Are Under Armour Shoes Good for Kids? – Read this Before you Buy Them!
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?
Under Armour shoes have become 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 growing trend of children leaning towards more fashion-oriented shoe brands such as Nike, Under and Armour. You will notice how the older your kids get, the more they start asking to get shoes from these shoe brands.
There is a large number of children who come to the store and refuse to wear any other shoe brand except Under Armour. Children that don’t have any foot condition and have a narrow or medium width foot can definitely wear Under Armour shoes. However, children who have foot conditions such as flat feet, overpronation, rolled ankles, high insteps, wide or extra wide feet should not 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 high insteps.
❌Children with wide feet.
❌ Children with extra wide feet.
❌ Children with flat feet.
❌ Children with overpronation.
❌Children with rolled 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: [email protected]
The 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. I will expand on this shortly.
Under Armour kid’s shoes are known for being extremely shallow and narrow at the front. This can lead to your child’s toes rubbing against one another or the side of the shoes.
2️⃣ Not Durable
Most Under Armour shoes tend to fall apart too fast. Your child should always outgrow his/her 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.
Does Under Armour Care About 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.
You might be wondering why such a big and successful shoe company doesn’t manufacture shoes in different widths. Maybe the company doesn’t want to put too much emphasis on their kids’ shoe products or they simply don’t care about children with wide or extra wide feet, since they know their shoes are popular and will get sold regardless. Whatever their reason might be, I believe that this shoe company doesn’t put the child’s feet health in mind when manufacturing their shoes.
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. Please keep in mind that children with medium feet can also have high insteps. 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 to wear 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. We obviously want a certain amount of growing room in our children’s shoes — 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters to be more exact — but shoes that are too long can create several issues for your child’s feet.
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/Extra Wide Feet
To accommodate the different needs of kids, I have put together a selection of the best shoes for children with wide and extra wide feet, as well as for children with high insteps. 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 RaveRun by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style RaveRun by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Original Jazz Lite 2.0 by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- 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 toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Ride 10 Jr by Saucony
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style 2510 by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Removable insoles
- Lightweight and flexible
- Extra wide toe box allows natural splaying of toes for better balance, comfort, and foot health
- Long heel counter provides stability
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your toddler’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Shoe style 2510 by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Heel stabilizer provides lateral stability
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your toddler’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style 574 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Fresh Foam by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Sr Thompson by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Ortholite memory foam footbeds
- Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
- Recycled material linings to help reduce odor
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style SRT Winslow by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Toe cap reinforcement and bumptoe protection against stumbles
- Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
- Step-stabilizing design with comfy Ortholite memory foam footbeds
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Fresh 574 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- No-sew overlays
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- See Kai Run shoe style Robyne
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Breathable textile lining and cushioned insole
- Double velcro straps for easy on and off adjustability
- Padded tongue and collar for added comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- See Kai Run shoe style Robyne
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Canvas upper
- Toe cap is durable for early steps
- Double velcro straps
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style 574 New-b V1 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Generous toe box and instep to accommodate and support a first-walker’s needs
- Mesh and suede upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style 574 New-b V1 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Generous toe box and instep to accommodate and support a first-walker’s needs
- Mesh and suede upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style RaveRun by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Stitched-on toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Nitrel v5 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Stitched-on toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Russell by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Double velcro straps
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Robyn by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Double velcro straps
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Velocity by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Heel stabilizer provides stability
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Shoe style 3584 Rainbow by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Shoe style Fresh Foam 650 Bungee by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a comfortable fit
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi v4 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Durable rubber outsole designed to withstand wear-and-tear
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Arishi v4 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a comfortable fit
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style RaveRun is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Available in laces
- No-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style RaveRun is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Available in laces
- Leather and mesh upper
- No-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Axon by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Axon by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Padded tongue and collar
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 880v12
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 480 V1 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- Leather and mesh upper for durability & breathability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 327 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- FuelCell foam delivers a propulsive feel to help drive you forward
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- New Balance shoe style FuelCell Propel v5
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 574 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- Leather and suede upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi v4
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Mesh upper is lightweight and breathable
- Lightweight EVA foam cushioning in the midsole and padded heel increases comfort
- Firm heel counter
- Supportive heel for active kids
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
The Best Shoe Brands for Children
Several other shoe brands manufacture stylish yet functional shoes for children. While I can’t get into too much detail about which are the best shoe brands for kids in this article, you can refer to other articles I wrote that describes 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:
