Are you trying to find lightweight running shoes among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!
We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling lightweight running shoes on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 25 hours of research and did 25 lightweight running shoes tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!
An overview of our top picks
Table of contents
The best lightweight running shoes you can buy today
- Lightweight mesh upper with 3-color digital print delivers complete breathability
- Durable leather overlays for stability & that locks in your midfoot
- EVA sockliner provides soft, step-in comfort
- Charged Cushioning midsole uses compression molded foam for ultimate responsiveness & durability
- Solid rubber outsole covers high impact zones for greater durability with less weight
- Offset: 10mm
- 4E Sizing built to better fit athletes with extra wide feet
- NEUTRAL: For runners who need flexibility, cushioning & versatility
- Lace type: Standard tie
- Women's athletic shoes with super soft Cloudfoam cushioning
- Regular fit; Lace closure for a secure feel
- Textile upper is durable; Synthetic outsole is lightweight and flexible
- This product is made with Primegreen, a series of high-performance recycled materials. 50% of upper is recycled content. No virgin polyester.
- Lightweight mesh upper with 3-color digital print delivers complete breathability
- Durable leather overlays for stability & that locks in your midfoot
- EVA sockliner provides soft, step-in comfort
- Charged Cushioning midsole uses compression molded foam for ultimate responsiveness & durability
- Solid rubber outsole covers high impact zones for greater durability with less weight
- Offset: 10mm
- NEUTRAL: For runners who need a balance of flexibility & cushioning
- Weight: 8.15 oz.
- Lace type: Standard tie
- Flyknit constructed upper delivers zoned stretch and support.
- Dual-density midsole and tri-star outsole provide flexible cushioning.
- Dynamic heel is stretchy for a snug, adaptive fit.
- Minimal, molded sockliner mimics the curvature of the foot to add support.
- Texture has been added under the toe and heel to enhance traction in these high-abrasion zones.
- Performance mesh upper for lightweight breathability
- Foam padding placed around your ankle collar & under the tongue for an incredibly comfortable fit & feel
- Deluxe foam sockliner molds to your foot for added underfoot comfort
- Charged Cushioning midsole uses compression molded foam for ultimate responsiveness & durability
- Durable outsole pattern for flex & traction
- NEUTRAL: For runners who need a balance of flexibility & cushioning
- GEL Technology: Cushioning provides excellent shock absorption
- Re-engineered outsole lugs for better off-road traction:
- Reduced amount of overlays around the forefoot without sacrificing durability:
- Re-engineered outsole lugs for better off-road traction -
- Perfectly balanced, this shoe’s new geometry and 10mm offset give it rocker-like attributes with an everyday twist.
- It’s everything you love about our super-soft PWRRUN+ foam, but lighter and with more pop.
- With a completely new upper and lacing design, you can step into a shoe that feels like it was made just for you.
- Men's cushioned slip-on shoes with the look of runners, made with recycled materials
- Slip-on construction with elastic strap
- Mesh upper with a sock-like feel
- This product is made with Primegreen, a series of high-performance recycled materials. 50% of upper is recycled content. No virgin polyester.
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Mesh upper with suede and knit hits
- Upper features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- Textured logo and embroidered details
- Durable rubber outsole
- Go Further: Our GuideRail guidance system provides extra medial support when you need it most and our FootShape toe boxes allow toes to splay for natural foot positioning and comfort
- Stay Comfortable: The updated Innovarch arch feature encourages better foot placement in each step and the Altra EGO Max cushioned midsoles are light, luxurious and responsive
- Push Yourself: Balanced Cushioning places your heel and forefoot the same distance from the ground to encourage proper, low-impact form throughout your run
- Stay Focused: 30 mm stack height provides ample cushion for long runs
- Men's running-inspired shoes for lightweight comfort
- CUSHIONED MIDSOLE: Cloudfoam midsole for step-in comfort and superior cushioning
- CUSHIONED COMFORT: Enjoy the comfort and performance of OrthoLite sockliner; Officially licensed OrthoLite product
- FLEXIBLE UPPER: Soft textile upper is stretchy and comfortable
- MADE WITH RECYCLED CONTENT: Made with a series of recycled materials, this upper features at least 50% recycled content. This product represents just one of our solutions to help end plastic waste
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Mesh upper with suede and knit hits
- Upper features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- Textured logo and embroidered details
- Durable rubber outsole
- THIS WOMEN’S SHOE IS FOR: The Launch 9 is for neutral runners who want a dependable, lightweight shoe with DNA cushioning and a highly breathable upper that helps runners go fast on every run. We recommend ordering Brooks running shoes 1/2 to one size larger than your dress shoe.
- NEUTRAL SUPPORT: Lightweight, streamlined, with even more BioMoGo DNA cushioning, the Launch 9 offers neutral support to keep you running faster mile after mile.
- ENHANCED BREATHABILITY: Reengineered upper features Creel Warp mesh, designed to be extremely lightweight and breathable. Hints of reflectivity on the upper to increase visibility on the road.
- LIGHTWEIGHT CUSHIONING: We have added more BioMoGo DNA cushioning to the midsole for an even faster ride without the extra weight. A dynamically responsive ride for days when you are working on your speed.
- RESPONSIVE TRANSITIONS: Redesigned midsole increased by 2 mm to provide runners with more responsiveness while the Green Rubber Outsole helps your foot move quickly from heel to toe.
- DynaSoft midsole foam with approximately 3% bio-based content couples ultra-responsive performance with plush comfort. Bio-based content is made from renewable resources to help reduce our carbon footprint.
- Engineered mesh upper for breathability
- Upper features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- EVA foam insert increases comfort
- AT Tread outsole provides versatile traction during both on and off-road activities
- Lightweight, breathable mesh upper with synthetic overlays for added durability & support
- EVA sockliner provides soft, step-in comfort
- Charged Cushioning midsole uses compression molded foam for ultimate responsiveness & durability
- Solid rubber outsole covers high impact zones for greater durability with less weight
- Offset: 10mm
- Weight: 9.5 oz.
- Lace type: Standard tie
- NEUTRAL: For runners who need flexibility, cushioning & versatility
- Warning: This product can expose you to chemicals including chromium (hexavalent compounds), which is known in the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
- Men's running shoes for the daily runner
- Regular fit
- Engineered mesh upper offers breathability; Geofit padded collar for comfort
- TPU quarter and heel for added stability; Bounce midsole offers flexible comfort; Rubber outsole provides secure traction
- This product is made with recycled content as part of our ambition to end plastic waste; 20% of pieces used to make the upper are made with minimum 50% recycled content.
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Engineered mesh upper allows for breathability
- Upper features no-sew construction for a sleek fit and feel
- Molded insert helps provide extra support
- Rubber outsole for durability and traction
- Lighter and smoother every step of the way: With a softer, lighter PWRRUN formula and more midsole beveling, you get a thicker stack of cushioning and an incredibly smooth ride from heel to toe.
- Support that lets you fly: HOLLOW-TECH gives you the underfoot support you need, but in a lightweight and minimalistic way.
- Fits just right: By carving out the midsole and creating a deeper footbed, you sit into the shoe, instead of on top of it, for an incredibly supportive fit.
- Lighter Footprint: This style is vegan and contains recycled upper materials.
- Mesh upper: Improves breathability
- The sockliner is produced with the solution dyeing process that reduces water usage by approximately 33% and carbon emissions by approximately 45% compared to the conventional dyeing technology:
- Rearfoot GEL technology: Improves impact absorption and creates a softer feeling at footstrike
- AMPLIFOAM cushioning: Improves cushioning
- Trail-specific outsole pattern: Improves grip on various surfaces
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Synthetic/textile upper
- No sew overlays for a streamlined silhouette
- Lace-up closure for a secure fit
- 8 mm drop; due to variances created during the development and manufacturing processes, all references to 8 mm drop are approximate
How to choose a good lightweight running shoes
Does the idea of finding a fantastic lightweight running shoes make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!
Your presence here indicates that you are interested in lightweight running shoes. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top lightweight running shoes products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?
First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top lightweight running shoes on the market right now!
The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:
Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top lightweight running shoes brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.
Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top lightweight running shoes based on those.
Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.
Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.
Customer ratings: Would it be accurate to suggest that the lightweight running shoes were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.
Customer Reviews: Like ratings, provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.
Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good lightweight running shoes, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.
Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your lightweight running shoes.
Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting lightweight running shoes for months and years to come.
Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.
Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.
These are the standards by which we selected our lightweight running shoes. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.
Why should you believe us?
There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what lightweight running shoes should you purchase in 2022?
This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on lightweight running shoes.
