Low-threshold mechanosensory receptors (LTMRs) are important for the sense of touch. Here, the authors show that, in mice, the Aδ subtype of LTMRs (Aδ-LTMRs), which are located inside hair follicles, are tuned to be more sensitive to deflection in the caudal-to-rostral direction. This is achieved by an asymmetric distribution of the lanceolate (tapered branches) endings of Aδ-LTMRs that is biased towards the caudal side of the hair follicle. Furthermore, this polarized distribution of lanceolate Aδ-LTMR endings, and therefore their direction selectivity, is dependent on brain-derived neurotrophic factor signalling.