Cool-as-in-temperature shoes

February 14, 2020 9:38 AM

My feet are always too hot. What are some men's-style shoes that are NOT sandals but still very breezy and cool with as much airflow as possible? I'll entertain all options.

Before you suggest this, it is not nerve damage-- my feet just get way hotter than the rest of me really easily. I am one of those people who has to pop their feet out from under the covers to sleep. Always been like that-- barefoot in the winter and so on.

Work is 83F year-round because of a busted HVAC, which is miserable but bearable. I can cool the rest of me (linen, fans, etc) but the feet are the problem. Animal fibers like wool make me break out in a rash if I'm in contact with them, so any suggestion like "wool socks are breathable!" is not going to work.

Work technically doesn't have a dress code, but I'm often standing on a concrete floor and work in a library with kids, so I would like some protection from being stepped on or dropping a book on my foot. Hence, a closed-toe shoe that somehow still breathes? I can't take off my shoes, I have to get up and walk around a lot. I am this close to wearing the creepy toe shoes to work because at least they conduct coldness from the floor. Please help.

posted by blnkfrnk to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (18 answers total)

I have a pair of feelgrounds, and the sides are a kind of mesh fabric which I did not realize. What this means is that any breeze goes right through the shoe to my feet and there’s a constant airflow otherwise, so they’re only good in warmer weather. So perhaps another meshy type shoe?

Or fisherman style sandals, which yes are sandals, but they have more coverage and look more shoe-ish?
posted by umwhat at 9:50 AM on February 14, 2020

They don't have useful toe protection, but if you are allowed to wear sneakers, running shoes might help. I wear Brooks. The non-water resistant styles are part mesh and quite comfortable to stand in. Not cheap, and you'll need to dig around on the website to find some dignified colors.
posted by The Devil's Grandmother at 9:57 AM on February 14, 2020

Perforated bicycle shoes might be worth a try. (e.g., like this, though I make no claim for that particular shoe.)

(In my experience, they're hard to clean and wind up looking kind of funky pretty quickly. I'm getting by with thin soles and the thinnest possible socks instead. It's not perfect. Slightly over-sized Lem's with the inserts removed are the best I've found recently.)
posted by eotvos at 10:06 AM on February 14, 2020

I apologize in advance, but yes I am here to recommend Crocs. Actual, legit Crocs -- not knockoffs! -- because whatever miracle material they are made of does not promote heat/sweating, and they have ventilation holes. They're also very comfortable. Can be worn with or without socks.

I know Crocs make people angry but there you go.

(Knockoff Crocs are made of unbreathable plasticky stuff so do not go in that direction.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:08 AM on February 14, 2020

Anything perforated. You can get perforated leather oxfords in the summertime.
posted by the_blizz at 10:13 AM on February 14, 2020

Hear me out! Keen sandals will allow nice ventilation, and the hard toe and wide straps make them look like "real" shoes to the casual observer. I wear mine with dark socks in the summer to work sometimes, without a second glance (higher ed IT) -- and would happily do so year round if it weren't for New England snow.

For you I would suggest a runner's sock in synthetic fibrers to get the moisture off your skin, and then let the air come in through the open sides of these sandals and keep your feet cool.

Hmmm.... If you wear the right socks, could the all-wool shoes from Allbirds work for you to encourage cooling via "proper" sweating? I was terribly skeptical of these, but I got hooke dup with a pair and they feel as light ad insubstantial as air! (Not awesome for full days standing on cement, though.)

(I also have hot feet, and am sympathetic.)
posted by wenestvedt at 10:28 AM on February 14, 2020 [1 favorite]

The most Croc like shoe that I like better than crocs are these Amoji clogs. And, as a weird quirk, they were also a recently featured Cool Tool
posted by mce at 10:31 AM on February 14, 2020 [1 favorite]

Allbirds also have Tree Runners (and other styles) made of eucalyptus tree fabric. I haven't tried them myself but they're explicitly described as being cool and breezy.
posted by escapepod at 12:04 PM on February 14, 2020

Huaraches. The only shoes that I find to be cool are unlined leather. These are also "holey".
posted by Botanizer at 12:28 PM on February 14, 2020

Merrell Moab Ventilators. They are dorky hiking shoes, but they are, as the name suggests, well ventilated. I am on my third pair, I wear mine hiking in California in the summertime, in hot weather.
posted by niicholas at 1:20 PM on February 14, 2020

I backed the Baubax travel shoes project on Kickstarter and am so very glad I did. I'm a woman needing dressy-ish shoes for work but need to have them cool and comfortable. I bet the men's shoes are as comfy and cool as the women's shoes I bought. I loved the shoes the moment I put them on and they are my absolute favourite work shoes.
posted by angiep at 1:53 PM on February 14, 2020

The body of decent modern running shoe is very mesh-like and cool as a breeze.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:04 PM on February 14, 2020 [1 favorite]

Olukai has some mesh shoes that I find good for this. I do agree with BlahLaLa that Crocs also do a very good job of keeping my feet cool. Probably better than the Olukais, but they make a different style statement.....
posted by primethyme at 3:28 PM on February 14, 2020 [1 favorite]

Good high impact running shoes in plain matte black are acceptable in many work locations. Serious runners are made out of fabric that looks solid but breaths well. They are also good for jobs that require standing and walking. You can also look for breathable hiking shoes.

Take your shoes off and change your socks during a bathroom break. Only takes one minute.

They sell thin gel compresses in the first aid section. If you can find small very thin ones the can be put in your lunch cooler with an icepack, and then put into the bottom of a roomy shoe to help cool down your feet for a few minutes.

Cotton socks. Not acrylic or nylon.
posted by Jane the Brown at 6:32 PM on February 14, 2020

Canvas shoes like Converse are the shoes I wear when it's hot. They have a bumper so they should protect your toes. They're not the most formal shoes but they're cool, especially if you skip the socks.
posted by stray thoughts at 9:04 PM on February 14, 2020

seconding olukais... i have a pair like this and really love them as they are so breathable.
posted by lazywhinerkid at 9:48 PM on February 14, 2020

whatever shoes you choose, switch out the insoles for natural (without eva) hemp/flax insoles - it makes a world of a difference - they let the soles of your feet get air (example. example. the one I'm using)
posted by mirileh at 11:49 AM on February 15, 2020

I have a pair of these And they’re reasonably cool due to all the air holes. Watch the fit carefully — they’re stretchy.
posted by condour75 at 12:00 PM on February 15, 2020