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Hike Light: Ultralight Walking Footwear

8 April 2021

Investing in lightweight walking footwear will not only shave the grams off your total kit bag but can also help reduce foot fatigue so you can go further for longer on your trails. Here we have highlighted some of the lightest lightweight models in our spring collection.

Salomon
X Ultra 4 Mid GTX

Weight: 425g

Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX

Built to handle rugged and rain-soaked terrain, these mid-top boots combine the durability of a traditional hiking boot with the lightweight agility of a trail shoe. Fully waterproof thanks to their GORE-TEX upper, they feature a supportive, lightweight chassis. Salomon’s ‘Energy Cell’ EVA foam midsole improves cushioning, while chunky lugs on the ‘Contagrip’ sole mean you can tackle the muddiest trails. A brilliant all-rounder.

Inov-8
Roclite G 345 GTX

Weight: 345g

Inov 8 Roclite G 345 GTX

Inov-8’s Roclite trail running shoes have developed a legendary reputation, so it’s perhaps not surprising that the Lake District-based brand also opted to produce hiking boots that use a lot of the same tech. These feature Inov-8’s signature rubber outsole enhanced with graphene - the wonder material that’s both incredibly thin and stronger than steel - which improves durability and grip.

The North Face
Vectiv Exploris FL

Weight: 373g

The North Face Vectiv Exploris FL

Bringing two of TNF’s groundbreaking proprietary technologies together into one lightweight shoe-shaped package, this new model is guaranteed to make a splash. They have a Vectiv fibre plate in the midsole, a tech feature taken from TNF’s trail running range which improves stability and helps convert energy into forward propulsion. The upper features a membrane made of the brand’s highly waterproof and breathable FUTURELIGHT material.

On
Cloudrock WP

Weight: 445g

On Cloudrock WP

Zurich-based brand On has only been in business for just over a decade, but they’ve already made a huge splash in the world of running, and are now turning their hand to walking boots. These carry over some of the best tech from their trail running range, including the Zero-Gravity CloudTec foam of the midsole, and the ‘Speedboard’ plate, which transforms energy into forward motion. Solid without being too heavy, they’re perfect for fast-paced day hikes.

Merrell
Moab Speed GTX

Weight: 320g

Merrell Moab Speed GTX

Weighing in at an impressive 320g a shoe, Merrell’s newest speed hiking model combines a waterproof GORE-TEX upper with a midsole made of the brand’s proprietary ‘FloatPro’ foam. Underneath that, there’s a Vibram outsole featuring the new, unusually- shaped ‘Traction Lugs,’ which Vibram reckon improve grip by up to 25 percent. With a 30 percent recycled sole, plus 100 percent recycled laces, these are light on the planet, as well as light on your feet.

Adidas Terrex
Swift R3 GTX

Weight: 320g

Adidas Terrex Swift R3 GTX

In updating their already popular lightweight hiker, the R2, Adidas have decided to use ‘Litestrike’ EVA, a cushioning foam more commonly found in the brand’s record-setting running shoes. The result is lightweight, with excellent cushioning and the kind of energy return you might normally expect to get from a trail shoe. The waterproof, GORE-TEX upper completes the package, giving you a great shoe for hiking at speed through varied terrain.