Boots for AFO Braces – Stylish, Deep, Comfortable, and with a Wider Opening!

Have you tried many different boots but none of them go over the braces and the ones that do feel too tight on your child’s feet? Finding seasonal footwear such as boots for kids who wear AFOs can be extremely time-consuming. I am a shoe fitter with over a decade of experience fitting children’s shoes, and the best boots for AFO braces are the ones that provide extra depth and oversized openings for easy on and off.

By the way, I understand your frustration when it comes to your child’s AFOs and shoes. People truly have no clue what other parents go through to buy something so simple such as shoes for their children that need to wear AFOs until they have to do it themselves.

The Challenges of Findings Boots for AFOs

Most boots are just simply not designed with orthotics in mind, meaning that they are not wide or deep enough to accommodate all the extra space that a pair of AFOs takes inside the shoes. Several parents have told me how they tried short boots, tall boots, cowboy boots, rain boots, duckies, and they all fell flat. 

Why Shoe Companies Don’t Manufacture Boots for Kids Who Wear Orthotics?

Most children’s shoe companies seem to simply not care about children who require special shoes to accommodate their AFOs. It’s cheaper for them to manufacture shoes that come in a standard width to accommodate most foot shapes and save money.

What Shoe Brands Manufacture Boots for AFO Braces?

Fortunately, I have found a couple of boots from See Kai Run, Billy, Merrell, Keen, and Memo that worked well with AFOs. Some of these shoe companies understand the struggle that parents and children go through when trying to find stylish shoes to accommodate the AFOs.

One of my go-to shoe brands for children who wear AFOs is Memo shoes. This shoe company manufactures boots with substantial outsoles that are equipped with a thermoplastic rigid heel counter for maximum ankle support. The boots come with an adjustable strap length, three hook-and-loop fasteners to hold your child’s AFO and feet in place. 

The only issue with this shoe brand is that manufactures orthopedic shoes, which means they will be higher priced. 

Boots for AFO Braces – The 3 Most Important Features!

I have found that for your kids’ boots to be able to accommodate an AFO they need to provide the 3 following features:

1️⃣ Extra Depth: This feature allows the AFOs to fit deeply inside the boots and prevent the top part of your kids’ feet from rubbing against the top part of the boots.

2️⃣ Round Toe-Boxes: This feature helps prevent the AFO from poking a hole in the front of the shoes and prevents your kids’ toes from rubbing against the side of the boots.

3️⃣ Wider Opening: The boots that I recommend help prevent you from having to struggle every time it’s time to put the boots on and off. Shoes with wider openings make a huge difference when trying to fit an AFO inside the boots.

Now that you know what features these boots will provide, you are ready to take a look at a selection of the best boots for AFO braces. 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.

The Best Boots for AFO Braces: Extra Deep and Oversized Openings

Take a look at the description below each boot to find out the additional features the boot provides such as whether it’s waterproof or not and the size that you should order to accommodate the AFOs.

Most Common Mistakes Parents Make when Buying Boots for the AFOs

One of the most common mistakes parents make when buying boots for their children who wear AFOs is buying boots that are too long in size to allow for extra space for the AFO. This will end up compromising your child’s stability and making your child more prone to falling. Boots that are too long will also allow your child’s feet to move too much inside the boots, and that constant movement and friction between your child’s feet and the shoes might lead to blisters, calluses, and corns.

How to Retrieve What Shoe Size Your Child Needs for the AFOs

Stop wasting time and money having to return your child’s shoes back and forth. Use a virtual shoe fitting service I created to retrieve what specific shoe size you should order to accommodate your child’s AFOs.

Children have an easier time accepting the AFO when they start noticing how the device normalizes their gait and improves their stability and function. This might overcome some of the cosmetic challenges.

I Can Help You Find the Perfect Pair of Shoes for Your Child’s AFOs

Children’s shoe needs can vary depending on their age, activity level, and any specific foot conditions they may have. If you would rather receive specific shoe recommendations tailored to your child’s specific foot shape and AFOs, you can also contact me via email and I will get back to you as soon as possible. 

Your children should be able to wear shoes that express confidence. For some children, this involves wearing shoes that can hide the AFO, but I recommend parents explain to their children how the AFO should not hinder self-expression.

I have seen parents at the store emphasize to their kids how the AFOs will greatly improve their function, and how that is the most important thing to keep in mind. However, I believe that most parents agree that it should not be this difficult to find shoes that fit!

What Are the Best Sneakers and Dress Shoes for Kids Who Wear AFOs?

Here you can find two additional resources I created that describe the best sneakers and dress shoes for children who wear AFOs.

I have seen parents try several different tricks to make the shoes accommodate the AFOs, such as removing the original soles and the tongue of the shoes. This might work for your child’s regular sneakers, but it won’t work for other types of footwear such as boots or Mary Janes.

Is there a particular boot that has worked well in accommodating your child’s AFOs? Please share your findings in the comments section below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.