7 Best Lightweight Tennis Shoes in 2024

How we test tennis shoes

From mesh and synthetic-made materials to knit or even leather shoes, we’ve vetted and double-checked every essential part of the footwear in the RunRepeat shoe testing lab. We’ve also do hours of playtests on the clay and hard court to assess their comfort and performance.

To finalize our comprehensive reviews, we do these steps:

• We procure all the lightweight tennis kicks from a wide array of brands in the market. We invest our own funds to preserve the independence and impartiality of our rankings and reviews.
• We play hours of tennis to evaluate each model for this guide. We carefully scrutinize each one based on various parameters such as weight, break-in period, cushioning system, outsole traction, breathability, lateral support, and more.
• We perform a battery of mechanical tests to determine vital areas such as grippiness on different surfaces, lateral movement performance, and so on.
• We then put our goggles on and be all geeky about the shoes. We perform another series of tests, but this time, inside our lab, we measure the properties of the shoes. We cut the shoes open and unearth all the technologies or simple details that make up the shoes.

When playing tennis, being light on your feet is a crucial element of your game. In terms of footwear, the quest for the right balance in comfort, support and agility often leads to a crucial factor: weight.

In this guide we’ll explore what makes lightweight tennis shoes the go-to choice for many players, including a focus on the essential features that set the best lightweight tennis shoes apart. Because an informed player means a smart player, and that might just be your advantage in the game.

6 types of tennis players that love lightweight tennis shoes

1. The prodigy: There are plenty of young talents coming through with the world at their feet. But they don’t want to be held back by a pair of heavy and clunky tennis shoes.
2. The enthusiast: Whether it's a scorching summer day or a chilly winter morning, this dedicated soul never misses their tennis sessions, and lightweight shoes help keep them agile.
3. The strategist: Known for their on-court smarts and impeccable court coverage, this player prefers lightweight shoes as it allows them to react to every volley and chase down every ball that goes down the line.
4. The weekend warrior: In between hectic work and family life, this player depends on their lightweight tennis shoes to get them through their Saturday morning club match because as much as they enjoy their tennis, the weekend is full of many more activities to embrace as well.
5. The seasoned senior: Age is just a number for this seasoned player who chooses lightweight tennis shoes to maintain their agility and outsmart opponents with experience.
6. The coach: Coaches spend hours on the court, acting as a hitting partner and demonstrating techniques with their tennis proteges. Lightweight tennis shoes provide the comfort and speed needed to keep up with aspiring players.

And 5 types of players who prefer heavier tennis shoes

Sure this article might be about lightweight tennis shoes but it would be remiss not to mention that lightweight shoes don’t suit everybody, particularly these types of players:

1. The stable mate: These players value the added weight of tennis shoes for the increased stability it provides. Particularly effective for players who aren’t skinny lightweights themselves, heavier shoes can help keep you anchored to the court reducing the likelihood of unnecessary post-match soreness and even injury.
2. The shock absorber: Sometimes the additional cushioning and shock absorbing layers that manufacturers create their shoes with comes at the expense of a heavier shoe, and for players who prioritize these comfortable features - particularly on hard courts - might shy away from a lightweight tennis shoe.
3. The durability devotee: Heavy shoes have been traditionally associated with durability, or ‘heavy duty’ if you will. While the technology is improving to make this durability lighter, there are plenty of players to this day who will err on the side of sturdy in the pursuit of longer-lasting shoes.
4. The all-weather warrior: The reality for most local club-level tennis players is that, unlike what we often see on TV, outdoor playing means all conditions. From wet to cold to windy, and sometimes all three. Some players will lean towards heavier shoes with the theory that they will be better in poor conditions, for example by holding better traction than their lighter weight counterparts.
5. The baseline bomber: Players with a baseline-dominant playing style, known for powerful groundstrokes, may opt for heavier shoes to support their aggressive movements and provide a stable base for generating maximum power.

The role that playing styles have on lightweight shoes

Considering weight is an important part of the process in researching and ultimately finding the perfect pair of tennis shoes. However, it’s not just the product to consider, it’s also your playing style. Different players look for different attributes in a shoe so that it suits them the best, not just because that’s what the marketing material told them.

The aggressive baseliner

Those players that find themselves rallying from the baseline will rely on endurance, agility and quick lateral movements. Although there may be some hesitancy for a baseline player to seek out lightweight shoes, they can be beneficial as it allows them to make fast directional changes while still allowing for recovery in between movements, thereby maintaining the endurance required for long matches.

The all-courter

The ability to adapt to different situations and surfaces is a tennis trait frequently sought after, yet infrequently found. However if this is you then you’ll find yourself seeking a balance between lightweight shoes (great for fast reactions on hard courts) and heavier weight shoes (best suited to clay courts as they provide the stability required for sliding across the court).

The serve-and-volleyer

If you find yourself at the net frequently, whether playing doubles or singles, you’ll be looking at prioritizing stability and support in your tennis shoes. Sometimes heavier tennis shoes can provide more support allowing you to stay grounded and ready to clip that volley over the net.

The counterpuncher

Counterpunchers have a unique ability to turn their opponent’s power against them. Although known as being constantly in defense, their style - when done effectively - is one that puts their opponent on the backfoot regardless of how offensive they were playing.

For counterpunchers quick and nimble movements are a regular feature of their game, and as they gradually wear down their competition they find themselves requiring a somewhat unusual combination of responsiveness for fast movements and cushioning for long, drawn out matches.

Counterpunchers definitely benefit from lightweight tennis shoes as they turn their match from ‘counterpunch’ at the beginning, to ‘punchy’ at the end.

Anatomy of a lightweight tennis shoe

Understanding where the engineers concentrate their efforts in trying to make lightweight and reliable tennis shoes is an important part of your research. This will help you know what to look for and what’s important to you. Let’s drill down on those considerations:

Midsole cushioning

The midsole is crucial for comfort and support, and these technologies offer lightweight yet effective solutions. Brands like Nike use Air Zoom and Asics has it’s own GEL technology in the midsole to provide responsive cushioning and shock absorption.

Outsole traction

Outsoles are often made with durable rubber compounds like Adidas' Adiwear, designed to provide excellent grip and durability on the court. The pattern and composition of the outsole play a significant role in enhancing traction during quick movements.

Upper materials

The upper material impacts the shoe's overall weight, flexibility, and comfort. Synthetic overlays and closely woven fabrics create the sense of stability while retaining durability, allowing the shoes to retain their integrity during all sorts of sharp tennis movements and throughout long rallies. A classic example of this is the Nike Court Air Zoom Vapor Pro which uses a thick and tightly woven mesh structure.

Toe cap

Many of the big tennis footwear brands are using technologies to reinforce the toe cap area to resist abrasion and extend the shoe's life. This is especially important for players who have an aggressive playing style, with fast and sharp court movements to and from the net, plus laterally across the court. K-Swiss has created their DragGuard technology for this exact reason, and they use it on their popular tennis models such as the K-Swiss Hypercourt Supreme.

Lateral stability

Many modern tennis shoes use a lightweight lateral stability technology designed to provide on-court stability. An example of this is Asics with their Twistruss system, as used on the ASICS Solution Speed FF 2. This is particularly suitable for the player who starts at the baseline but typically moves to the net and requires a fast, flexible and lightweight shoe.

Torsional rigidity

Tennis shoes need to provide torsional rigidity, meaning they resist twisting, to support quick lateral movements. Some brands integrate shanks or arch support technologies to enhance this rigidity without compromising weight. And shoe engineers know that they can play with this feature, as this recent study published in the European Journal of Sport Science found that “shoe torsional stiffness had no effect on running velocity, on stance duration and maximal values of ground reaction forces” [1], therefore allowing some slack with how shoes can be designed for torsion.

Creative engineering

Wherever the shoe has material is an opportunity for an engineer to create technological improvements, including weight reduction. Expect to see this improve in the coming years with fabrics that demonstrate unbeatable comfort and durability, but still being incredibly lightweight.

How lightweight technology stacks up for each brand

So how exactly do the big brands keep their tennis shoes so nice and lightweight? There’s some serious research and development that goes into making the end product, so let’s take a look:

Nike

Renowned as being a worldwide leader for sporting footwear technology, Nike applies similar principles for their tennis range. Some of their lightweight innovations include:

• Zoom Air: Nike’s Zoom Air technology is renowned for providing responsive cushioning in the midsole section. It features low-profile but highly responsive air cushioning units which will enhance the player’s ‘feel’ for the court. Despite all of this, it remains remarkably lightweight and is a favorite feature of Nike tennis shoes for players at all levels.
• Lunarlon cushioning: Nike's Lunarlon cushioning offers a responsive and lightweight foam core inside the shoe's midsole. It provides ample cushioning for comfort without adding unnecessary weight.
• Outsole engineering: The outsoles of Nike tennis shoes often feature herringbone patterns and strategic rubber placements. This design optimizes traction and grip without compromising on weight.

Asics

Asics is well-known for its focus on comfort and performance. To keep their tennis shoes lightweight, they incorporate the following technologies:

• GEL technology: Asics integrates GEL cushioning in the midsole of their tennis shoes. It offers shock absorption and comfort while being lightweight.
• Trusstic system: The Trusstic System technology reduces the weight of the sole unit without sacrificing structural integrity. It enhances stability and reduces shoe weight.
• Lightweight uppers: Asics often uses lightweight and breathable materials for the upper construction, reducing excess weight while providing a secure fit.

K-Swiss

Strongly regarded in the tennis world, K-Swiss is known for its footwear and they employ some clever technology to keep their tennis shoes lightweight:

• DuraWrap technology: K-Swiss uses DuraWrap technology to reinforce areas of the shoe that experience high abrasion. This adds durability without significantly increasing weight.
• K-EVA midsole: K-Swiss utilizes their K-EVA midsole for cushioning. It maintains lightweight properties while providing ample support and shock absorption.
• Aosta rubber outsole: The Aosta rubber compound in the outsole offers traction and durability without excessive weight.

References

1. Martin C, Touzard P, Horvais N, Puchaud P, Kulpa R, Bideau B, Sorel A. Influence of shoe torsional stiffness on foot and ankle biomechanics during tennis forehand strokes. Eur J Sport Sci. 2023 Jun;23(6):914-924. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2022.2153232. Epub 2022 Dec 12. PMID: 36437487.