Affordable Shoes for Kids with Wide Feet that Are Durable and Under $50
Are you looking for a pair of affordable shoes for your child but feel limited to the shoes you can choose from due to your child’s “complex” foot shape (wide or extra wide)? The thing is, many shoe companies only manufacture shoes in the most popular sizes and so as a result, the availability of shoes in wide and extra wide sizes is limited. On the bright side, my vast experience on the subject will be key and will allow me to provide you with a selection of the most affordable shoes for kids with wide feet.
I can also help you identify which shoes fit wider than others. Some children’s shoes are available in wide (W) and extra wide (XW) widths, but there are other shoes that even though they are not available in wide widths fit really wide.
Most parents of children with wide feet usually have to order multiple shoes online before finding one that fits, seems comfortable, and is good quality. I understand that it can be challenging to find shoes for children with wide feet, but it’s critical to make sure that your kids’ shoes fit properly, as shoes that are too narrow can create blisters, calluses, and ingrown toenails. First, let’s cover some basic but important information.
Do You Know Your Child’s Exact Foot Size? – Let’s Find Out!
Even if you think you know your child’s exact foot size, you may be surprised to find out it’s not quite right. For example, are you 100% sure that your child has wide feet or do you suspect that your child might have extra wide feet? Do you know whether your child has a high instep or not? For this reason, I developed the most effective way to determine your child’s exact foot size from your home and will personally assist you with a custom fitting tailored to your child’s individual needs. This easy-to-follow method allows parents to accurately determine their child’s correct foot length and width, as well as instep height.
What Is the Instep of the Foot? – Let’s Find Out!
Some children in addition to having wide feet might have high insteps, which makes the process of finding shoes a lot more challenging. Not sure what the instep of the foot is? The instep is the top part of your feet, as shown in the images below:
If you usually struggle to get your child’s shoes on and off that’s the first sign that your child might have a high instep.
The good news is that the list of affordable shoes I have put together can fit children with wide feet and high insteps as well.
What Shoes Work Best for Children with Wide Feet?
When children have wide feet, you need to ensure that the shoes you choose provide these 4 important characteristics:
1️⃣ Round Toe-Boxes: Shoes with round toe-boxes allow for extra space for the toes and help prevent the toes from rubbing against one another or the side of the shoes.
See the image below which shows the difference in toe-boxes between two shoes that are the same length and width:
2️⃣ Extra Depth: Shoes with extra depth help allow the feet to sit deeply inside of the shoes, which helps prevent the top part of the foot (instep), from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. This feature is ideal for children who have high insteps.
Refer to the image below that shows the difference in depth between two shoes that are the same length and width but provide very different levels of depth:
3️⃣ Oversized Openings: This feature is going to allow you or your child to get the shoes on and off easily.
4️⃣ Available in Wide Widths (W): Children’s shoes are available in different widths such as medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW) widths. You will notice that most of the shoes that I recommend are available in wide widths (W). If the shoes I recommend are not available in wide widths is because they fit really wide to begin with.
What Makes the Affordable Shoes I Recommend the Best Choice for Kids?
I understand that what might be affordable to some families might not be as affordable to others. Just to set expectations straight, the shoes I recommend in this article range from $35 to $50. This is obviously more than what you might pay in Target and Walmart (they retail for as low as $10), but the difference is that the shoes I recommend are made from high-quality materials and can fit different foot shapes (wide, extra wide, high instep).
Note, the key is that the shoes that I recommend are previous models of current shoe collections that were released this year so we don’t compromise on the quality or fit of the shoes. This is a good way to save money on your kids’ shoes without sacrificing quality, comfort, or support.
1️⃣ They are Supportive and Made of Soft and Safe Materials
The shoes that I recommend are lightweight and flexible but sturdy through the midsole—shoes that can bend and twist around the arch will lack support and will fall apart quickly.
2️⃣ They are Breathable
Shoes that don’t provide good ventilation might lead to bacteria building up inside of the shoe, which can make the shoes fall apart faster and make your child more prone to developing foot infections.
3️⃣ They Accommodate “Complicated” Foot Shapes
The shoes that I recommend below are available in different widths wide and extra wide widths. This means that the companies that manufacture the shoes recognize that children’s feet come in all different shapes and sizes, and no matter how wide or extra wide your child’s feet are, you will find a pair that works.
Affordable Shoes for Kids with Wide Feet
Make sure that you click on the specific model that you like (no matter if it’s a boy’s or girl’s color) as the shoe is probably available in many different colors. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Shoe style Ride 10 Jr by Saucony
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
- APMA Certified
- Traction pods on the outsole for serious grip
- EVA midsole for lightweight feel
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Ride 10 Jr by Saucony
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Leather and mesh upper
- Alternative closure for easy on and off adjustability
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Rave Run v2 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Rave Run v2 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 455v2 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Synthetic and mesh upper provides incredible breathability
- No-sew tip for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Arishi v4 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Synthetic and mesh upper provides incredible breathability
- No-sew tip for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Rave Run V1 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Rave Run V1 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 680 V6 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Made2play Eliza by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Ortholite memory foam for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style Ryder II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Bumper toe
- Padded collar and tongue
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Wind Shield by Saucony
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- Double velcro straps
- Water-repellent upper for protection from the element
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Cohesion 14 by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Heel Grid system for stable cushioning in the heel.
- Padded collar and tongue
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 545 Bungee by New Balance
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- Double velcro straps
- Leather and textile upper
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Wind Running by Saucony
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Eva midsole delivers a cushioned and lightweight feel
- Lace-up closure
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Arishi V2 by New Balance
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- Lace-up closure
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Jazz by Saucony
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Lace-up closure
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Propel V3 by New Balance
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- Lace-up closure
- Synthetic upper with mesh vamp and no-sew overlays for lightweight breathability
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Jazz by Saucony
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Lace-up closure
- Cushy memory foam footbed for comfort and stability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Axon by Saucony
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- Lace-up closure
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Be Aware: Not All Shoes Made by Popular Shoe Brands Might Be the Best Option!
I have noticed that some parents tend to assume that children’s shoes made by popular shoe brands such as Nike, Under Armour, or Adidas, automatically translate into higher quality and better shoes for their kids. Believe it or not, several children’s shoes made by these shoe brands are too flimsy and unsupportive, and always wear down faster than expected. I have seen several cases in which the front part of the shoes started peeling simply because the shoes were made of low-quality materials.
Below you can find some images that families shared:
Thank you for reading! We hope you found helpful this post on affordable shoes for kids with wide feet. Please feel free to share this post with your community on social media as well as your experiences in the comments section below. Keep in mind that if you have any questions or need any assistance, you can also contact us via email and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
