5 Best Lightweight Hiking Shoes in 2023

Jovana Subic
Jovana Subic on
5 Best Lightweight Hiking Shoes in 2023
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The best middle ground of trail running shoes and hiking shoes are lightweight hiking shoes. What’s not to love: they are light + offer rigid soles. In this guide, you’ll find out which lightweight hiking shoes are the best and which features to look for when buying lightweight hiking shoes.

With over 100 light hiking shoes reviewed, we have selected the best and brightest in five different categories. Apart from being light, some shoes also boast excellent waterproofing for rainy days, some offer springy cushioning for speedy hikes, and some can drain water very quickly to let you walk through rivers and streams. 

No matter what your priority is, we’ve got a recommended shoe for it.

How we test hiking shoes

Our review process is straightforward: we read reviews from 366 experts and 56,604 users on lightweight hiking shoes. Then we used our CoreScore system to aggregate reviews, while eliminating spam and weighing reviews of higher-level experts more. That’s how we ended up with a collection of more than 200 lightweight hiking shoes that are ranked and can be sorted or filtered by your personal preferences.

Best lightweight hiking shoes overall

Danner Trail 2650
91
Superb!

What makes it the best?

The Danner Trail 2650 is a supremely comfortable and capable hiking shoe, boasting a heritage and style that’s brought the early 20th century into the 21st these are more than just a statement piece. Grippy and comfortable there’s very little to pick at in the 2650.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Good grip
  • Incredible midsole
  • Protective TPU shank
  • Excellent lockdown
  • Fits true to size
  • Breathable

Cons

  • Ankle support isn’t there
  • No waterproofing
Full review of Danner Trail 2650

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Men
Women
Any color
Brown/Red (61272)
Black/Gray (61275)
Multi (61282)
Prairie Sand (61278)

Best lightweight hiking shoes for day hiking

What makes it the best?

The Salomon X Ultra 4 looks like the sort of hiking shoe you expect in 2021, lightweight, robust with a slew of features to get you walking further. While some are hesitant about the high ankle support, the benefits of the shoe (grip, weight, support) make up for this in heaps.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Exceptional breathability
  • Excellent grip
  • Comfortable midsole
  • Great ankle support
  • Insanely protective

Cons

  • Lacing system is not adjustable
  • Some issues with rubbing at the ankle
Full review of Salomon X Ultra 4

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Men
Women
Any color
Quiet Shade/Black/Quiet Shade (L413856)
Blue (L414530)
Bungee Cloud/Black/Khaki (L413859)

Best lightweight hiking shoes for speed hiking

What makes it the best?

If you’re looking for an almost indestructible, waterproof rugged low-cut hiking shoe, then look no further.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Fits perfectly
  • Amazing lockdown
  • Incredible heel cup
  • Waterproof
  • Decent traction
  • Good lacing system

Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • Grip fails in wet conditions
  • Very firm
  • Not supportive
Full review of Adidas Terrex Swift R2 GTX

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Men
Women
Any color
black (CM7492)
Green (CM7497)
Black (BC0383)
BLACK (EF3363)

Best lightweight waterproof hiking shoes

What makes it the best?

Sporting the ultra comfy Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX has leveled up the hiking game for many. Taking inspiration from agile trail running shoes, this waterproof and grippy wonder will push you forward across technical terrain with or without rain.

Pros

  • Instant comfort
  • Impeccable waterproofing
  • Very lightweight
  • Exceptional grip
  • Excellent support and lockdown
  • Stable platform
  • Roomy toebox

Cons

  • Quicklace is not for everyone
  • Too-high collar
Full review of Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX

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Men
Women
Any color
Green (L413853)
Black (L412892)
Quiet Shade/Black/Evening Primrose (L416229)
Legion Blue/Black/Fall Leaf (L416230)
Beige (L417314)

Best value lightweight hiking shoes

What makes it the best?

An exceptional budget-friendly day hiker—this is how many trail-goers find the Terrex X4, with negative reviews being a rarity. Indeed, from its virtually tackle-anything underfoot performance to the way it handles shifting weather, this piece from Adidas is a doozy. There's also its initial price of $90, which makes owning one not at all an uphill battle.

Pros

  • Excellent value for money
  • Feels like a trail running shoe
  • Breathable
  • Water-repellent
  • Solid grip
  • Durable for the price
  • Stable platform
  • Contains recycled materials

Cons

  • Lacks toe protection
  • Flimsy insole
Full review of Adidas Terrex AX4

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Unisex
Any color
Wonder Red Linen Green Pulse Lilac (GY8621)
Bliss Lilac Beam Orange Almost Blue (GZ1731)
Core Black Carbon Grey Four (FY9673)
Core Black Grey Three Mint Ton (FZ3255)
Magic Grey Dash Grey Acid Red (GV7506)

Out of stock in all 50 shops

Adidas lightweight hiking shoes  

Comparison of the 5 best lightweight hiking shoes

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Best
CoreScore
Users rating
Experts
Best price
Ranking
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# of colorways

Features of lightweight hiking shoes

In the RunRepeat database, hiking shoes that weigh less than 500grams are considered lightweight. 

We’ll focus on features that set them apart from hiking shoes in general. Them, we’ve covered in detail in our guide on hiking shoes

  1. Lightweight. The whole point of these shoes is to be lightweight, so the extra weight coming either from hiking boots or regular hiking shoes is taken away. This lightweight feature definitely gets the spotlight on the longer hikes - with them you just might go further because your feet aren’t as tired. 
  2. Stiff outsole. On average, these hiking shoes are less sturdy than traditional hiking boots, and sturdier than trail running shoes. 
  3. Shorter break-in period than in hiking boots and even regular shoes, because of the new materials used for the upper. 

When looking at the whole feature set, it’s best to compare it with other fellows from the trail footwear community. Here, we’re looking at trail running shoes, hiking sandals, hiking shoes, and hiking boots

How lightweight hiking shoes compare to other hiking footwear 

Feature-comparison-of-trail-footwear.png

This is a general overview. Lightweight hiking shoes definitely get a better rating for the “lightweight” feature. They are, on average, 158g lighter than the regular hiking shoes! 

average-weight-all-trail-footwear.png

average-price-of-all-trail-footwear-focus-on-hiking-shoes.png

Lightweight hiking shoes take the 3rd place (out of 5) when compared to other trail footwear when it comes to both price and weight.

6 steps for finding your perfect fit 

There are a few important steps to follow when it comes to trying on hiking shoes. You should try the shoes on and not order them online. 

Hiking-shoes-finding-the-perfect-fit.png

These 6 steps will guide you through the process of trying out the hiking shoes. 

  1. Go shoe shopping in the afternoon, so feet are swollen at least a bit. It’s what happens anyway when hiking, so it makes sense. 
  2. Try the shoes with your hiking socks on. Bring the socks that you plan to wear on your hikes with you. Avoid using cotton, but choose wool or synthetic socks - they dry out faster and are good at preventing the blisters. 
  3. Try it on, lace it up, and check for pressure points. Shoes should feel comfortable and non-constricting. You don’t want any part of your shoe to feel loose! 
  4. There should be a thumb’s width space between your toes and the front of your shoes.
  5. If you’re wearing special insoles or orthotics, take them with you and insert them into the shoes when trying them on. 
  6. Use the ramp! Walk up and down. This tests the shoe’s snugness. No part of the shoe should feel loose. When you go up the board, observe for any heel lift. When you go down, check if your toes hit the front of the shoes. If your heel rises more than a quarter of an inch, try adjusting the laces. If your toes hit the front, try sizing up.

4 things to pay attention to when buying lightweight hiking shoes 

These tips apply to all hiking footwear. If this is your first hiking-shoes shopping, you might find our general guide on hiking shoes quite useful. 

1. Duration of your hiking trip

The longer the hike, the better support you need. This means you should look for more stability features and cushioning. Lightweight hiking shoes tend to lack those features, or at least in great amounts, in order to be lighter. To learn about cushioning features, look at the specifications of the midsole: every material (for example EVA foam) has a certain set of features that may or may not suit your hiking and feet needs.

2. Weight of your backpack 

Same rule applies for the duration of your hiking trip. We bring heavier backpacks on longer hikes. Hiking shoes aren’t meant to support you in these adventures completely, only up to a degree. That’s why, if you’re planning a long backpacking trip, consider buying hiking boots or mountaineering boots. They will offer stability features and cushioning: a very welcomed set of features for such adventures. 

3. Your arch type

Depending on your arch type, your feet might need different stability features. High arches usually ask for neutral shoes, medium arches ask for neutral or stability shoes, and low arches (flat feet) ask for motion control shoes. We’ve covered this in-depth in the next chapter. 

Arch type and stability features 

The type of your arch matters because it offers guidelines for choosing the adequate shoe type. Whether it’s a neutral, stability, or motion control shoe - they all offer different stability features that your feet need when hiking. 

Shoe wear test 

Things you can do: look at your used hiking shoes and compare how the outsoles have been worn with the “Shoe wear” section below. 

Arch types and recommended shoes.png

If you’re overpronating, you can look for overpronation hiking shoes. If you’re a neutral pronator or a supinator, browse through the neutral hiking shoes database. 

Wet test 

There is also another way to discover your arch type and it’s called a wet test. 

Wet-test-in-4-steps.png

You should: wet the sole of your foot (ideally both of them, one at a time), then stand on a piece of paper while allowing the moisture from your feet to sink into the paper, and step off. Look at your footprint and compare it to the ones shown below.  

Wet-test-results.png

Of course, the best thing to do is to consult a podiatrist. Especially if you already know you have injuries or a special feet condition. Only specialists can give you a thorough (complete) analysis of your feet.  

If you need something more specific, you might want to look into insoles or orthotics that you can insert into hiking shoes. 

The outsole story: lugs for every terrain 

Your hiking adventures ask for different lugs based on the terrain you’ll be covering. It’s good to pay attention to the outsole and look at the bottom of the shoes before buying them. This way, you’ll know which terrain you’re buying the shoes for. 

Outsole and lug patterns.png

When not to use lightweight hiking shoes 

While these shoes are a perfect option for short and easy hikes, given that they don’t offer enough stability and support, you should avoid them on multiple-day hikes and when wearing a heavy backpack. Plenty of other factors can be covered with additional features: for rainy days, look for waterproof hiking shoes. Use filters in the RunRepeat database and look for specific features like orthotic hiking shoes or wide toe box hiking shoes.   

Author
Jovana Subic
Jovana Subic

Whether it's a vertical kilometre or an ultra, climbing in the Alps or exploring local mountains, Jovana uses every opportunity to trade walls and concrete for forests and trails. She logs at least 10h/week on trails, with no off-season, and 4x more on research on running and running shoes. With a background in physics and engineering management, she prefers her running spiced with data.