10 Best Lightweight Running Shoes For Men in 2022

For speed freaks and competitive runners, whether on the road or the muddy trails, the lighter the shoe, the better it is. We all love that barely-there feel while having that needed support and protection.
With a high-performance lightweight running shoe, you will get a boost in pace and challenge the pros on race day or at least beat your PB.
We've rounded up 200+ of the best men's lightweight running shoes on the market, from Saucony to Nike to Brooks, to make sure that you've the perfect footwear for your speed training sessions or the coming race. But how do you know you’ve the right pair? This guide can help you. Ready? Set, go.
Overview of this guide
How we test running shoes
We do our due diligence and handpick all the men’s shoes on the market today that weigh less than 8.8 oz (250 grams) in US size 9. We don’t discriminate when it comes to brands (around 30 of them out there) in this initial selection process. What is most important is how they fare and perform when we put them into our rigorous evaluation process, which involves the following:
- We buy all the running shoes from our own pocket to avoid any taint of brand loyalty and bias.
- We cut the shoes into essential parts in our testing lab, like we really dismember a shoe into little pieces.
- We then measure 30+ parameters of a particular model and closely check their midsole construction, breathability, and durability, among others.
- We go outside and run at least 30 or more miles for each pair, in various speed training and racing conditions. We evaluate each model based on our own personal experience.
- We collect more information from shoe experts and regular users. We reduce all their feedback in a summary.
To conclude the whole process, we assign each pair of shoes a CoreScore from 0 to 100. The top-rated models go straight to our best picks in different categories.
Best men's lightweight running shoes overall
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 1% in road running shoes
- Top 1% in Saucony running shoes
- Top 1% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Fast & responsive
- Cushioned especially for the long runs
- Spring, trampoline effect
- Excellent durability
- Featherweight like a race shoe
- Breathable
- True to size
- Perfect foot lock
- Incredible value
Cons
- Needs adaptation period
- Questionable grip on wet surfaces
Verdict
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 1% in road running shoes
- Top 2% in Saucony running shoes
- Top 2% most popular running shoes
Pros
- rocks and pushes you forward
- generous cushioning
- super breathable
- supportive fit
- great for halfmarathons
- built for speed AND distance
- feels like a rocket
Cons
- lace bites
Verdict
Best road lightweight running shoes for men
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 27% in running shoes for walking
- Top 1% most popular running shoes
Pros
- True to size
- Fits like a dream
- Accommodating stretchy upper
- Efficient transitions
- Surprisingly peppy
- Laces stay tied tightly
- Low to the ground
- Durable construction
- Great deal
- Do-it-all shoe
- Impressive weight
- Breathable
Cons
- Not for long runs
- No reflective details
Verdict
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 11% in road running shoes
- Top 23% in Brooks running shoes
- Top 4% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Very light
- Fast shoe
- Responsive ride
- Secure fit
- Breathable
Cons
- Stretchy laces
- Narrow toebox
Verdict
Best trail lightweight running shoes for men
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 7% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Great lockdown
- Fits true to size
- Lightweight
- Comfy
- Affordable
- Sturdy
- Good lacing system
Cons
- Forefoot can slip over the edge of the midsole
- Lack of rock plate
- Grip is pretty bad on anything technical
Verdict
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 10% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Natural ride
- Lightweight
- Snug fit
- Durable
- Grippy
- Straight-out-the-box comfort
- Stable
- Versatile
- Sustainable
Cons
- Less ground feel
Verdict
Best value lightweight running shoes for men
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 3% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Fits true to size
- Excellent ground feel
- Great lockdown
- Super lightweight
- Chart-topping flexibility
- Super comfortable
- Best for slow-paced runs
- Daily-wear friendly
- Attractive design
- No break-in period
Cons
- Less than average durability (~200miles)
- Poor grip on wet surfaces
- Narrow fit
- Low toe box
Verdict
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 5% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Smooth heel to toe transitions
- Lighter weight
- Comfy ride for long miles
- Perfect for any pace
- Opens up to wide feet
- Not tippy when cornering
- Stable on gravel
- Can double for casual wear
- Sustainable outsole
- Great-value
Cons
- Not as energetic as expected
- Pricier than before
- Not for narrow feet
Verdict
Most popular lightweight running shoes for men
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 27% in road running shoes
- Top 26% in Nike running shoes
- Top 2% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Rockered toe design
- Propulsive
- Breathable
- Affordable for carbon-plated shoe
- Sock-like fit
- Large heel-loop
- True to size
- Feels like more stable Vaporfly
- Snug and secure fit
- Perfect for carbon newbies
Cons
- Stiff
- Unstable at slower speeds
- Grippy on dry road only
Verdict
Corescore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all running shoes.
- Top 2% in road running shoes
- Top 2% in Nike running shoes
- Top 4% most popular running shoes
Pros
- Insanely lightweight
- Very breathable
- Bouncy
- Responsive
- FAST
- No break-in period needed
- Good grip on dry surfaces
Cons
- Not ideal for wide feet
- Unstable
- Forefoot strikers only
Verdict
What are the most popular men's lightweight running shoes in 2022?
- Brooks Revel 5
- Saucony Endorphin Speed 2
- Nike Zoom Fly 4
- Nike Flex Experience Run 10
- Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2
- Asics MetaSpeed Sky
- Asics Noosa Tri 13
- Brooks Launch 9
- New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2
- On Cloudflow 3.0
- Nike Juniper Trail
- Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next%
- Saucony Endorphin Pro 2
- Altra Vanish Carbon
- Saucony Kinvara 13
See all men's lightweight running shoes sorted by popularity
What are the cheapest men's lightweight running shoes in 2022?
- Adidas Nova Flow - from $43
- Puma UltraRide - from $45
- Nike Flex Experience Run 10 - from $45
- Under Armour Surge 2 - from $46
- Adidas SL20.2 - from $48
- Asics Versablast - from $50
- Skechers GOrun Razor Excess - from $55
- New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon v3 - from $56
- Asics Gel Quantum Lyte - from $56
- Nike Juniper Trail - from $58
- Asics Roadblast - from $60
- Skechers GOrun Razor+ - from $67
- Adidas Adizero Adios 6 - from $70
- Asics Hyper Speed - from $75
- New Balance Summit Unknown v2 - from $75
See all men's lightweight running shoes sorted by lowest price