Understanding Heel Bevel: Why This Tiny Detail Changes Everything

Chances are, you haven’t given much thought to a heel bevel, or maybe you don’t even know what it is. But it’s one of those subtle design details to a running shoe that can make a surprisingly big difference in how your run feels.

Line up a few of your running shoes and take a look. Notice how the back edge of the heel isn’t shaped the same in every pair? That’s not just a design choice, it’s functional.

That angled cut is what’s known as the heel bevel. And believe it or not, it can change the...