Are you having a hard time finding a pair of sandals for your child with a high instep? Do you feel like you try a whole bunch of different styles, but they all end up being too narrow and leaving imprints on the top of your child’s feet? Finding a pair of sandals for children with high insteps can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience, especially if you don’t know what shoe brands to look for. Let me show you a list of the best sandals for kids with high insteps based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
If you provide your children with a pair of sandals that is too shallow to accommodate the instep, you will not only notice imprints on the top of their feet, but you will make your children more prone to developing foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns.
What is the Instep of the Foot?
The instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it makes it more complicated to find shoes that fit. Below is an example of a child with a high instep. Do you notice how there is a lot of extra foot volume that we need to fit inside the sandals?
Sandals that provide extra depth allow the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the sandals, preventing the top part of their feet from rubbing against the top part of the sandals. In addition, sandals that provide extra depth also help prevent the top part of your kids’ toes from rubbing against the top front part of the sandals.
The issue is that sandals don’t come labeled as “extra deep”, so parents are confused as to how are they supposed to find them. The good news is that I know which sandals provide extra depth from having fitted them before.
Most Common Mistakes Parents Make
The most common mistake that I see parents make when trying to find sandals for their children with high insteps is to assume that a pair of sandals that is labeled as wide (W) or extra wide (XW) will automatically fit the shape of the child’s instep. The most important feature that the sandals have to provide is extra depth.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now that focuses in helping children with “complicated” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. I am familiar with which are the best shoe brands for children and the best styles among each brand.
Whether your children need a pair of summer sandals to wear to summer camp, going to the beach, or riding their bicycles, the sandals must fit the shape of their feet perfectly to avoid foot issues.
What Makes the Sandals I Recommend Effective for High Insteps?
Let me show you the difference between a pair of sandals that provides extra depth versus one that doesn’t. The sandals are the same length and width. Do you notice how the sandal on the right is going to be capable of fitting a child with a high instep more effectively than the sandal on the left?
In addition to fitting the shape of your child’s high instep, the sandals I recommend provide a substantial outsole that provides good arch support, they provide good traction and are also durable, but I describe these features in more detail shortly.
Sandals for Kids with High Insteps – The 5 Most Important Features!
To allow your child to play and run comfortably during the summer, the sandals that I describe below provide these 5 important features:
1️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: Sandals that provide a supportive and substantial rubber outsole help minimize the impact that your kids’ feet take every time they come in contact with the ground. This is also referred to as shock absorption. The sandals I recommend below all come with an anatomically shaped footbed that provides arch support.
2️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible: These features help prevent your child’s feet from easily getting tired. It’s important for the sandals to be flexible, but too much flexibility means that the sandals will not provide good support. Your kids’ sandals should always bend at the ball of the foot but not any further.
3️⃣ Waterproof: This feature allows your kids’ sandals to get wet without compromising the wear of the materials.
4️⃣ Traction: Sandals that provide good traction help reduce the likelihood of your child slipping and falling, especially when walking around wet and slippery surfaces.
5️⃣ Quick-Dry: This is an important feature because it prevents your child from walking around all day with wet sandals. In addition, when your child’s skin gets wet, it gets softer and more prone to developing blisters.
I know you are eager to see a selection of the best sandals for kids with high insteps, but if you are going to be ordering your kids’ shoes online, you must know your child’s exact foot size, or you will end up returning the shoes back and forth.
This brings me to the next question: Are you 100% sure that you know your child’s exact foot size?
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
I always recommend parents take their children to their local children’s shoe store that they trust, the issue is that most stores have been closing down and parents need to end up buying their kids’ shoes online.
I created a resource that showcases the best fitting children’s shoe stores by state:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores in the United States – Where To Go for Proper Fittings
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to identify a shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at an article I created that describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot length and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.
Now that you know what features these sandals provide and how you can figure out your child’s foot size from home, you are ready to see a selection of the best sandals for kids with high insteps. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Sandals for Kids with High Insteps ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Many of the sandals featured below come in several color options, so if your child likes a specific model, please make sure to click through and see if they have the desired color.
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Two adjustable velcro straps
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports
- Rubber outsole for great traction
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Two adjustable velcro straps
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports
- Rubber outsole for great traction
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Supportive footbed
- Adjustable buckles at the front and velcro strap at the back for easy on and off
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- FlexiRun EVA foam outsole is ultra-lightweight and flexible with durable traction pattern for outdoor wear
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- High heel design provides better support and helps with lateral movements
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- 100% leather
- Padded heel collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- High heel design provides better support and helps with lateral movements
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Lightly padded insole
- Waterproof leather and corrosion-resistant buckles make the shoes ideal for use in warm weather conditions
- Hook-and-loop with adjustable buckle closures for a secure fit
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Fisherman sandals with hook and loop closure
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening and hook and loop closure
- Slip-resistant traction with sensory pod technology to help feel the ground underneath
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- EVA foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all-day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- 3 adjustable velcro straps for easy on and off
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- 3 adjustable velcro straps for easy on and off
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Triple velcro straps for easy on and off
- Soft fabric lining and anti-odor footbed promotes a healthy foot environment
- M Select GRIP for superior non-marking traction
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Triple velcro straps for easy on and off
- Soft fabric lining and anti-odor footbed promotes a healthy foot environment
- M Select GRIP for superior non-marking traction
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Quick drying moisture wicking lining
- Vegan-friendly
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Rounded toe-boxes and extra deep
- Double adjustable velcro straps
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- 3 adjustable buckle straps for easy on and off
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- 3 adjustable buckle straps for easy on and off
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
All of these sandals come with a rounder toe-box, to prevent your child’s toes from rubbing against each other or the side of the sandals.
What Sandal Size Should You Order?
Sandals don’t come in half sizes, they are available in whole sizes only, so always round up if your child is in “between sizes”.
To allow for growing room, I highly recommend that parents order these sandals half a size larger than their child’s current foot size. This translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the sandals.
What are the Best Sneakers for Kids with High Insteps?
Do not hesitate to contact me if you can’t seem to find a particular shoe style for your child. I want you to remember one thing: It doesn’t matter how narrow or wide your kids’ feet are, there is always at least one particular shoe style out there that will fit the feet of your child’s feet perfectly, and I will help you find them. In the meantime, please refer to the following article:
The Best Shoes for High Instep – Stop Getting the Wrong Shoe Size for Your Child!
On a different note, parents are usually pretty good at noticing when their children are walking or running differently. Your kids may not be mature enough to realize that a foot condition is developing until the pain gets so bad that they cannot longer tolerate it and finally speak up. The issue with this is that they may not receive a diagnosis as early as they should, which will make them more prone to developing a more serious foot condition as they grow such as back pain.
I always recommend parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their children’s foot conditions. Leaving your children’s foot conditions untreated can only lead to the condition getting worse.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child. My e-mail address is:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Do you happen to have a high instep and you are having a hard time finding a pair of sandals that fit? I actually created an article where I describe the best sandals for women with wide feet that will also accommodate a high instep. If you want to learn about those types of sandals then go to the link below:
The Best Women’s Sandals for High Instep — Supportive, Lightweight, Flexible, and Deep!
Is there any other sandal style that has worked well for your child with a high instep? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from them.
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