An Indian tribe in Mexico noted for speed and endurance, the Tarahumara run marathons over rocky trails with only thin sandals strapped to their feet, according to Chris McDougall, author of “Born to Run.” Compared to the Tarahumara, who enjoy maximum ventilation of their feet, the average athlete wears sneakers and faces the risk of contracting athlete’s foot. By wearing well-ventilated shoes, you can prevent this itchy and irritating foot condition.

Tinea is a skin infection caused by fungus, or dermatophytes, that grow in dead skin, hair and nail tissue and thrive in warm moist environments, such as a damp sneaker after a workout. As a form of tinea, athlete’s foot involves the spread of fungus to the areas between your toes and the soles of your feet. Your feet may discolor, becoming red, and itch, burn or sting. Affected skin may blister, peel, crack or flake. Because this fungus is contagious, if you scratch your foot and then touch other parts of your body, you can unwittingly spread the fungus well beyond your feet.

Ventilation eyelets -- the airholes built into the sides of a shoe -- were a manufacturer’s early solution to enabling air flow in sneakers. In the 1980s, the eyelets were replaced by mesh side panels to provide more ventilation. Today, the upper part -- known as “upper” in sneaker speak -- of a well-ventilated sneaker is almost entirely made of mesh. The more mesh, the more breathable the sneaker will be, according to Fitness Magazine. Plastic or leather can form the sneaker’s frame.

In 2008, Nike’s Innovation Lead for Basketball Shane Kohatsu ventured to China on a research trip. He noticed that Chinese street basketball players wore anything but basketball sneakers – hiking boots or cross training shoes -- to beat the heat and endure asphalt. Kohatsu surmised that there must be way to provide players with a shoe that combines two sought-after features – breathability and durability. Nike came up with fabric -- “Hyperfuse” -- consisting of three or more heat-pressed synthetic layers, according to Fast Company. Because the frame and mesh of the shoe are fused, the technology eliminates the need for any stitching. The result is well-ventilated hardy sneaker. While other brands are catching on to this technology, it can be tricky to master, suggests ConceptKicks.

Different types of sneaker lining can provide more or less air flow. For example, lining made of goat or sheep skin will give you better ventilation than cow leather, according to Sneaker Report. Some sneakers’ collar linings are created from moisture-wicking fabrics and help to keep your feet dry in the shoe. In addition, sneakers may have antibacterial and anti-friction sock liners, which are designed to ward off athlete’s foot.