UL footwear: failed attempt to use my Soucony running shoes.

Were the running shoeS you used for road or trail? A well lugged trail shoe with a good rock plate will have the traction and protection of a boot. Something like a montrail mountain masochist, they even have a hightop, gortex version if you want to keep ankle and water protection. They range from 10 oz per shoe for the runner or 14 for the hightop. Traction wise even some of the minimal shoes have full vibram soles with good tread that would have comparable traction to your boots.

That's strange that your shoes seemed like they would be ruined after only 15 miles. I've done more than that on the PCT in racing flats while carrying a heavy load, and the shoe still looks like it'd have no problem reaching the 100 mile mark….I won't know though because I've moved on to other shoes.

If your shoes are wearing out too fast I'd guess its because of different conditins. The tops of trail runners just are not very durable. If you hikin on a trail like the Appalachian Trail its not such a big deal. If its really rocky though you'll scuff your shoe tops a lot more and wear them out faster. I trashed a pair of trail running shoes hiking really fast in the Texas Hill Country which is similar to Israel.
Another problem you might have is the dry sandy conditions in some deserts. Sand seems to wear shoes out fast. What I think happens is the sand works its way into little cracks in the shoes and grinds around. When I worked in really sandy area it seamed like our shoes wore out a lot fater.

Edit – If you are looking for something lighter just look online at "trail shoes" by the companies that make boots. Often they will have shoes that are basically a boot with a lower top. It will be heavier and more durable than a trail runner but have some of the durablity of a boot. If you get a lower shoe than gators might be a good idea. I don't know if there are gators that can stop snake fangs but anything is better than nothing. Another option might be military style desert boots. They are designed for that type of envirnment and they are (usually) lighter and more flexible then those Asolo boots.

Thank you guys!

I've used my racing ultra breathable shoes:

I saw some of UL backpackers use one like mine to save weight.

Thank you for pointing out to that kind of low hiking shoe. I found The North Face Hedgehog III.

It weights only 1 lb. 12.5 oz. (pair), but still has vibram and goretex. In reviews however people , mention that in hot climate their are too hot. Strange if I hike with my heavy boots it not that hot. I use Thorlo CoolMax socks with them.

If you were okay with the boots you should be okay with Gore Tex shoes. The socks you wear are very important in my experience. Your feel WILL sweet more with Goretex but good socks help a lot.

You might be hotter in goretex shoes because of the extra bloodflow that's promoted by having a more flexible sole. That's why non-waterproof lightweight trail warmers are surprisingly warm in cold weather, even warmer than goretex boots.

Does North Face shoes still have a bad reputation? I can't remember if it's them or Columbia, but I'd stick with a real shoe company.

I am currently hiking in a pair of The North Face Crestone (low top, non goretex, vibram sole). They make the Hedgehog and Crestone in low/mid top, goretex or no goretex. They are not very light for low top shoes but I like mine a lot so far. I tried them on both with goretex and without, they fit a little different, tighter in the goretex models. http://www.endless.com has them in all the different combinations.

I wouldn't buy goretex shoes. If you want goretex buy goretex socks. Shoes/boots with goretex just have a goretex bootie sewn inside the show so there really is no difference except with goretex in the socks you have more versatility in that you can choose to add them or not and you can replace the sock without replacing the shoe/boot.