Best breathable running shoes for hot summers

by Solereview editors
This article was updated on 23rd August 2024 with current models. Solereview purchased the shoes at full retail price; we do not accept free samples for our reviews and have no ties to the industry.

The breathable mesh upper of the Nike Vaporfly 3.

Breathable daily trainer
Asics Cumulus 26 product box


Asics Gel-Cumulus 26

While there are better neutral trainers than the Cumulus 26, ventilation is one area where it outperforms other shoes.

Buy from Zappos.com

Just so that you know, we also considered the Saucony Ride 17 (an excellent shoe, by the way), Brooks Ghost 16, New Balance 880 V14, and Pegasus 41 before recommending the Asics Cumulus 26 for this guide.

Is it the best everyday neutral trainer? No – we’d rather get the Saucony Ride 17 instead. But does it ventilate better than other shoes? Yes. The tongue is generously vented and lacks the padding of the Cumulus 25 – the previous model. The exterior mesh also does a good job of preventing heat-build up. That said, the Cumulus 26 isn’t very breathable per se – it’s less warmer comparatively.

The Cumulus 26 has been redesigned from the ground up. Mated to the new upper is an all-foam bottom; even the outsole is made of firm foam. It’s like a more comfortable (and less quicker) version of the Hoka Mach 5.

The Flytefoam Blast+ midsole and soft insole add comfort to everyday miles. The optimal blend of firm and soft makes it suitable for different pace ranges – be it easy cruising or slightly higher speeds of 4: 30 min/km or 7 min/mile.

The upper fits true-to-size and is also available in wide and extra-wide sizes.

 

Breathable trainer for overpronators
New Balance 860 V14 product box


New Balance Fresh Foam 860V14

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

Buy from Newbalance

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.

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
Nike Vaporfly product box


Nike Vaporfly 3

Nike’s popular carbon-plated marathon racer is also an excellent choice for summer.

Buy from Nike.com

  1. Read our detailed review of the Nike Vaporfly 3 here.

The Nike Vaporfly 3 is one of the best-ventilated racers that money can buy. And it’s going to cost you – $250 to be precise.

But when you spend that cash, you get a running shoe that’s not only hyper-cushioned and responsive, but also does an excellent job of preventing overheating.

The Nike Vaporfly 3 on the road.

The mesh upper is so porous, that it’s almost like a see-through screen. This sieve-like exterior also lacks an inner sleeve or lining, so there’s no barrier to air circulation.

This hyper-shoe’s claim to fame is a bouncy midsole made of the soft ZoomX foam and Carbon plate. The generous amount of ride comfort and springy snap of the plate make the Vaporfly 3 an excellent shoe for long-distance runs.

However, the roomy forefoot fit makes it a downgrade from the Vaporfly 2, as the weaker lock-down dilutes the quality of forefoot transitions.

Also recommended: Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris.

 

Breathable tempo trainer
New Balance Rebel V4 product box


New Balance Fuelcell Rebel V4

The extensive makeover of the Rebel V4 also includes a lightweight and breathable mesh upper.

Buy from Newbalance

  1. Read our detailed review of the New Balance Rebel V4 here.

The New Balance Rebel V4 doesn’t have much in common with the previous version. The midsole is wider and softer than the Rebel 3. The foam has also changed, so it doesn’t feel as bouncy as the Rebel V2 and V3.

The New Balance Rebel V4 in the outdoors.

New Balance Fuelcell Rebel V4 breathable mesh.

Even with the changes, the Rebel 4 continues to be a competent trainer for uptempo efforts. However, it’s not a fast shoe per se, so we recommend that the Rebel be reserved for speeds that are 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile) and slower.

The upper has a roomier fit, and the updated Fuelcell foam feels flatter than the V3. The lightweight and spacious upper does a great job of letting the air circulate.

 

Breathable racer for 5K and 10K
Nike Streakfly product box


Nike ZoomX Streakfly

The Nike Streakfly’s soft ride sets it apart from other low-profile racers. The breezy upper keeps the heat down.

Buy from Nike.com

  1. Read our detailed review of the Nike ZoomX Streakfly here.

This hyper-lightweight road racer uses a thin mesh upper that’s great at air circulation. There’s no inner sleeve or superfluous layers of lining – just a breathable exterior that keeps the insides ventilated during high-speed runs.

The printed Swoosh logo of the Nike ZoomX Streakfly.

The interior toe-box of the Nike ZoomX Streakfly.

The ZoomX foam creasing on the Nike ZoomX Streakfly.

As the name suggests, the midsole is made entirely of ZoomX foam, the same cushioning material that’s used on the Vaporfly. There’s a stiff shank under the midfoot to make the transitions efficient.

With these components, the Streakfly offers the best of both worlds – a soft and lightweight ride with a sense of quickness.

Also recommended: The adidas Takumi Sen 10, Hoka Cielo Road.

 

Breathable trail runner
Nike Terra Kiger product box


Nike Terra Kiger 9

This versatile trail runner from Nike is also great at keeping the feet ventilated.

Buy from Nike.com

The Terra Kiger 9 is one of the most well-ventilated trail running shoes on the market. Even the Terra Kiger 8 excelled in that area, and we’re happy to see the newest model is equally breathable.

It’s easy to see why the upper does such a good job with air circulation. Most of the upper is made of vented mesh, and very few overlays crowd the exterior.

The outsole lip doubles as the toe guard – a feature that we loved on the Pegasus Trail 3 – and there’s a fused splash guard. Other than that, the forefoot and midfoot are constructed of open-pored mesh. Of course, this isn’t great for dusty trails, but excellent for summer trail runs.

As a trail running shoe, the Terra Kiger 9 is good for non-technical terrain. The React foam midsole adds ride comfort, whereas the two-piece outsole grips well on packed trails.

Nike recommends the Kiger 9 for technical trails, but we beg to differ. The Kiger 9 removes several features from the Kiger 8, including a rock plate, forefoot Zoom Air bag, and better outsole coverage. Even the Kiger 8’s better-layered upper offered greater protection.

Between the Kiger 8 and 9, we’d pick the previous model. Both versions are very breathable, so you can’t go wrong with the Kiger 8 either.

 

Solereview’s selection criteria

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 internal bumper of the Saucony Endorphin Speed

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.

The breathable interiors of the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3.

The large tongue vents of the Endorphin Pro 3 take ventilation to the max.

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.

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