Why are a lot of shoes/sneakers designed so that the upper portion with the toes

[no_hypocrisy]

are elevated off the ground. In other words, why isn't the entire sole flat on the floor?

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[Kahuna7]

1. I wish I knew. nt

[brush]

2. Easier striding, helps runners. Basketball shoes on the other hand, are flatter for landing and...

pivoting on a flat court.

[Throck]

3. You walk up hill all day.

Burns more calories.

[Cary]

4. Try barefoot running shoes.

I prefer Skora but you can't get them at the moment. New Balance Minimus look pretty good.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Doesn't the elevation negatively impact the natural alignment of the toes and the foot?

[Cary]

7. You're beyond my knowledge base

I have heard that barefoot running shoes are not for everyone and I will tell you that I did suffer some Achilles pain. You do have to be careful. I have never heard anything about toe spacing but I do not represent that as anything more than face value.

[DetlefK]

6. Maybe because you don't walk by stomping your foot flatly on the ground?

The sole is round at the front end and at the back end because the leg is doing a pendulum-motion. When you walk, you first touch ground with the heel, then you put the weight on the middle-aprt of the foot, then you touch the ground with your toes as you lift your foot again. It's swinging/rolling motion.

[jmowreader]

8. It puts tread on the ground all the way through your stride