If you have hyperhidrosis and it affects your feet, finding shoes that are sweat-safe can be a challenge particularly in the summer. You want to be able to wear sandals, flip flops and open-toed shoes like normal dry people wear, but it’s hard finding shoes that make you feel safe. When I say safe, I’m talking about more than one meaning.

Dangers of Sweaty Feet

When it comes to shoes, the slip and slide factor is a legitimate concern. Sweaty feet inside shoes that are not absorbent or have a smooth footbed with little to no texture could lead to your feet literally slipping right out of your shoes. Picture this scenario happening on a flight of stairs or when crossing a busy intersection. Ankle twists and bone breaking are not cool. But if you have hyperhidrosis, the not-cool factor gets bumped up a notch because it leads to emergency room/doctor visits, bandages and/or casting, and potentially navigating life with crutches for awhile. These are all triggers for hyperhidrosis, which would then require additional modifications in an attempt to achieve dryness.

Hiding the Sweat

The other safety I’m referring to is the kind that will keep my hyperhidrosis as hidden as possible, safe enough where I don’t have to think about it too much. There are certain types of fabric and styles of clothing and shoes that I simply will not wear because they’re not “safe.” For example: silk is not sweat-friendly and shows sweat marks very easily. I used to wear Keds white canvas shoes as a kid. The seams turned yellow on those shoes after the glue came loose from my sweaty feet and seeped into the surrounding fabric. I’m afraid to buy white canvas shoes to this day because of that.

Some Shoes to Try

So, when I find shoes that work with my sweaty feet, I get really excited. I feel more confident, more normal and like I’m making progress in navigating a drier life. Here are the shoes I bought this summer that work really well with my hyperhidrosis-ridden feet. The only ones that show any sweat marks are the Skechers, but you can only see the sweat marks when I take them off. I haven’t worn the blue fabric wedges yet; I’m hoping the fabric doesn’t stretch after it gets wet. I did have to poke another hole in each strap to get them to fit tighter around my heel.