10 Best Summer Shoes for Men 2025, Tested by Style Editors

What to Consider

Breathability

Dressing for the summer heat is just as important for your feet. The best shoes will let your piggies breathe and won’t hold on to perspiration. Look for fabrics and designs that maximize air flow over your foot. For sneakers, there are wider knit materials and vents. With leather shoes, like loafers and boots, avoid tight laces or anything that goes too far up the ankle. Leather handles moisture naturally, but you want an open ankle or even a fully open back, like with a mule or slipper, to let your foot breathe.

Styling

Some shoes don’t work with shorts, while others don’t work with pants. You’re going to want to wear both throughout the summer, so make sure you know what bottoms look best with whatever footwear you choose. For example, leather slip-on shoes, like loafers and mules, work well with shorts and pants. However, leather boots are best worn with pants.

Water Resistance

When it gets hot out, nothing feels better than a cool body of water. That’s why you need a pair of shoes that can handle moisture, whether that means a pool, lake, or ocean. Not every summer shoe you own needs to be splash repellent. In fact, some of the best summer shoes for formal and social occasions should avoid all liquids, but it is best to have an option or two ready to go.

As a rule, leather and suede should be kept as dry as possible. Most sneakers can handle some water, while others are specifically designed to get wet. A standard canvas sneaker may take a while to dry, but it can get soaked without causing any damage. If you’re headed to the beach, lake, or pool, a sandal or flip-flop is usually the best choice.

How We Selected

To curate the best summer shoes for men, our fashion team led by Deputy Editor Christian Gollayan have personally tried on and tested a variety of styles and brands. To get a feel for how these summer shoes for men really felt and how they held up, we vetted our options by taking notes of their fit, comfort, materials, construction, price point, versatility, and overall comfort such as support, cushioning, and breathability. We examined whether they fitted well and true to size, whether their footbed or soles could withstand hours of movement, and whether they could be worn for more than one occasion. Ahead, read on for our list of the best men’s summer shoes to buy right now.

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