need under 10 ounce shoe with low heel drop

with those parameters the kinvara really seems like your only choice...the only thing to do about wanting more durability would be shelling out the extra fifty bucks for the cortana (which is still light but technically 10.8 oz so a little more than you say you want)

Brooks Pure Flow coming out in October.

http://www.brooksrunning.com/Brooks-PureFlow/110107,default,pd.html

Puma Faas 300 or 250 Shoebacca.com they're almost 50% off for certain colors. I love them.

You could also just stop worrying about heel drop, because a few extra mm are not going to make a difference for someone with a biomechanically sound stride.

saucony hattori, saucony mirage, saucony mirage, saucony fastwitch, saucony a4, new balance minimus, mizuno universe, altra instinct, nike streak xc3. all $100 or less, 4mm drop or less, and 10oz or less.

Brooks Green Silence. 10.4mm drop, 6.7 ounces.

It was easy to find good running shoes in the mid 1970's, but very difficult now.

I personal avoided shoes that are too heavy, have a lot of gimmicks, and especially any shoes that have air or gel in the soles, as those are guaranteed to cause injuries to your feet, legs and hips.

Basically I look for 7 to 10 ounce shoes (hard to find) that are structurally sound. Preferably they would have a lightweight nylon upper, and a hard rubber sole, that is flexible in the front. I don't like the soft EVA rubber at all.

I just find the best shoes that I can find, for the lowest price (less than $30), then use a bench grinder for grinding down the soles of the shoes. I used to take off the outsoles and grind down the midsoles, then glue the outsoles (or homemade ones) back on the shoes, but haven't done that for awhile.

J.R. wrote:

especially any shoes that have air or gel in the soles, as those are guaranteed to cause injuries to your feet, legs and hips.

You really think they would only cause injuries? Because my buddy tried on a pair of shoes with some gel in the heel at the store, and he died two days later. Tragic.

CORTANA

made by saucony

If you want durability, no post, low drop, and under 10oz. I think the Saucony Peregrine may be it sure it may be a trail shoe but it is built on the kinvara last and it seems with 50miles on the road it tends to loosen up its durability is found in the carbon rubber sole and thicker upper.

Another option may be the Montrail Rogue again a trail shoe but many use it as a road shoe it does have a 10mm drop and thinner forefoot. Initially I think trail shoes may not be that good for roads but if you throw in a few miles here and there to the trails many have run in them exclusively for roads after 50miles.

At least one vote for the Pearl Izumi Streak II.