Naang Boot Lasts: Minimalist vs Zero Drop
Foot Health Shouldn't Look Boring
Most boots are foot coffins. They cram your toes into points and jack up your heels. We don't do that here. Naang Boots are handmade in Thailand for people who actually move.
We use a natural shape for your feet. Both our lasts have a massive toe box. Your toes can spread out and do their job. The only choice is how much heel you want.
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What's going on everyone? It's Dana from Naang Boots. Today, I just wanted to talk to you guys about our lasts, the type that we use to make our boots, like our Winfield monkey boot or like our Dante adventure boot. Here's one of the early prototypes. And a lot of people ask about our anatomical shape.
So we have two lasts that we use with this anatomical shape. I want to show you guys first a normal last. Kind of has this more pointed toe. This is a last that might be used for like a dress boot. This is actually from a Chelsea boot that my partner did for one of his other brands. Alright, it has that very pointed toe and you can see it's got the very pronounced heel here to—to elevate the heel. Quite a bit of drop on this particular last.
We don't use that type of last at Naang. We focus on anatomical foot shape and foot health. So this is our minimalist last that has that anatomical shape. You can see here and it has a little bit of heel elevation. This has got our minimal heel, it's 10 millimeters. So it gives you a little bit of elevation in the heel. This is great for people who are just transitioning to—maybe they want to get to a zero drop and they've worn really big heel work boots for their whole life or they've always worn athletic shoes that had a big drop. So this with the 10 mil is great as sort of a transition point. Or if you have calf problems or lower back issues that require you to have a heel, this is a great point, but you still get that really nice toe shape. This is that anatomical foot shape.
And what this allows you to do is really splay your toes out in the boot and it gives you better balance. You have that wider foundation and your toes are able to function a lot more naturally. You can imagine then maybe this, if you look at these side-by-side. Because of this shape, this is why our boots fit true to measurement. So if you have a Brannock measurement of 11, you will be an 11 in our boots. And we have very minimal arch support. It's really what molds into your foot from our all-veg tan insoles. That will eventually mold over time and you'll have a very natural, very gentle arch support.
We also have our zero drop last. This one's huge. This is actually my size 13. But you can see we have that same shape, very wide. This is our D width and our D width is actually super wide. A lot of people who would maybe normally want a E, we talk to them and I get their measurements and they end up going with the D. But some people still super wide, we can go as wide as we need to with our last. This is zero drop. You can see there's a little bit of a gentle arch built in there.
But what's nice about this is for someone who's already sort of made that transition to a zero drop shoe and they really love barefoot shoes, they want a boot that matches that, we have that last. And we spent quite a bit of time developing it. We didn't just take our minimalist and then remove the heel altogether. We had to make some actual anatomical changes. One of the things that we found with a lot of the zero drop shoes and some of the other zero drop boots that we looked at was they got really wide in the midfoot and the heel and that created a kind of—sort of sloppy feel when you wore them. And it sort of took away the advantages you had of having this really nice anatomical toe box. You're able to move your toes around, but the midfoot and the heel felt really sloppy. Your foot was moving around quite a bit.
And so we really worked on having a nice taper but still giving enough room there so your foot feels really secure, but the boot's not tight. You have all this room and this space up in the anatomical toe box, but you've got that really nice comfortable fit through the midfoot and in the heel. And you see we have a little bit of toe spring here, just enough to make walking feel natural with that all-veg tan insole and midsole. We get quite a bit of nice flex, but you still have all the benefits of having that type of shoe.
And again, this is what, you know, our boots look like when they're done. You have that really great platform on the bottom here. And these are actually my Winfields. I—I clock over 100 kilometers a week in these. Uh—these were our original prototypes I've been testing and still holding up over a year later. Versus something like this is a more natural, a more normal, a more traditional shoe shape and you can see how it doesn't even really look like—these are the same size shoe—but the toe space here is completely unnatural and you really wouldn't have any benefit of toe splay with something like that.
So yeah, if you want an anatomical toe box that has a really good fit all the way through, whether you want zero drop or you want the minimalist heel that we offer, both great options. And right now we have the Dante, which is our adventure boot. This comes in up to 10 inch. I've got it here with the—the minimalist heel. And our—our Winfield as well, which is our monkey boot. I wear this a ton for hiking. I tend to wear the 10 inch Dante when I'm doing motorcycle trips or something like that. That's the boot that I kind of default to.
But yeah, zero drop, minimalist heel, anatomical toe box. We are working on a Munson-inspired last because a lot of people have asked us for a boot that has a more traditional shape, but obviously finding a balance between a wider toe box and that anatomical correctness, that's a design issue that we're excited to look into, but we're—we want to make sure that we get it figured out. All right, that's all I really have for Naang Boots on our lasts with our anatomical toe box, our minimalist heel and our zero drop lasts. Thanks for listening!
The Minimalist Last
For us, the minimalist last isn’t just about our wide anatomical toe box, this last has a 10mm heel. It is not flat, but it is not a high heel either. For many who have not made the switch to a zero drop just yet, this will be the sweet spot. A lot of people of are in the process of transitioning to a fully zero drop life get this boot.
But there are also times when a little heel can be a big benefit, hiking, especially if there are a lot of elevation changes, a heel can be a big benefit, the same if you are covering a lot of distance on concrete. Riding a motorcycle is another time where a bit of a heel comes in handy, it allows you to lock it on the pegs when needed.
Our Minimalist Boot Last features an anatomical toe box and 10mm heel
The Benefits of a Slight Heel
A small lift does more than just look good. Some jobs demand a heel for safety rules. If you climb ladders all day, that heel helps you lock in. It keeps you steady on the rungs.
Hills and dirt can be a pain. A heel lets you dig in when walking down steep paths. It gives you more bite on loose ground and keeps you upright.
Concrete and gravel don't move for anyone. This slight heel adds comfort for long shifts on hard floors. It saves your heels from the daily grind.
If you always wear standard shoes, don't rush into flat boots. Your body needs time to change. This heel is the perfect bridge. Take it slow and let your legs adjust.
Best Use Case
If you have not made the switch to zero drop then this is your daily driver. It works for motorcycle riding, hiking in the back country, or hitting the city streets. It handles concrete and asphalt like a pro. If your job requires a heel, then this is a no brainer.
Who Is This For?
This is for the guy coming from standard work boots. You want foot health but don't want to relearn how to walk. It is the perfect middle ground for rugged life.
This is also for you if you are out hiking steep trails all day, walking around the concrete jungle and need a bit more space under your heel, and of course if you are road tripping on your bike, or getting some weekend scrambles in, then our minimalist last with that slight heel is gonna be your best friend.
Zero Drop
This last is has zero drop as the name would imply. There is no height difference between your heel and your toes. This gives you the most natural alignment for your body. Now, zero drop doesn’t mean totally flat, out last has a very gentle arch support thats not pushing up on your foot, but it’s there when you need it after you clocked 25km through the city. We also add 10mm of toe spring to the last to assist with natural foot roll as you walk.
The Naang Boots Zero Drop Last With an Anatomical Toe Box
Benefits of Zero Drop
Zero drop gives you the best foot function. It lets your foot move the way nature planned. Our wide, anatomical toe box lets your toes spread out for better balance. Every step you take builds real strength in your feet.
We use a thick veg tan insole and midsole. This gives you more protection than a thin barefoot shoe. You can go further and trek across rough ground with ease. You get the barefoot feel without the pain of sharp rocks.
Best Use Case
These are your daily boots if you are used to flat shoes. They are built for the woods and the trail. The extra leather under your feet lets you walk longer in the wild.
These are my daily boots, I am most comfortable on a zero drop, and unless I am doing something where our minimalist last provides a benefit you will see me in zero drops.
Who Is This For?
This is for the person who has put in the work. You have made the full move to flat shoes already. If you want to explore the back country or hit the road on your bike, these have you covered.
Which One Is Right For You?
Choosing a boot shouldn't be a chore. Both options give your toes the room they deserve. Both are hand-welted and tough as nails.
Pick the *Minimalist Last** if you work on ladders or pavement.
Pick *Zero Drop** if you want to feel the earth beneath you.
Stop wearing boots that hurt. Your feet do the hard work. Treat them to something better. Grab a pair of Naang Boots and get back outside.
