Cool Feet on a Hot Day with Wide Fitting Shoes

Keep a cool head on warm days, with cool feet!

We've all been there: it's hot, we're uncomfortable, sweaty, our feet have ballooned and our shoes feel like vices! You just can't wait to take them off for that sweet, sweet release! It's enough to make you lose your head!

Read on to discover how we're helping you to keep cool feet on hot days with our range of sandals and shoes made from breathable materials or cleverly designed to maximise air-flow, so you can keep a cool head.

Our methods for keeping your feet cool fall in to three main categories: open style design, like sandals, breathable materials and cut-out "air-flow" design.

By using breathable materials, air can reach your feet through the material to keep them cool, whilst air-flow design means ensuring the shoe design itself allows for air-circulation around the foot, through punched designs or a sandal design.

Of course, every foot and every need is different. Some people prefer, or require, a full shoe design to offer protection for problem feet and toes and so may require a full shoe design that is breathable, whilst others may love the freedom and natural exposure of a strappy sandal.

That’s why we offer styles across the spectrum!

Whilst sandals are the obvious choice for keeping your feet cool on warm days, there is such a vast range of designs on offer that we need to highlight!

And not just because, by their very nature, in terms of being an open style of shoe designed for summer, but they can also include a host of features for all different tastes and needs.

For instance, there are strappy sandals with minimal material like slingback sandals Tundra, with a low, flat heel, that’s perfect for meeting friends in the day or balmy evenings out, right through to sandals like stretch panel mule sandal Wigeon, a full-fronted style with open toe, cut outs for circulation an open back.

There are flat sandals like stretch panel full back Halford sandal and heeled sandals for occasions, like mid heel strap sandals Lapwing, sporty sandals with padded uppers for active feet, like adjustable strap sport sandal Selena, and stylish footbed sandals like Raja.

There are also fashion sandals like adjustable strap sandal Scooter, adjustable Wedge sandals Tuft and so many more to choose from!

These styles come with combinations of the features you’d expect from our shoes, like air-bubble soles, removable insoles, stretch panels, cut-to-fit straps and a selection of fastening types to suit your need.

What’s more, they’re all available in our wide 2V(EE-4E) width fitting and most are also available in our extra wide 6V(6E-8E) variable width fitting, meaning they’re perfect for keeping even the widest of feet cool this summer.

You’ll also find some of these features in our men’s range, with stylish slide on sandal Adam and T-Bar closed toe sandal Barney, with open side design for circulation.

Browse all wide and extra-wide fitting sandals for women
Browse all wide and extra-wide fitting sandals for men

If you’re looking for a full shoe, perhaps a trainer for leisure activities, a smart flat for smarter occasions or even just a full shoe to offer protection for your feet, then a style in breathable materials is just what you need.

What are the most breathable shoe materials?

Our breathable styles fall in to two main categories: leather / suede and breathable mesh.

Wide-fitting real leather and suede shoes

You may not realise this but real leather and suede are the ultimate breathable materials! Being natural materials that work similarly to our skin, they allow air to pass through, which is perfect for keeping your feet cool.

Soft leather is also malleable to some degree, allowing it to offer a little give so that, if your feet swell, or you have lumps and bumps on your feet, the soft leather will expand a little to offer the room for your feet or to reduce rubbing.

Most of our shoe styles are made with real leather or suede uppers, from our trainers and casual styles, like leather slip-on pumps Shelduck and suede wide fit trainers Scaup, to classic casuals like best-selling design easy access flat shoes Rory in stunning soft leather and loafers like Diana and Bow.

Wide-fitting shoes with breathable mesh

For many trainer styles particularly, lightweight breathable mesh styles have been popular over the years, with the mesh generally coupled with a sturdier leather, suede or synthetic material base.

Our range comprises clever usage of such materials to ensure lightweight yet supportive footwear for a range of needs, even including fully vegan-friendly offerings.

Not only can such materials offer a lightweight, breathable solution for footwear but, because they’re also very soft, they can be used very effectively in creating bunion and hammer toe friendly shoes.

Trainer styles like stretch panel trainers Barrow, Coot and Lexi feature extensive use of our breathable stretch mesh fabric that moulds to the shape of your foot and they also include square toe boxes, ensuring enough room for toes.

We also offer classic trainer styles like Pheasant and Echo, that feature a mix of leather / suede and breathable mesh with a choice of fastenings to suit different needs.

It’s not just our trainer styles that feature breathable mesh. You can also find it in good use on sandal styles like stretch panel wedge sandal Bobbie, where there’s additional side-support through a breathable mesh panel, and on everyday styles like stretch panel casual shoe Hawaii.

Men’s casual shoes like lace up canvas shoe Archie, trainers like Dawson and even house shoes like Cairo and stretch fabric house shoe Desmond also feature our lightweight breathable mesh.

Cotton/Canvas

Another natural material has wonderful properties for keeping feet cool. It’s no coincidence that canvas shoes are so popular in summertime! Made from cotton textile, these styles are super lightweight and breathable, so just what you need on warm days.
Tara Libra

We have a range of canvas styles like bumper sole styles lace-up Mira, slip-on Libra, lace-up classic Yoko and lace-up Hudson (to name but a few), classic canvas like Tara, canvas loafers like ballet pumps Alpha and sandals like slingback canvas sandal Madonna, open toe strap sandal Oracle and Cora.

Natural, lightweight and vegan-friendly, these styles are perfect for summer days.

Browse all wide and extra-wide fitting canvas for women
Browse all wide and extra-wide fitting canvas for men

Punched design

If you like a full shoe but need that extra air-circulation then look no further than our punched design styles. Leather uppers with punched holes or cut out areas that allow air to flow directly to and around the foot, for that extra fresh feeling.

For casual days with a modern feel try slip on pumps Shelduck, a bumper sole style with soft leather uppers, punched for air-flow, or for a classic feel, everyday shoes Fran is resplendent in silver or soft gold.

Perfect for meeting friends or even for dressing up is smart flat Emmental, a cute pump in leather with cut out pattern or Driffield, a sleek loafer that is sure to turn heads.

Ready to take it up a notch with something a little different for your next occasion? Then be the snazziest dresser with the coolest feet with outlandishly stylish Canterbury.

2-in-1 wedge sandal Gemini and stretch panel sandal Halford may be sandals and so benefit from an open design anyway, but they’re designed with fuller tops for greater protection to the top of your feet, so we’ve added punched detail to these areas to ensure maximum air-flow and maximum comfort on warm days.

So there you have our guide to keeping cool on warm days through a combination of clever design and breathable materials.

Just a selection…

These are just a selection of our wide and deep styles suitable for people with wide feet. For hundreds more browse our full range of women's wide-fitting shoes or wide-fitting shoes for men and look out for some of the features mentioned above.

We know that it’s really difficult to order footwear online and find the perfect fit, but we want to make it as easy, risk-free and stress-free as possible. That’s why we offer free postage on returns and exchanges on all UK orders so that, if you’re in the UK and have ordered from us and the shoes aren’t right for whatever reason, you can give us a call to discuss the problem and return them to us, unworn except for trying on to exchange for a different size, style or fitting without paying a penny more in postage.

Once you’ve found your perfect fit, you’ll never look back!

We hope that you agree that our wide-fitting shoes, trainers and sandals offer the perfect fit for every wide, deep or problem foot!

Guys, Just to let you know (although I'm sure you know that already) your shoes are amazing. I've struggled with getting the right fit of shoes for more than a decade.
I have arthritis, flat feet which are also extremely wide (end of your scale), I need to have massive insoles, without them I can barely walk.
Two weeks ago when my first pair of your shoes arrived I nearly cried. Can't even remember the last time I had such a comfy pair.
I've just ordered two more pairs and it looks like after 10 years I'm going to go hiking again!!! Your product is a life changer!!! Many thanks.
Ms C

Did you know, if you need 6E, 6V or 8E fitting footwear and have a qualifying condition, that you might be eligible for VAT relief?

This means that you could essentially benefit from a discount of 20%. And what's more, our promotional discount codes still apply, meaning you can gain further savings.

We make it easy to claim your VAT relief by clearly listing the VAT exempt price against qualifying products, and provide a very short form to fill out as part of the checkout process when ordering your 6E, 8E or 6V fitting shoes.

Qualifying conditions for VAT free purchases include physical or mental impairment that affects your ability to carry out everyday activities, for example, blindness; conditions treated as chronic sickness, such as diabetes, arthritis or lymphedema; and long-term illnesses.

Look out for the link underneath our available fittings on each product page to claim your VAT exemption.

Need help?
If you’re unsure about anything at all to do with our styles, features or fittings and whether they’re right for you, please do contact us on +44 (0)1933 311 077, Monday to Friday, 9-5 to speak with one of our friendly, knowledgeable UK based customer services team, who will be delighted to help.

Why not check out some of our other blog posts to help you with you find your perfect shoe.
A Db Shoe for every occasion this Summer »
This Spring there's a lot to look forward to »
Active & Leisure Shoe Styles for Holidays »