7 Best Lightweight Running Shoes

A jack-of-all-trades, the Hoka Mach 6 excels at any pace and distance with its otherworldly comfort and high level of agility for effortless miles. With its light and loose build, plus a grippy outsole, it’s a clear favorite in our lab and ranks as the top lightweight running shoe.

At just 8.2 oz (232g), the Mach 6 effortlessly covers miles, feeling virtually weightless on foot. Its lightweight construction, far below the 9.4 oz (265g) average for road running shoes, ensures it never holds us back during runs.

Beyond the lab, Mach 6 thrives on the road with its rocker design paving the way for smooth forward transitions and easing out our hard efforts with its vibrant soul. Each landing feels supported by a generous stack, which our caliper shows is 36.0/26.4 mm, followed by an energetic toe-off.

The Hoka Mach 6 isn't just about speed; it's also built for endurance. Its balanced 20.4 HA midsole offers unparalleled comfort, enveloping our feet with every stride. Furthermore, its exceptional flexibility allows it to bend with our foot's natural flexion effortlessly, evidenced by a 36.4% lower resistance compared to the average.

However, its focus on reducing weight led to a slightly narrow build. We recommend those with wide feet to explore other more accommodating options.

The Saucony Kinvara 15 emerged as our best daily trainer among lightweight running shoes because it kept the ride as natural and weightless as possible. Our lab confirms its effortless commitment to minimalism through its low configuration, light and loose build, and breezy upper.

Our scales confirmed its feathery build yet it’s our feet that enjoyed it the most. At only 6.8 oz (194g), we felt like flying through the miles. Moving required minimal effort and our bend test confirms Kinvara 15 is 53.3% more flexible than average!

Kinvara 15’s low profile naturally enhances stability. Our caliper reveals a 27.9/23.5 mm cushion with a firm 23.8 HA durometer reading to avoid bottoming out. It features a low 4.4 mm drop, which is great for strengthening our legs since we have to do the work.

The shoe offers a breathable space for prolonged runs, enhancing comfort for daily wear. Our smoke test mirrored our experience with an excellent ventilation score of 5/5.

Unfortunately, the shoe’s focus on less weight and more flexibility led to limited durability, particularly in the outsole. Those who prefer a trainer for several training blocks should explore elsewhere.

Faster than its shadow, Nike’s ZoomX Streakfly is our best speed trainer in the lightweight division. This non-plated modern hyper-shoe exhales pure speed while enhancing agility and comfort through its cushioning, breathability, and flexibility. 

Streakfly unveiled its dynamic and powerhouse persona on our streets, unleashing bursts of energy in every stride. Its power lies in the plush ZoomX midsole, as confirmed by our 12.1 HA durometer reading. 

This airy shoe never burdened us, it actually melted away on foot. Our scales confirm its weightlessness at 6.0 oz (171g), the lightest we’ve ever encountered in the lab. Its lack of a carbon plate makes it easy to maneuver, as shown in how we sped through corners smoothly. Our bend test confirms it’s 55.6% more flexible than average, making it comfortable for recovery paces as well.

Even during summer training, we felt like flying with the upper’s well-ventilated nature. Heat easily escapes, effectively keeping sweat, blisters, and hotspots out of the way. Our breathability test results align with a perfect score.

However, the shoe’s lack of structure and support makes it uncomfortable to run distances beyond 10K. Best to use pairs with more stability for longer distances.

Alphafly 3 goes lightning fast at any distance. Characterized by boundless energy, revolutionary stability, and a refreshing ride, our lab and run tests wholeheartedly endorse this shoe as best for marathons in the lightweight running category. Going fast and far feels effortless with this Nike pair.

This beast is on fire, effortlessly keeping up with our fastest speed. It boasts a superior combination of the rigid FlyPlate and the Air Pods, adding power to every stride. Our bend test reveals it takes a solid force of 71.7N to flex this shoe to 90 degrees, 147.2% greater than average. This stiffness shows itself through strong and consistent energy return.

While instability is often found in racers, it doesn’t hold for Alphafly 3. Despite rising to skyscraper heights, the foam strategically has dual-density layers. The bottom layer is an ultra-soft 18.1 HA for gentle landings, while the top layer is a firm 29.3 HA to enhance surefootedness. This feature comes alive at longer distances, inspiring confidence since it prevents leg fatigue.

Running a marathon is a breeze with Alphafly 3’s lightweight package and ultra-breathable upper. It scored the highest rating on our breathability test and only weighed 7.1 oz (201g).

While this shoe is light, the case isn’t the same as its price. It costs a steep $285, but honestly, we think it’s worth the investment for peak performance.

After repetitive lab tests and runs, we’re truly in awe of how Brooks Launch GTS 10 packed so much support in a light and affordable shoe. For only $110, we get the stability we need from its GuideRails technology, compared to the $141 average of its counterparts. Every stride felt remarkably agile and assured, solidifying its claim as the premier lightweight stability shoe.

Weighing in at 8.5 oz (241g), the Launch GTS 10 defies the stereotype of heavy stability shoes averaging 10.3 oz (293g) in our lab. Its maneuverable midsole offers comfort and agility, as confirmed by our bend test when it surpassed the average running shoe by 35.0%, promoting smooth toe-offs and fluid transitions.

Fully embodying the “Go-To-Stability” in its name, Brooks’ GuideRails technology takes center stage. It consists of two rigid plastic pieces to guide our foot alignment and adds stiffness to the midsole torsionally. In our manual assessment, it took mighty strength to twist the shoe, earning a high torsional rigidity rating of 4/5. To ensure a balanced ride, the 19.6 HA foam delivers comfort without compressing unevenly.

However, the steep 12.2 mm heel drop makes this trainer more suitable for heel strikers. Mid-to-forefoot strikes will find better comfort and support in other pairs.

With a delicate 7.8 oz (220g), the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is our #1 lightweight option for going the distance. It takes us fast and far with its delightful cushion and dynamic midsole that infuses tons of energy in each toe-off. It’s hard not to love this shoe, with a long lifespan as the cherry on top.

A champion in the long haul game, the Pro 4’s midsole ticks all boxes packing comfort, responsiveness, and stability in one. Our foot is supported by dual-density layers: a soft and springy 18.5 HA top layer and a balanced 22.0 HA bottom layer, providing added stability during endurance runs, especially as fatigue sets in. Sandwiched in between is a rigid S-shaped carbon plate that promotes smooth forward motions. No matter the direction, EP4 is one of the toughest shoes we’ve ever tried to bend. Our flex test reveals it’s 137.5% stiffer than average, explaining the energy rebound we feel. 

The toughness displayed by this supershoe’s outsole is unmatched. We barely saw any wear after double-digit miles. Our lab results confirm it exceeds the average: a tough 85.3 HC, 2.1 mm thick, and 33.3% less indentation than average in our Dremel test.

Its stacked 38.1 mm heel and steep 9.5 mm incline show it’s made for heel-strikers. Mid-to-forefoot strikers should find a pair that will suit their running technique.

Runners searching for a lightweight and light-in-the-pocket shoe can’t go wrong with Saucony Axon 3. It stood out in our lab tests and runs as a high-performance shoe with low weight and a low price tag. At only $100, it’s $37 cheaper than the average running shoe and offers unmatched value with its premium comfort, light build, and lasting durability.

Axon 3’s airy construction results in less burdened strides, allowing us to pick up the pace. Our scales reveal it’s only 8.6 oz (244g), 8.3% lighter than the average running shoe. Adding to its weightless feel is the well-ventilated upper that scored a high 4/5 on our breathability test.

For its weight and price, we were pleasantly surprised with its generous cushioning. We can run long miles feeling supported by the tall and plush stack. Our durometer reading shows it’s 22.1% softer than average, confirming its cozy sensation.

The outsole looked pristine after repetitive test runs. Axon 3 combines a thicker and tougher-than-average rubber to ensure it can take the abuse of several training blocks. Not only that, it gripped various surfaces with exceptional consistency.

Axon 3 feels quite rigid for easy runs. Our lab tests reveal it’s stiffer than average on all sides. Runners who prefer a more natural feel should check other alternatives.