Are Under Armour Shoes Good for Kids? – Read this Before you Buy Them!
There is a growing trend of children leaning towards more fashion-oriented shoe brands such as Nike and Under Armour. You will notice how the older children get, the more they start asking to get shoes from these shoe brands. I work for a children’s shoe store and I have fitted most children’s shoe brands, and I have found that certain brands manufacture shoes that are more effective than others when it comes to keeping children’s feet healthy.
Why Are Under Armour Shoes So Popular Among Children?
I believe that Under Armour shoe popularity comes from its marketing campaigns that showcase successful and charismatic athletes with attractive sneakers.
There is a large number of children who come to the store and refuse to wear any other shoe brand except Under Armour. Children who don’t have any foot conditions (such as flat feet) or “complicated” foot shapes (such as wide feet) can definitely wear Under Armour shoes. Let me make it easy for you and provide you with a checklist to see whether your child can wear Under Armour shoes or not.
Can Your Child Wear Under Armour Shoes? – Let’s Find Out!
✅ Children with narrow feet.
✅ Children with medium feet.
✅ Children who don’t have any foot conditions.
❌ Children with wide feet.
❌ Children with extra wide feet.
❌ Children with high insteps.
❌ Children with flat feet.
❌ Children with overpronation.
❌ Children with weak ankles.
❌ Children with low muscle tone.
If after looking at that checklist you are still unsure whether your child can wear Under Armour shoes or not, please do not hesitate to contact me directly: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
3 Main Reasons Why I Don’t Recommend Under Armour Shoes
Let me elaborate and explain to you the 3 main reasons why I don’t recommend that children wear Under Armour shoes.
1️⃣ Limited Fitting
Under Armour shoes only fit children with narrow or medium width feet. This means that children with wide or extra wide feet won’t be able to fit in these shoes. In addition, children with high insteps won’t be able to fit in Under Armour shoes either. There has been an important update in 2024 as Under Armour is now manufacturing shoes in wide widths. With that said, even the wide widths tend to fit on the narrower side.
2️⃣ Not Durable
Most Under Armour shoes tend to fall apart quickly. Since children tend to outgrow their shoes anywhere between 4 to 6 months depending on their age, they should always outgrow their shoes before they are ready to be replaced. Let’s see what other parents are saying about their experiences with Under Armour shoes in terms of durability:
3️⃣ Unsupportive
Under Armour shoes don’t provide the correct amount of support. Their shoes are too flimsy and soft, and don’t provide any shock absorption to attenuate the impact that children’s feet take when they come in contact with the ground. If your child is highly active and involved in high-impact activities, I recommend trying a different shoe brand.
Under Armour Shoes and Your Kids’ Foot Health
I strongly feel like this shoe company doesn’t consider the child’s foot health when they manufacture their shoes. One of the biggest issues of Under Armour shoes is how they only manufacture kids’ shoes in the most common shoe width: “medium”. This means that only children with narrow or medium width feet can wear Under Armour shoes.
Children’s feet come in all different shapes and sizes, and by manufacturing only their shoes in medium widths they don’t take into consideration children with wide/extra wide feet or children with high insteps. In 2024 Under Armour started manufacturing kids’ shoes in wide widths which is a huge step forward in the right direction. With that said, even the wide widths tend to fit on the narrower side.
The Best Shoe Brands for High Insteps, Wide/Extra Wide Feet
As I mentioned before, children with high insteps, wide, or extra wide feet should not wear Under Armour shoes. Do you know what the instep of the foot is? The instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it makes it really complicated to find shoes that fit. Take a look at the image below to identify where the instep of the foot is located:
If your child has a high instep, wide or extra wide feet, and insists on wearing Under Armour shoes, your child will end up developing several foot issues that range from blisters, calluses, and corns, to general foot and leg pain.
Most Common Mistakes Parents Make
One of the most common mistakes that I see parents make is to have their children try longer shoes to take the pressure away in the width area. Longer shoes will compromise your child’s stability and create several foot issues that range from blisters, calluses, and corns. Shoes that are too long allow the foot to move too much inside the shoes, and that constant friction between the foot and the shoes leads to the issues mentioned above.
Please think twice before trying to please your child with a pair of Under Armour shoes.
Best Shoe Brands for Kids with Wide or Extra Wide Feet
To accommodate the different needs of kids, I have created a different resource that describes a list of the best shoe brands for kids. You can refer to other articles I wrote that describe the best shoe brands for kids with wide feet or extra wide feet.
If you are still unsure whether your child is a good candidate to wear Under Armour shoes or not, please do not hesitate to contact me directly:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Let me know in the comments section below if your child has had good luck with Under Armour shoes or not.
