Best lightweight running shoes

Whether you’re running for fitness or are an athlete looking to beat your personal best, a pair of lightweight shoes would give you more pace. While shoe manufacturers cut down on cushioning and extra padding, there have been a plethora of mixed responses. Some not being breathable enough, others not as durable and so on.

Picking out a running shoe can be a cumbersome task so, we look to break down for you our list of the best lightweight running shoes out there.

adidas Performance Women’s Adizero Boston 6

The classic three stripes company makes the top of our list with the Adizero Boston 6. At first glance, they may look like your everyday trainers with traditional laces and the fancy knitted upper, (men’s’ variable has a mesh upper), but it is much more than just aesthetics. This is a shoe for a casual run but it won.t be long before you are tempted to burst into a sprint. Its comfort and responsiveness as you push off the ground have a nice boost to it making it an ideal pair of running shoes to own for when that one friend of yours bets to beat you in a short sprint.

These shoes will serve you well especially on roads, sidewalks, tracks, and dirt roads primarily because they were designed for solid terrain. The outsole provides great traction for almost all terrains and the AdiWear rubber tread is durable and yet thin enough to give that solid ground feel.

Pros and Cons

What we like:

• Lightweight and comfortable
• Very durable
• Great traction
• Boost technology for great responsiveness

What we don’t like:

• High heel-to-toe drop
• The soft tongue which may fold up while running

When it comes to shoes for running, this is your choice as it was designed for just that, speed and comfort.

Check price here!

New Balance Men’s Fresh Foam Zante

The Zante line has been a staple of New Balance running shoes since 2015 and is continuing to dazzle us with newer and better versions of their predecessors. Enter the Fresh Foam Zante. Designed to be lightweight, provide comfort and give maximum responsiveness, they fail not to deliver. Previous versions of the Zante had comfortable uppers, but not this kind of comfortable. The mesh has a nice stretch to it and the shoe has a comfortable sock-like fit.

From this pair, you’ll get the greatest performance on the road, treadmill, and tracks and best used for fast-paced daily running and also distances of up to half marathon races. At just over 7-ounces (208 grams), the New Balance Zante is a running shoe aimed at getting runners to their top speed with ease as it is a whole ounce lighter than its predecessor.

Pros and Cons

What we like:

• Lightweight
• Highly breathable
• Snug and comfortable fit
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What we don’t like:

• A bit too narrow
• Not enough support

In conclusion, its great design, both inside and outside the shoe make the shoe a great deal for both long-distance and short-distance runners alike. Apart from shining in the fitness sector, they are a good pair for casual use also.

Check price here!

Hoka Scarpe Donna CAVU

The Hoka One features a soft all-mesh upper, and the use of the RMat cushioning that is surprisingly durable given the softness of the material. The thick sole has some likeness to the Skechers GORun as you may have already noticed.

For a shoe whose main competition is the likes of the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante and the Saucony Kinvara 10, they put up a great fight to ensure their name is among the tops. The Hoka One was designed with one thing in mind, absolute comfort. Unlike the Kinvara 10 though, you might fork out an extra $30 to $50 to own a pair of these.

One good thing about the Hoka One is that a new pair is bound to last you quite a while.

Pros and Cons

What we like:

• Comfortable
• Lightweight
• Grippy and durable outsole that wears well
• Excellent cushioning and protection

What we don’t like:

• Metal eyelets
• Shorter laces
• Poor arch support
• Not very durable
• A bit heavy

Check price here!

Nike Women’s Air Zoom Mariah Flyknit

There was no way the Swoosh logo was going to miss out on this list. Ever wondered what you could best match your Nike vest or tracks with? Well, here you have it. Why not sport Nike checks from top to bottom with the Air Zoom Mariah Flyknit. They come with a great variant of colour combinations to match your style as is customary with the Nike Zoom line. With that said, don’t let its great stylish design is all-looks and no-performance. Quite the opposite.

The front midsole of the Nike Air Zoom gives cushioning and compresses well when put under pressure giving you that”extra stride” and great support while on the move. The sneaker upper provides great stretch and breathability for the wearer, ensuring a comfortable fit while maintaining an airy feeling. To some, the Air Zoom combines features of the Zoom Pegasus and the Pegasus Turbo to come up with a running shoe that is both light and comfortable/

The upper on the new Mariah is fashioned from a flyknit material, known for its porous breathability and ability to take the wearer’s foot shape. The snug feeling is also enhanced by its flywire lacing, which I have to say does a good job in complementing the overall design of the shoe.

Pros and Cons

What we like:

• Great colour combinations
• Highly breathable and ventilated
• Well-cushioned midsole
• True-to-size fit

What we don’t like:

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The overall verdict is that the Mariah Flyknit is a great pair to own. Performing well in areas of style, comfort, and durability designed to be running shoes, it does well as your everyday lifestyle pair of sneakers.

Check price here!

Mishansha

Mishansha Air Cushion Sport is made of breathable upper, vamp features knitted mesh for support and perforations for airflow, probably the most noticeable feature on the pair. Unlike most pairs on this list, these are less durable and are not the best for road running.

Their design does not exactly stand out in comparison to the others on the list, but in terms of performance, they deliver just as much.

Pros and Cons

What we like:

• Great shock absorption
• Great durability
• Nice aesthetic design

What we don’t like:

• Somewhat noisy
• Not true-to-size

Check price here!

SOLLOMENSI

For a pair of shoes you haven’t heard of, the Sollomensi have a good reputation among its loyal fans. You will realize that most people prefer them for a run or jog but not a pair you can walk in comfortably every day. This just reiterates that they are designed specifically as trainers for running.

The sole has a quite surprisingly strong rubber grip that seems to be the highlight of all who have tried them on. Even though they aren’t as thick as the Skechers GORun, the heel cushioning makes them comfortable for tearing down long distances with ease, well, and also in style.

One thing you have to keep in mind is that you might have to order a half size greater but the fit is quite snug.

Pros and Cons

What we like:

• Great colour variety
• Very affordable
• Stylish
• Lightweight
• Flexible

What we don’t like:

• Material is not so durable

Check price here!

Conclusion

This article aimed at giving you insight into the lightweight running shoes out there and hopefully pick a pair that will get you ready for race day.