Best breathable running shoes for hot summers

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Breathable daily trainer

Asics Novablast 5

The perforated tongue and ventilated mesh upper keep the feet cool on hot days.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Asics Novablast 5 here.

Unlike the Novablast 4, the updated Flytefoam midsole on the Novablast 5 is softer, the upper has more room, and the insides breathe better. The Novablast 5 update also includes a thinner mesh with vents, as opposed to a thick mesh upper in the Novablast 4. Even the tongue is perforated to let the air circulate. These changes create more space around the forefoot and toes, leading to a more noticeable improvement in ventilation.

Has the ride character changed as well? Yes – the Novablast 5’s softer ride is more appealing to the masses but lacks the pep of older versions.

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Two features made the original (2021) Novablast a break-out success. It combined a deeply cushioned ride with a speed-friendly character. The responsive FlyteFoam midsole, midsole rocker, and tight upper fit worked together to make this happen.

The narrow upper directed the power from the foot to the midsole, from where the rocker midsole took over to help roll the foot forward. While the Novablast 5 keeps most of the useful features, it doesn’t have the secure fit which established a strong connection between the foot and the midsole. While a looser upper has greater mainstream appeal due to its comfort, it doesn’t deliver the secure lock-down of the previous models. Likewise, the softer FlyteFoam midsole increases comfort but dulls the rocker effect. Despite the less narrow fit, the Novablast 5 is a versatile everyday trainer capable of different workouts – so long as you temper expectations around fit and feel.

Breathable trainer for overpronators

New Balance Fresh Foam 860V14

The 860V14’s engineered mesh upper is perforated for optimal air circulation.

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We’ll get to the breathable part of the 860 in a bit, but let’s first explain how the stability feature on this shoe works. New Balance is the only brand that doesn’t use raised sidewalls or medial post for its pronation-control trainers. The 860V14, like the Vongo, uses a plate for stability. Called the ‘stability plane’ by New Balance, this plate is solid on the inner half and perforated on the outer half. This limits the amount of inwards foot roll (pronation) by directing the bodyweight towards the outer side. On the 860V14, the flexible section of the plate is limited to the rearfoot area. On the Vongo, it’s a full-length setup that even forefoot strikers can also take advantage of.

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This version uses a soft, dual-density Fresh Foam X midsole that makes it the most comfortable 860 to date. It’s the ideal trainer for overpronators to log everyday miles as well as the occasional 10K race or a half-marathon. It may not be a tempo-focused speed monster, but it’s versatile enough – as long as the workouts aren’t too aggressive.

The engineered mesh upper of the 860V14 is generously perforated with no overlays on the toe-box. The true-to-size upper scores well on ventilation and cools the feet during summer.

Breathable marathon racer

Brooks Hyperion Elite 5

Brooks finally brings its A-game to the carbon-plated racer market.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 here.

The upper of the Hyperion Elite 5 is porous as a sieve. With its ultra-large pores, it’s easily the most breathable mesh used on a carbon-plated racer. Shoes such as the Hoka Rocket X 3 come close, but the Hyperion Elite’s mesh takes ventilation to another level. Breathability is important on a tight forefoot and midfoot; it prevents heat build-up through air circulation. The upper features a flush fit on the top and sides, providing the most secure forefoot fit of all plated racers. The lower half of the tongue is also made of mesh. As noted in our review, the heel fit is mediocre, but the tight forefoot and midfoot do all the heavy lifting in the matter of fit security.

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The Hyperion Elite 5 offers far more than just a breathable upper. The soft and bouncy DNA Gold foam midsole leaves behind the stiff DNA Flash cushioning of the Hyperion Elite 4. Forefoot and midfoot strikers will appreciate the springy cushioning, as well as the propulsive rocker of the latticed plate. Unlike a solid plate, the Brooks Speedvault plate features cut-outs for improved range of motion.

Like most plated racers of late, the Hyperion Elite 5 isn’t ideal for heel strikers due to the low stability. Events such as 5K, 10K, and marathons are ideal use cases.

Breathable 5K, 10K racer

adidas Boston 13

The updated Boston 13 has higher ride comfort while maintaining its neutral and speed-friendly character.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Adizero Boston 13 here.

While it’s perfectly fine to race a 5K and 10K in carbon-plated shoes with high stack heights, there’s a cost to pay – both in price and overall stability. The Boston 13 is a more sensible choice, offering a versatile and speed-friendly ride for racing 5K and 10K. The midsole and outsole design is the secret behind Boston’s versatility. The midsole layers soft Lightstrike Pro foam over a firmer Lightstrike EVA base. Sandwiched between the two foams are Energy Rods, a set of semi-rigid tubes that create a snappy rocker effect while making the loading efficient. Forefoot strikers benefit from the thick Lightstrike Pro cushioning, as well as the grippy outsole for quick turnovers. The heel is relatively more stable due to the firmer EVA foam base supporting the foot.

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The Boston 13’s breathable mesh upper keeps the feet cool during fast 5K, 10K, and speed-focused training runs. Except for the tongue gusset, the upper is unlined, making it less susceptible to trapping heat. The toe box has room for the toes to splay, while the forefoot fits securely – as it should.

Breathable tempo trainer

adidas Adizero EVO SL

It’s hard to go wrong with a breathable trainer that has a rocker midsole made of Lightstrike Pro.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Adizero EVO SL here.

The adizero EVO SL is a brand new release for 2025. So what is the shoe really like? What is it capable of, and which shoe is closest comparable? Here’s a take on the Adizero EVO SL you probably haven’t read. The EVO SL is similar to last year’s Adios Pro 3 but without the Energy Rods. The Lightstrike Pro foam has a similar firmness as the Pro 3. On a related note, this year’s Adios Pro 4 uses a softer LS Pro variant. The EVO SL’s stack heights (39 mm, 32 mm) are comparable to the Pro; the same goes for the perforated outsole. The forefoot outsole uses Continental rubber with the climbing shoe-like texture that the Adios Pro 3 had.

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Given the similarities, can the EVO SL replace the Adios Pro 3? To a certain extent, yes. There’s ample comfort for up to a half-marathon, and the rocker profile makes it speed-friendly. That said, the missing Energy Rods decrease the forefoot stiffness and make the overall ride softer.While the EVO SL feels quick because of the bouncy Lightstrike Pro foam and rocker, there’s a higher workload involved. The foot has to work through the soft forefoot without any help from the stiff Energy Rods. As a sum of parts, the Adizero EVO SL is the ideal tempo trainer or 5K/10K racer.

The upper is inspired by the EVO Pro 1’s design language, but with traditional features like a fully-padded heel counter. The upper isn’t narrow like the Takumi, and the interiors fit true-to-size. The thin mesh and lack of an inner sleeve make the upper breathable.

Breathable trail runner

Nike Terra Kiger 10

The lightweight Terra Kiger’s breathable mesh keeps the feet ventilated during fast trail runs.

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The Terra Kiger 10 targets the technical trail running market with features like a Vibram Megagrip outsole, a forefoot rock plate, and a low heel-to-toe offset of 5 mm. The midsole doesn’t use anything fancy, relying on tried-and-tested EVA foam (Nike Cushlon) cushioning. The Kiger 10 keeps the stack height low (29 mm heel, 21 mm forefoot) to enhance the ground feel and proprioceptive feedback.

The Kiger 10 is relatively lightweight for a trail running shoe, weighing under 10 ounces (276 grams) for a half pair of US 10. The Kiger 10 is ideal for short trail runs and races, including technical terrain where the low-profile midsole and rock plate prove useful. The thin midsole provides cushioning comfort without sacrificing ground feel; the rock plate shields the foot from pointy rocks and roots.

The upper is designed like a road racing shoe, keeping layering to a bare minimum. The lightweight and breathable mesh is reinforced only in key areas such as the midfoot and toe bumper. The tongue doesn’t have any padding either; the Terra Kiger 10 maximizes ventilation by sacrificing weather and abrasion-resistant features.

Also consider: The Saucony Peregrine 15.

Over the years, we’ve realized that determining the level of ventilation in a running shoe is somewhat of a dark art. After reviewing hundreds of shoes, a pattern has emerged – one that informs us how footwear ventilation works. Where it gets confusing is that not all shoes that appear breathable pass muster under real-world conditions. The sensory aspect of ventilation is also equally important.

The total ventilation factor is the sum of a perforated mesh and a roomy toe-box.

For example, many knit upper designs have a generously perforated surface. Based on outward appearances alone, these shoes should be very breezy. But some of these uppers are stretchy with a snug fit. Since the upper is in close contact with the foot, it feels hotter than a shoe with a regular mesh upper. 

A more spacious forefoot makes the shoe feel cooler – even though the mesh may not be generously perforated. It gets even more complicated. Even if the upper mesh isn’t stretchy and doesn’t have an inner sleeve, how a shoe fits around the midfoot also alters the perception of ‘hotness’. A shoe could have a super breathable forefoot but a stuffy midfoot makes the shoe feel warmer. There’s more. If a running shoe has an insole top cloth or a midsole geometry that results in friction, then heat is produced under the foot. That, or if we’re talking about a shoe where the midsole doesn’t offer sufficient thermal insulation from the warm road. Here, pancake-flat racing flats come to mind.

Even indoor running can get surprisingly warm – say, in cases of naturally-ventilated gyms without air conditioning. A treadmill inherently runs warm; given the high RPM of electronic treadmills, rubber belts acquire heat both through friction with the shoe and the warm motor. Walking instead of running leads to different ventilation outcomes. A running shoe that breathes well at a 5:30 min/km pace may run warm during standing or walking. If the principle sounds familiar, that’s because air-cooled combustion engines work in the same way. At slower speeds, air circulation becomes inefficient.