Best Shoe Brands for Back to School – The Top 5 Most Durable and Affordable Brands
Are you wondering what shoe brands manufacture supportive, durable, and affordable school shoes? Have you been looking for a pair of back to school shoes that are capable of fitting the shape of your child’s feet and at the same time comply with your child’s school uniform policies? I will show you the best shoe brands for back to school and the best shoe styles among each brand based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
Some schools have stricter uniform policies when it comes to which types of shoes children can wear in terms of material, color and style. There are certain schools that allow children to wear full black leather shoes, whilst others allow children to wear nearly any type of enclosed shoe.
During back to school season, the shoe store that I work for is a madhouse. Some families have to wait anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes (or longer) to be fitted for shoes. We are a fitting shoe store, so we take the time to make sure no child walks out of the store wearing the wrong types of shoes.
If you prefer to shop for your kids’ shoes online rather than going to your local shoe store, I am going to show you a set of guidelines that your kids’ school shoes must provide.
What Type of Shoes Are Best for School?
These are the two most important features that the school shoes I recommend provide:
1️⃣ Substantial outsoles that are lightweight and flexible at the same time: Your kids’ back to school shoes need to be supportive to protect and support your kids’ feet, but they need to be lightweight and flexible at the same time to prevent your kids’ feet from easily getting tired.
2️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: Your kids back to school shoes need to provide firm heel counters to support and protect your child’s heels and ankles.
Always press on the heel counter of your kids’ shoes and make sure it’s well-padded and firm:
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
Before I show you a list of the best shoe brands for school I want to make sure that you know your child’s exact foot length and shape. For example, do you know whether your child’s feet are narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide? Do you know whether your child has flat, regular, or high arches?
Now that you know your child’s exact foot length and shape, let’s take a look at the best shoe brands for back to school. I will also show you my go-to shoe styles for each brand.
Best Shoe Brands for Back to School
These are the best shoe brands for back to school in terms of support, comfort, and durability. Keep in mind that just because I recommend a specific shoe brand that doesn’t mean that all shoes from that brand will provide the same levels of comfort and support. There are specific styles amongst each shoe brand that work better than others, and I will break it down for you so you know which styles these are.
Stride Rite
This shoe brand manufactures durable back to school shoes made out of 100% leather. Their most popular style is called Claire, which is a Mary Jane made out of leather that provides a substantial outsole and a firm heel counter for excellent support.
The Mary Jane shoes below can fit children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
- Shoe style Claire by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather
- Padded collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Claire by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather
- Padded collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Claire by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather
- Padded collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
New Balance
This shoe brand manufactures durable back to school shoes made out of leather. The New Balance shoes below provide excellent structure and support and can fit children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet. This style is available in black and white to comply with most school uniform policies.
- Order the shoe style 650v1 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Padded collar for comfort
- Velcro closure
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Padded collar for comfort
- Lace-up closure
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990v6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- I suggest that you get this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 650v1 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Padded collar for comfort
- Velcro closure
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 650v1 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Padded collar for comfort
- Lace-up closure
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 480 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- I suggest that you get this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Geox
This shoe brand manufactures durable back to school made out of leather. The Geox shoes below provide excellent structure and support and can fit children with medium or wide feet.
- Shoe style Riddock by Geox
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Leather made
- Double velcro closure provides better support and stability
- Supportive outsole and firm heel counter
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Naimara by Geox
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Leather made
- Supportive outsole with firm heel counter
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Theleven 4 by Geox
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- 100% leather
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Federico by Geox
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- 100% leather
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
Naturino
Naturino shoes are made out of 100% leather and they can fit children with narrow or medium feet.
- Shoe style by Primigi
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Supportive outsole with padded heel area
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Catania by Naturino
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Double velcro straps
- 100% leather
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
Sperry
Sperry manufactures some of the most popular back to school shoes for kids. Their signature shoes are the Dirty Buck and their boat shoes. The shoes below can fit children with medium or wide feet.
- Shoe style Striper by Sperry
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Lace-up closure
- Full welt stitching
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Lanyard by Sperry
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Cushioned insoles with additional padding at the heel
- Lace up closure for secure fit
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
These are the best shoe brands for back to school based on comfort, support, fit, and durability.
What Are the Best Athletic Shoes for Back to School?
Here you can find a list of athletic shoes that your child can wear to PE (physical education class). It’s important that your child wears the correct type of athletic shoes to gym class to prevent leg, ankle and foot injuries.
Are There Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
If you are looking for a different shoe style or a different color don’t hesitate to contact me with your child’s foot shape and location and I will provide you with different back to school shoe recommendations:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Let me know in the comment section below which is your favorite back to school shoe brand!
