The Best Lightweight Running Shoes for Fast Workouts
Despite the trend toward max stack 40mm behemoths, there are still great lightweight shoes out there. Here are the best speed shoes under 8 ounces.
While some of the market has been chasing stack heights and plates, there are still a crop of featherweight training shoes designed to help runners execute with precision on track Tuesday. From the trusty Kinvara to the new-kid Cyclone, there are some great options in the lightweight training shoe game. Here are the best running shoes under 8 ounces for those fast workouts.
1. Asics Magic Speed 3 ($160): Best Sub-8 Ounce Fully Plated Workout Shoe
The Asics Magic Speed 3 is a training shoe that pulls some of the key design elements from Asics' top-tier racers. It uses the well-fitting, lightweight upper, rocker geometry and full-length carbon-fiber plate from the Metaspeed Edge+ and Sky+, but switches out the firm raceday foam. In place of the dense FF Turbo+ supercritical compound is the friendly FF Blast+, a soft and responsive training foam that's used in Asics shoes like the Novablast 3, Gel-Nimbus 25 and Gel-Cumulus 25. Underfoot, this provides a soft and comfortable experience on step-in that livened and slightly stiffened by the carbon-fiber plate. At 7.7 ounces, it's a great training option for interval workouts and fast everyday runs.
ASICS Magic Speed 3
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2. Saucony Kinvara 14 ($120): Best Traditional Lightweight Training Shoe
The Saucony Kinvara 14 is an old-school training shoe that offers a simple ride. It uses Saucony's PWRRUN foam, which is a standard EVA that has a slightly firm but responsive feel. It's one of the last workout shoes on the market to use standard EVA—a traditional compound—but the foam performs well underfoot for runners who like a firmer platform. At 7 ounces flat, it's also one of the lighter weight options out there that still manages to have a decent stack height (31 heel, 27 forefoot).
Saucony Kinvara 14
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3. Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 ($150): Best Lightweight Training Shoe with a Bouncy Ride
The Topo Athletic Cyclone line is a newer entrant to the lightweight running shoe segment. Known for their anatomical trail shoes, Topo's new emphasis on the road side of the house has produced some great shoes recently like the Spectre and Cyclone. In the Cyclone, there's a full Pebax midsole that's soft, bouncy and snappy—almost like an Endorphin Speed without the plate. At $150, it's priced competitively given the Peba midsole, so it's a great pickup for runners who want a bouncy ride.
Topo Athletic Cyclone 2
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4. Brooks Hyperion Max ($170): Best Lightweight Training Shoe with a Firm Feel
The Brooks Hyperion Max is an uptempo shoe with a firm feel. It uses a supercritical EVA midsole compound called DNA Flash, which is also found in the brand's top-tier marathon racing shoe, the Hyperion Elite. In the Hyperion Mac, the firm foam and heavily rockered platform combine to create a set-up that's perfect for hitting those fastest paces in training—think 10k pace and faster. It's not the most comfortable or natural-feeling at slow paces, but it feels right at home when you hammer the gas. Save it for workout day.
Brooks Hyperion Max
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5. New Balance FuelCell Rebel v3 ($130): Best Lightweight Training Shoe with a Bouncy Ride
The New Balance Rebel v3 is one of the best all-around shoes on the market, and it also happens to come in below 8 ounces. It uses New Balance's FuelCell midsole, which is a soft and bouncy supercritical TPU and EVA blend compound that performs like a slightly squishier PEBA. At slower paces, it feels comfortable and cushioned, even with the moderate stack height, and at faster paces it roars to life with a snappy feel. It's extremely versatile for a lightweight training shoe, able to handle everything from easy runs to 16 mile weekend long hauls.
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v3
Final Thoughts
Despite the trend toward 40mm behemoths for speed day, there are lots of great moderate to minimal shoes that slot in below 8 ounces. With developments in foam tech that make midsoles lighter than ever, you no longer have to sacrifice cushioning for performance. If you'd like to keep evaluating shoes and find the best model for you, head to our shoe matcher where we'll pair you with a model based on your goals and preferences.
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