Best Supportive Shoes for Teenage Boys with Flat Feet – Supportive Outsoles, Firm Heel Counters, and Straight Lasts

Does your teenage boy have flat feet and complain about foot or leg pain? Have you been told for years by your medical professional that your son’s flat feet will improve on their own as he grows older? While some teenagers with flat feet do not experience any pain or discomfort, some may develop foot, leg, or lower back pain, especially if they are active in sports or have poor shoe support. I work for a specialized children’s shoe store that focuses on helping young children with foot problems, but we get many teenagers as well. I have put together a list of the best supportive shoes for teenage boys with flat feet that will help improve your son’s foot posture, walking gait, and overall posture.

The shoes I will recommend shortly are not orthopedic, they are regular sneakers that simply provide better support than the rest. My goal is to provide your teenage boy with a pair of shoes that provides enough support but it allows your children’s foot and leg muscles to develop on their own.

Pro Tip: If you’re pressed for time here is a list of the most supportive shoes for teenage boys with flat feet.

Is It Possible for Your Teenage Boy to Still Develop His Arches?

I am not a medical professional, but in my experience, if a child’s arch does not develop by the age of five, it’s highly likely that the child will remain flat-footed for the rest of his life. I have seen this at the store where I work, as we are lucky to help children from their first baby steps to their teenage years.

Flat feet can develop in teenagers for various reasons. While some boys are genetically predisposed to this condition, others may develop it due to rapid growth obesity, or certain medical conditions. Regardless of the cause, flat feet can result in discomfort and affect a teenager’s quality of life.

Genetics plays a big role in whether a teenager has flat feet. If a family member has flat feet, there is a higher likelihood that a teenager may also have them.

The Importance of Being Proactive – Stop Taking the “Wait and See Approach”

When children have flat feet, their feet collapse when they stand, and the knees and hips also become misaligned. This means the muscles that move those joints no longer work efficiently, and it will take more energy for your child to do the same work as other children who don’t have this condition. Let’s take a look at a couple of images of teenagers with flat feet:

The Difference the Right Shoes Can Make – See For Yourself

Supportive shoes are crucial for teenagers with flat feet, as they can provide the necessary support to alleviate discomfort and reduce the risk of further complications. To this end, let me show you what a difference a pair of shoes I recommend can make for a teenage boy who has flat feet.

Before Image

 Let’s start by taking a look at an image of a flat-footed child standing barefoot. Do you notice how the boy’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards?

After Image

Now let me show you what happens when I fit that same boy in a pair of supportive pair of shoes I recommend. Do you notice how the boy’s feet are a lot straighter?

This specific pair of shoes will help the child walk and run straighter, preventing him from putting pressure on parts of his body where he is not supposed to. Something so simple as providing your boy with the correct type of shoes can make a tremendous difference in the way they walk and run.

To summarize, children with flat feet need shoes with proper support to help distribute their weight and support the arches of their feet. The issue is that there is a very small selection of shoes that provide the correct amount of support.

4 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Shoes for Flat Foot

The following are key factors to consider when looking for supportive shoes for teenagers with flat feet:

1️⃣ Motion Control Features: Adequate cushioning, particularly in the heel and forefoot areas, helps absorb shock and reduce pressure on the flat arches.

2️⃣ Stability: Choose shoes with a firm heel counter (the back part of the shoe) to provide stability and prevent overpronation, a common issue in boys with flat feet.

3️⃣ Flexible Soles: Shoes with moderately flexible soles allow natural foot movement while still providing support and stability.

4️⃣ Straight Lasts: This feature helps prevent the forefoot from pushing out. You need to stay away from shoes that have an excessively curved last as they lack heel stability. Most Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour shoes come with a curved or semi-curved last. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes:

Top 3 Shoe Brand Choices for Teenagers with Flat Feet

➡️ New Balance: New Balance offers a range of athletic shoes known for their arch support and cushioning. Opt for styles designed for running and walking as these would provide all the necessary features for teenage boys who have flat feet.

➡️ Asics: Regarded by many parents as the go-to brand for supportive and good top-quality shoes. Asics provides a variety of sporty options with gel cushioning and supportive features suitable for active teenagers. Please note that this shoe brand usually works well for children who have narrow or medium-width feet.

➡️ Saucony: Saucony offers shoes with comfortable cushioning and stability features specially designed to accommodate flat feet.

Among these 3 shoe brands, there are specific styles that work a lot better than others for children who have flat feet, and those are the styles I will show you below.

Supportive Shoes for Teenage Boys with Flat Feet – Choosing the Right Support

Take a look at the description below each shoe to check what foot shape that specific shoe is capable of accommodating —narrow (N), medium (M), wide (W), extra wide (XW). 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.

How To Retrieve Your Teenager’s Exact Foot Size – Length and Width

The golden rule is that shoes must fit properly for them to function properly. Our longtime readers may already know that we always recommend having your children’s feet measured every so often. Knowing the correct size of your kid’s feet is crucial. Even if you think you know your kid’s exact foot size, you may be surprised to find out it’s not quite right. For example, do you know whether your kid has a high instep or not?

To this end, I developed the most effective way to determine your kid’s exact foot size from your home and will personally assist you with a custom fitting tailored to your kid’s individual needs. This easy-to-follow method allows parents to accurately determine their kid’s correct foot length and width, as well as instep height.

The Importance of Undoing the Laces of the Shoes Before Taking Them On/Off

Most children yank their shoes off when they are at home either by using their opposite foot or simply taking them off without undoing the laces. This is a big problem, as every time your child takes his shoes without undoing the laces they are stretching the heel counter of the shoe, making it less and less supportive.

For example, let’s take a look at an image of a new shoe compared to a shoe that has been worn for two months. Do you notice how the heel counter of the shoe on the right has been all stretched out? This means that the child’s heels will move excessively inside the shoes and the child won’t get the full support and stability that the shoes have to offer.

Do You Have a Specialized Children’s Shoe Store in Your Area?

I strongly recommend that you visit your specialized local shoe store with knowledgeable staff who can measure your teenager’s feet and provide expert advice on selecting the right size and type of shoe. This is also a great to support local businesses!

Since most children’s shoe stores have been closing down, I created a list of the ones that remain open.

Should Your Child Wear a Pair of Orthotics As Well?

Whether your child can benefit from wearing an orthotic depends on the severity of their condition, any associated symptoms, and their level of physical activity.

In some cases, depending on the degree of your son’s flat feet, over-the-counter or custom orthotic insoles might be necessary. These can be inserted into the shoes I recommended (they all come with removable insoles) to provide personalized arch and heel support. If you believe your child might be a candidate for orthotics I suggest that you contact me through the comments section below.

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.

Don’t forget to remind your children to stretch regularly, since that will help relieve some of the pain that they might be experiencing. Additionally, consulting with a pediatrician or a podiatrist can provide further guidance specific to your child’s specific needs.