There is something inherently freeing, that makes us feel liberated and like we can do anything when we’re walking around in lightweight footwear. You’ve seen that term in this particular Native shoe guide several times over, and we have to reiterate how Native shoes emphasizes the importance of designs which aren’t bulky or heavy in any way. Their primary focus is on ‘liteness’ since our daily lives are already stressful enough without clunky footwear dragging us down.

Of course that there are other benefits of lightweight footwear aside from the psychological ones. In shoes which aren’t cumbersome, we can cross longer distances. Our legs don’t get as tired, and we find ourselves able to run that extra mile, to walk further, jump higher and spend more time on our feet in general.

Additionally, we experience less pain. It has long been proven that wearing heavy designs for long periods of time leads to shin splints, inflammation of the joints and pain in almost all parts of the leg - the ankle, the knee, the hip - and even the lower back. Lightweight footwear and quality running shoes for shin splints save us from all of that and helps us get through our days without a twinge of discomfort.

All these obvious advantages to lightweight footwear mean that it is one of the most important categories when it comes to the criteria we used for evaluating our items. In this Native shoe guide, the lighter the design is, the higher the score it has.

One more thing that Native shoes finds essential is breathability. We touched upon some of the reasons why this is a key aspect when it comes to footwear, but here we’ll explain it more in depth.

No one likes sweaty feet. That’s a fact. Other than the unpleasant feeling you get from it, there are also other problems which stem from that - bad odors, for one. Sweat usually equals stink, and it is a special shade of embarrassing to take off your shoes in someone else’s house and realize that the hosts are cracking the windows open because of you.

But while unpleasant smells can be easily remedied with a quick wash - including washing your footwear - sweat, or a damp, hot climate around your feet can lead to worse issues, such as bacterial or fungi infections. These microorganisms thrive in confined, moist spaces, and if you’re not careful, you could develop a disease such as athlete’s foot, which is accompanied by a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including itching, scaling, cracking of the skin and redness.

In order to prevent all of these unnecessary hassles, make sure to go for comfortable, breathable footwear when looking at Native shoe options. This includes designs made out of natural materials, such as leather, suede and wool - synthetics are not as good in conducting air - as well as those which are thin and porous, such as mesh fabrics.

Other details which add to a design’s breathability are perforations, and of course, the ultimate breathable choice, especially during summer, is the sandal. Sandals provide a healthy climate for your feet by letting them enjoy the fresh air, and reduce the risk of all these nasty consequences we’ve talked about. Native shoes have many models with perforations, or sandal options to help keep breathability maximized.

The problem with walking, and especially with high-impact sports such as running, CrossFit or HIIT training, is that they put a lot of stress on your body. Your joints, muscles, and bones are repeatedly pounded by your own weight as you exercise, which long term leads to muscle fatigue, pain in the joints and, in extreme cases, to bone damage.

As a solution for this, the footwear industry has developed materials that have shock-absorbing properties. These serve to disperse the kinetic energy which enters your body with each step. They evenly spread out the force of the impact throughout the sole of the design, and thus reduce pressure on your ankles, knees, and hips, and help you remain on your feet for longer.

The one material most commonly mentioned in this Native shoe guide is EVA. In the chemical world known as ethylene-vinyl acetate, EVA is a golden standard when it comes to shock absorption. It is widely used for practically every part of a shoe, and thus we can have EVA uppers, insoles, midsoles and even outsoles that are used in various combinations and for various purposes.

Upon every strike of your heel, EVA compresses to absorb the impact and then springs right back up when you lift your foot, ready to do it again. It is truly a material that changed the landscape of running and sports footwear, and nowadays it is impossible to imagine both professional and lifestyle sneakers without its presence. Native shoes make good use of using this kind of material in their footwear.

However, bear in mind that EVA does have a flaw, in that it slowly degrades over time and loses its compressibility qualities. This is true for designs that you wear constantly, day in and day out, but also for those which are taking up space in your closet, collecting dust because you don’t feel like wearing them anymore. After a while, EVA is no longer as effective in energy rebound as it used to be when the design was brand new, and so it is not a bad idea to replace your running shoes every once in a while.

Native shoes has truly outdone itself when it comes to functional footwear. Water shoes are a necessity if you are often finding yourself in splash-prone areas, such as by the pool or at a beach, or even if you are likely to walk around the city in the rain.

Now, don’t make the mistake of thinking that these Native shoe designs are waterproof. Waterproof means that the material of the shoe is keeping the water out, while at the same time keeping your feet dry. However, Native shoes water shoes are not waterproof, they are water-friendly. This means that water will still get into your shoe and make your feet wet, but it will not ruin the design or otherwise damage your footwear in any way.

This is an ideal option for when you need lightweight, summer footwear to wear before and after your dips in the sea, as most other designs don’t hold up well against sand and water.

We would also like to point out that, while originally intended for wet conditions, you can absolutely wear Native shoes as regular sneakers as well! Nothing should stop you from showing off your environmentally-friendly footwear in an urban setting, regardless of what their initial purpose was.

One of the defining characteristics of all the designs from our Native shoe list is that they are all casual. Native shoes has a goal of making your everyday life easier and more efficient, so that you don’t have to worry about footwear if you’re rushing to an office meeting or are late for a business lunch or on your way to pick up your kids from football practice. These pieces are created with special care and attention to detail so that you can devote your time to what really matters.
 
With that in mind, in this Native shoe guide we have three footwear types which serve to help you enhance your everyday wear, and those are fashion sneakers, water shoes, and sandals.
 
Fashion sneaker: Arguably one of the most common styles of Native shoes, the fashion sneaker is definitely a popular choice. The reason for this is that it is comfortable and easy to wear, and perfect for almost any occasion. You can take your fashion sneakers to a shopping trip, to the workplace in some cases, on a date, and even to some semi-formal events. There is very little that doesn’t go well with this type of footwear, stylistically speaking.
The great thing about Native shoes fashion sneakers is that, as other types of sneakers, they usually come with specially cushioned footbeds. Bonus points are awarded for designs which come with arch support as well, as this helps with a wide array of foot-related medical ailments.
Fashion sneakers are not designed for any hard-hitting sports, but you will definitely love them and they will most likely become your go-to option for when you need to decide on a comfortable, yet stylish shoe for your outfit.
 
Water shoe: Since we already talked about them extensively, here we will just mention that these Native shoe designs are practical, but that it doesn’t mean they can’t be trendy, as evidenced by all the options in our guide. In fact, Native shoes goes out of its way to introduce a new type of water footwear, which is both useful and has that urban appeal that every fashionista is after these days.
 
Sandal: The one type of sandal which found its place on this list is the ubiquitous pool slide. While previously thought of as largely an uninspired design, reserved for frat boys and athletes going to and from their matches and competitions, recently this sandal type has experienced a true rebirth. Thanks to brands such as Puma and even famous artists such as Rihanna, the slide sandal received a makeover in the form of satin details and furry straps, which now effectively make it a fashion statement.
Of course that, when it comes to Native shoes here, the emphasis is on functionality and ease of use rather than style, but the fact remains that the slide sandal is all the rage this season.