Summer Footwear: What to Look for to Protect Your Feet

Blog, Newsletter / June 11, 2025 by Jennifer Walsh

Summer is here, and that means people have a host of seasonal activities to enjoy. Beaches, pools, hikes, and resorts; this is the season of water, walks, and trips galore. However, the increased activity and intense heat characteristic of summer can seriously hurt your feet. You can get sunburns, dry skin, and fungal infections, or deal with heel pain and a rolled ankle while hiking or lounging on the beach. To keep your feet safe, you need to invest in quality summer footwear.

Types of Footwear

You can easily find foot protection for hot weather. Most stores offer footwear that keeps your feet comfortable and healthy in the blazing heat, while complementing your seasonal outfits. You just need to know what to look for while you’re in the shop.

Sneakers

Sneakers are a year-round staple, and that includes summertime. Plenty of them are made for hot weather.

Here’s What You Should Look For In A Summer Sneaker:

Breathability: A looser, more breathable sneaker doesn’t trap in as much heat and put extra pressure onto your feet, stopping them from getting hot and developing ingrown toenails, fungal infections, etc.

Toe Room: With how active summer often is for people, having good toe room is vital to prevent discomfort and other issues. Canvas sneakers are excellent in this regard, serving as great protective footwear.
Cushioned Insoles: Cushioned insoles help absorb shock from common seasonal activities, such as hiking and running, which is vital in preventing joint pain.

You can find all these qualities in a good, stylish sneaker. Fashion-wise, there are plenty of retro, court, and platform sneakers that are both good-looking and practical for hot weather.

Flip Flops

Flip-flops are a summer classic due to their open, breathable design, but many you’ll find in stores aren’t the most supportive footwear in the world. It can take some looking around, but finding a good flip-flop, as opposed to a cheap slip-on, will save your feet loads of pain and sweat buildup throughout the season.

Here’s What You Should Look For In A Flip-Flop:

Arch Support: Flip-flops with built-in arch support will significantly absorb shock, improve balance, and prevent foot pain while remaining breathable, keeping your feet comfortable and healthy.
Thick Soles: Thicker, cushioned soles further improve a flip-flop’s ability to absorb shock and keep your feet comfortable.

Brands like Archie Footwear, OluKai, and Reef offer flip-flops with these characteristics. In their shops, you can get some great, open summer footwear that will keep your feet cushioned and cozy.

Sandals

Sandals are arguably the footwear most synonymous with summer. The straps and open design give them a good, stylish look that gives your toes room to breathe. That said, they have a similar problem to flip-flops in their lack of cushioning. With some searching, though, you can find sandals that double as effective foot protection.

Here’s What You Should Look For In A Sandal:

Secure Straps: Good, secure straps will keep you balanced during summer activities like runs and walks on the beach, allowing you to avoid injuries due to trips and falls.

Cushioned Soles: Cushioned soles for your feet remedy the issue of sandals having low shock absorption, helping to prevent joint pain and the like.
Proper Fit: Many people have sandals that don’t quite fit right, and this mistake will cause uneven pressure on the feet, throw off balance, and make getting injured much easier. Ensure your sandals properly fit on your feet, with neither your heels nor toes hanging off.

Your best bet for finding sandals with these traits will be to look for athletic sandals, which are designed for physical activity. Brands like Teva and Keen offer these. If you’re interested in a more dressy option, though, Softwalk is another great brand that offers a myriad of stylish, cushioned sandals.

Protecting Your Feet

Protective footwear is great for keeping your feet healthy, but even with it, you should still use products and take actions that will ensure foot safety. Never forget to apply sunscreen to prevent dry skin and sunburn. Be sure to minimize your time walking barefoot in hot places, which can burn your feet, among other injuries. Additionally, have access to products like blister pads and a basic first aid kit to deal with any damage quickly.

Try as you might, you can still end up with hurt or injured feet during the summer, even if you wear proper foot protection. If you’re experiencing discomfort, don’t wait to get yourself checked! The podiatrists at Family FootCare are trained and ready to treat you. Contact one of our offices today to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

Summer Shoe Trends: Must-Have Styles for Summer

https://www.dsw.com/content/summer-shoe-trends

Selecting Your Summer Footwear

https://ecfootankle.com/selecting-your-summer-footwear/

Best Summer Footwear According To Podiatrists

https://michiganavenuepodiatry.com/best-summer-footwear-according-to-podiatrists/

The Side Effects of Wearing Tight Shoes

https://bhamfoot.com/the-side-effects-of-wearing-tight-shoes/

Wearing Uncomfortable Shoes: The Health Dangers

https://www.performancefas.com/post/wearing-uncomfortable-shoes-the-health-dangers#:~:text=Joint%20Pain%3A%20If%20your%20shoes,symptoms%20and%20severe%20joint%20pain.

Benefits of Arch Support Flip Flops