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

Over the past 30 years, the brand has evolved from the hiking boots made by a cheerful cowboy boot maker to the fashionable outdoor shoes that have become popular at outdoor festivals. Until recently, I'd steered clear of them, thinking they were "kind of frivolous" (sorry), but when you get to know them better, you'll find that they're actually a very serious brand that provides outdoor shoes for a wide range of users

Merrell, which has always been at the forefront of outdoor culture, has now set its sights on goats. Why goats now? Well, we're not talking about goats munching on pastures, but wild goats that run at incredible speeds up steep mountain slopes

The split hoof-shaped outsole of the Kapla series was inspired by the strong hooves that allow them to run freely over rough rocky terrain. The outer hoof part (white part in the photo) is made of highly flexible rubber that is non-slip and grips hard rock surfaces firmly, while the inner part (black part in the photo) is made of a harder material that is resistant to mud and rough roads and also absorbs shocks better

The proprietary SELECT GRIP uses a hybrid sole pattern to adapt to a variety of terrains. It's exciting to see how well it performs. Other features include its feather-light weight of just 411g (US size 9) and a sophisticated design, making it a model that's easy to recommend even for beginners

Montrail SIERRAVADA MID OUTDRY

SIERRAVADA MID OUTDRY

Montrail

17,820 yen

465g

Low-cut leather models available

Lightness★★★☆☆☆Stable

Montrail, a brand renowned as the originator of trail running shoes, is now strongly associated with trail running and adventure racing (I've been a fan of theirs for a long time in Bajada), but in fact it's that originated from trekking, with the aim of making the bulky trekking boots of the time into lighter and more comfortable footwear . In 2016, Montrail returned to the world of hiking with a shoe named after the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a mountain range known to all American hikers.

First of all, you'll be amazed at how comfortable they are. The cushioning of the sole is unmatched among the shoes we've introduced this time. What's more, the seven closely spaced eyelets, which are tape-like, make it extremely easy to tighten and prevent loosening, and the hold is excellent, which I personally love

Other than that, just looking at the main features, there are plenty of exciting features, such as the reliable protection of the upper that is imbued with the DNA of trekking boots, the shock absorption, flexibility, and cushioning (Trail Shield Fluid Foam) of the midsole cultivated in trail running shoes, and the OutDry® waterproof and breathable membrane that is said to surpass GORE-TEX®. I'm not just saying this to flatter you, but with active hiking styles now gaining attention, there's no doubt that the release of this model has made it one of the footwear brands I have the most high hopes for

TECNICA TCROSS MID SYN GTX

Lightness★★★☆☆☆Stable

If it weren't for this special feature, I would never have come across this long-established Italian brand, which boasts a history of over 50 years and is renowned in the winter sports world as a pioneer of plastic ski boots. To be honest, this was the first time I had learned that it is also such a technologically advanced brand in the world of trekking boots

The heel system improves heel cushioning and reduces ankle twisting, the unique sole system (TRS) creates a gentle curve that supports natural movement from landing to pushing off, and the upper structure maintains protection and hold without losing foot mobility. Backed by experience and technical expertise, the functionality is more flawless than expected, and I imagine it to be of a very high level of perfection. Actually, I haven't received it yet... so I'm writing this from notes I took of the feel I had at last year's exhibition. But the impression I had back then was genuine, and I still haven't forgotten it. It must be a reliable product. Please look forward to future comparison tests

VASQUE Inhaler II GTX

Inhaler II GTX

VASQUE

25,920 yen

430g

Low cut model available

Lightness ★★★★☆☆ Stability

VASQUE is known for its traditional all-leather boots crafted by Italian shoemakers, but in recent years they have been leveraging that base to expand into trail running and performance hiking (as the company calls them). While the specs of this new model are almost identical to last year's model (the Inhaler), it's still incredibly light (435g in a US size 9.5)

The upper material is as thin as you'd expect, which is likely related to its lightness, and the surface is a rough mesh. The biggest feature of these boots is that they are waterproof, but they allow incredible wind to pass through. The ventilation, which was deliberately cut out of the heel and toe protection, also shows how serious they are

However, the Vibram's latest Megagrip rubber and deep lugs on the outsole seem to provide excellent grip on a wide range of terrain (especially muddy, rough roads) without clogging up with mud. As someone familiar with trekking shoes, I can't help but grin at how reliable these shoes look

adidas TERREX FAST R MID Gore-Tex

TERREX FAST R MID Gore-Tex

adidas

21,600 yen

435g

Lightness★★★☆☆☆Stable

Adidas is the undisputed king of sports apparel, but it actually has a long history in outdoor footwear, dating back to when it created approach shoes for world-renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner . As someone who always wants to support something that is technically and design-driven, I had been waiting for the opportunity to try one out, and this model was perfect in many ways.

First of all, the color and design are not what you would call "outdoor" shoes. No matter how you look at it, it's Adidas. As expected. The upper from the instep to the toe is made of a thin nylon fabric. However, the slightly crisp and stiff feel made it a little hard to get used to, but I guess it's just a matter of getting used to it

The heel and both sides are constructed with bold hard plastic, which seems to provide good heel stability. I was wondering about cushioning, however, and it turns out the outsole uses rubber developed in collaboration with tire manufacturer Continental. The lug pattern, reminiscent of a tire, and the soft, resilient material provide excellent grip and cushioning, and combined with the unique Adiprene heel shock absorption system, I was convinced that this was truly a smart design

In any case, the TERREX FAST R has a clearly different approach from other shoes, and I feel that it has boundless potential. So, for more details, please look forward to 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: Summary of general characteristics of different shoe types

type	Running (trail running) shoes	Mid-cut hiking boots	Trekking/Alpine boots (high-top)
image
Lightness	◎	◯※2	△
Cushioning	◎※1	◯	△
Breathable and quick-drying	◎	◯	△
Ankle freedom	◎	◯※2	△
Sensation on the soles of the feet	◯	◯	△
Maintenance effort	◯	◯	△
Stability on uneven ground and under heavy loads	△※1	◯	◎
Ankle support	△	◯※2	◎
Intrusion of pebbles, etc	△	◯※2	◎
Protection power/durability	△	◯	◎
Thermal insulation	△	◯	◎
Putting on crampons	×	×	◯
Ideal for:	Shoes for short runs on paved roads with a light load	Shoes for walking (running) on ​​rough terrain for long periods with a light load	Shoes for walking heavily over a wide range of terrain, including rocky ridges and mud, for extended periods of time

*1 Trail running shoes have harder and deeper rubber outsoles, which increases stability on uneven ground, but tends to have less cushioning than running shoes

Even if they are the same hiking shoes, if they are low-cut models, the characteristics in item *2 will be closer to those of running/trail running shoes, and a lighter and more free-flowing foot movement will be emphasized

   

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