Best Nike Shoes for Kids with Foot Problems – The Most Supportive Styles!

June 28, 2022 Shoes for Foot Problems Juan Pablo Valenzuela 0 - Comments

Do you have a child who has a foot condition and refuses to wear any other shoes that are not made by the company Nike? Have you tried to convince your child to wear more supportive shoes from a different shoe brand but your child won’t give in? Nike is one of the most popular shoe brands amongst children and adults, but it’s not known for providing the best supportive shoes for children who are dealing with foot conditions such as flat feet, overpronation, or heel pain (to name a few). Bearing this in mind, I will show you a list of the best Nike shoes for kids with foot problems based on my many years of experience fitting children’s shoes.

While most Nike shoes generally focus more on the design rather than the support, there are a few styles that are more supportive than others. I know this because I have fitted most Nike shoe styles and noticed that not all of their styles provide the same levels of support or fit the same way.

What’s Wrong with Nike Shoes? – Two Reasons Why They Are Not Supportive

There is nothing wrong with Nike shoes, they simply don’t provide the same amount of support and structure compared to other shoe brands (New Balance, Saucony, Asics). Children who don’t have any foot pain or foot conditions can definitely wear Nike shoes. Let me help you visualize the two main reasons why Nike shoes shouldn’t be used by children who have foot pain or foot problems.

1️⃣ Soft Heel Counters

The image below shows the difference in heel and ankle support between a shoe made by Nike (image on the left) compared to a shoe made by New Balance (image on the right). When I press on the heel counter of the shoe on the right it feels firm and sturdy, but when I press on the heel counter of the shoe on the left it feels soft and flimsy.

This doesn’t mean that all New Balance shoes are supportive and that all Nike shoes aren’t. However, in most cases, this is the norm.

children's-shoes-with-heel-support

2️⃣ Soft Midsoles

The image below shows the difference in the overall support to the foot by a shoe made by Nike and a shoe made by New Balance. Do you notice how the shoe on the left (Nike) bends when I press on the midsole while the shoe on the right (New Balance) remains supportive?

What Can you Do If Your Child Will Only Wear Nike Shoes?

It’s challenging to balance what parents and children want when it comes to choosing footwear. Parents want the best for their children which means making sure that their child is fitted in a pair of shoes that will help treat and prevent his/her foot condition, while the child wants a shoe that is “cool” or “fashionable” enough to wear. The issue is that in certain cases the child will refuse to wear any other shoe that is not made by Nike.

If this sounds at all familiar, I will show you a selection of Nike shoes that are the most supportive ones among the brand. While working at the shoe store, I have found that certain Nike shoes are a lot more supportive than others. 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.

What Are the Most Supportive Nike Shoes for Children?

If there is a specific model that your child likes, make sure to click on the image and check all the different colors that the shoe is available in. The shoes below can fit children with narrow, medium, or wide feet, but they won’t fit the shape of a child with extra wide feet.

  • Shoe style Star Runner 3 by Nike
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Extra deep
  • Extra foam around the collar and on the tongue for comfort
  • Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
  • Shoe style Star DA2776 001 by Nike
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Double velcro closure
  • Extra deep
  • Extra foam around the collar and on the tongue for comfort
  • Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
  • Shoe style Sneaker by Nike
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Lightweight textile provides breathability so little feet can stay cool 
  • Extra deep
  • Extra foam around the collar and on the tongue for comfort
  • Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
  • Shoe style Running by Nike
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Double velcro closure
  • Mesh upper for optimal breathability 
  • Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
  • Shoe style Stroke by Nike
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Slip-on bootie construction
  • Easy-on pull tabs
  • Lightweight EVA midsole
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
  • Shoe style Competition by Nike
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Slip-on bootie construction
  • Easy-on pull tabs
  • Lightweight EVA midsole
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
  • Shoe style Hydro IV by Nike
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Double velcro closure
  • Extra deep
  • Leather made
  • Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
  • Shoe style Revolution 5 by Nike
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Extra foam around the collar and on the tongue for comfort
  • Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
  • Shoe style Hustle D 9 by Nike
  • Available in wide widths
  • Extra foam around the collar and on the tongue for comfort
  • Lightweight foam midsole offers flexible cushioning
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Shoe style Low-Top by Nike
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Shoe style by Nike
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Extra deep
  • Mesh upper for optimal breathability 
  • Soft foam underfoot adds extra lightweight cushioning
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Shoe style AirMax by Nike
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Extra deep
  • Mesh upper for optimal breathability 
  • Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

Are You Unsure About What Shoe Size To Order?

If you don’t know your child’s exact foot length and shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide), you won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online. You will end up ordering several pairs and might still not get the correct shoe size.

I created a great resource for those families who don’t have a good specialized children’s shoe store in their area where they can take their children to be properly measured and fitted for shoes in the right size. Find out your child’s exact foot length and shape.

Is Your Child Dealing with Foot or Leg Pain?

If your child still complains about foot or leg pain after wearing any of the Nike shoes that I recommended above, I strongly suggest that you try a pair of more supportive shoes.

What a Difference the Correct Pair of Shoes Can Make!

Fitting children who are dealing with foot pain and poor foot posture in the correct pair of shoes can make a world of difference. For example, take a look at the image below of a flat-footed child standing barefoot. Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards?

Before Image

After Image

Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child wearing a pair of the supportive shoes that I recommend. Do you notice how the child’s foot posture has improved and the feet are a lot straighter?

As I said, the correct pair of shoes can make a huge difference!

Keep in mind that if you invest in a pair of supportive shoes for your child but the shoes are not the correct size, you will defeat the entire purpose of the benefits that the shoes were made to have. So, make sure that you take your child to be properly fitted for shoes at your local shoe store or use the resource I showed you before.

Some of my go-to shoe brands for children with foot problems are:

  • New Balance
  • Saucony
  • Asics
  • Stride Rite
  • Geox
  • Tsukihoshi
  • Memo

This doesn’t mean that all shoes from those 7 shoe brands will work well for children with foot problems. There are specific styles among those shoe brands that are a lot more effective than others.

Symptoms of Foot Problems in Children

Please see your doctor or podiatrist if you are worried about your child’s feet or gait. Below you can find a list of symptoms that might be related to the shoes that your child is currently wearing:

  • A sudden change in the way your child walks
  • Severe in-toeing or out-toeing
  • Ingrown toenails (that persist or are painful)
  • Bunions or other deformities
  • Limping
  • The child complains of pain while walking, or favors one leg over another when walking

Do you have a child who only wants to wear “popular” shoes that have the Nike swoosh or Under Armour logo? Did you find a way to persuade your child to be more open to other shoe brands/options? Share your experiences in the comments section below as I am sure other families will benefit from reading them.