Soccer Cleats for Kids – Finding an Extra Wide Boot That Fits
Are you having a hard time finding a pair of wide or extra wide soccer cleats for your child? Have you tried different styles but none of them seem to be able to accommodate your child’s extra wide feet and high instep? Finding a pair of soccer cleats for kids with wide or extra wide feet can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience.
Don’t let shoe stores tell you that there are certain soccer cleats that “run” or “fit” wider than others. If your child has extra wide feet there are certain soccer shoes available in extra wide widths (XW) that are capable of fitting the shape of your child’s high instep as well. I have put together a selection of the best soccer cleats for kids with extra wide feet based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
Pro Tip: If you’re pressed for time, you can go straight to the selection of soccer cleats for children with extra wide feet.
When playing soccer, children are stressing out their feet and legs at a whole different level since they are running faster and engaging in more strenuous movements. There are a lot of sudden stops and quick direction change movements in soccer. I have had several cases of children having knee pain and leg pain after playing soccer, and most of the time the pain was directly related to the cleats that the child was wearing.
What Makes the Soccer Cleats I Recommend Effective for Extra Wide Feet?
In addition to being labeled as wide (“EE” or “W”), these soccer cleats provide the two following key features that will guarantee to fit the shape of your child’s extra wide feet and high instep:
1️⃣ Extra Depth: This feature allows the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes and prevents the top part of the foot (instep), from rubbing against the top part of the shoes.
2️⃣ Round Toe Box: This feature prevents the child’s toes from overlapping or rubbing against one another. Take a look at the image below to visualize the difference between a soccer shoe with a rounder toe-box versus one with a pointier toe-box. These shoes are the same length and width. Do you notice how the shoe on the right has a much rounder toe-box compared to the shoe on the left?
By providing your child with the correct type of cleats, you will end up saving a lot of time and money and avoid possible injuries on the field. Believe it or not, shoes are often a direct or contributing cause of many foot injuries.
Extra Wide Soccer Cleats for Kids – 5 Important Additional Features!
In addition to providing extra depth and a round toe-box, these are the 5 most important features that the soccer cleats I recommend provide:
1️⃣ Ankle Support: The cleat comes with a firm heel counter to minimize the impact that your kids’ ankles take every time they come in contact with the ground.
2️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible: This feature helps prevent your child’s feet and legs from easily getting tired.
3️⃣ Supportive Insole: This feature provides underfoot cushioning and comfort.
4️⃣ Durability: Your child will outgrow these cleats before they are ready to be replaced since they are extremely well-made.
5️⃣ Specially designed to penetrate the ground surface for traction.
There is only one soccer cleat style that is available in extra wide widths (X-Wide), and it’s made by a shoe company named Zephz.
Keep in mind that I only write reviews of shoes that I have fitted before, so I can personally assess how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how well they fit.
Below you can find a selection of the best soccer cleats for kids with extra wide feet. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Soccer Cleats for Kids with Extra Wide Feet
The cleats made by Zephz are available in extra wide widths and come with multicolor shoelaces, so your child can match them up with their favorite colors or team jersey. The soccer cleats made by New Balance are available in wide widths (W).
- Shoe style Traxx by Zephz
- Available in wide and extra wide widths
- Padded collar to increase comfort and prevent blisters
- Lace-up closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Furon Dispatch by New balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure for a secure fit
- Comfortable lining to improve the first foot feel
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Traxx by Zephz
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Padded collar to increase comfort and prevent blisters
- Lace-up closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Furon Dispatch by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure for a secure fit
- Comfortable lining to improve the first foot feel
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
Does Your Child Prefer to Wear Cleats from Popular Shoe Brands?
Fashion-oriented and expensive sneakers and cleats have become the trend for some children lately. But to keep your child’s feet healthy, the condition of the shoe is more important than the price tag or brand name.
As your children get older they will start asking you to buy more popular shoe brands such as Nike or Adidas. Use your parent best judgment and keep reminding your children why it’s important to wear cleats that fit properly.
Foot or Leg Pain After Soccer Games – Take Action!
Your kids’ foot and leg pain after soccer practice or games can be simply due to your child not stretching before and after the games, or during practice. If your child does stretch regularly and is wearing the correct pair of cleats, then it might be a sign that your child needs extra support inside the cleats.
When playing sports children are stressing their feet and legs at a whole different level since they are running faster and engaging in more strenuous activities. I have had several cases of children having foot, knee, and leg pain after playing soccer. If this is the case with your child you should consider fitting a sport insole or orthotic inside the cleats for extra support.
An insole is basically a shoe insert that is specifically designed to provide cushioning, support, stability, and relief pressure areas of the foot. The ones that work well with sport shoes are called Superfeet insoles, and you might have already heard of them before.
Superfeet insoles fit inside your child’s cleats and provides them with extra arch and ankle support. Be aware that these insoles will only work with shoes that have a removable insole, which should not be a major problem since the cleats I recommend above both come with removable insoles. I wrote a different article where I describe the best inserts for kids who play sports.
Below you can see a picture of how easy it is to remove the original insoles of the soccer cleats I recommended:
Once you remove the insoles you are ready to place the new insert for extra support.
At What Age Should Kids Wear Soccer Cleats? – Let’s Find Out!
There is not a predetermined age for children to start wearing cleats. It will depend on the size and weight of the child, and their muscle development should also be taken into consideration. An experienced shoe fitter should be able to determine by taking all these factors into account.
I believe that the coach is the one who will inform parents as soon as their children are ready to start wearing cleats.
As soon as the level of competition gets higher you will likely have to purchase a pair of cleats for your child. Please remember that children without cleats tend to slip and fall, especially when the grass is wet.
Common Mistake Parents Make – Compensating Width with Length!
The risk for injury is higher in sports with jumping, such as basketball, or sports with quick direction change, such as soccer or football. Most parents are not aware that sport shoes are available in different widths.
In many cases, I have seen cleats that are fitted too long to compensate for the width and take the pressure away from the widest part of the feet. This can bring several issues such as foot injuries, since if the cleat is fitted too long you will be compromising your child’s stability, making your child more prone to falling.
I have spoken with several parents that explained to me how they needed to keep trying longer shoes to take the pressure away from the widest part of the child’s foot, and they will keep trying longer shoes until the child will stop complaining about the cleats feeling too tight.
Please keep in mind that cleats that are too long will allow your child’s feet to move too much inside the shoes. This constant movement and friction will lead to several foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns.
It’s almost impossible for children to learn proper form in sneakers because most sneakers have a wedge. If you pay close attention you will notice how almost all turf shoes and cleats are generally flat. When the coach says is the right time to wear cleats, go ahead and provide your child with a pair of well-fitted soccer cleats.
What Socks Work Well for Soccer Cleats?
Don’t forget about the importance of soccer socks. Certain soccer socks provide extra cushion to targeted areas of the feet, allowing your child to feel more comfortable and preventing the formation of calluses, blisters, and corns.
Do You Need a Pair of Soccer Cleats for Your Extra Wide Feet?
Before you leave, do you happen to need a pair of wide soccer cleats for yourself? Did you know that these cleats are available for adults as well? This website has a list of the best soccer cleats for women with extra wide feet.
Contact Us – Get a Personalized Recommendation!
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of extra wide shoes for your child. My e-mail address is: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Do you have a child with a wide foot and can’t seem to find a pair of soccer cleats that fit? Did you know that soccer cleats came in wide and extra wide widths? Please share your thoughts below with your own experiences and if you have tried some of the brands I recommend, please let me know how they worked out for your child.
My granddaughter is 5 wearing a 10.5 extra wide new balance sneaker. She is going to start soccer in three weeks and cannot find extra wide soccer cleats. Please help
Hello Linda,
In cleats I recommend going a half size larger as they fit tend to fit short, so you should be looking into a shoe size 11.
There is this soccer cleat made by New Balance that is available in wide widths: Option 1
There is only one soccer cleat made by Zephz that is available in extra wide widths but the smaller size is a big kid shoe size 1. You might consider it once your granddaughter gets a little older.
Excellent article here. My son is 8 and is very active. We are struggling finding him shoes just for everyday wear. I have gotten him fitted at several running stores in the area. People have watched him walk etc. We were told to buy the New Balance 860V11 because of the fresh foam that it offers for his needed stability. The first shoe was fine, then we went to get another pair and his toe was hurting. Went back to the running store, now was told he need not a D or width but EE.
So, because of shoes not coming into the store, they have a lack of shoes. The last pair was a womans pair (which he didnt know about) because he is on the cusp of a mens size. He can fit into a size 7.5 Womens. Because of the sizing, its been an issue on top of not having any shoes in stores because of inventory. He is a bigger kid so I know how important shoes are. As I search for football wide cleats online..I struggle once again. Any advice, styles, brands you recommend. I am very fitness focused so fully aware of all brands. He can probably wear Brooks, Saucony or New Balance comfortably.
Hello Rebecca,
I am happy to help.
Just to confirm, does your son have wide feet? Were you told me whether your son has a high instep or not? Can you tell me exactly what shoe size your son needs so I can help you look for the correct types of shoes online? A women’s shoe size 7.5 translates to a kids shoe size 6. Does your son need a a big kid shoe size 6?
Hello! The new balance J4040V3 do not appear to come in a wide 12 using the link you posted. Do you have any more current recommendations for wide cleats for a 4 year old? We plan to buy soccer cleats for use in soccer and Tball. Our son also has some mild sensory issues, so thanks for that post as well! Thanks you!
SL,
New Balance doesn’t make soccer cleats in wide widths. Zephz is the only shoe company that comes in wide widths. The size 12 in wide it is available in the styles I show.
You can learn more about wide soccer cleats in this article:
Wide Width Baseball Cleats – They Do Exist!
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
My kids have”thick” feet from top to bottom. Is there a type of shoe that would work best? My daughter will begin playing outdoor soccer this spring and i am worried about finding cleats that fit well.
Hello Natasha,
What shoe size does your daughter wear? The Zephz are great because they come in wide and extra wide widths and they are very deep. You can find those shoes here:
Wide and Extra Wide Soccer Cleats
I hope this helps!
Can you suggest indoor soccer shoes for kids with wide and flat feet?
Hello,
The widest indoor soccer shoe that I have fitted before is called the Adidas Samba. Unfortunately, there are no indoor soccer shoes that come in actual wide or extra wide widths for children. Here is how the shoe looks like:
Wide Indoor Soccer Shoe for Children: Option 1
Wide Indoor Soccer Shoe for Children: Option 2
I hope this helps!
What an interesting post! I play lacrosse and wear soccer cleats. My foot is not too wide, but occasionally my pinkie toe rubs against the wall of my cleats, which leaves a blister and reminds me that I have to purchase new ones soon. Thanks for the post, I learned a lot!
Jasmine,
Are you tying your soccer cleats tight enough? Either that or you are wearing cleats that are too narrow. Since you told me that you don’t have a wide foot is most likely the first variable. Make sure you make the laces of the cleats tight enough so your foot does not move too much inside the shoe, that way you can prevent blisters. Let me know how it works out!
I didn’t play sports but I danced and was in show choir. I wore a size 10 at the time. This was pre larger shoe and clothing sizes for kids and teens. I can’t tell you how my feet hurt because I was wearing a size 10 regular and I needed a size 10 wide but they didn’t have it.
I danced in character shoes and was miserable the entire time because my feet were in so much pain. This of course caused callouses and blisters. So I know what it is like if a child isn’t in the correct cleats for sports.
As a parent I make sure my sons are in the correct size shoes for basketball. Too big or too small and not only do they perform below average but they have problems with their feet.
I know for some parents it’s costly but it’s worth spending the extra money for the shoes that fit than spending thousands of dollars later when you’re taking them to the doctor for their feet.
Wearing shoes that are too narrow can be very painful, so I can imagine the pain you must have experienced. You seem well educated in this area and you value the importance of wearing shoes that fit. Please let me know anytime you have a concern about your children’s feet.
I could not agree with you more. I was involved in sports at a young age and my parents always bought whatever was on sale. I am now 40 years old and remember all the injuries I went through that have stayed with me throughout the years. Drop Foot for example followed me into adulthood which eventually lead to surgery. When I had children I knew from experience not to spare any expense when it came to cleats. I wish this stuff were available when I was a child. Great Information here I will bookmark this site.
Thank You
Jason
Jason,
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am always trying to emphasize the importance of fitting children’s shoes and how this can prevent further issues in the future. If you read my post Foot Injuries from Running – Prevention is Key I explained how protecting your children through footwear is one of the most basic ways to ensure they avoid and prevent injury in the future years.
I really enjoyed reading this post. As a retired nurse I know how important it is for kids to have the right shoes. Taking care of young, growing feet is very important. The fashion conscious young people today do often make the wrong choices but how do you convince them to wear the best shoe when it isn’t the most popular?
Margaret,
Most of the time parents will step up and tell them they can choose any style they want as long as it fits. However, in several cases the child will want a specific style which might not be the best fit and I let the parent know about it and then it is the parent’s decision.
Hey Juan,
I know shoes are important but never knew that its actually that important! Where I come from (A small town in Malaysia), people play soccer all the time without shoes on.
And this happens quite often in schools not to mention universities when we grow up. I do agree that when they do buy those shoes, they go for the branded ones that costs hundreds to thousands like Nike and Adidas. Great read, keep it up!
Riaz,
Some of the best soccer players started playing without shoes, but this does not mean that is the right thing to do. It is important to wear the correct pair of cleats in order to avoid injuries and perform at our best.