9 Best Lightweight Running Shoes in 2022

Having tested past iterations of the Saucony Kinvara, we are here to confirm that the rumors are true. The Kinvara 12 reigns supreme among all the Kinvaras! 

Of course, the obvious reason why it sits on top of this list is its extremely light construction. At 7.5 oz, it’s WAY below the average running shoes at 9.4 oz (in our lab tests). If its weight doesn’t blow your mind, wait till you hear about its versatility. 

Most jack-of-all-trades are good at everything and masters of nothing, but this shoe beats that. It’s GREAT at everything. From slow days to long-distance efforts and uptempo sessions, it’s a rockstar! 

And comfort only takes this shoe a step further. Underfoot, all we felt was plush, plush, plush. As in, it can’t get much cushier than this! 

Despite the foam being exceedingly flexible, you get sufficient support from the insole. It’s stiff at 40.7HA. And contrary to other inserts we’ve measured, it’s 37% more rigid. 

At first, we thought the uber comfy midsole might make the ride suffer. But on the run, it’s been nothing close to mushy. If anything, the ride was lively and fun. We were just bouncing through the streets! 

Just when we thought things couldn’t be better, the upper was there to stun us. It gave us the best lockdown we could ever dream of. Not once did we experience any slips!

If there’s an elite among all the elite racing shoes we’ve put on, it’s easily the Asics MetaSpeed Sky. 

First thing’s first, it’s CRAZY light. It’s as light as a feather. At 6.7 oz, it’s the lightest racing shoe on the market! 

Speed is the name of the game. In all our test runs, this shoe made us feel like we were zooming through the blocks. It’s efficient, and it does a darn fine job at propelling us forward. 

And unlike all the other carbon-plated shoes we’ve tried, nothing beats the MetaSpeed Sky when it comes to comfort. It’s NOT stiff, and more importantly, it’s not rough to the feet. 

Even better, this speed devil’s fit is THE golden standard. It’s snug and glove-like, not once did we feel like we were losing support. On quick turns, our feet were as secure as ever. 

Speaking of support, this shoe has got a lot of it. And we’re not only talking about the upper. The midsole also plays a huge part in making this shoe stable AF. Among all the premium racing flats on our roster, this is, by far, the most stable. It’s even stable during slow efforts. 

And because we’re shoe nerds, we conducted our lab testing. Scoring 22.5HA in our flex test, it only goes to show that the Sky has got a touch of firmness; hence, the surefooted strides. 

We pride ourselves in nitpicking, but there’s just not one thing that’s bad about this shoe. And if you want to outpace the competition, nothing can beat the Asics MetaSpeed Sky!

Whether you’re racing or training, we can’t recommend the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 enough. True to its name, it’s one hell of a solid shoe when it comes to speed! 

At 8.1 oz, it’s unbelievably light. In contrast to all the running shoes we’ve tested (9.4 oz average), it doesn’t tip our scales. Even better, it’s extremely light on the run. It’s almost unnoticeable. 

For daily beating, this shoe has got the makings of a true sturdy trainer. And if you want to go fast on race day, it’s more than happy to fit the bill. 

Like its Endorphin siblings, it’s big on snappiness, but it also doesn’t skimp on comfort. It just nails it in mixing both qualities. It’s never harsh on foot. 

To see why, we did our flex test. And the result was astonishing! Average running shoes take about 37.2N force to bend, and the Endorphin Speed takes 39.6N to flex. Meaning, it’s a touch more stable, but it’s got the right flexibility to make the ride peppy and comfortable. 

What’s even more surprising? It’s got a lockdown that’s to die for! It molds into the contours of the feet, keeping everything nice and tucked in place. We NEVER felt tippy in it. 

Ultimately, if you want a great-value shoe that doesn’t cut corners on performance, whether it’s in competition or training runs, nothing comes close to the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2.

Just when we thought trail shoes are just about heft and clunkiness, the Hoka Zinal made us change our minds. If there’s a trailblazer we’d pick out any day, it’s THIS shoe. 

And holy shiznit! It kills it in the weight department. It’s even lighter than the average running shoe we’ve tested at 8.5 oz vs. 9.4 oz! 

Seriously, it’s got speed written all over it. Its midsole even takes after the Mach 4’s Profly foam, which is intended to make you go fast. And fast we went! 

It’s not crazy bouncy, but it’s got some pop to enhance forward movement. But what makes it a star is its stability. It’s a medium-stiff shoe at 37.5N, meaning your feet will get all the support, and responsiveness they could ever dream of. 

And look, this is NOT the Hoka we’ve come to know. It’s not towering in stack, allowing for maximum ground feel. As in, it smashes it in this arena! 

The lugs may not be as deep as what we consider aggressive, but boy did this shoe take our breath away. It sticks on the ground so well, we had NO issues with missteps even on rocky and loose terrain. 

Even more, it’s a shoe that won’t let you down, especially during hot summer conditions. It breathes! 

It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the more advanced running shoes, but it sure did pace us! The Brooks Launch 8 is a no-frills trainer that gets the job done, and it does so with speed. 

Yes, it’s fast. It’s a tempo shoe, and it does everything right. The midsole is not overly responsive or bouncy, it does have some pep to launch you to your next step. 

And when it comes to weight, it doesn’t even feel like it has any. At 8.8 oz, it’s just super light. 

It may skimp on weight, but it sure doesn’t when it comes to comfort. It even took us by surprise when we actually measured its stiffness in our lab. Unlike other speed trainers, it’s anything but stiff. 

To bend it, it only took 18.7N, while the average takes 23.8N. Now, that’s one crazy flex! 

Even more, it’s got the makings of a sturdy shoe. The outsole rubber is 3.7mm thick, meaning it’s going to take some miles and time before you really beat the crap out of this shoe. No kidding. We expect this to last well between 300-500 miles. 

If it’s a great-value shoe you’re after, there’s nothing more value-oriented than the Brooks Launch 8!