7 Best Breathable Trainers in 2024
If you’re looking for a new pair for the summer season, it’s important to have breathable trainers in the closet when the temperature rises. Aside from keeping your toes cool and comfortable, a reliable pair of shoes will protect your feet and ankles from the impact of walking on concrete paths or standing for long hours.
Whether you're attending a formal gathering, or going out with friends on a weekend getaway, there’s a perfect pair of breathable shoes for your feet. Shoe manufacturers like Nike, Adidas, Vans, and PUMA are constantly innovating their designs using various materials to produce more comfortable trainers that suit everyone’s lifestyles.
With tonnes of options out there, getting into your summer sneaker hunt can be time-consuming. We can help you with that. How? We have purchased breathable trainers and personally tested their ventilation (among other properties) while wearing them on our indoor and outdoor trips and by also performing tests in the lab. We appointed the pairs that were really impressive and put them on a list. Here are our top picks in various categories based on hours of meticulous testing of over 700 breathable trainers across different brands.
How we test trainers
Carefully wear testing one shoe at a time, we are sneakerheads who put in the hours of research and performance tests just to review them with the full scoop. We also examine each model to its essential parts inside our independent RunRepeat shoe testing lab. As you can see, we want to be comprehensive in our approach which includes:
- Buying breathable trainers for testing using our own money. This eliminates any taint of bias in all of our reviews.
- Thoroughly wear-testing each model, which involves not just a quick on-foot try but engaging in a variety of activities like a short walk to the grocery store, going on a date, or other similar activities. We take every sneaker for days of wear and tear use before giving our assessment on its fit, comfort, durability, etc…
- Testing the shoes in our lab. Yep, more sets of tests. We do this to provide proof and a deeper explanation behind how a shoe performs or feels on foot. We also chop up the shoes to gather as much information from their parts.
Best futuristic breathable trainers
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Lightweight
- Instantly comfortable
- True to size
- Durable
- Can be worn without socks
- Flexible
- Super breathable
- Sleek modern looks
- Crazy number of colorways
Cons
- Heel height might need adjusting to
- Not the best for standing all day
Best breathable trainers overall
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Electrifying ‘90s look
- Splendidly comfy
- Easy to slip on and off
- Generously padded tongue
- Durable structure
- Breathable
- Premium materials
- Reliable grip
Cons
- Tight-fitting
- Narrow platform
Best lightweight breathable trainers
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Fashionably sporty
- Well-cushioned
- Stable and planted platform
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Above average breathability
- Superb grip
- Suitable for driving
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Relatively stiff
- Fits a little tight
- Not suitable for wide feet
Breathable trainers with the best cushioning
What makes it the best?
Pros
- All-day comfort
- Springy ride
- Well-cushioned
- Great for casual runs
- Smooth heel-to-toe transitions
- Amazingly stable platform
- Futuristic look
- Versatile for many activities
Cons
- Largely inflexible structure
- Flimsy heel hold
Best breathable retro trainers
What makes it the best?
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 £120, 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.
Pros
- Retro charm
- Numerous vivid colorways
- Very comfortable step-in feel
- Plenty of cushioning for all-day wear
- Breathable, summer-ready upper
- Very stable platform
- Highly durable outsole
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Heavier than average
- Stiff forefoot
Best budget breathable trainers
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Breathable and ready for the summer
- Very durable and premium materials
- Real suede
- Out-of-box comfortable
- Incredibly light
- Retro vibes and effortlessly chic
- Mix-and-match queens
- Loads of colorways
- Compliment magnet
- Super affordable
Cons
- Firm sole
- Narrow fit
- Materials wrinkle