Review on Topo Athletic Women's ST-3 Road Running Shoe: Optimal Performance for Female Runners by Darrick Dobbin

I've been wearing the Lems Primal 2 for a few months but wanted something with more cushioning for jumps on the pavement. A wide toe box, no drop, no toe spring, a soft, pliable sole and sockliner, and minimal arch support/gliding were required. You tick most of the boxes. They don't fall out. A raised hill changes your goal, shifts your balance forward, and over time causes problems with your feet, ankles, knees, hips, back, and neck. The greater the increase, the faster and more serious the likelihood of a problem. They have a wider toe box compared to most popular brands, but they aren't as wide as some minimalist shoes. The toes should be spread as at birth. This gives you the most stable posture (think triangle - the most stable structure). In modern shoes with a narrow, smooth toe (tapered), bring your toes together (see picture). Among other things, it causes bursitis in the legs. If you look at them you'll notice that they spring slightly at the toes, but because the soles are so thin and soft and the upper is closer to the fabric, they flatten out under load. Most shoes, especially athletic shoes, have a springy toe box design. This puts the toes in an elevated position, stretching some ligaments/tendons and shorting others. Over time, this can lead to hammer toe and other problems. They have what feels like metatarsal arch and hill support. That's the biggest downside I've found. This causes your foot to supine and the muscles atrophy over time. This can be caused by plantar fasciitis (Ose). The Northwest Foot and Ankle has useful information on why you want to avoid all of this in your shoes. If you wear athletic shoes for something other than exercise, it might be time to rethink or switch to something similar. I mostly wore aleth shoes, although dress shoes are just as terrible. These shoes are a big improvement. I hope they continue this line as I will be buying more when they do.