Best Sandals for Kids with High Insteps – Deep, Supportive, Waterproof, and Durable!
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.
If you are in a rush, you can go directly to the selection of summer sandals for children with high insteps.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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)
- Order the sandal style Hurricane by Teva on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Hurricane by Teva on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Cyrus by See Kai Run on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- Generous toe box and EVA molded footbed promotes healthy foot development
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Pale II by See Kai Run on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- 2 points of adjustability
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- EVA foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all-day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Aru by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want
- 100% leather
- Flexible grooves on the outsole for a barefoot feel
- Convenient alternative closure for a snug fit and easy on/off
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Knotch Creek by Keen on Amazon
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (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
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Cyrus IV by See Kai Run on Zappos
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- Generous toe box and EVA molded footbed promotes healthy foot development
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Billie by See Kai Run on Amazon
- 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
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Archie by Stride Rite on Amazon
- 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
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Summer Time by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- 100% leather
- Padded heel collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Lucky Brand on Amazon
- 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
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Eco-Tide by FootMates on Zappos
- 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
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Order the sandal style Hurricane by Teva on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Hurricane by Teva on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 3 points of adjustability so children can make the sandals as tight or loose as they want
- Eva foam footbed cushions and softly supports for all day comfort
- Rigid at the toe box
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Newport Adaptive by Keen on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- Adjustable back strap
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Newport Adaptive by Keen on Amazon
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Water-friendly and machine washable
- Adjustable back strap
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Seaturtle 2 by Kamik on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Triple velcro straps for easy on and off
- Quick drying moisture wicking lining
- Vegan-friendly
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Seaturtle 2 by Kamik on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Triple velcro straps for easy on and off
- Quick drying moisture wicking lining
- Vegan-friendly
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Elle by Keen on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Rounded toe-boxes and extra deep
- Double adjustable velcro straps
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Arizona by Birkenstock on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede-lined cork footbed offers excellent arch support, a deep heel cup, roomy toe box, and molds to the shape of each individual’s foot
- Flexible and lightweight EVA outsole is durable and shock-resisting
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Machine washable
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Newport H2 by Keen on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
- Machine washable
- I suggest that you get this sandal a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Rio by Birkenstock on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede-lined cork footbed offers excellent arch support, a deep heel cup, roomy toe box, and molds to the shape of each individual’s foot
- Flexible and lightweight EVA outsole is durable and shock-resisting
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the sandal style Milano by Birkenstock on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede-lined cork footbed offers excellent arch support, a deep heel cup, roomy toe box, and molds to the shape of each individual’s foot
- Flexible and lightweight EVA outsole is durable and shock-resisting
- I suggest that you get this sandal a whole 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, you should read a different resource I created that describes the best sneakers for children with high insteps.
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.
Contact Us – Get a Personalized Recommendation!
The right shoe can vary from person to person, so it’s important to consider your teenager’s specific foot shape and needs when making a choice. If you have any questions or need a more personalized recommendation, you can also contact us via email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. I am happy to help you find a different pair of shoes for your child so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Do you happen to have a high instep and you are having a hard time finding a pair of sandals that fit? There is a different website that describes the best sandals for women with wide feet that will also accommodate a high instep.
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.
