11 Best Breathable Shoes That'll Get You Through Hot, Humid Conditions

• Good price
• Good look
• Easy to match with many outfits

• Not the best insoles

These New Balance skate sneakers are less than $100 and look great regardless of skate involvement. They're low-profile with a perforated suede upper and an aired-out tongue.

• Very airy
• Trendy

• Not as much support as other Asics
• Not for dressing up

The mesh upper on these is so airy I'd actually advise against wearing them if it's even a little bit cold. The space between the mesh fabric is big, and you can literally feel the wind blow through it. For hot summer days (and travel especially), you can't beat them.

• Great for everyday
• Sustainably made

• Can look dirty quickly

These are durable and highly breathable, but honestly? As soon as Pedro Pascal gave them his seal of approval, we were sold. The RSO1 sneakers have unparalleled versatility for a washable (hell yeah) style you can count on.

• Classic Hoka support
• Good for workouts

• Runs wide for some

The Hoka Clifton is a classic and the One9 has a more technical upper, still done with an airy open-hole mesh. For a summer running shoe, it's a favorite.

• Great non-mesh upper option
• Good for casual outfits

• Sizing runs small

Everlane's barely there sneaker is made with cotton canvas, which is going to give you a solid amount of breathability. The fabric is thin and the profile low for the most skin-to-air ratio possible.

• Extremely airy
• Great for working out

• Expensive

APL's newer Euphoria sneaker is built to be as breathable as a sneaker can get, and the only complain we've really heard is that the fabric is so breathable that you can actually see through it. But for the purposes of aired-out feet, we don't mind this a bit.

• New fabric on familiar shoe
• Easy to style

• Sambas are everywhere

Sambas defined summer last year, and with updates like this, they might just do it again. This perforated iteration is just as stylish but a little more functional.

• Great for everyday
• Versatile look

• Branding not for everyone

The Veja runner is an excellent summer shoe, and its most breathable iteration has an Alvomesh upper. It's fabricated alongside leather and suede for an effortlessly cool look.

• Supportive
• Good for running

• Run small
• Look not for everyone

Saucony's Ride Millennium has a similar outer to the Asics, but has a sturdier heel for more supported running. But the airy mesh and lightweight construction can do just about anything.

• Sleek look
• For workouts and beyond

• Toe box small for some
• Not the cheapest option

Lululemon's running shoes are low-key in how they look—a few simple constructions and colorways—with a focus on airy uppers. This mesh is stretchy and breathable.

• Highly engineered mesh
• Great for hiking

• Quick lace not everyone's favorite
• Looks not for everyone

Most outdoor shoes have reinforcement (like weatherproofing, for example) to keep stuff out—which tends to mean they suck your feet in. Not these, though. They're made with a tight, 3D open mesh that lets all the air in you want while keeping debris out.

If the sneaker is breathable, we're looking for holes. Actual holes. We want air coming in and out of the sneakers as we move about our days, and thick, impenetrable fabrics do not do this. Most breathable sneakers will have a net-style mesh upper, be made with lightweight canvas, or add perforated detailing for added airflow.

When it comes to breathable shoes, especially ones that emphasize comfort—, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse for their own wear. We’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these breathable shoes are the ones that are simply the best.

Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.