7 Best Breathable Sneakers

Our walks around town felt easy, breezy, and relaxing while sporting the ASICS Gel Kayano 14. It has a light build, comfortable cushioning, and a spacious base that supports us throughout the day. Plus, our lab test shows it has exceptional ventilation, making it our best breathable sneaker.

As soon as we pumped smoke into the sneaker, it escaped almost immediately in the toebox and tongue, earning it a well-deserved 5/5 breathability rating. During testing, we immediately felt the wind flow through and never had to deal with stinky feet. Under our microscope, we saw the upper was filled with ventilation holes.

The effortless ride comes from its light and loose nature. Our scales show it’s only 12.4 oz (352g), 10.7% lighter than average. We never had to fight the midsole to bend our feet. Our 90-degree test shows it’s 19.8% more adaptive than average.

The shoe feels highly cushioned, further enhanced by the plush 25.0 HA Gel cushioning in the heel, the area that lands first when walking. The ride also felt stable and spacious, allowing room for our feet to swell during long hours on foot. Our caliper validates that the toebox (110.3 mm) and the midsole (113.3/88.2 mm) run wider than average.

However, we found its durability underwhelming. Our Dremel ripped through the upper, so we can’t recommend this sneaker to those looking for daily beaters.

Unrestricted is the best way to describe our experience with Nike Zoom Vomero 5. It offers unlimited ventilation and seamless transitions with its light and loose construction. Along with the Zoom Air units that soften impact and spring us back up, Vomero 5 offers a pleasant ride. Out of all the breathable sneakers we tested in the lab, this sneaker serves top-notch comfort.

Walking all day with this pair feels effortless since it’s so light on foot. Our scales reveal a mere 11.1 oz (316g), 21.2% below average. It never became a burden because other than its airy build, it follows our natural foot flexion easily, as proven by its close-to-the-average flexibility score in our bend test.

Its weightlessness is further enhanced by its airy mesh upper that allows the breeze to flow in and the heat to escape easily. Our smoke test confirms its exceptional ventilation with a flawless 5/5 breathability rating.

Surprisingly, its stack isn't too high but still delivers plushness and impact protection. Our cut-in half shoe reveals two Zoom Air units that soften landing and add responsiveness upon takeoff, enhancing comfort throughout our strolls around town. Furthermore, our durometer reveals the foam is 28.0 HA, 9.7% softer than average.

Unfortunately, its $160 price tag may be a deal-breaker for those on a budget, considering the average low-top sneaker only costs $120.

New Balance 990 v6 defies the odds by combining suede with breathability and cushioning with stability, all in a light package —a feat achieved through meticulous craftsmanship and world-class materials. Our lab analysis unveils its robust construction and innovative use of FuelCell cushioning, solidifying its status as the best premium breathable sneaker.

Crafted with real suede layers, the upper withstands our torch test, showcasing its genuineness. We expected limited breathability with its material, but lo and behold, it has mesh panels that offer a high level of ventilation. Our breathability test confirms our experience with a 5/5 rating.

In the midsole, we discovered the FuelCell cushioning—a feature often reserved for elite running shoes—that rises to an above-average 39.1/23.9 mm stack with a below-average 28.3 HA composition. Both results highlight the supreme comfort and snappiness we experienced. Despite its size, 990 v6 has a light build of 12.9 oz (366g) and keeps us stable throughout our strolls. This sneaker delivered strong arch support and bolstered our form through the ENCAP rim around the heel. Additionally, 990 v6 widens its midsole to compensate for potential off-balance strides. 

There’s so much more to love about this shoe except its premium $200 price tag. If budget is a priority, we recommend looking for more affordable high-quality shoes.

When it came to breathability, the New Balance 327 was definitely up there with the likes of the NB 990 V6 and the Nike Air Max 270. It also offered other benefits, and its lightness was a definite standout, together with its pretty minimal feel on the foot. It easily became our favorite lightweight pick among the breathable ones.

The breathability of the 327 from New Balance deserved a 4 out of 5. We felt quite airy while wearing it, and it performed so well during our breathability tests in the lab.

Weighing only 10.62 ounces or 301 grams, this shoe was definitely among the lightest that we’ve ever walked in. Our feet didn’t feel worn out even after strolling the whole day. The average sneaker could go as high as 14.04 ounces or 398 grams. 

We also loved that this shoe felt very nice and minimal on the foot. Its tongue was only 2.0 mm thick based on our caliper measurements. The average tongue could rack up a whopping 8.7 mm of padding.

It’s just too unfortunate that wide-footers wouldn’t be able to enjoy the goodness of the New Balance 327. At its widest, the footbed was only 94.0 mm wide when the average could give as much as 99.1 mm of space.

It was already good enough that the Adidas Alphaboost V1 was breathable, but it just didn’t stop there. It also delivered one of the softest cushioning systems that we tried. As a result, it easily became our pick for the breathable sneaker with the best cushioning. The durability of its outsole, which made it outdoor-ready, was already a bonus.

Deserving of a 4 out of 5 rating for breathability, the Alphaboost V1’s upper easily allowed air to pass through. We confirmed this through our own experience and conducting a smoke test in the lab. 

Aside from being thick, the midsole was also nice and soft. The impact from occasional jumps and jolts was easily neutralized by it. Our HA durometer gave this midsole a 22.4 rating, which is significantly lower than the 30.9 average.

We were pleasantly surprised that the outsole displayed a good amount of abrasion resistance. We subjected it to high-pressure Dremel drilling in the lab, and our assault only managed to leave 0.4 mm of damage. This number is far lower than the 1.0 mm that we would have seen in a typical outsole.

Unfortunately, the Adidas Alphaboost V1 was too inflexible for its own good. Based on the results of our flex test, it needed 41.9N of force to be bent at a 90-degree angle. The average sneaker would have required only 23.2N.

In the category of breathable sneakers, the PUMA RS-X prevailed as the superior retro model. The ventilation of this sneaker really wowed us as it notably relieved us from sweaty feet even on the hottest days. What’s more, is that it offers affordability without sacrificing its bold and captivating vintage aesthetic.

To fully grasp how inviting the PUMA RS-X’s upper to air, we meticulously inspected it under the illumination of a bright light and our microscope. These two tests unveiled identical results: porous toebox and quarter.

The colorway selection for this retro piece is simply a feast for the eyes. While its classic charm is stunning, it didn’t require a fortune. In fact, the PUMA RS-X is priced at $110, which is 30.2% cheaper compared to its kind. 

We confirmed that its hefty silhouette equates to its weight. Our scale read 16.05 oz (455g), which is 12.3% above the typical sneaker weight. If you wish for something that’s unburdening on your feet, we urge you to explore other breathable alternatives.

One look at the New Balance 237 and you would already know that it’s going to be breathable. The upper had mesh portions that let air in and out. Selling for only $75 (average was $110), this shoe felt comfortably light and had a pretty stable platform, especially around the heel. The NB 237 is easily the best breathable budget sneaker to date.

Several breathability assessments were done on this shoe in the lab, and the results concurred: this shoe was pretty well-ventilated. A score lower than 4 out of 5 would be a gross injustice!

Despite its thick midsole and rather bulky appearance, the New Balance 237 actually felt light. Our weighing scale in the lab confirmed our observations. This budget sneaker weighed only  11.25 ounces or 319 grams, making it significantly lighter than the average sneaker (14.04 oz or 398g).

The platform was pretty wide, especially around the heel. Our caliper measured the platform’s heel part to be 101.7 mm wide when the average was only 83.4 mm. The extra surface area served as an outrigger that kept our steps stable and safe.

We could say that the firm midsole also contributed to the shoe’s stability, but it was just too much. Our HA durometer gave it a 42.5 rating, which is far higher (therefore firmer) than the 30.9 average.