There's a strong trend toward lightweight hiking footwear. Many hikers have turned to trail running shoes for their lightweight options. However, trail runners are made for runners—not hikers—which means their support and durability often fall short in hiking conditions. Lightweight hiking shoes may be the better option for many men and women who hike.
The best lightweight hiking shoes offer some weight savings without shedding all the support, protection, traction, and durability of a dedicated hiking shoe. Today's "lightweight" hiking shoes now weigh two pounds or less for men and a few ounces less for women. These range from hiking shoes that are flexible underfoot to hiking shoes with lightweight cushion to sturdier hiking shoes that have cut some ounces without cutting too much cushioning or support.
Based on my hiking experience and outdoor industry experience, the best lightweight hiking shoes include the
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best lightweight hiking shoes for well maintained trails
Most lightweight hiking shoes shed ounces by cutting down cushioning and trimming down their soles for a lighter, more flexible ride than the average hiking shoes. For the most part, these lightweights are best suited for more casual hikes, well-maintained trails, travel, or everyday, trail-to-town wear. Are you looking for lightweight hiking shoes that are not as stiff or supportive as traditional hiking shoes? The Vasque Breeze LT (narrow feet) or Danner Trail 2650 (standard to wide feet) are probably the best lightweight hiking shoes for you.
Vasque Breeze LT
Main Benefits:
The Vasque Breeze LT (“lite”) is the lightweight version of the best-selling Breeze. While its burly big brother is a supportive shoe for serious hikes, the LT’s light and flexible soles are made for fast-and-light hikes on well maintained trails. The Breeze LT features lightweight mesh uppers and Litebase Vibram outsoles that are thinner than traditional hiking shoes with your choice of Gore Tex (GTX) or more environmentally friendly NTX waterproofing. The Vasque Breeze LT could be a great, light-duty hiking shoe if it fits your feet and matches your hikes.
Fit tips: runs small and narrow: size up (approximately one size) or skip if you have wide feet.
Danner Trail 2650
Main Benefits:
Named for the 2650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, the Danner Trail 2650 is made for fast-and-light hikers who prefer lightweight hiking shoes to more supportive hiking shoes. These trail shoes run several ounces lighter than the average hiking shoe while providing men and women with excellent traction and optional GORE-TEX waterproofing for wet weather or sloppy trail conditions. The Trail 2650 is available in standard or wide sizes with several different builds available to match your hiking style, including leather or synthetic uppers, breathable Campos for hot weather hikes, or waterproof GTX styles:
best lightweight hiking shoes: well cushioned
Lightweight hiking shoes generally have less cushioning than traditional hiking shoes—brands cut down the cushion to cut down the weight. But there are exceptions. The Hoka Anacapa Low and adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 are the best lightweight hiking shoes with extra cushioning for hikers who want better shock absorption and a ride with more float than feel.
Hoka Anacapa Low
Main Benefits:
For a lightweight hiking shoe with a ton of cushion, check out Hoka One One’s Anacapa Low.
Released in summer 2021, the low-cut Anacapa is Hoka’s first shoe that’s specifically made for hikers, not runners. Like all Hokas, this one’s lightweight with maximum cushion. However, Hoka firmed up the Anacapa’s cushioned midsoles for better durability and hiking performance. It’s not quite as soft underfoot as Hoka’s running shoes. At the same time, it has heaps more cushioning that other lightweight hiking shoes (which usually cut cushion to cut weight). The GORE-TEX waterproofing and Vibram outsoles two more plusses. Their tread is soft enough for good grip on solid rock but also feature some aggressive, v-shaped climbing and braking lugs that can dig into loose surfaces.
Fit tips: Standard fit with some room in the toe box
adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2
Main Benefits:
The TERREX Free Hiker 2 features Boost cushion midsoles for a super-cushy ride on the trail. Best for easy to moderate trails or urban hikes, these premium hiking sneakers feel light on your feet while softening each step with the same cushioning that adidas uses in its premium running shoes. Free Hikers also offer moderate traction, a lightweight chassis for lightweight support, and excellent weather protection with waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX membranes and a 3/4 cut that keeps more water, snow, mud, and debris out of your shoes. While other lightweights skimp on cushion, the adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 dials up the cushioning while dialing down the weight.
best lightweight hiking shoes: harder hikes
Most lightweight hiking shoes are best suited for easy to moderate hikes. However, Salomon and La Sportiva are two brands that have figured out how to provide better support at lighter weights than most brands. For more serious hikers, the Salomon X Ultra 4 and La Sportiva Spire are the best lightweight hiking shoes for harder hikes.
Salomon X Ultra 4
Main Benefits:
The X Ultra series has been Salomon’s best hiking shoes for years–winning awards for being lighter, yet more supportive, than the average hiking shoe. In 2021, they replaced the popular X Ultra 3 with the X Ultra 4. The X Ultra 4 has added some ankle stability and trimmed down its tongue and lightweight mesh for a ridiculous weight to support ratio. X Ultras also feature waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX and aggressive traction for steeper hikes over rugged terrain. This shoe can do about anything–which is why it’s been a perennial best-seller among experienced hikers and outdoor industry pros.
Fit tips: Salomons run standard to slightly narrow in the toes, but X Ultras also come in wides
La Sportiva Spire GTX
Main Benefits:
If the Salomon X Ultra 4 isn’t the best lightweight hiking shoe for harder hikes, it’s probably La Sportiva’s Spire GTX. Mixing soft EVA cushioning with firm TPU inserts, the Spire is both cushioned underfoot and stable on uneven ground. It’s a lightweight hiking shoe that features premium Vibram outsoles for excellent traction and GORE-TEX Surround–the most waterproof-breathable membrane on the market. This shoe runs narrow with a price that runs high. But that may be money well spent for hikers who don’t mind paying a premium for the best lightweight hiking shoes.
Fit tips: Sportivas run narrow (size up)
buying the best lightweight hiking shoes
testing Salomon's X Ultra 4 GTX on a stream-side trail
The best lightweight hiking boots may save you some energy on the trail, especially if you’re a fast hiker. And they generally cost less than the best hiking boots. That makes them a popular pick for casual hikers, fast hikers, and seasoned backpackers who want to save weight to save energy (especially on long hikes).
If you're not in love with these options, please check out my longer list of recommended hiking shoes or my pro picks for the best trail running shoes for hikers.
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Happy Hiking!
