that construction. No score and no seal, on purpose.
No brand has ever paid for a score
No sponsorship, no gifted-shoe quid pro quo, no paid placement. Where we earn a commission, the link says so and the score does not change.