My original running shoes were zero drop - Nike Waffles in 1973

I switched to 0-drop several years ago to help with my quad tendonitis. They helped, but were a bit tough on my calves. I recently switched to 4mm drop and love them.

I think it's all about what works for you.

I'll be honest.... When I went from high drop to relatively low drop shoes, I noticed nothing. I moved to Hokas because the high cushioning for my back. There was a tangible difference in how my back and legs felt, but it is more due to the cushion, not drop (I think).

All my shoes have affected my calves the same. When the shoes wear out, I get shin splints and calf pain.

Suggest you read Anatomy for Runners. There are no studies, impossible to study as there are way too many factors involved

I’ve moved to low/zero drop in all my shoes and feel like my posture is better and have less joint pain. However, my biggest issue is finding lower drop dress shoes for work. I do not want minimal shoes for work, but do want low drop ... and have not found a good option yet.

I really notice the difference after a few days in traditional dress shoes.

drn92

They may be too minimal for you, but the below may have something that fits your requirement. (I use their shoes and boots, have not tried their running shoes)
https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/mens
https://www.vivobarefoot.com/...on-mens?colour=Black (Probably the closest shoe to a true dress shoe)
https://www.vivobarefoot.com/...-mens?colour=Tobacco (Shoes I use)

Could be something closer to what you are looking for, but it really depends on type of shoes you need for work. (never used, but read some good things)
http://www.softstarshoes.com/...thorne-chukka-1.html (not as minimal as some, and probably a dressier shoe, they have others that may not work)

Never heard of the company
http://www.anthonyalanfootwear.com/category-s/100.htm

Probably the shoe that looks the most like a traditional dress shoe.
https://caretsco.com/

Good place to check
http://weartested.org/...ual-minimalist-shoes

Great links. I’ve checked out a few of those and was ready to buy the Anthony Alan’s but they do not have my size (typically a 14). The Vivobarefoots look nice but probably too minimal. The Carats are great but more dressy than I want.

I have a pair of Born’s and some Ecco’s on the way. I am in a pretty casual industry where chinos and loafers work for pretty much every situation. I just wish there was lower drop with a little cushion and structure in a decent looking loafer.

drn92

The cushioning makes more of a difference in the feel of the shoe than the drop.

But a zero drop will emphasize calf usage more than a dropped shoe.

I've switched over completely in the last year from full-drop motion control big shoes to barefoot-minimalist style running, and the type of fatigue and soreness you get is completely different between the two. In my Brooks and other motion controls, I was a big-time heel stomper, especially on downhills, and I'd feel the beatdown in my quads.

With the minimalist shoes, the calves and achilles take far more of a beating, but the quads feel relatively spared. It's very weird to be hammering away on a trail with a 15%+ grade, and not feel much fatigue or burning in the quads, whereas your calves are really getting hammered.

I've haven't yet tested the minimalist shoes in a triathlon race yet, but I'm hoping that the achilles/calf emphasis will be a nice counterpoint to the quad/glute-centric bike muscle fatigue.