In this product guide:
- 1. Lightweight everyday trainer: Asics Cumulus 26
- 2. Lightweight versatile trainer: Asics Novablast 4
- 3. Lightweight marathon racer: Nike Vaporfly 3
- 4. Lightweight shoe for tempo and intervals: Hoka Mach 6
- 5. Lightweight shoe for 10K: Brooks Hyperion 2
- 6. Lightweight 5K racer: Nike ZoomX Streakfly
- 7. Lightweight trail runner: Brooks Catamount 3
- 8. Lightweight trail runner: adidas Terrex Agravic Speed
- How we selected
The new outsole makes the Cumulus 26 a different – and lighter – Cumulus.
There’s no outsole per se, at least in a traditional sense. Asics doesn’t use rubber for the outsole; it uses a firm EVA foam. The grip quality suffers a bit, but in lieu, you get a 9-ounce neutral trainer with the softest cushioning in its class.
The Asics Cumulus's midsole is soft but not mushy.
The wide midsole of the Cumulus 26 produces a neutral and supportive ride .
You read that right – the Cumulus 26 is softer than the Ride 17, Brooks Ghost 16, or the Nike Pegasus 41. The Flytefoam Blast+ layer above the firm EVA base makes everyday runs very cushioned. The plush insole and lasting add plenty of step-in cushioning as well.
There’s another missing component on the Cumulus 26. The tongue is no longer padded; this time, it’s just a stretchy knit layer that snaps tight over the foot. This update makes the upper accommodating and more breathable than before.
Weight: 9 ounces or 255 grams.
Sure, there are lighter shoes than the Novablast, but few are as versatile. The Novablast is truly a multi-role trainer.
Based on specs alone, it’s easy to misinterpret the shoe’s capabilities. The tall midsole (43 mm and 35 mm stack) would suggest a cushioned shoe for leisurely runs, but the Novablast has a lot more going for it.
The rocker midsole and responsive Flytefoam Blast make the cushioning speed-friendly. The deep channel under the rear and midfoot enhances the cushioning (through compression) and the overall stability. The rocker forefoot makes it easier for the foot to tip forward, and Flytefoam isn’t mushy.
That way, the distance-friendly ride comfort doesn’t slow you down. While not exactly a speed shoe, the Novablast 4 doesn’t struggle at 4:30 min/km (7:00 min/mile) paces.
The tight upper fit is good at transferring the power from the foot to the rocker midsole. The interior is plush where it needs to be, but it sticks to a minimalist theme with a thin racer-like tongue.
Weight: 9.2 ounces or 260 grams.
This guide wouldn’t be complete without the Nike Vaporfly 3 would it?
Just like the Vaporfly Next% 2, the soft and springy ZoomX foam midsole makes long-distance races less punishing on the feet.
Inside this cushy foam stack is a curved Carbon fiber plate adds delivers the transition-friendly snap. The ZoomX core is protected by front and rear outsole rubber pieces that offer reliable traction. ‘Protection’ is a relative term, as the Vaporfly 3 uses thinner rubber lugs that are less durable than the Vaporfly 2.
The Vaporfly 3 has an incredibly lightweight upper that’s true to size and secure. The deconstructed upper disappears on the foot during a run. That said, we like the Vaporfly 2’s forefoot fit better. The Vaporfly 3’s much looser fit weakens the lockdown and negatively affects the power transfer to the midsole.
All of these features are contained within a compact 6.5-ounce form factor.
Weight: 6.5 ounces or 184 grams.
The Hoka Mach 6 has the same name as the last model, but the two are nothing alike. The midsole uses a full-length supercritical foam instead of the dual-density setup that the Mach 5 had. There’s a full rubber outsole, and the upper fit has changed too.
To say that the Hoka Mach 6 is an ‘update’ would be an understatement. It has transformed itself into a versatile almost do-everything shoe. The tight upper fit accentuates the bouncy ride, and the tall stack heights (37 mm and 32 mm) make even half-marathons doable.
If you’re okay with the narrow fit, the Hoka Mach 6 will also work as an everyday trainer. The shoe also stays true to its name. The upper lockdown and responsive midsole make the Mach 6 ideal for tempo runs, interval training, and Fartlek.
Weight: 8.2 ounces or 232 grams.
The Hyperion 2 and Hyperion Max 2 updates are slightly confusing this year, so let’s quickly bring you up to speed.
For all practical purposes, the Hyperion 1 from last year no longer exists. The Hyperion 2 (featured here) is an updated and less expensive version of the Hyperion Max 1 – a shoe that was more cushioned than the Hyperion 1.
Even with the changes, the Hyperion 2 feels familiar. It’s got a similar cushioning as the V1 due to the midsole material. Though the Hyperion 2 uses an updated version of the Nitrogen-infused DNA Flash foam, it retains the firm and supportive cushioning feel.
Non-EVA compounds like the Brooks DNA Flash fares well under heavy loads.
The lightweight 8-mm drop midsole has an important role in keeping the weight down. The firm cushioning is friendly for long-distance and tempo runs alike.
The Hyperion 2 has a 4 mm taller heel stack than the Hyperion 1, so there’s plenty of comfort for tempo training or 10 K races – even if the cushioning isn’t of a soft kind.
The comfortable upper sticks to the basics. Interior plushness is all but absent, with foam padding and superfluous overlays kept to a bare minimum.
Weight: 7.1 ounces or 201 grams.
There are a couple of reasons why Nike’s lightweight racer weighs only 6.0 ounces for a half pair of US 9.
Most of the midsole is made of ZoomX – a PEBA foam that also helps the Vaporfly Next% keep its weight low. Even the forefoot outsole of the Streakfly is made of foam, with only the heel getting two thin lugs of hard rubber.
Over the lightweight midsole is a featherweight upper that uses a breathable mesh with no superfluous trims.
The ZoomX Streakfly is an excellent shoe for runs up to a 10K distance. The soft foam stack has sufficient ride comfort for mid-distance runs, whereas the embedded midfoot shank maintains transition efficiency. It’s not perfect, though – our detailed review explains why.
Weight: 6.0 ounces or 170 grams.
Also look at the Hoka Cielo Road – a lightweight, short-distance racer.
Also see: The New Balance SC Pacer – a lightweight (7.1-ounces) yet soft racing shoe with a Carbon transition plate. Or the Saucony Sinister – an ultralight racing flat that’s similar to the discontinued Reebok Run Fast Pro. Also consider the Hoka Cielo Road – our favourite 5K racer.
The Brooks Catamount 3 uses the same midsole tech as the Brooks Hyperion 2, so the hyper-lightweight DNA Flash (Nitrogen-infused EVA foam) makes the Catamount cushioned, yet versatile and protective on the trails.
The shoe weighs just over 9 ounces, and that’s very respectable for a product with a trail-worthy outsole and transition plate. The aggressive lugs made from the sticky rubber (TrailTack) compound deliver a sufficient bite. Inside the midsole, the ‘Skyvault’ plate helps guide the foot through the gait cycle.
We think highly of the Hyperion Tempo 2’s cushioning, and the same material provides the Catamount 3 with supportive cushioning on the trail. The midsole design is trail-focused, so the edges ‘cup’ the rearfoot for a seated feel.
The firm ride of the 6mm offset midsole has inherent stability for off-road runs with sufficient comfort for high-mileage trail runs.
The upper keeps the weight low by applying protective urethane films over a mesh exterior. The partial sleeve helps keep the debris out and secures the midfoot.
Weight: 9.4 ounces or 266 grams.
Thanks to the Lightstrike Pro foam, Adidas running shoes are getting lighter by the year. Adidas’s high-performance midsole foam has now replaced the heavier Boost foam on their Terrex trail line-up, so this has led to noticeable weight savings.
The Terrex Agravic Speed is a good example. Even with a firmer EVA foam frame on top of the Lightstrike Pro base, the shoe weighs 8.5 ounces.
The shoe packs a surprisingly high level of kit for its weight. There’s a full-length Continental rubber outsole for grip and protection, along with a thick midsole with stack heights of 30 mm (heel) and 22 mm (forefoot).
The ‘Speed’ suffix in the shoe’s name suggests that the Agravic Speed is designed for fast trail runs, but it’s quite versatile. The Lightstrike Pro foam core and EVA frame add comfort and stability to everyday trail runs. The lightweight upper is non-distracting, yet secure and protective where it needs to be.
Weight: 8.5 ounces or 241 grams.
How we selected
The easiest way to write this guide would be to compile a list of lightweight running shoes with their weights sorted in ascending order.
But that would be a completely pointless exercise, because that list would be full of impractical racing flats. A more effective approach is to group the shoes by use cases – in the same way that most of our guides are structured.
If this piece had been written a decade ago, most lightweight shoes would have featured injection-molded EVA midsoles with a token placement of outsole rubber.
Back then, running shoes had to conform to a strict weight budget – cuts made in one place had to be compensated elsewhere. Design and material cutbacks usually meant a compromise in performance or durability.
The Hoka Mach 6 is an excellent lightweight trainer.
Those constraints do not apply to modern running shoes. Contemporary lightweight running shoes routinely match – and sometimes exceed – the median lifespan.
While midsole foam materials have vastly improved, a lightweight build is also a result of the upper and outsole. Single-piece engineered mesh uppers help reduce weight, as do thinner outsoles.
Thick outsoles made of superior rubber or flexible geometry are still the most durable kind. At the same time, brands use a combination of improved compounds and clever engineering to reduce weight without sacrificing durability.
For example, the Nike Vaporfly 3 relies on thin, perforated lugs that flex together with the Pebax midsole. Shoes like the Asics Cumulus 26 feature an all-foam outsole.
Not long ago, 12 – 13 ounces was the acceptable weight range (refer to our 2011-2012 reviews) for a running shoe. Today, a shoe is deemed heavy if it exceeds 10 ounces.
New midsole foams – like the one the Hoka Cielo Road uses – help reduce weight.
In nearly all situations, a lighter running shoe is always better. Runners love the NB Fuelcell Rebel 4 or Brooks Hyperion 2 not just because they’re cushioned and versatile, but also how light and non-distracting they feel during runs.
Trail running shoes are an exception – removing things like the rock plate, a rugged outsole, and protective upper overlays affects the functionality.
That said, the times have changed – even for trail running shoes. Both the Brooks Catamount 3 and adidas Agravic Speed use lightweight foam compounds for significant weight-related improvements.
As a side note, certain stability shoes cannot function without additional support features. Models like the Brooks Beast 20 or the Saucony Omni 20 have wide midsoles with raised rims and plastic stabilizers. Here, a lighter build will water down the functional proposition.
The bar for the ‘lightest’ tag isn’t the same for every category. It would be unfair to expect a cushioned and mileage-friendly running shoe to weigh the same as a racing flat.