Trail Gear Picks
Buying guide

The Best Lightweight Hiking Shoes

Five low hiking shoes that weigh 11 to 12 ounces each, from about $70 to $190, with the size to order and the widths each one comes in.

By Alex HartDay trails mostly, a few nights out a year, mountains when the time allows.
Updated Oct 2026·20 compared

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If you want one light shoe for summer trails, buy the Merrell Moab Speed 2, about $145. At 12 ounces a shoe it barely registers on your feet, and it's the shoe nearly every big list of light hikers includes: it grips well on wet ground, it's comfortable out of the box, and 13 of the 15 buyers who answered on fit got the length they ordered.

The weight won't decide this one. All five shoes here are within an ounce of each other, so your feet and your weather get the final say. If your trails stay wet, take the Katabatic LT, which carries Gore-Tex at 11.8 ounces. If your toes are always squeezed, the Lone Peak 9 gives them room. And for easy trails on a budget, the Gel-Venture 11 costs about $70.

Our picks

Merrell Moab Speed 2
Our pick
Merrell Moab Speed 2

A breathable mesh shoe on a Vibram sole, about 12 oz a shoe, on nearly every big list of light hiking shoes. Its fit rarely surprises.

Check price on Amazon$133.35
Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX
Waterproof pick
Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX

Gore-Tex at 11.8 oz, a hair under the mesh Merrell. It lists at about $190 and sells for much less on Amazon. Narrow up front, so check the wide.

Check price on Amazon$144.99
Altra Lone Peak 9
Wide-toe pick
Altra Lone Peak 9

The lightest shoe here, with a toe box shaped like a foot and heel and forefoot at the same height. Toes that feel squeezed in everything else get room here.

Check price on Amazon$118.75
ASICS Gel-Venture 11
Budget pick
ASICS Gel-Venture 11

A light trail shoe for about $70, in widths up to 4E. For easy trails and long walks, not for rocks and roots.

Check price on Amazon$69.95

At a glance

Product names go to Amazon. Rank numbers jump to the full write-up.

ShoeBest forWeight per shoeWaterproofWide optionAbout
1Merrell Moab Speed 2Most hikers12 ozNo, mesh upperYes$145
2Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTXWet trails11.8 ozYes, Gore-TexYes, same price$145
3Altra Lone Peak 9Room for your toes11.2 ozNo, GTX version existsYes, same price$145
4Danner Trail 2650Trail to town12 ozNo, GTX version existsYes, EE$190
5ASICS Gel-Venture 11Under $8011.5 ozNo, waterproof version existsYes, up to 4E$70

The shoes, ranked

1Most hikers
Merrell Moab Speed 2

Merrell Moab Speed 2

A breathable mesh shoe on a Vibram sole, about 12 oz a shoe, on nearly every big list of light hiking shoes. Its fit rarely surprises.

$133.35$145.008% off
Check price on Amazon
Vibram TC5+ outsoleFlexPlate against twisting10 mm dropGore-Tex version about $30 more
+Read the full write-up

Why I picked it

This is the shoe I'd send a friend to who wants one pair for summer day hikes. It's built light and soft like a trail runner, with the sole and the stiffness of a hiking shoe for roots and wet rock. Underfoot, a stiff insert Merrell calls FlexPlate resists twist on a slanted root or a tilted rock, and the toe still flexes so the shoe doesn't walk like a plank.

The sole is Vibram TC5+ with 4 mm lugs, which is good rubber at this price. The upper is mesh, so your feet stay cooler on a July climb and dry faster after a creek. Merrell lists it at 11.99 ounces a shoe. There's a wide version, and a Gore-Tex version for about $30 more.

Who it is for

Day hikers on established trails, and anyone who wants a light shoe that also works for the dog walk and a week of travel.

What owners report

Owners talk about comfort more than anything, and about how little they notice the weight. One says you almost forget you're wearing them, another put hundreds of miles of hiking and walking on a pair in a year. Grip comes up often too, and one owner calls it excellent on wet or dry ground.

Where it goes wrong, it's specific. Two buyers learned in the rain that mesh lets water through, one of them within seconds. A longtime Merrell buyer sent back two pairs because his heel lifted with every step, however he laced them. And a few found the toe box short on room, while others, who'd given up on Merrell as too narrow, were glad to find the wide.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • Not waterproof. Water comes straight through the mesh, so buy the Gore-Tex version if you need dry feet.
  • Heel lift for at least one longtime Merrell buyer, whatever the lacing.
  • Snug at the big toe for some feet. Try the wide if that's you.

Fit and sizing

Your usual size. Of the 15 buyers who answered on fit, 13 called the length right and 14 the width.

2
Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX
Wet trails

Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX

Gore-Tex at 11.8 oz, a hair under the mesh Merrell. It lists at about $190 and sells for much less on Amazon. Narrow up front, so check the wide.

$144.99$152.005% off
See it on Amazon
Gore-Tex Invisible FitO FIT insole8 mm dropWide at the same price
+Read the full write-up

Why I picked it

Most waterproof shoes give you dry feet and heavy feet. This one doesn't. Oboz bonds its Gore-Tex lining straight to the upper, and the result is 11.8 ounces a shoe, a little less than the mesh Merrell. On a spring morning when the grass is soaked and every trail crossing is ankle-deep mud, that's the shoe you want.

It lists at about $190, and on Amazon it sells for much less, about $145 lately. The insole is Oboz's O FIT, the drop is 8 mm, and the wide costs the same as the standard.

Buy it if

Your hikes start in wet grass, end in mud, or happen in the shoulder seasons when cold water is the problem.

Skip it if

Your forefoot is wide and you don't want to bother with the wide. Or you hike mostly in summer heat, where a membrane just keeps the sweat in.

What owners report

Owners like how light it feels for a waterproof shoe, and several wore it all day straight out of the box. One repeat buyer's last pair of Katabatics walked more than 2,500 miles. Another took these on several backpacking trips without a single foot problem.

When owners are unhappy, the toe box comes up most. A buyer who wears other Oboz without trouble couldn't wear these at all, and another had to take them off before getting out of the house. Even some five-star reviews ask for more room up front. One owner found the heel unbearable against the Achilles after 15 minutes, and another saw the front wearing after about 50 miles.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • Narrow toe box, the most common complaint.
  • One report of heel rub at the Achilles.
  • A membrane runs warmer than mesh in summer.

Fit and sizing

Only four buyers answered on size, and three called it true. If you're between widths, or your toes ever feel pinched, order the wide. It's the same price.

3
Altra Lone Peak 9
Room for your toes

Altra Lone Peak 9

The lightest shoe here, with a toe box shaped like a foot and heel and forefoot at the same height. Toes that feel squeezed in everything else get room here.

$118.75$134.9512% off
See it on Amazon
Zero dropFootShape toe boxMaxTrac outsoleAltra lists it for thru-hiking
+Read the full write-up

Why I picked it

Altra builds the Lone Peak around a foot-shaped toe box, so your toes lie flat and side by side instead of being squeezed into a point. That room up front matters most on a long descent, when your foot slides forward.

It's also the lightest shoe here, 11.15 ounces according to Altra, and zero drop: heel and forefoot sit at the same height, on 25 mm of foam. Altra lists it for trail running, hiking and thru-hiking, and it's a regular on the thru-hiking lists. The wide costs the same, and there's a Gore-Tex version for about $20 more.

Who it is for

Anyone whose toes feel squeezed in everything else, and hikers who already like zero drop.

What owners report

There are only 18 men's reviews so far, so take these as counts. Thirteen are five stars, and the toe box is what they praise. One owner says it looks a little odd, like a sneaker with a Birkenstock toe, and that the comfort wins you over. Another owner, on a fourth pair, just bought two more.

Grip is the one real complaint. A buyer on an eighth or ninth pair slipped repeatedly in a new gray pair with a white sole, while another owner had no such trouble. And one buyer found the men's wide too narrow. On size, 11 said true, 4 said it ran large and 2 small.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • One long-time owner slipped repeatedly on a new pair. Don't trust it on wet slabs until you've tried it.
  • Zero drop takes getting used to. Build up with short hikes first.
  • The wide isn't very wide for at least one owner.

Fit and sizing

Normal size. If you land between two, take the smaller one, since a few owners found it a half size long.

4
Danner Trail 2650
Trail to town

Danner Trail 2650

Suede and textile on a Vibram Megagrip sole, about 12 oz a shoe. It looks like a shoe you'd wear to dinner and grips like one you'd wear up a rock slab.

$189.95
See it on Amazon
Vibram 460 MegagripTPU shank8 mm dropOrthoLite footbed
+Read the full write-up

Why I picked it

Danner named it after the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, and gave it the look of a casual suede shoe. It's still a hiking shoe underneath: a Vibram 460 sole in Megagrip rubber, a TPU shank under the arch, and a reinforced heel counter. At 24 ounces for the pair, by Danner's number, it's no heavier than the mesh shoes here.

That makes it the pair to buy if you want one shoe for the trail and the drive home, or for a trip where you'll walk city streets one day and a mountain trail the next. It comes in EE as well as D, at the same price, and there's a Gore-Tex version for about $20 more.

Who it is for

Travelers and day hikers who want one pair that looks right everywhere.

What owners report

With more than 500 reviews, this is the best-documented shoe here, and the praise is consistent: light, comfortable, no break-in. Plenty of owners wear it every day and on the trail, and one took a pair through a week of hikes in the Colorado Rockies.

Two worries come back. The fit is slim, and the EE is supposed to help but often barely does: one buyer ordered a 14 EE and a 15 D and found them the same size. And the sole doesn't always last. Several owners saw the tread wear thin or the outsole come away, one after four and a half months, another at about a year. If you'll walk on pavement every day, expect to replace them sooner than a hiking-only pair.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • Narrow, even in the EE for some owners.
  • The outsole wears fast on pavement, and a few came unglued in under a year.
  • The most expensive shoe on the page.

Fit and sizing

True to size for most, but 8 of 53 buyers found it a full size small, so have a plan for a swap. If your feet are anything but narrow, start with the EE.

5
ASICS Gel-Venture 11
Under $80

ASICS Gel-Venture 11

A light trail shoe for about $70, in widths up to 4E. For easy trails and long walks, not for rocks and roots.

$69.95$90.0022% off
See it on Amazon
Rear-foot GEL cushioningOrthoLite socklinerSold as a trail running shoeFirm ride
+Read the full write-up

Why I picked it

For about $70, you get a light trail running shoe with a gel pad under the heel. It weighs about 11.5 ounces in a size 9, and it comes in widths most hiking shoes don't, up to 4E. It's the cheapest way onto this page.

It's a trail running shoe, firm and simple, fine for park trails, gravel paths and long walks. On a rocky, rooty trail with real climbs, the shoes above will do more for your feet.

Who it is for

New hikers, occasional hikers, and anyone with very wide feet who's tired of paying more for the extra width.

What owners report

Owners call it comfortable and roomy, and several use it for walking, travel and light hikes around town. The complaints are about the front. One owner's big toe rubs on a hard, unlined toe cap even through socks, another found the toe box too short, and three buyers of the extra-wide versions wanted more width than they got. A few also expected more cushion.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • A hard, unlined toe cap rubs some big toes.
  • Firm underfoot. Owners coming from ASICS road shoes miss the cushion.
  • Built for easy trails, not rocky ground.

Fit and sizing

True to size for 15 of the 20 owners who answered, with a little extra length for a couple of them. No need to adjust.

Who this is for

These are shoes for summer and shoulder-season day hikes, and the odd night out with a light pack. When the pack gets heavy or your ankles want holding, step up to our lightweight hiking boots, which cost you a few more ounces a foot. For heavier loads and rougher ground, the hiking boots guide is the better place to start.

The picks here are men's shoes, and each one comes in a women's version too. If you'd rather start from a list built around women's fit, see the best hiking shoes for women.

How to choose

Don't choose on weight alone

Every shoe here weighs 11 to 12 ounces, against about 16 for a light mid boot like the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid. That gap is real on a long day. Between these five, though, it's less than an ounce, so the numbers are a tie and your feet and weather break it.

Mesh or a membrane

Gore-Tex buys you dry toes on a dewy morning and in cold puddles, and it costs you sweaty feet in July. Choose by season: mesh from late spring to early fall, a membrane when the trail is cold and soggy. The Katabatic LT is the light way to get one.

Check how roomy the front is

Pinched toes are behind more of the bad reviews of these shoes than anything else. If your toes always feel cramped, start with the Lone Peak 9. The Katabatic LT and the Trail 2650 run narrow, but both come in a wide at the same price. The Moab Speed 2 has a wide too.

Mind the drop

Most of these lift your heel 8 to 10 mm above the ball of your foot, like most running shoes. The Lone Peak sits flat, at zero, and that puts more work on your calves and Achilles. Fine once you're used to it, sore if your first outing is a long one.

The competition

Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX (low)

Salomon's low X Ultra 5 is superb on rock, and at 13 ounces it's heavier than all five of these. The X Ultra 5 review explains why the low runs short and narrow.

Hoka Speedgoat 7

Light and well-cushioned, and a favorite on ultralight lists. Owners of the 7 are less happy than with earlier versions: they report a stiff, plastic-feeling upper over the toes, a narrow toe box, and sizes that run short.

Merrell Moab Speed 2 Gore-Tex

Our top pick with a waterproof lining, at about $175 and under 13 ounces a shoe. Get this if you like the Moab Speed 2 but your trails are wet more often than not.

Merrell Moab 3

The classic Merrell hiker, roomier and heavier than the Speed 2. The Moab 3 review covers every version.

Danner Trail 2650 GTX

Add a Gore-Tex lining for about $20 more. Worth it if your trips take you somewhere wet.

How we picked

Low cut, 12 oz or less per shoeA sole built for trailAt least 15 readable owner reviewsA men's version on Amazon at a regular priceUnder $200

Twenty low shoes from the lightweight lists were in the running. Weights are per shoe so the numbers line up: the maker's own for four of them, and Zappos's measured size 9 for the ASICS. Drops, soles, linings and widths come from the makers.

What owners report comes from Zappos, about 800 reviews of the men's versions, the unhappiest first. Zappos buyers say whether a shoe felt true to size and width, and that's what the fit notes rest on. For thinly reviewed shoes you get raw counts.

Common questions

What is the lightest hiking shoe?+

Of the shoes here, the Altra Lone Peak 9, at 11.15 ounces a shoe according to Altra. Trail running shoes go lighter still, some under 10 ounces, but they give up protection and grip on rough ground. For a real hiking shoe, anything under 12 ounces is light.

What shoes are best for light hiking?+

A low shoe with a lugged sole and a mesh upper is all most day hikes need. The Merrell Moab Speed 2 is the one I'd start with: light, grippy and easy to wear straight away.

Is there a difference between trail running shoes and hiking shoes?+

Yes, though the line is blurry. Hiking shoes are usually stiffer, with a plate or shank that keeps the shoe from twisting on uneven ground, and tougher toe protection. Trail runners are lighter and softer and wear out sooner. The Lone Peak 9 and the Gel-Venture 11 are trail runners that plenty of hikers use; the Moab Speed 2 sits halfway between. If you've decided on a runner, here are the best trail runners for hiking.

Do I need waterproof hiking shoes?+

Rarely for summer day hikes. Take a membrane if your trails stay cold and soggy for months at a time; the rest of the year, mesh that drains and dries is the better bet.

Are lightweight hiking shoes good for backpacking?+

For light loads, yes. Altra lists the Lone Peak for thru-hiking, and Oboz pitches the Katabatic LT for fastpacking as well as day hikes. With a heavy pack, or on loose and rocky ground, a stiffer shoe or a mid boot will protect your feet and ankles better.

The verdict

Start with the Moab Speed 2

Buy the Moab Speed 2 and stop there: Vibram grip, a stiff plate against twisting, and the size you usually wear, for about $145.

Three things change the answer. Wet trails most of the year call for the Katabatic LT. Toes that always feel crowded belong in the Lone Peak 9. And if one pair has to cover the trail and the town, get the Trail 2650.

Check price on Amazon$133.35

Related guides

The Best Trail Runners for HikingSix trail running shoes for day hikes and backpacking, from about $60 to $180, with the size to order, the widths and what owners complain about.The Best Hiking BootsHow to get the size and the width right on the first order, across six waterproof mid boots from about $110 to $280.The Best Lightweight Hiking BootsMid boots that keep your feet dry without dragging on the last miles, from about $110 to $240.