superlight tennis shoes

B

blipblop

Rookie
hey i am on the hunt for the perfect tennis shoe, and i find that most offerings in the tennis shoe realm are too heavy for my tastes. i prefer the weight (or lack thereof) of running shoes. basically i would like to get under 12oz (for a size 9.5
), preferably under 10oz if possible.

however i don't want to lose the other features that make a great tennis shoe: lateral stability for ankle support, tough toe guard, and non-marking soles. running shoes lack all three of these usually. i.e. if i use running shoes, i roll my ankles easily, burn holes in the toes, and mark up pristine courts. i have managed to find several non-marking running shoes, however.

but basically, i want the best of both worlds: ruggedness and stability of a "tennis" shoe, and speed/weight of a running shoe.

the closest thing i have found are the kswiss speedster classic, at 10oz. they seem to lack the toe guard.

another option i have considered: i am a man, but i could use womens tennis shoes? they seem to be lighter in general.

suggestions?!
 
ok thanks. i realize that normally stability and lightweight don't go hand in hand. if there is one thing though that is lower on my list of priority, it is durability. as long as they have a decent toe guard, that is where most of the wear and damage is done to running shoes.
 
Have you looked into the new Lightspeed Rebel's from Prince. I am switching to those as soon as my T-22's wear out. They are really light, low to the ground and have great stability. I really like the T-22's because of those factors, but I was AMAZED at how much lighter and stable the rebels are.

Both are great shoe's, but I like the rebel's just a bit more. Also, if you have a wide foot, the rebel's may be a little tight. In which case I would try the T22's.

Regards,

DH
 
A light shoe to consider are the Yonex 107s or 304s. Both are listed as being lighter for the same size than the Lunarlite Vapor Tour.
 
Of the posted shoes, the K-Swiss Speedster Classic is by far the lightest, though TW suggests it as a casual shoe. I'd be willing to try it except it is said to have a narrow toe-box.

Here are weights for size 10.5 as listed by TW

K-Swiss Speedster Classic - 10 ounces
Yonex SHT-107 - 13.1
Nike Lunar Vapor Tour - 13.4
Adidas CC Feather - 13.8
Prince Rebel - 15.7
Adidas Barricade 6 - 16.7
 
Here are the light shoes I put together for myself to look into:

Adidas Response
Adidas Ambition IV Tennis Shoe
Nike Air Court Mo III
Nike Zoom Breathe 2K10
Nike Women's Lunarlite Speed 2
Nike Zoom Courtlite

Good luck.
 
120mphBodyServe said:
Tennis shoes are not light for many good reasons.
Click to expand...

What are these good reasons?

The main one I can think of is durability. The more durable soles tend to be of more dense material and thicker. However, a lot of players would be willing to sacrifice durability for weight in a game-day shoe.
 
WildVolley said:
What are these good reasons?

The main one I can think of is durability. The more durable soles tend to be of more dense material and thicker. However, a lot of players would be willing to sacrifice durability for weight in a game-day shoe.
Click to expand...

Cushioning and support. Tennis shoes are designed to support your feet while you move violently in a side to side or forward-back direction, and from the constant feet pounding particularly on hardcourts.
That's why I'm not a big fan of shoes that are too light like the Vapors.
 
120mphBodyServe said:
Cushioning and support. Tennis shoes are designed to support your feet while you move violently in a side to side or forward-back direction, and from the constant feet pounding particularly on hardcourts.
That's why I'm not a big fan of shoes that are too light like the Vapors.
Click to expand...

I find most shoes have a lot of extra material that has nothing to do with support, at least in terms of lateral support. In my experience, how well a shoe laces over the instep and doesn't stretch is key in keeping the foot from rolling.

Other shoes have a lot of extra weight because some tennis players drag their feet all over the court. I'm not usually a foot dragger except for stability when going really low and wide and sliding. Therefore, I don't need a lot of weight and outsole on the toe to keep me from burning through the top of the shoe. I've found some designers just use tougher material there and that's enough for me.

Cushioning and stability are also at odds. A soft shoe is not as stable as a firm shoe, because it allows the foot to move more. I just need enough cushioning or shock resistance to protect myself from a hard stop.

I play matches in the Yonex 304s, which are lighter than the Vapors and I've never had an issue with stability or cushioning. I understand why Federer likes the Vapors. Over the course of a match, heavy shoes do cause a loss of running efficiency and require greater effort.
 
They dont fit under the whole 12 oz. mark, but right now I use the Babolat Team All Court 4. They are the best shoe I have ever used. They feel like you dont have anything on, plus they are stable (in my opinion), and have an outsole warranty which is awesome.
 
denj3325 said:
They dont fit under the whole 12 oz. mark, but right now I use the Babolat Team All Court 4. They are the best shoe I have ever used. They feel like you dont have anything on, plus they are stable (in my opinion), and have an outsole warranty which is awesome.
Click to expand...

TW says they run a 1/2 size small. How is the toe box width on this shoe?
 
WildVolley said:
TW says they run a 1/2 size small. How is the toe box width on this shoe?
Click to expand...

I just got a 1/2 size bigger and they were fine. My feet are medium to narrow width, but I have heard of people with wider feet having problems with the width. The toe box is definitely not too tight nor too large for me. I like the narrower width, because most shoes I wear my feet slide around in.
 
The Nike Vapor S2 was probably the lightest, best lightweight shoe. I say pick a few and try them on for feel. You may find that it doesn't matter if the shoe isn't the lightest pair on the market. As long as you like the feel of the weight, it doesn't matter.

Here are my recommendations:
Yonex SHT 307s
Nike LunarLite Vapor Tours
Nike Breathe 2K10
 
120mphBodyServe said:
They feel like an upgraded slipper with a rubber sole.
Why pay so much to get such a crappy shoe?
Click to expand...

Nike shoes tend to be too narrow for my feet, so I don't wear them. However, a lot of people are looking for a lightweight shoe, with a low to the ground feel. So, I don't think that's a legitimate criticism of the shoe.

I won't dispute that Nike shoes are overpriced, especially if they don't come with a warranty.
 
WildVolley said:
Nike shoes tend to be too narrow for my feet, so I don't wear them. However, a lot of people are looking for a lightweight shoe, with a low to the ground feel. So, I don't think that's a legitimate criticism of the shoe.

I won't dispute that Nike shoes are overpriced, especially if they don't come with a warranty.
Click to expand...

thanks for the input guys, i have decided to try the Nike Lunar Vapor Tour. they are on discount in the orange color, which is ok for me because i have orange rackets too! :shock:

i will let you all know how they work out for me.
 
oh and also, i am one of those people who likes the low to the ground feeling. i'm short but i like the precision it gives.
 
Definitely try out the Vapor line. But just stay away from the Lunarlite model! so unsupportive and unresponsive, and the stupid lunarlite foam dies over time!

I got some Vapor VIs and I just love them! Very supportive, responsive, comfortable, and light!
 
blipblop said:
thanks for the input guys, i have decided to try the Nike Lunar Vapor Tour. they are on discount in the orange color, which is ok for me because i have orange rackets too! :shock:

i will let you all know how they work out for me.
Click to expand...

How'd it work out for you?

Based on your original request, you should really try the New Balance 900s. They are super light, and actually built from the NB running last, but then made specifically as a tennis court shoe (added lateral support and stability). I've been using a pair for a few months and they feel lighter on my feet than my adidas CC Feathers (even though the weight is about the same), but the NB 900 is more comfy than the CC Feather without losing any lateral stability. I'll be trying the Babolat Team All Court 4 next (which weigh less than the two I've tried), and perhaps the clearance Vapor Tours... then my light shoe testing will be about complete.

BTW, the NB900s have a durability guarantee as well, which the Babolat TAC4 also has... so these two already have the edge since you are basically getting two-for-one unless you only play once or twice a week; or at the very least are getting a light AND durable shoe, which is hard to come by.
 
Lot of negative reviews on the Vapor Tours.......but I've tried on all of the best selling tennis shoes and vapor tours are the most comfortable and stable shoe. I do not slide around like some people say, my feet feel brand spanking new and painfree after a long match, I've never even came remotely close to rolling my angle or whatever. Can't say much about durability since I've only had the shoe for 3 weeks but even if it dies after a 2months I'd still buy them. Now for those who aren't as financially set as me...wait for them to go on liquidation and buy a couple pairs ;). Again, personal preference. I bought my vapors in the Nike Store at the US Open this year.
 
Vertiz said:
I do not slide around like some people say,
Click to expand...

Well, I bought a pair of Lunarlite about 3 months ago or so, only tried on a few times indoor, never really took it onto the courts. Then djoker gave me a good tip and got another pair of Lunarlite Tour. Like you, took it onto the courts, didn't slide that much either, but those were light plays.

Last Thursday, used them in a mix double match...what the heck? I was sliding unintentionally! Granted, I can easily slide on hardcourts, but those times I slide, I didn't mean/want to. Frankly, it was quite scary...
 
Zoom Kobe V. Designed to be a basketball shoe but works GREAT on tennis court. Most comfortable shoe i ever tried, light too (11oz./9.5us)
 
I have few pairs for different sports. I play tennis mostly on clay/carpet and after 4 months of hard abuse they still looks nice (minus few scratches). The traction is awesome and when You need it, access to slides is extra easy. B-ball ones used on hard courts (6 months) are alive as well (i never played in low tops before but they work great)
 
The_Question said:
Well, I bought a pair of Lunarlite about 3 months ago or so, only tried on a few times indoor, never really took it onto the courts. Then djoker gave me a good tip and got another pair of Lunarlite Tour. Like you, took it onto the courts, didn't slide that much either, but those were light plays.

Last Thursday, used them in a mix double match...what the heck? I was sliding unintentionally! Granted, I can easily slide on hardcourts, but those times I slide, I didn't mean/want to. Frankly, it was quite scary...
Click to expand...

Lunarlite's are terrible. Terrible traction, terrible lateral support, and terrible cushioning.
 
Yeah I think the Kobe V would make a great tennis shoe, if it just had a lil more durable features. I mean the upper is composed of a thin TPU skin, but considering what people do to thick TPU on tennis shoes, its prob not the most ideal. But in terms of performance and lightness, Id like to see the Nike designers really try to push the limits with any of the future vapors, and really drive it toward the direction that the Kobe line is going in.
 
If the Pros use racquets that are painted to look like the ones we can buy, doesn't it stand to reason that their shoes are also like that?

In other words, we cannot buy the shoes the Pros are wearing. Just like we cannot buy the racquets they are using.

I doubt any of the Pros would ever wear the shoes they sell to us. Sorry but I haven't found any of the new shoes to have all the necessary features (arch support, not wide shoebox, high heel, lightweight; med arch height, rugged etc. A few years back they made them much better.
 
I wouldn't go for the lightest ones for the reasons someone already mentioned in this thread. I would research for shoes between 14.8 Oz and 15.8 Oz. Good luck!
 
I use to use Court Ballistec 1.3s and 2.3s, but wanted something lighter. I liked the wilson tour spin, but I toe drag and I would always rip a hole in the mesh

I now have Kswiss speedster classics and they're not bad for me. I like how light they're are, haven't had any problems changing directions, and so far no problems with toe dragging. They only start to feel uncomfortable after playing 5-6 hours of singles.
 
airman88 said:
But the 2.3s are so much cooler looking.
Click to expand...

true, but they're not as comfortable for my feet. I almost rolled my ankle in one too because I was getting tired, probably because of the extra weight

Also, I've been starting to care less how I look and rather just play in what ever i feel most comfortable in
 
My two cents on shoes... I think there's a big difference based on the playing surface. I agree that shoes that are too light might not offer enough cushioning.

I play mostly on HarTru, so my top priority is traction/tread pattern. I prefer herringbone with deep grooves. A good option here is the Wilson Tour Vision or Tour Strike. Very happy with my Tour Strike at 14.5 +/- ounces. I see they just released a new Tour Spin II shoe that is under 14 ounces with the same sole as the aforementioned.

For hard courts, I worry less about traction and more about cushioning/durability and a lower to the ground feel. I will also add a gel insole for more comfort. Shoe preference here has been the Prince t22. I feel fast in them and they wear well and fit me like a glove.
 
I'm pretty happy with the Prince Rebel. They are lighter than the T22. Rebel shoes are also low to the ground and their traction is great.
 
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