The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (2024)

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (1)

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links.

You, me, and everybody else who's experienced the heat and humidity that comes with being outside sometimes knows what it's like to have shoes that suffocate your feet. Seriously—what feeling is worse than having your feet (which play a huge part in regulating your body temperature, BTW!) feel like they can't breathe through your shoes and socks, and are just festering up sweat until you can finally air 'em out?

The solution to this problem is a simple one: Get a pair of breathable shoes. They're more common than you think, although, you wouldn't really know it by how many shoes seem to hold your feet within a prison of humidity. But brands like Nike, Adidas, and Asics have perfected the art of combining durability with breathability, so you don't have to sacrifice one thing for another. No flimsiness, no sweat. Even designers like Gucci and Common Projects have breathable styles, while crowd favorites like Veja, Cariuma, and Hoka have pairs that you'll love. Below, we've gathered 14 of the best breathable shoes on the market. All you have to do is take the jump to make your feet feel better forever.

best affordable breathable shoes

Cariuma OCA Low Sneakers

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (2)

best affordable breathable shoes

Cariuma OCA Low Sneakers

Cariumas are a long-standing favorite because of how lightweight they are. But walking-on-air effect aside, these sneakers are pretty damn breathable, too, thanks to their canvas construction.

best lightweight breathable shoes

Allbirds Tree Runners

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (3)

best lightweight breathable shoes

Allbirds Tree Runners

Not only are these shoes comfortable to run around town in, but they'll air out your feet and let the breathe while you're doing it. The eucalyptus tree fiber is breezy and light, and even has thermoregulating properties.

best knit breathable shoes

Greats Royale Knit Sneakers

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (4)

best knit breathable shoes

Greats Royale Knit Sneakers

A knit sneaker is great for keeping your feet warm, but not hot. These aren't the kind of shoe you're going to grimace at when winter comes—they're protective and comfortable, but not overbearingly hot.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

best athletic breathable shoes

Nike Air Max 270 Sneakers

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (5)

best athletic breathable shoes

Nike Air Max 270 Sneakers

Nike has mastered the breathable sneaker over the years, and the Air Max 270s take the cake in terms of letting your dogs catch some air. These are so thin and flexible, it'll be like wearing really, really protective socks.

best sustainable breathable shoes

Rothy's RS01 Sneakers

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (6)

best sustainable breathable shoes

Rothy's RS01 Sneakers

These are washable, durable, and highly breathable, but honestly? As soon as Pedro Pascal gave them his seal of approval, we were sold.

best breathable shoes for running

Asics Gel-Nimbus 24 Running Shoes

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (7)

best breathable shoes for running

Asics Gel-Nimbus 24 Running Shoes

Or, if you're more of an Asics guy, there's no going wrong with a good ol' Gel-Nimbus 24. Perforation in the upper makes for an even more breathable sneaker than most.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

best overall breathable shoes

Hoka Clifton 9 Sneakers

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (8)

best overall breathable shoes

Hoka Clifton 9 Sneakers

Hoka is quickly becoming a household name in the world of sneakers, and it's really no question as to why. Their most popular style, the Clifton 9, is breathable as hell, thanks to the engineered knit upper.

best breathable lifestyle shoes

On Cloud 5 Running Shoes

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (9)

best breathable lifestyle shoes

On Cloud 5 Running Shoes

For a running shoe that doubles as a lifestyle shoe, On has a pair that's perfect for putting that pep in your step. These have athletic tech in their 100% recycled polyester upper that allows for ventilation and breathability all day long.

best designer breathable shoes

Gucci Virtus Distressed Sneakers

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (10)

best designer breathable shoes

Gucci Virtus Distressed Sneakers

A leather and webbing combo makes these '70s-inspired Gucci picks an absolutely infallible pair, both in terms of style and breathability.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

best classic breathable shoes

Adidas Ultraboost 1.0 Shoes

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (11)

best classic breathable shoes

Adidas Ultraboost 1.0 Shoes

Made in part with ocean plastics, these shoes with a breathable knit upper are perfect for runs, walks, and any other kind of pace of life.

best stylish breathable shoes

Veja Rio Branco Sneakers

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (12)

best stylish breathable shoes

Veja Rio Branco Sneakers

You, like the rest of the world, have undoubtedly been seeing that Veja logo more and more over the past couple of years. The lifestyle shoe's most breathable iteration has an Alvomesh upper, fabricated alongside leather and suede for an effortlessly cool look.

best versatile breathable shoes

NOBULL Gum Ripstop Runners

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (13)

best versatile breathable shoes

NOBULL Gum Ripstop Runners

Thanks to perforated polyester ripstop, these shoes are crafted specifically to be breathable as can be.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

best breathable water shoes

The North Face Skagit Water Shoes

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (14)

best breathable water shoes

The North Face Skagit Water Shoes

The ultimate land-to-sea option, that will keep your feet perfectly dry on land and, ironically, just wet enough in the water.

best elevated breathable shoes

Common Projects Original Achilles Perforated Low-Top Sneakers

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (15)

best elevated breathable shoes

Common Projects Original Achilles Perforated Low-Top Sneakers

You don't have to sacrifice the full-grain leather look in favor of breathability. Common Projects proves you can have the best of both worlds, with their style that's equally luxe and breathable.

The 14 Best Breathable Shoes Are Airy and Light (2024)

FAQs

What is the best breathable fabric for shoes? ›

Shoes made from natural materials like leather, suede, nubuck and canvas are best for sweaty feet as these fabrics are naturally breathable, unlike many synthetic fabrics, and shoes designed with specific breathable technologies are even better.

What is a breathable shoe? ›

BREATHABLE SHOES are designed with materials and features that allow air circulation for the ultimate foot ventilation comfort. All in all, breathable shoes will prevent excessive sweating, moisture buildup, and unpleasant odors, making them ideal for long hours of wear.

What are the best shoes to wear if your on your feet all day? ›

  • Nike Air Max 90 - Women's. Reviews say: my feet feel great even after standing all day. ...
  • HOKA Rincon 3 - Women's. ...
  • Timberland Nellie Chukka Double Waterproof Boots - Women's. ...
  • Reebok Classic Leather - Women's. ...
  • UGG Neumel - Women's. ...
  • adidas Originals Ozweego Casual Sneakers - Women's.

Which sole material is best for sweaty feet? ›

A leather-soled shoe is also better for people that experience issues with their feet, such as sweat or foot odor. Another tremendous benefit of these soles is the resistance they offer from the ground and providing you a temperature regulation. For these reasons, leather-soled shoes are the most popular in the summer.

What shoes don't make your feet stink? ›

The best shoe material for sweaty feet is leather due to its breathability and its ability to absorb excess moisture. Certain shoes, typically featuring man-made materials can make your feet smell and sweat more due to them trapping in the heat and moisture.

What fabric is lightweight and breathable? ›

Cotton and linen are top choices for summer fabrics because they're lightweight, breathable, and help to keep the body cool by allowing air to circulate.

What is the coolest fabric to wear in summer? ›

Materials like cotton, linen and silk are great choices that will serve your wardrobe well as the weather gets warmer – choose correctly and you'll be able to enjoy your whole summer without feeling hot and flustered!

Can you wear breathable shoes without socks? ›

Sneakers without Socks

But did you know they're also a great option for going sockless? Look for sneakers made of breathable materials like mesh or canvas, which allow your feet to breathe while keeping them cool and dry.

How do you make shoes breathe? ›

Try Charcoal Insoles

Still, you might find some products that use charcoal to get rid of smells. For example, try slipping a pair of Dr. Scholl's Odor-X Odor Fighting Insoles into your favorite shoes to help them breathe and eliminate any odors.

Are Brooks shoes breathable? ›

Why We Love Them. If you need a lightweight running shoe for speed workouts, we recommend Brooks' Hyperion Tempo. With a breathable upper that conforms to the shape of your feet, we like that the Hyperion Tempo moved with our feet for maximum comfort during testing.

Why do podiatrists not recommend Skechers? ›

Sketchers DO NOT have appropriate stability in the upper fabric and the heel counter to complement an orthotic. As such, you will probably find the orthotic redundant, or in worse case contributing to the cause of injury. Remember, an orthotic does 50% of the work. The shoe does the other 50%.

Are Skechers good or bad for your feet? ›

As a consequence, Skechers can cause ligament and muscle stresses and strains. The memory foam could take on the 'memory' of a poor gait style causing destabilising foot, ankle, knee, hip and lower back pain.

What type of shoes should be worn to reduce fatigue from standing all day long? ›

"The thicker the arch, the more supportive." Shoe design: Ensure your chosen sneaker has a wide toe box and a thick, chunky heel: "If the toe box is too narrow, there isn't support in the arch of the shoe; this is also true if the heel is too thin," says Brenner. Look for a mesh upper, too.

Can shoes be breathable? ›

Therefore, breathable mesh shoes are great for running as it guarantees maximum air circulation and has breathable holes to add fresh air to your feet; breathable fabric moves the moisture away to sit on the fabric rather than your foot which minimises chafing and maximises comfort.

What is the most breathable all birds? ›

If you're looking for breathable walking or running shoes, we suggest going with a pair of Tree Dasher Relays, Tree Pipers, Tree Flyers, Tree Skippers, and our new SuperLight Trainers, which combine eucalyptus fiber with recycled monofilament for the ultimate in lightweight breathability.

Is Crocs good for sweaty feet? ›

They can cause sweating and irritation

Additionally, Crocs are made from plastic. Although they have drainage holes that can make them feel breathable, the plastic can still make your feet sweat. In some cases, friction between your skin and the plastic can also lead to irritation and discomfort.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 6547

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.