Footbed
The footbed or insole is the part of the shoe where the foot rests on. Insoles are often made with specific structural elements and unique layers that offer better fit, support, and comfort. The materials used to construct the footbed include;

EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate): EVA is a man-made foam material that absorbs shock and adds extra comfort. EVA can be compression molded to fit desired shapes and sizes and can be crafted from both recycled materials or mixed with other materials, including cork.

Naturally Occurring Materials: Natural materials often used for footbeds include; latex, rubber bamboo, rope, cork, and leather. These materials offer a lot of benefits like comfort, breathability, and durability, but some wearers avoid them because they are not vegan materials.

Outsole
The outsole is the part of the shoe that makes contact with the ground and protects your feet from hazards. The outsole is also the part of the shoe that will prevent slips, guard against water, and allow you to walk on specific types of terrain.

One of the most popular choices for outsoles is, Vibram®. Vibram outsoles are long-lasting and can be found in all different styles of shoes, in-particular, hiking shoes. Vibram outsoles offer excellent grip and prevent any accidental slips or falls and are a registered trademark of Vibram S.P.A.

Upper
The upper is the whole part of the shoe that covers your foot. The upper may be stitched or molded with the sole to make one whole unit. Upper units are made from a variety of materials, both natural and synthetics. Leather is a popular choice for the uppers’ material because it is breathable and help maintain a consistent temperature. Synthetic materials cost less than animal skins and are widely used in all types of shoes today. Synthetics provide waterproofing and durability which makes them a good consideration.

The heel can mean either is the back area of a shoe, or the solid part that holds the heel cup The most common heights for a shoes’ heel to be are:

8/8 (1-inch)
16/8 (2-inch)
24/8 (3-inch)

There are also an array of unique heel structures and styles, including:

Stacked Heel: A heel consisting of horizontal lines, giving the appearance that the heel is made up of stacked layers of leather.

Negative Heel: A favorite choice for comfortable footwear, this is a type of footbed with a lowered heel area that is designed to encourage more natural foot placement.

Sculpted Heel: A type of high heel that’s made from high-impact plastic and is molded in one piece.

Wedge Heel: A chunky heel that extends from the back of the shoe to the ball of the shoe.

Airflow
Breathability and airflow are a principal consideration when selecting a pair of shoes. Black shoes, in particular, need to have adequate ventilation because dark colors have a tendency to trap heat and make for a warmer wear than a shoe of lighter color.

The materials used to construct a shoe can make a big difference in how well feet can breathe. Certain materials are better for airflow than others, materials like:

Leather
Mesh
Polyester
Synthetics

Moisture Control
Controlling moisture and eliminating sweaty feet will make for a comfortable wear and will help prevent odors from occurring. When selecting a pair of black shoes it is a good idea to look for ones with either built-in air ventilation holes or moisture wicking properties. Moisture wicking is a process that pulls moisture away from the foot and wicks it towards the outer surface where it can evaporate easier.

If you have your heart set on a pair of shoes that don’t wick moisture you can try one of these long-standing tricks to help eliminate moisture and sweat; sprinkle talcum(baby) powder in your shoe, or use a deodorizing powder from the store and dust it in your shoes.

Business/Dress
Dress shoes are worn for formal or smart casual gatherings and could be described as the opposite of an athletic shoe. Dress shoes are the typical attire for dancing, on special occasions, and for attending a more formal party.

Traditionally, dress shoes, particularly men’s, will be made entirely from leather which exudes elegance and style. Though rubber can commonly be used to form the outsole which would offer a more durable and less slippery shoe but can also detract from the shoe’s prestige. Black is the perfect shade of dress shoes because it matches with practically every color and offers an air of professionalism.

Casual/Athletic
Casual and athletic shoes always look good in black. Dark colored footwear gives an illusion that the wearers feet are smaller than they actually are and black tends to match with any outfit.

For athletic shoes, black is a popular choice, in part because it tends to conceal dirt and mud better than light colored shoes and this is often a problem athlete’s face.

Summer/Slip-On
Summer shoes don’t have to be light colored to look good while keeping you cool and comfortable. People have a tendency to perceive black shoes as being too warm to wear in the summer but that’s just not true.

If you are planning to wear dark footwear in warm weather opt for a pair that is made of light and breathable materials such as canvas, and mesh.

While style is often a matter of personal taste, we've checked thousands of online reviews to see what people are saying about each of the products on our list. Some things, such as sleek design, seamless construction and overall weight and shape of the shoe, were common likes or dislikes among buyers of each product.

To evaluate style, we considered everything from the design, color, shape, weight, lines and overall construction of the shoe in question. While no one wants to wear an uncomfortable shoe, they also don’t want a comfortable shoe to be ugly on the eyes. We’ve selected all of those on our top 10 to be not only stylish but also comfortable, true-to-size, supportive and durable.

The higher the score on the “style” metric, the more fashionable we and the community of buyers we surveyed deemed the product to be.