Dr. Hoopes Recommended Shoes by Shoe Type
How to decide which shoes to buy and what to look for in a good shoe.
More great lists by biomechanics specilist, Katy Bowman
Men |
Women |
“Foot-shape” |
Notes |
Road Running |
Best |
||
Altra: All models |
Altra: All models |
Best |
|
Lems: Primal |
Lems: Primal |
Best |
Perhaps the best shape of any shoe, ever (besides toe-shoes) |
Merrell: Vapor Glove, Bare Access 4 |
Merrell: Vapor Glove, Bare Access 4 |
Good |
Toe box too narrow |
Vivobarefoot: Road Series |
Vivobarefoot: Road Series |
Better |
Could have more room for the small toes |
ZEMgear: All ModelsTopo Athletic: All ModelsSkora: All models |
ZEMgear: All ModelsTopo Athletic: All ModelsSkora: All Models |
BetterBetterGood |
Might wear out quicklyMaker of Five FingersToe box too narrow |
Trail Running |
|||
Altra: All models |
Altra: All models |
Best |
|
Merrell: Trail Glove |
Merrell: Trail Glove |
Better |
|
New Balance: Minimus TrailVivobarefoot: Off-road Series
|
New Balance: Minimus TrailVivobarefoot: Off-road Series
|
Best Better
|
..
|
Vibram Five Fingers: All ModelsbrCasual/Around the townAltra Desert Boot
|
Vibram Five Fingers: All Modelsbrbr.
|
Overall Best
|
br. Extreme minimalist
|
Formal Dress |
|||
Senmotic Fine Black (and all other models)Birkenstock Dress Shoes
|
Senmotic Benita (and all other models)..
|
Best..BetterBetter |
|
Patagonia: “Honeycomb-sole” models onlyPau, Loulu, Banyan, Sitka
|
brbrGH Bass: (Models w/ wide toe box below ONLY) Bradshaw SlipOn, Delancy Boot |
GoodbrGoodbr |
Excessive heel heightbrExcessive heel heightbr |
Lems: Nine2Five
|
..Merrell Encore
|
BestbrBetter / Good
|
br br
|
Casual Dress |
|||
Lems: Boulder Boot
|
Lems: Boulder BootChaco: Harper slide, Harper lace, Pineland Moc
|
BestGood |
|
Altra: Instinct Everyday |
Altra: Intuition Everyday |
Better |
|
VivoBarefoot: Lifestyle Series
|
Vivobarefoot: Lifestyle Series
|
BetterGoodGood |
brbr
|
Sanuk: All Loafers Kyoto, Chiba, Vagabond, etc. |
.Alegria Shoes (better models have NO heel) |
Better |
|
OP Loafers – Surfer-type Slip-ons (Imitation Sanuk cheaper andbetter in some ways!):Canvas, Casual, Mocassin, Lightweight. Birkenstock shoes and sandals |
.
. . Calceo shoesBirkenstock shoes and sandals |
Best. . BetterBetter |
|
New Balance: Minimus Leather |
Best |
||
Born: Milton, Alpert, Quentin, Carsten, SandorbrbrEcco: Biom Series ONLY, Biom Lite |
brGH Bass: (Models w/ wide toe box below ONLY) Darla SlipOn, Meridian Clogbr |
GoodGoodbrGood |
Excessive heel heightExcessive heel heightbrToe box narrow |
Cross TrainingReebok Crossfit Acceptable Modelsalso on Amazon
|
Reebok Crossfit Acceptable Models
|
Betterbr
|
Only models on linksbrbrNeed less heel and more space for big toe. |
Adidas Puremotion
|
Best
|
||
Barefoot BERBS: General Info,
|
General Info
|
brBest |
|
True Linkswear: StealthKids Golf Shoe: Dawgs |
BetterGood |
||
Military Spec |
|||
General Info about the Belleville Mini-Mil SeriesVideos on the benefits of Minimalist Boots
|
brbr
|
Betterbr
|
brbrbr
|
Work Boots |
|||
Keen: Steel toe optionsbr
|
BetterbrbrBetter |
Milwaukee model has worked well for my patientsbrbr |
|
Cycling |
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BontAll models including Road, Mountain, TriathlonCleatsCustomCleats.com (Take any shoes from this list and they will make them into cleats in a couple of weeks!) |
Best |
||
Kids Shoes |
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The best shoes for kids: NO Shoes!PlaeKid O FitVarious shoes at Walmart (surprisingly!)Casual Loafer, Athletic Shoes (another), SandalNerf Water ShoesReebok NanoSkiddersMomo. |
The best shoes for kids: NO Shoes!PlaeKid O FitbrbrbrReebok NanoSkiddersMomo. |
By far the BESTBestBestCasual loafers: BestOthers: BetterBestBetterBestBetter/Best. |
.......Baby and toddler shoes |