Bungee Shoes for Kids with Wide Feet – Round Toe-Boxes and Oversized Openings!
Do you prefer to provide your child with bungee shoes over shoes with velcro or laces but can’t seem to find a single pair that can accommodate your child’s wide feet? Do you feel like you always struggle to get your child’s shoes on and off? It can be challenging to find a pair of bungee shoes for kids with wide feet, but I know which models are deeper and wider than others from having fitted them before.
I have fitted bungee shoes for children with wide and extra wide feet. Let’s clarify one common misconception about children’s shoes: There’s wide and then there’s extra wide, and the bungee shoes that I recommend are available in both sizes! I know which bungee shoes are wider than others as I have worked for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years. I have noticed that some children in addition to having wide feet also have high insteps, which can make it even harder to find shoes that fit.
Does Your Child Have a High Instep? – Let’s Find Out!
The instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it makes it a lot more challenging to find shoes that fit. Here is a picture of a child with a high instep:
If you usually struggle to get your child’s shoes on and off that’s the first sign that your child might have a high instep. Another sign that children might have high insteps is if you notice indentations or red marks on the top part of their feet. Take a look at the image below:
The Challenges of Finding Bungee Shoes for Kids with Wide Feet
Most bungee shoes don’t open up wide enough to allow the child’s feet to easily slide inside the shoes. The good news is that the styles that I recommend are available in wide widths and provide extra depth, so you won’t have to struggle every time you have to get the shoes on and off.
Are Bungee Shoes the Same As Slip On Shoes?
They are similar, but the main difference is that bungee shoes have elastic laces on the top to provide a more secure fit.
What Shoe Brands Manufacture Bungee Shoes for Kids with Wide Feet?
My go-to shoe brands are:
- New Balance
- Keen
- See Kai Run
- Stride Rite
You will notice that the list of bungee shoes that I recommend is New Balance heavy, as it’s the only shoe brand that manufactures bungee shoes in wide widths. 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.
Best Bungee Shoes for Kids with Wide Feet
The bungee shoes below are the ones that work best for children with wide feet as they provide round toe-boxes, extra depth, and oversized openings. Some of the styles also have pull tabs for easy wear and removal.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Shoe style 327 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lightweight EVA foam cushioning in the midsole and heel increases comfort
- Leather upper
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Shoe style Playgruv v2 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Pull tabs for easy wear and removal
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Padded collar and tongue for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Shoe style 9060 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Alternative closure features a gore band across the instep for easy on and off
- Lightweight EVA foam cushioning in the midsole and heel increases comfort
- Suede and mesh upper
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Shoe style 327 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Alternative closure features a gore band across the instep for easy on and off
- Lightweight IMEVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Shoe style 574 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Alternative closure features a gore band across the instep for easy on and off
- Lightweight EVA foam cushioning in the midsole and heel increases comfort
- Suede and mesh upper
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi V2 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lightweight IMEVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Synthetic/mesh upper
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style Playgruv v2 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Pull tabs for easy wear and removal
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Padded collar and tongue for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style 237 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Alternative closure features a gore band across the instep for easy on and off
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Padded tongue and collar
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Chandler 2 CNX by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Padded collar and tongue for utmost comfort
- Pull tabs for easy wear and removal
- Contoured arch for added midfoot support
- Multi-directional lug pattern for increased traction
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Chandler 2 CNX by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Padded collar and tongue for utmost comfort
- Pull tabs for easy wear and removal
- Contoured arch for added midfoot support
- Multi-directional lug pattern for increased traction
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style 237 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Padded collar and tongue for utmost comfort
- Pull tabs for easy wear and removal
- EVA midsole
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style FuellCell Propel v5 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Pull tabs for easy wear and removal
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Padded collar and tongue for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style FuellCell Propel v5 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Pull tabs for easy wear and removal
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Padded collar and tongue for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
Will These Shoes Be Wide Enough for Your Child?
Keep in mind that what might work well for a child with wide feet might not work as well for another. Some parents buy certain shoe styles because a friend or a family remember recommended them. My shoe recommendations are from having fitted and tested those shoes on several different children with wide feet, but there is no guarantee that they will fit your child’s unique foot shape.
Are You Unsure About What Shoe Size you Should Order Online?
Most parents of children who have wide feet and order their shoes online have to end up buying shoes in multiple sizes and most of the time they end up returning them all. To help you save time and money I created a great resource that will help you retrieve your child’s exact shoe size in two simple steps.
If you follow the instructions correctly I will help you determine your child’s exact foot length and shape, so you can increase the likelihood of ordering the correct shoe size online.
Be Careful About Sizing Up! – Prevent Heel Slippage!
Most parents attempt to leave some extra growing room inside their kids’ shoes so they can wear them longer. However, with bungee shoes you can’t leave the same amount of growing room as you would in a pair of shoes with velcro or laces. There is nothing holding the child’s feet in place, so if you leave too much growing room the child’s heels might end up slipping out of the shoes.
Should Children Wear Bungee Shoes as their Everyday Sneakers?
It depends on how active your child is. Bungee shoes are great as everyday sneakers, but if your child is involved in high impact activities or sports then I suggest switching to a pair of sneakers with velcro or laces.
What Are the Best Sneakers for Children with Wide Feet?
If you are looking for a pair of everyday sneakers for your child’s wide feet, I suggest that you take a look at the resource below:
Are Any Other Bungee Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes to accommodate your child’s wide feet. My e-mail address is:
What is your favorite shoe brand for children with wide feet? Have you found a specific shoe style that worked well for your child’s wide feet? Let me know in the comments section below so other families can also benefit from your experiences.
