10 pairs of lightweight hiking shoes that you'll want to wear to the fullest [less than 500g per shoe]

MERRELL CAPRA BOLT MID GORE-TEX

CAPRA BOLT MID GORETEX

MERRELL

19,440 yen

446g

Low cut model available

Lightness★★★★★☆Stable

It's been over 30 years, from hiking boots made by cheerful cowboy boot craftsmen to stylish outdoor shoes that have been the hit at outdoor festivals. Until a few years ago, it is certain that they kept them away by saying, "It's a bit of a flirt..." (sorry to say so), but when I learned about it carefully, it was actually a very serious brand that offers outdoor shoes to a wide range of users.

Merrell, who has always been at the forefront of outdoor culture, came to this point and looked at the "goat." Why a goat now? That said, it's not the one who's slurping at the farm, but the wild thing that runs through the steep slopes of the mountainside at an incredible speed.

The Coupler series' hooves shaped outsoles were inspired by the strong hooves that run around freely without being overwhelmed by the rough rocky areas. The outer hoof part (white part in the photo) is made of highly flexible rubber, making it less slippery, and it is firmly attached to the hard rock surface, while the inside (black part in the photo) is made of harder material, which is resistant to mud and rough roads, making it easier to absorb impact.

Our original SELECT GRIP is designed to accommodate a variety of terrains through this hybrid sole pattern. I'm looking forward to seeing how skilled he is. In addition, the actual measurements are 411g (US9 size) and it is lighter than a feather, and it is also thought to be a sophisticated design, making it a model that is more likely to be recommended for beginners.

Montrail SIERRAVADA MID OUTDRY

SIERRAVADA MID OUTDRY

Montrail

17,820 yen

465g

Low cut leather model available

Lightness★★★☆☆☆Stable

Montrail, a brand famous as the origin of trail running shoes, has a strong image now that it is a brand for trail running and adventure racing (I have always been using it in Bajada), but in reality it with the aim of making the trekking boots, which were sturdy at the time, lighter and more comfortable . In 2016, the Montrail returned to the hiking world, carrying shoes that are named after the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which are known to all American hikers.

First of all, everyone will be surprised at how comfortable they are. The sole has an outstanding cushioning performance, which is one of the top 10 among the other introduced here. Furthermore, the seven shoe holes, which are tape-like and are packed with spaces, are very easy to tighten, and do not easily loosen, giving it a great hold that I personally love.

Other main features include solid protection from the upper, which is made with the DNA of the trekking boots, the shock absorbing power, flexibility, cushioning (trail shield and fluid foam) of the midsole developed through trail running shoes, and the waterproof and breathable membrane with the OutDry®, which is said to surpass GORE-TEX®. It's not flattering or anything, but now that active hiking styles are becoming more and more popular, there's no doubt that this model has become one of the footwear brands I'm most looking forward to.

TECNICA TCROSS MID SYN GTX

Lightness★★★☆☆☆Stable

If this special were not included, the Italian brand would never have come across for a long time. It boasts a history of over 50 years and is a well-established, well-established brand that has become a pioneer in plastic ski boots, making it a well-established brand in winter sports. This is honestly the first time I've learned that this is such a cutting-edge brand with such technical capabilities in the world of trekking boots.

The features backed by experience and technical skills, such as the heel system that improves heel cushioning and reduces the twist of the ankle, the unique sole system (TRS) that creates a gentle curve to support natural movements from landing to kicking off, and the upper structure that maintains protection and hold without losing the mobility of the foot, are free from more gaps than you might think, and you can imagine a much higher level of perfection. This is because it hasn't actually arrived yet...I've written it out from a note about the feel I came across at last year's exhibition. However, the excitement I felt at that time was real and I still haven't forgotten it. It must be something that is sure to be certain. Stay tuned for future comparison tests.

VASQUE Inhaler II GTX

Inhaler II GTX

VASQUE

25,920 yen

430g

Low cut model available

Lightness★★★★☆☆Stable

VASQUE is a brand that has a strong impression of traditional all-leather boots by Italian shoemakers, but in recent years it has been gaining popularity in trail running and performance hiking (the company's name). The new model is almost the same specs as the model (Inhaler) released last year, but it is still as light as ever (435g for actual measurement of US 9.5).

The upper material, which is likely to be related to its lightness, is as thin as you would imagine, with a rough mesh surface, and despite its waterproof boots, this shoe's biggest feature is its incredible wind-wave. I also feel serious about the ventilation, which has been deliberately hollowed out the protection of the heel and toes.

However, Vibram's latest Megagrip rubber and deep-carved lugs (ditches) used in the outsole are likely to provide high grip over a wide range of terrain (especially muddy rough roads). As someone who is used to trekking shoes, I can't help but grin at the very reliable look.

adidas TERREX FAST R MID Gore-Tex

TERREX FAST R MID Gore-Tex

adidas

21,600 yen

435g

Lightness★★★☆☆☆Stable

Adidas is the well-known king of sports apparel, but in fact, it has a long history of outdoor footwear, and it began with the creation of approach shoes for the world-renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner . As someone who sees the technical and design challenges, I want to support them, so I have been thinking about the opportunity to try them out, but this model was perfect in many ways.

First of all, the colors and design are not what you would call "outdoor". No matter how you look at it, adidas. As expected. The upper from the instep to the toes is made of slender nylon fabric. However, the crisp and hard feel made it a little difficult to get on, but I guess it's a problem with getting used to it.

The heel and both sides are made of bold hard plastic, making the heel stable. However, I was wondering what would happen in terms of cushioning, but the outsole used a rubber jointly developed with tire manufacturer Continental. The lug pattern resembles tires, and the soft, tenacious material have excellent grip and cushioning, and the unique shock-absorbing system adiprene on the heel makes me realize that I'm just as shy as I am.

Anyway, I feel that the TERREX FAST R, which has come to the point of using a clearly different approach to other shoes, has a bottomless potential. So, we'll be looking forward to the details in the comparison test report!

We also recommend this article about trekking shoes.

• 5 tips to choose the right trekking shoes for your feet
• How to Fit Trekking Shoes and 6 Points to Check
• Comparison test: We compared the recommended trekking shoes from mountaineering shop staff

Reference: A summary of general features by type of shoe

type	Running (trerunning) shoes	Hiking boots (mid-cut)	Trekking Alpine Boots (High Cut)
image
Lightness	◎	◯※2	△
Cushioning	◎※1	◯	△
Breathable and quick-drying	◎	◯	△
Ankle freedom	◎	◯※2	△
Feelings of the soles of the feet	◯	◯	△
Care work	◯	◯	△
Stability on uneven terrain and heavy loads	△※1	◯	◎
Ankle support	△	◯※2	◎
Invasion of pebbles and other stones	△	◯※2	◎
Protectiveness and durability	△	◯	◎
Thermal insulation	△	◯	◎
Attaching the clamp	×	×	◯
Optimal use scenes	Shoes for short-term running on paved roads with light loads	Shoes for walking (running) on ​​rough roads for a long period of time with light loads	Shoes for long-term walking on all terrain, including rocky ridges and muddy

*1 In the case of trail running shoes, the elastic on the outsole becomes harder and deeper, increasing stability on uneven terrain, while the cushioning tends to fall more than that of running shoes.

Even if the same hiking shoes are low-cut models, the following features are similar to those of running and trail running shoes, and the emphasis is placed on lighter and more flexible walking.