Can you wear boots in the summer?
Yes. While boots are often considered a part of a fall or winter wardrobe, by choosing proper fabrics for shirts and pants, and by wearing the appropriate types of boots, you can incorporate them into your summer outfits with relative ease.
My boot journey began in the summer heat of Florida.
I wish I was joking.
My first pair of boots were the Thursday Captains in olive green suede. When I finally got them in the mail, I was thrilled, but I faced a huge problem.
It was the middle of August, in Florida. How was I supposed to wear them in that blazing heat?
Long story short, I made it work, and wore them proudly for the rest of the season.
So can you wear boots in the summer? Boots are great, and no one should have to give them up for the sake of a season change. But how can you do this without sweating your rear off?
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7 Style Tips to Comfortably Wear Boots in the Heat of Summer
1. Pick the Right Style
Cowboy boots for trudging through the snow? Insulated winter boots for wandering the deserts? Suede boots for puddle jumping? Cordovan Balmoral boots for mucking the stables?
I just made a few of you shudder at the thought of good boots being put to bad use. If you’re going to wear boots, be sure to wear the right ones for your current situation.
For summer, wear a summer boot. What is a summer boot you ask? Summer boots include Chukkas, Chelseas, and certain Lace-ups.
Chukkas (or Desert boots) are lightweight, versatile, and comfortable. Designed for WWII military personnel who spent much of their time in the desert sands of India, the Chukka is right at home in the sweet heat of summer.
For tips and tricks on how to style your chukkas, check out our in-depth guide here.
Chelseas are another fantastic option. The slip-on/slip-off capability of these classic boots make them great for summer. No more struggling with the laces to get your hot feet free after a long day of walking.
For a fantastic summer Chelsea, I recommend the New Republic Sonoma. These boots are affordable at around 100 bucks, have a crepe sole for added all-day comfort, and feature wonderful summery light sandy suede.
The New Republic Sonoma Suede Chelsea boot is the best Chelsea I’ve found for under $100.
Lace-ups are not quite as simple as Chelseas, but can be a viable option during the summer months. While putting them on and taking them off might take a bit longer than Chelseas or Chukkas, the laces give an added aesthetic that some people just can’t pass up.
If you go with a lace-up option, consider going for a boot with speed-hooks, as this will speed up the process of putting them on and taking them off. For boots with this capability, I recommend the Thursday Captain.
When wearing lace-ups in warmer weather, avoid lacing your boots too tightly, as this will trap more heat, and cause more sweating and discomfort.
The Thursday Captain is an excellent deal. Made with Thursday's Chrome leather from Le Farc tannery (often compared to Horween Chromexcel), these boots are still holding up well after five years of wear. When (if?) these ever wear out, I’ll be getting them again.
For more information on summer-appropriate boot styles, check out our guide here. For our top-five recommended summer boots, check out this video from our YouTube channel.
2. Keep Your Fabrics (and Leathers) Light
When I dress up for an event in the summer months, I typically don’t reach for my woven wool sweaters or my thick corduroy pants. It’s important to be aware of when it is appropriate to wear certain fabrics.
As a general rule, thicker fabrics are for the colder seasons (fall and winter), while thinner fabrics are for the warmer and hot seasons (spring and summer).
Summer fabrics include cotton, linen, and searsucker, just to name a few.
For your summer boots, look for suedes, thinner leathers, and calf skins. These leathers will be thinner and more breathable, allowing for a more comfortable wear during the warmer months.
3. Colors
Black absorbs heat, and while this might not stop you from cutting it out of your wardrobe this summer, you might want to look into adding some more summer appropriate colors to your outfits.
My first tip when it comes to summer colors is to have fun with it. It’s summer: it’s a time to party, a time to get outdoors, a time to adventure. So have a little fun with your color palette.
The second tip is to keep the colors light. Shy away from deep, dark colors like blacks and chocolate browns. This doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate them into your summer fits, but be wary of the heat absorption.
Ice blue, whites, cream, light brown, tan, sage, pinks, lavenders—these are fantastic summer colors.
Greens are also a great color option. Green pants, shirts, and even boots are a great way to mix things up. Keep in mind, though, that the darker the green, the more heat you will absorb while wearing it.
Experiment with pastels. Summer’s a season of fun, so why not dress that way? Sure, the 80’s are in the past, but with a little bit of experimentation, pastels can have a place in your wardrobe.
If there was a single summer boot color, it would be a light sandy suede. Light sandy suede is a sweet summer staple in the boot community. It’s versatile, light, it pairs well with light-wash jeans (another summer staple), and just has that summer vibe about it.
For a great economic boot in light sandy suede, I recommend the New Republic Sonoma Chelseas.
4. Choose the Right Pants
You can tell by the heading that I’m going to be talking about pants, not shorts. Why not shorts? Well I’ll just come right out and say it—wearing boots with shorts is a big fashion no-no.
So how can you stay cool and wear boots if shorts are out of the question?
In the summer months, I’ve had people ask me, “how can you stand wearing pants?” The answer is simple—wear the right pants!
Jeans are a wardrobe staple. Available in a wide variety of colors (and shades), jeans are a fantastic option all year round. For summer, try to stick to something a little bit lighter in material. Also, remember that dark colors absorb more heat than lighter colors, so a light wash is a good option here.
If jeans are still too heavy for you, go for chinos. Chinos were designed for hot climates, so they’re a great go-to for the warmer months of the year. Available in a variety of colors, from subtle earth tones to snazzy pastels, “boring” will no longer be in your vocabulary.
As far as fit goes, loosen up a little. Skin-tight is not the way to go. Find something a little more roomy like a straight fit or a relaxed option. That being said, you don’t need to wear baggy pants to keep cool. Remember, the goal is to stay stylish while not dying of heat stroke.
For more information on pairing boots with summer pants, check out this guide.
5. Go for Thinner Socks
Don’t wear overbuilt or insulated socks. It’s summer, remember? Swamp crotch is terrible, but so are swamp feet.
Wool, while a fantastic material, is not the go to for summer. Wool is insulating, which means it’ll trap heat. I don’t think I need to explain why that’s not what you want during the summer months.
Look for something moisture wicking and breathable. Cotton socks or moisture wicking blends are your best bet when it comes to keeping your feet dry and comfortable during the summer.
Made in the USA from Merino wool, these work socks really are something else in terms of quality. They feature compression through the arch and calf which helps your feet recover after a long day. Plus, because they're Merino wool, they're breathable and help reduce foot sweat.
6. Invest in Shoe Trees
Let’s face it, after a long day of wear, your boots can get kinda icky. The lining can get damp, and the leather can smell of feet (which is gross). So how can you prevent this from harming your boots?
I recommend investing in a good pair of shoe trees. Cedar is the go-to material for this. Shoe trees increase the longevity and quality of your boots, keeping them in their proper shape, and preventing damage.
Cedar shoe trees absorb moisture that could potentially damage your boots, preventing cracked or rotted leather.
They combat odors that would otherwise saturate the leather. Cedar absorbs odors, and neutralizes them with its unique scent.
Shoe trees prevent your boots from sagging, which can create unsightly creases and an overall bland appearance.
On top of all of these advantages, cedar has its own unique fragrance and texture, which adds to the unique experience of boot ownership.
One thing to note is that shoe trees can sometimes be pricey. If you’re on a budget, or you can’t get your hands on a pair of cedar shoe trees, don’t let that stop you from wearing your boots.
Wads of newspaper or butcher’s paper work great as an economic alternative. Just stuff your boots with your preferred paper after each wear to prevent sagging or moisture damage. You won’t get the authentic cedar scent, but it gets the job done.
If you’d like to invest in a pair of cedar shoe trees, check out the Stratton cedar shoe trees on Amazon. At only 25 bucks, these aromatic Kentucky-grown cedar shoe trees are a steal, making them a fantastic investment for your boot (and shoe) collection.
I highly recommend a quality set of cedar shoe trees for any boot you want to take good care of. These Strattons are the best I've found. The spring is firm, but not overly so, making them easy to take out, and the design means they'll fit a wide range of your boots and shoes.
7. Keep it Simple
Remember, we’re talking about summer here, not a gala. Keep things simple. Layers are great when you know what you are doing. But in summer, remember to keep things light, straightforward, simple.
If you’re going to wear a jacket, go for something unlined or in one of the aforementioned summer fabrics. Remember, it’s summer, so while you can layer, you might find it best not to.
If you want to spice things up, play with accessories. You don’t have to wear everything in your closet at once for your outfit to have “depth.”
Try wearing a nice watch, a few rings, and maybe a necklace. While these are just accessories, and won’t replace a suit in a formal environment, for everyday wear, they’ll give you that added edge you’re looking for without weighing you down with hot fabrics.
You don’t have to over complicate your outfits to look stylish. Stick to the basics, maybe add some accessories, but try to keep it as simple as possible, and focus on keeping cool.
Get Boot Stylin’
For me, falling in love with boots while in the height of summer in Florida was challenging, but I learned a lot from that experience.
Summer is a fantastic season, and one shouldn’t have to be discouraged when it comes to finding ways to dress well.
If you remember to choose the right boots, keep your fabrics light, go for lighter colors, wear the right pants, proper socks, invest in shoe trees, and keep your fits simple, I guarantee you’ll be rocking your boots comfortably all summer long.
Made in the USA from Merino wool, these work socks really are something else in terms of quality. They feature compression through the arch and calf which helps your feet recover after a long day. Plus, because they're Merino wool, they're breathable and help reduce foot sweat.
If you like content like this, and want to continue falling in love with all things boots, check out our YouTube channel, and subscribe for more boot-loving content.
FAQs
Is it OK to wear boots in hot weather?
If you’ve read this article through, then you know that yes, you can wear boots in the summer. It just takes a little bit of common sense and know-how, but it is certainly doable.
Is it OK to wear winter boots during summer?
No, I would not recommend wearing isolated winter boots during the summer months. Winter boots are designed to keep you warm through the cold weather, which means that they keep in heat. This will only make you feel hotter, plus you’ll sweat more, and that’s not the goal.
Is it OK to wear black boots in the summer?
While black is a color that absorbs heat, in some cases, black is still doable during the summer. If you really love your black boots, and want to try to wear them with your summer fits, then by all means, go for it! Just be aware that black wears a little hotter than browns or other colors.
