Best Children’s Shoes for AFOs and SMOs: One Perfect Pick for Every Occasion
Last Updated: August 2026 | Juan Valenzuela, Certified Children’s Shoe Fitter
Many families struggle to find shoes that accommodate their child’s AFOs or SMOs, especially when it comes to sandals, boots, dress shoes, or sport cleats — not just everyday sneakers. Rather than overwhelm you with a long list of options, I’ve narrowed this down to one shoe I trust most for each occasion: a roomy toe box, a wide opening, extra-long adjustable straps where needed, and a genuinely stable base of support in every pick.
Stop Buying Bigger Shoes to Accommodate AFOs and SMOs
I understand how exciting it is to finally find a shoe that seems to fit over your child’s AFO or SMO. But if that shoe is more than one size larger than your child’s actual foot, the brace can’t do its job the way it’s meant to. Your child’s shoes need to be roomy enough for the orthotic while staying snug enough to actually support the foot.
Stability is one of the most important things a shoe should provide for a child in AFOs or SMOs. Use my free sizing guide to determine exactly what size to order.
A well-fitted shoe doesn’t just prevent skin irritation and blisters — it improves how effectively the orthotic itself actually works.
What Makes a Shoe Actually Work for AFOs and SMOs
A stable base of support — a substantial outsole gives the medial arch and forefoot real support, and helps hold the AFO or SMO securely in place.
A firm heel counter — adds heel and ankle support and keeps the heel properly stabilized.
A wide opening for easy on and off — lets you slide the AFO into the shoe without a daily struggle.
My One Pick for Every Occasion
Rather than hand you a long list to sort through, I’ve chosen the single shoe I trust most for each occasion — sneakers, sandals, boots, dress shoes, and cleats — based on real fittings with kids wearing AFOs and SMOs, not just a spec sheet. Disclosure: some links below are affiliate links — I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you click and purchase.
Everyday Sneaker: 990v6 by New Balance
My go-to AFO and SMO shoe. Available in wide and extra wide widths, so you won’t need to size up dramatically just to fit the brace, and available with laces or Velcro depending on what your child needs.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Order with laces on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Velcro version also available on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Accommodates medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Firm heel counters, stable base of support, and semi-straight lasts
- Ideal for moderate to strong cases of pronation
- Removable insoles
- Sizing tip: Measure from the end of your child’s AFO or SMO footplate, then order a half size larger than that measurement — not just your child’s regular foot size
Sandal: Ikiki Sandal
A warm-weather option with an oversized opening and Ikiki’s signature switchable squeaker. Note: check with your child’s medical provider first about whether they need to wear the brace at all for shorter outdoor stretches, like a trip to the beach or pool.
Key Features
- Order on Amazon
- Not available in wide or extra wide widths but fits naturally wide
- Closed-toe design helps protect the toes
- Breathable fabric
- Non-marking rubber outsole
- Sizing tip: Measure from the end of your child’s AFO or SMO footplate, then order a half size larger than that measurement — not just your child’s regular foot size.
Boot: Winter Waterproof by Littleplum
A rugged, waterproof snow boot built for cold, slick conditions, with a rubber outsole and ice cleats for extra grip.
Key Features
- Order on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet, and accommodates high insteps
- Rubber outsole with ice cleats to help prevent slips and falls
- Waterproof Removable insoles
- Triple Velcro straps for easy on and off
- Sizing tip: Order a full size larger than the end of the AFO/SMO footplate
Dress Shoe: Holly by Stride Rite
A stylish silver or gold Mary Jane that works well for dressier occasions without sacrificing the room an AFO or SMO needs.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Order on Amazon
- Available in extra wide widths
- Sizing tip: Measure from the end of your child’s AFO or SMO footplate, then order a whole size larger than that measurement — not just your child’s regular foot size
One family who tried this exact pair after reading an earlier version of this guide wrote in to say it was the first shoe that finally fit their daughter’s SMOs after “a struggle finding the right shoes, even with a team of physical therapists and orthotists making recommendations.” Moments like that are exactly why I do this.
Cleat: Zephz
The widest soccer cleat I’ve found for kids who need extra room over an AFO or SMO — a genuinely extra wide fit most cleat brands simply don’t offer.
Key Features
- Order on Amazon
- Available in extra wide widths
- Extra padding around the ankles
- Size up a full size beyond the end of your child’s AFO footplate
Lace Them Correctly
If you go with a laced pair like the 990v6, remove the original insoles first, then use this specific lacing technique to get the best fit over the AFO or SMO.
Are Zippered Shoes a Good Alternative?
Some parents assume a shoe with a side zipper — like those from Billy Footwear — automatically accommodates an AFO or SMO better than a standard sneaker. That’s not always true. Zippers genuinely make it easier to slide the brace in, but in my experience, they don’t provide the same lateral support that a well-built sneaker does. If support is your top priority, I’d lean toward one of the five picks above before a zippered style.
Not Every Style Within a Good Brand Works
New Balance is one of my most reliable brands for AFOs and SMOs — but that doesn’t mean every New Balance shoe works. Specific styles (like the 990v6 above) are built with real depth and support; others aren’t. The same caution applies to any brand: check the specific style, not just the brand name.
Would You Rather Receive a Specific Shoe Recommendation?
No two children are the same, and each one deserves a tailored approach. Reach out with your child’s specific AFO or SMO type and size, and I’ll help you find the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rather than list every technically-workable shoe, I’ve narrowed each category down to the one I trust most, based on real fittings. If none of these work for your child’s specific brace, reach out and I’ll help you find an alternative.
Not to the same degree — it’s included because it’s genuinely the widest cleat option available, but I’d recommend extra caution and a careful fit-check with this one specifically, given cleats run lower-profile than sneakers.
Take them as a starting point, not a guarantee — it’s often unclear whether the shoe that worked for another family was actually the correct size for their child, or just sized up enough to force a fit. What works for one child’s brace and foot shape may not work for yours.
Join a Community of Families Who Understand
If you’d like to connect with other parents navigating these same shoe challenges, I run a Facebook group called Shoes for Kids Who Wear AFOs or SMOs. It’s a space to share what’s worked, ask questions, and hear from families going through the exact same search. Feel free to join if you’d find that kind of support helpful.
I can’t tell you how helpful your website is!!! I am so thankful to you for providing this important information that is found nowhere else on the internet! My 3yo daughter has hypermobility that requires her to wear SMOs pretty constantly, and it has been such a struggle finding the right shoes, even with a team of physical therapists and orthotists making recommendations. We have had bad luck with so many different shoe styles/brands, but everything you’ve laid out in this post makes so much sense as to why things haven’t worked for us. Based on this post, I ordered the Stride Rite Holly shoes for my little girl, and…. they fit! Amazing! I am especially grateful that you include where to order specific shoes. Please keep up the wonderful work; you’re making such an impact on parents who really need the help! Thank you!
Hello Kim,
Thank you for your kind words.
It’s so challenging to find shoes for these orthotic devices that take so much extra space, but the fact is that if the shoes don’t fit the orthotics correctly, the child won’t end up getting the whole benefits that the orthotics have to offer.
I hope your daughter enjoys her new shoes and I will be here in case you have any questions.
Thank you so much you are God sent. My Girl is 11. If only you knew the struggle to get shoes fit for the AFO. I’m going to try your method. And update. Can’t wait for school to finish so I can measure her splint length. Thank you.
Hello Lizzie,
I am happy to help and ready to answer any questions that might come up.