Are you looking for a pair of shoes to significantly reduce or fully eliminate your child’s Achilles heel pain? Do you feel like you try several different shoes but the pain persists and intensifies with activity? Heel pain in children is common, but that doesn’t mean it should go untreated. 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, as waiting for the condition to resolve on its own can lead to the condition getting worse. I have put together a list of the best shoes for boys with Achilles heel pain based on my many years o shoe fitting experience.
Finding a pair of shoes for a child that is experiencing heel pain can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience, especially if you don’t know what shoe styles to look for. You need to find a pair of shoes that come with a firm heel counter to provide extra heel support, and substantial outsoles to reduce the impact that your kids’ feet take every time they become in contact with the ground.
Wearing the correct type of shoes is the most effective way to help treat and prevent your child’s heel pain, but there are only certain shoe styles that provide targeted support to your child’s heels. The good news is that I know exactly which shoe styles these are and I will help you find them.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now that focuses on helping children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. We carry some of the most supportive children’s shoes and orthotics, and I am familiar with which shoe brands and which shoe styles are better than others.
I have helped hundreds of children with heel pain find the correct type of shoes to significantly reduce and in most cases fully eliminate the pain. If your child is complaining about heel pain, always start by checking the shoes that he is wearing and press on the heel counter.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Heel Pain?
The shoes provide targeted support to the heel. Let me show you the difference between one of the kids’ shoes I recommend and a different pair. Do you notice how the shoe on the right has more padding below the heel area? This will help reduce the impact on your kids’ heels every time they impact the ground.
The image below shows you the difference between a shoe with a firm heel counter versus a shoe with a soft heel counter. When I press on the heel counter of the shoe on the right it feels firm and it doesn’t bend. However, when I press on the heel counter for the shoe on the left it easily bends, meaning that it doesn’t provide good heel support.
I only write reviews of shoe styles that I have fitted before, otherwise, I wouldn’t know how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best shoes for boys with Achilles heel pain. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Shoes for Boys with Achilles Heel Pain ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for boys with Achilles heel pain. Notice how most of these shoes are available in shoelaces as shoelaces provide extra support around your kids’ heels.
Medium and Wide Feet
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Leather/mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Supportive outsole with firm heel counter
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- TPU heel clip for stability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Lace-up closure
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- Leather and suede upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning
- TPU heel clip for stability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning
- TPU heel clip for stability
- DynaSoft midsole couples ultra-responsive performance with plush comfort
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s
Narrow and Medium Feet
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable insoles
- Rearfoot GEL technology cushioning system
- Breathable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
What Shoe Size Should You Order?
In each of the descriptions of the shoes, I indicate whether you need to order a half size or a whole size bigger than your child’s current foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
What are the Best Sandals for Boys with Achilles Heel Pain?
If you are looking for a pair of summer shoes to help treat and prevent your child’s heel pain, I suggest that you take a look at the resource below:
Best Sandals for Heel Pain – Let’s Treat Your Child’s Heel Pain During the Summer!
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
If you are unsure of your child’s foot size I suggest that you take a look at a different article:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.
Have you found a particular shoe style that has worked well in reducing or fully eliminating your boys’ Achilles heel pain? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
Just wondering what the best basketball shoes for kids are? My son is 9 and about a size 4 now. He has flat feet. After one hour of basketball he limps afterwards and says he has pain in the back of his heels. Tried store bought orthotics in various brands. He currently has Kyrie Nike’s. What shoes do u recommend?
Hello Denise,
When children are playing a sport such as basketball, they are stressing their feet and legs at a whole different level, since there is constant impact between their feet and the court. I would like to know your child’s shoe width, but since you didn’t mention it I will assume he is a medium width, but I will provide you with an option that comes in wide widths just in case.
What I recommend is a pair of basketball shoes that come with a firm heel counter, and find my recommendations below:
Supportive Basketball Shoes: Option 1
Supportive Basketball Shoes: Option 2
Have you tried pair of heel cups in his basketball shoes? Heel cup are extremely effective un reducing the impact that the heels take every time they come in contact with the ground, and I have used it many times for children with heel pain. You can learn more about this type of heel cup in an article I wrote called:
Heel Cups For Shoes – How to Stop Heel Pain!
I hope this helps.
Hello Juan,
My 6 year old son has Sever’s and I was hoping you could tell me the best shoe brand for him that will help him with his heel pain. He has a wide foot so any recommendations on shoes would be greatly appreciated.
Hello Lanette,
In order to provide you with specific shoe recommendations, I need your child’s shoe size (length and width). Is he wide or extra wide?