The Science Behind Veloci
Pulling the curtain on our design philosophy
Why the natural shaped toe box?
Reduce Foot Deformities and Pain
Natural-shaped toe boxes allow your toes to splay and move freely, which helps prevent common foot problems like bunions, hammertoes, and neuromas. Studies show that shoes with wide, rounded toe boxes significantly reduce pressure on the forefoot and toes, lowering the risk of painful deformities and chronic pain.
Improve Balance and Stability
When your toes are able to spread naturally, you gain a wider base of support and better proprioception (awareness of your foot’s position). Research indicates that wide toe boxes can improve balance—especially in older adults and those with ankle instability—making you feel more stable during movement.
Enhance Biomechanical Function and Comfort
A natural toe box supports the natural alignment and movement of your foot, strengthening intrinsic foot muscles and improving overall biomechanics. This can lead to a more comfortable, efficient stride, reduced fatigue, and a lower risk of injuries like blisters, calluses, and bruised toenails.
What the experts say
- Clinical Summary: Movement Mantra Physical Therapy (2023): “Randomized controlled trials comparing wide toe box shoes to narrow ones have shown that individuals who wore the former experienced a significant reduction in foot pain and deformities.
- Buldt & Menz (2013): “Compared to pointed or narrow toe box shoes, footwear with a round (wider) toe box produced less peak pressure around the medial aspect of the foot, and the pressure time integral was also lower in this region. These findings indicate that a round or natural-shaped toe box can help reduce forefoot pressure, which may lower the risk of pain and deformities such as bunions and hammertoes.”
Why the high heel drop?
Support Recovery and Injury Prevention
High heel drop shoes help protect and relieve stress on the Achilles tendon, calf muscles, and heel making them an excellent choice for runners managing or recovering from lower leg injuries.
Enhance Comfort for Traditional Running Styles
By promoting a natural heel-first landing, these shoes offer increased comfort and reduced forefoot strain, especially for runners who prefer or naturally adopt a heel strike pattern.
Optimize Biomechanics for Specific Runner Needs
High heel drop shoes redistribute impact forces away from the foot and ankle toward the knee and hip, providing targeted support for those with limited ankle mobility or who benefit from reduced lower leg loading.
What the experts say
- The art of choosing the right running shoe (2020): "High-drop shoes are indicated in patients with foot and ankle pathology to protect them. These are also useful in beginners in running, since their musculoskeletal and articular systems are not yet adapted to support the running load."
- Besson et al. (2017): "Higher shoe drop reduces ankle loading and increases knee loading, which can be advantageous for those with Achilles or calf issues."
- RunRepeat: "High heel drop shoes shift load away from the foot and ankle, making them beneficial for runners with Achilles, calf, or heel issues."
