Best Stride Rite Shoes for Kids – The Most Comfortable, Versatile, and Durable Styles
Are you looking for the perfect pair of Stride Rite shoes for your child but you can’t seem to decide what specific styles might work best for your child’s foot shape? It can be hard to figure out which styles will be the most comfortable and last the longest. Since I have been fitting children’s shoes for many years now, I am not going to show you a list of bazillion Stride Rite shoes. What I will do instead is show you a list of the most comfortable and best-fitting Stride Rite shoes that will help keep your child’s feet comfortable and healthy.
Most parents who bring their children to the shoe store that I work for mention that their first pair of walking shoes was made by Stride Rite (over 30 years ago!)
Since Stride Rite is mostly known for manufacturing shoes for babies and toddlers who are learning how to walk, I will break down my list into two columns. One column will have the best Stride Rite shoes for babies who are learning how to walk, and the other one will describe the best Stride Rite shoes for toddlers and little kids who are already walking.
Why So Many Families Choose Stride Rite?
Several families prefer Stride Rite compared to other shoe brands as all of their shoes have been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Approval. This seal is awarded to shoes, socks, insoles and other products that relate to foot health. Stride Rite shoes are also available in different widths and can accommodate different foot shapes (medium, wide, extra wide, high insteps).
If you have visited my website before, you are probably aware that I have extensive knowledge on fitting children’s shoes and fit. To offer a comfortable fit, all of the Stride Rite shoes that I recommend are available in wide and extra wide widths.
One of the most frequently asked questions I get is “What are the best Stride Rite shoes for kids?” At the shoe store that I work for we carry most Stride Rite shoe models, so over the years I became familiar with which styles work better than others. Even though we carry several different Stride Rite shoes, I usually always recur to the same ones over and over again, and those are the ones I will show you below.
Best Stride Rite Shoes for Kids Approved By APMA
Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out what foot shape that style can accommodate (medium, wide, extra wide), as well as other important information such as what features it provides and what size you should order. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Babies and Toddlers Who Are Learning How to Walk
- Order the shoe style SRT SM Artie by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Rounded edges to decrease stumbles and falls
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SM Kennedy by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Wally by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- APMA approved
- Oversized opening for easy-on
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SRT Elliot by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather made
- Sensory pods to feel the ground beneath for better traction and grip
- 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 Jazzy Casual by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Over-sized opening for easy on/off
- APMA approved and built for first-time walkers
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SM Kylo 2.0 by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Seamless construction cradle the baby’s natural shape
- Flexible, rounded, slip-resistant soles
- Oversized opening and pull tab on the back offer easy on and off
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SRT Cordaline by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Double-strap Mary Jane with hook and loop closure and faux-buckle detail
- Soft memory foam footbeds and flexible, rounded soles for natural movement
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Turbo by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- APMA approved
- Oversized opening for easy-on
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SM Adalyn by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Over-sized opening for easy on/off
- Flexible rounded soles to encourage natural movement and improve balance
- Deep flex grooves enables their natural movement
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Winslow by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape
- APMA approved
- Oversized opening for easy-on
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Toddlers and Little Kids Who Are Already Walking
- Order the shoe style SRT Winslow by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Seamless construction that cradles the foot’s natural shape with extra comfy Ortholite memory foam footbeds
- Machine washable
- Flexible treads move with the foot and support multi-directional movement, while rubber soles offer superior grip and traction with patented sensory pod technology to help feet feel the ground
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Claire by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather
- Padded collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style M2P Kendrick by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Adjustable hook and loop closure with elastic faux laces
- Machine washable
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Glimmer by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Light-ups
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening and hook and loop closure
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SRT Ryker by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Ortholite memory foam for enhanced comfort
- Machine washable
- Extra padding around the heels to prevent blisters
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Mary Jane Flat by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather
- Padded collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Sr Thompson by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Adjustable hook and loop closure with elastic faux laces
- Machine washable
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Glimmer by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Adjustable hook and loop closure with elastic faux laces
- Seamless construction that cradles their natural shape
- Flexible, rounded soles for natural movement
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Kylo 2.0 by Stride Rite on Zappos
- Fits children with medium width feet
- Adjustable hook and loop closure with elastic faux laces
- Machine washable
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Glimmer by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Adjustable hook and loop closure with elastic faux laces
- Seamless construction that cradles their natural shape
- Flexible, rounded soles for natural movement
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
What Makes Stride Rite Shoes Stand Out from Other Shoe Brands?
Stride Rite shoes help build strength, coordination and confidence from a child’s first steps through their older years. I really value that this shoe company invests money in rigorous testing to earn the APMA Seal of Approval for shoes that help promote kids’ foot health.
Below you can find the 3 main reasons why Stride Rite is the number one choice for many families:
1️⃣ They Accommodate “Complicated” Foot Shapes
Most Stride Rite shoes are available in different widths such as medium, wide, and extra wide widths. This means that the company recognizes that children’s feet come in all different shapes and sizes, and no matter how wide or extra wide your child’s feet are, you will find a pair that works.
2️⃣ They are Made of Soft and Safe Materials
The shoes are made with flexible, rounded rubber outsoles that match the natural shape of the child’s foot and promote stability and sensory feedback. The shoes made for older children include a reinforced shank for extra support.
3️⃣ Sensory Response Technology
This technology helps enhance proprioception, or the way joints and muscles communicate with the brain to help coordinate movement and improve stability.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
Some parents think that they know what size they need, but it’s nice to know exactly, with no fuss or guessing.
Did you know that your child won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer if they are not fitted correctly? What’s even worse, your child might end up developing foot issues from wearing the wrong shoe size.
I usually suggest to parents to take their children to be properly measured and fitted for shoes at their local shoe store. Stride Rite shoe stores don’t provide the best shoe fitting service, but if you have one in your area it might be worth taking your child to be measured for shoes. If after looking at that resource you can’t find a shoe store in your area, there is a virtual shoe fitting service I created that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home.
Do you have a favorite shoe from Stride Rite that has worked well for your child’s feet? Help me make this resource even better by adding your shoe recommendations in the comments section below.
