Sweat and Odour in Elevator Shoes: Fixes and How to Choose a Cooler Model

Elevator shoes gain their height from an internal insole structure, which means they wrap more of the foot than ordinary shoes, so sweat and odour are easier to notice. We often hear from customers, especially in summer or from those who wear the shoes all day for commuting, that their feet feel sweaty by the evening or that they worry about the smell when they take the shoes off.

This article covers why elevator shoes tend to get sweaty, the fixes you can start today, how to rotate shoes by season, and what to look for when buying a model that stays cooler.

3 Reasons Elevator Shoes Tend to Get Sweaty

1. Many designs cover the foot up to the ankle

To keep the heel height from showing on the outside, elevator shoes are cut deeper from the heel up towards the ankle. The more of the foot a shoe covers, the less air can escape and the more easily moisture builds up inside.

2. The insole is thick

The height-boosting insole is thick, and its structure does not let heat escape from the sole of the foot easily. The sole is one of the sweatiest parts of the body, so heat trapped here leads directly to sweaty feet. A 7cm or 8cm model has a thicker insole than a 5cm one, so the more height you add, the stronger this tendency becomes.

3. Synthetic leather is less breathable

Elevator shoes in the more affordable price range are mostly made of synthetic leather. Synthetic leather is easy to care for and holds up well in the rain, but it is less breathable than genuine leather and is weaker at absorbing moisture and letting it out.

Sweat and Odour Fixes You Can Start Today

Do not wear the same pair 2 days in a row

After a full day of wear, moisture from sweat is still inside the shoes. If you wear them again the next day before they have dried out completely, bacteria multiply and cause odour. Simply rotating 2 pairs noticeably reduces both sweat and smell. If you own models with different heights, such as 5cm, 6cm and 7cm, you can also switch between them to suit the day's outfit and plans.

Dry them somewhere well ventilated after taking them off

The basic rule is to let them dry overnight by the front door before putting them in the shoe cabinet. Stuffing newspaper or a store-bought desiccant into the toes draws out the moisture deep inside the insole as well. Avoid direct sunlight and hair dryers, as they damage the material.

Do not add odour-control or moisture-absorbing insoles

Odour-control insoles are a common remedy for smelly shoes, but we do not recommend them for elevator shoes. Adding another layer on top of an insole that is already thick changes the fit and makes the shoes harder to walk in. Instead, use an in-shoe deodorant that works while the shoes dry, or a deodorant spray before you put them on. Both tackle the problem without changing the height or the feel of the shoes.

Change your socks

100% cotton socks absorb sweat and tend to stay damp. Switching to moisture-wicking, quick-dry socks or thin wool-blend socks makes a big difference to how sweaty the same pair of shoes feels. Several brands offer quick-dry socks in black or navy that look perfectly normal in a business setting.

Seasonal Rotation: Sandals in Summer, Boots and Leather Shoes in Autumn and Winter

Taking the idea of rotating 2 pairs one step further, you can change your main pair with the seasons. If you rely on a sandal type from July to September and on boots or leather shoes from October to March once it cools down, no single pair gets heavy use for long, and the shoes themselves last longer.

Summer: elevator sandals that cover the top of the foot

LEVANO's Elevator Sandals hide the platform with a design that covers the top of the foot, while the open toe and heel areas keep heat from building up the way it does in boots or sneakers that cover the ankle. There are currently 4 models to choose from: the +2.8 inches Leather Elevator Sandals No.36 (7cm boost), the 8cm Genuine Leather Elevator Sandals No.15 and the 8cm Genuine Leather Lace-Up Elevator Sandals No.16 (8cm boost), and the Japan-made, cowhide leather +2 inches Cowhide Leather Casual Sandals No.30 (5.5cm boost).

Model	Height	Material	Size range	Price
+2.8 inches Leather Elevator Sandals No.36	7.0cm	Microfibre leather	24.5–28.0cm	¥12,980
8cm Genuine Leather Elevator Sandals No.15	8.0cm	Genuine leather	24.0–28.0cm	¥19,800
+2 inches Cowhide Leather Casual Sandals No.30	5.5cm	Cowhide leather (made in Japan)	23.5–26.5cm	¥21,000

Here is a rough guide to choosing between them. If you want to keep the price down and put height first, go for no36. Microfibre leather does not absorb and release moisture as well as genuine leather does, but because the sandal shape has so many openings, it is far less sweaty than a closed shoe. If you also want a breathable material, choose the genuine leather no15 or the Japan-made, cowhide leather no30. With a modest 5.5cm boost and sizes starting at 23.5cm, no30 is also an easy choice for men with smaller feet. If you need height in the 8cm class, pick either no15 or no16 from the 8cm Elevator Shoes collection.

Autumn and winter: build around boots and cowhide leather shoes

Once temperatures drop, sweat becomes less of a worry, but thicker socks put more moisture inside the shoes instead. For autumn and winter, an easy combination to work with is the 7cm Gloss Elevator Boots No.09 (synthetic leather, 25.0–28.0cm, ¥13,980) and the 8cm Cowhide Leather Elevator Business Shoes No.20 (cowhide leather, 24.0–27.5cm, ¥20,980).

Because no09 covers the ankle, it is the model whose height is hardest to spot, but it also meets both of the conditions for sweaty feet mentioned in this article: it covers the foot up to the ankle and it is synthetic leather. That is exactly why it suits a routine where you do not wear it on consecutive days, alternate it with a cowhide leather pair such as no20, and on the days you take it off, put a desiccant in the toes and let it dry overnight. If you need leather shoes every day for commuting, alternate no20 with one more pair of business shoes and keep no09 for weekends, so that each pair has time to dry.

What to Look for When Buying a Model That Stays Cooler

Choose genuine leather or cowhide leather

If breathability matters to you, genuine leather and cowhide leather models have the advantage. Leather absorbs moisture and releases it outside, and it shapes itself to your feet the more you wear it. At LEVANO, the Japan-Made Elevator Shoes series in cowhide leather (no28 to no31), the 8cm Cowhide Leather Elevator Business Shoes No.20 and the 8cm Cowhide Leather Elevator Loafers No.21 are made of cowhide leather.

Switching to a sandal type in summer

From July to September, when sweat is at its worst, switching to elevator sandals is the surest fix. A design that covers the top of the foot still hides the platform. In the Elevator Sandals collection, you can choose the +2.8 inches Leather Elevator Sandals No.36 (7cm boost) or the 8cm Genuine Leather Elevator Sandals No.15 (8cm boost). If you prefer cowhide leather with a more modest height, there is also no30 with a 5.5cm boost.

Low-cut sneakers leave the ankle open

Compared with boots or high-tops, low-cut sneakers are open around the ankle, so air escapes more easily. If sweat bothers you when commuting or in everyday wear, a low-cut pair from our Elevator Sneakers will be more comfortable.

Breathability of the Japan-Made Cowhide Leather Models (no28 to no31)

The 4 models in our Japan-Made Elevator Shoes range tick the most boxes for breathability. All of them have a cowhide leather upper, so you get the full benefit of genuine leather's ability to absorb and release moisture. They can feel slightly stiff at first compared with synthetic leather models, but they shape themselves to your feet the more you wear them and keep letting the moisture inside escape.

• +2 inches Cowhide Leather Golf Sneakers No.28: 5.0cm boost, 460g per shoe, 24.0–26.5cm, ¥22,860. A low-cut sneaker shape that leaves the ankle open, and combined with cowhide leather, a design that lets air escape easily. It was designed with the golf course in mind, but it works just as well for everyday wear.
• +2 inches Cowhide Leather Casual Shoes No.29: 5.0cm boost, 390g per shoe, 24.0–26.5cm, ¥29,680. A casual shoe shape that also works for business and for formal occasions such as weddings and funerals. Even in a dress-shoe shape, the cowhide leather means moisture is less likely to build up than in a synthetic leather dress shoe.
• +2 inches Cowhide Leather Casual Sandals No.30: 5.5cm boost, 480g per shoe, 23.5–26.5cm, ¥21,000. With cowhide leather and a sandal shape combined, this is the model that ticks the most boxes for keeping feet cool in summer.
• +2 inches Cowhide Leather Golf Sneakers No.31: 5.0cm boost, 340g per shoe, 24.0–27.0cm, ¥30,480. The lightest of the 4 models, it also suits long walks around town and travel, where you take your shoes on and off often.

The one thing to watch is height. The Japan-made series is limited to a 5.0–5.5cm boost, so if you need 7cm or 8cm, the candidates are the Korea-made cowhide leather models no20 and no21 (both 8cm boost) or the genuine leather sandals no15 and no16. Which series you choose depends on whether breathability or height comes first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I wear elevator shoes every day?

In terms of construction and durability there is nothing stopping you from wearing them daily, but for sweat and odour, every other day is ideal. After a day of wear the inside of the shoe holds moisture from sweat, and it often has not dried out completely by the next day. If you need the height every day for commuting, keep 2 to 3 pairs in different heights, such as 5cm, 6cm and 7cm, and alternate them. That way you get the height every day while keeping odour in check.

Q. Can I use a store-bought deodorant spray?

Yes. The basic method is to spray lightly inside the shoe before wearing and put the shoes on once it has dried. Synthetic leather models can take it without much concern, but on cowhide or genuine leather models, alcohol and moisture can leave marks on the surface of the upper, so do not spray the outer leather directly and test the spray on an inconspicuous spot first. Using it right after you take the shoes off as well as before wearing, then letting them dry overnight, makes it harder for odour to set in.

Q. Can the height-boosting insole be removed?

No. LEVANO's elevator shoes are built with the height-boosting insole integrated inside the shoe, and they are not designed for it to be removed or swapped for a different insole. For the same reason, we do not recommend layering a store-bought odour-control or moisture-absorbing insole on top, as it changes the fit and makes the shoes harder to walk in. Tackle odour instead with an in-shoe deodorant or desiccant that works while the shoes dry, a deodorant spray before wearing, and a change of socks.

Q. I have already worn them once since they arrived. Can I still exchange the size or return them?

Yes, as long as you have only tried them on indoors. Size exchanges and returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery, provided the shoes are unused and have been tried on indoors only. Shoes that have been worn outdoors even once are not eligible, because the soles pick up dirt and scuffs. A size exchange is available once; the customer pays the return shipping, and LEVANO pays the shipping of the replacement. Be sure to include the packing slip (delivery note) when you send the shoes back. The safest approach is to walk around indoors for a few minutes when they arrive, check whether the heel lifts and how much room there is at the toes, and only then start wearing them outside.

Summary

Some sweat is unavoidable in elevator shoes because of how they are built, but 3 habits solve most of the problem: rotate 2 pairs, dry them after taking them off, and switch to quick-dry socks. If you change your main pair with the seasons, with a sandal type such as no36, no15 or no30 in summer and the no09 boots and no20 cowhide leather shoes in autumn and winter, each pair takes less strain. If you are about to buy, put cowhide leather models, low-cut styles and, for summer, a sandal type on your shortlist.