Cheap Back to School Shoes – The Top 4 Most Durable, Supportive, Comfortable, and Affordable Shoes!

Have you been looking for a pair of affordable back to school shoes for your child? Are you looking to save some money on your kids’ school shoes but want the shoes to be supportive and durable at the same time? There are certain cheap back to school shoes that are supportive, durable, comfortable, and affordable at the same time.

Finding a pair of affordable back to school shoes might sound easy, but finding a pair that is affordable, supportive, and able to accommodate the shape of your child’s particular foot shape (narrow, medium, wide) can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience for many parents.

Not all children’s feet are the same, some children have narrow, wide, or extra wide feet with a high instep, while some others might be dealing with a particular foot condition such as flat feet, rolled ankles, or overpronation.

It doesn’t matter how narrow or wide your kids’ feet are, the selection of back to school shoes that I have put together is available in different widths.

With such a myriad of back to school shoe style options offered at very different price points, it can be confusing for parents to figure out which shoes are best for their children and their budget.

My Experience Helping Children Find the Correct Shoes

Parents want to know why certain back to school shoes are so expensive, and whether the cheaper ones are okay. For most parents, this is a bi-annual dilemma.

I have been contacted by several parents who invested in good quality back to school shoes for their children but they ended up falling apart too quickly. Children are going to be running around at recess chasing their friends and being active, so your kids back to school shoes must provide good support and hold up properly.

I know which shoe brands and which shoe styles among those brands are better than others from actually having fitted them before. One thing I want you to keep in mind is that higher-priced shoes don’t automatically translate into better shoes.

I have fitted certain back to school shoes at affordable prices that held up much better than some of the pricier ones. One thing I never like to compromise is on the quality and support of the shoes. You can provide your child with a pair of cheaper back to school shoes, as long as they are supportive and fit the shape of your child’s feet perfectly.

The Importance of Providing Your Child with Supportive Back to School Shoes!

Children’s bones don’t fully develop until they reach puberty, and some children might lack muscle strength and need supportive shoes to protect and support their feet. Most children’s foot problems are related to the shoes that they wear and how they fit. Back to school shoes that are soft and provide too much flexibility are often a catalyst for foot pain and discomfort.

Most physical and occupational therapists agree that children need to wear supportive shoes to prevent foot, leg, and back pain.

One of the biggest challenges that parents face is how children won’t step foot outside the door if the shoes that they are wearing are not fashionable enough for them. Children’s feet are more susceptible to damage than adult feet. If you provide your child with the wrong type of shoes or the wrong shoe size, your child can get short-term foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns and some more serious ones such as foot development and musculoskeletal issues in the future.

The back to school shoes that I will describe below range from $40 to $50, depending on the style. Maybe this is a little more of what you would like to spend on your child’s back to school shoes, but considering all the features that these shoes provide I believe that the shoes are offered at an affordable price.

Let me show you a selection of the best cheap back to school shoes and what features these shoes provide.

I only review shoe styles that I have fitted before since that is the only way for me to tell how well-made the shoes are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. 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. 

Cheap Back to School Shoes for Kids

Below you can find a selection of the best cheap back to school shoes for kids. These shoes are available in different widths such as medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW).

Get a Personalized Suggestion

Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if your child has narrow feet. My e-mail address is: [email protected]

The shoes I recommend provide the following features:

1️⃣ Substantial Outsole: Always make sure that your kids back to school shoes come with a supportive and substantial outsole since this feature helps reduce the impact that your kids’ feet take every time they come in contact with the ground.

2️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible at the Front: These features help prevent your child’s feet and legs from easily getting tired. Your kids’ shoes should always bend at the ball of the foot but no further. It’s important for your kids back to school shoes to be flexible but not too flexible otherwise they won’t provide enough support.

3️⃣ Rounder Toe-Box: Your child should have enough room at the front to prevent the toes from overlapping or rubbing against one another or the side of the shoes.

4️⃣ Depth: This feature allows your child’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes and prevents the top part of their feet from rubbing against the top part of the shoes.

5️⃣ Leather Made: Shoes made out of leather tend to hold up better, and allow the child’s feet to breathe. Leather shoes also tend to mold to the unique shape of the child’s feet.

These are some of the awesome additional features that the shoes I recommended provide:

6️⃣ Stitched instead of glued.

7️⃣ Well-padded lining made from breathable fabrics and fewer synthetics.

8️⃣ Breathable and removable insole in case you need to fit an orthotic for extra support.

In order for your child’s school shoes to hold up properly you need to provide your child with the correct shoe size. Shoes that are too short too narrow, too long, or too wide tend to wear down faster.

Are You 100% Sure of Your Child’s Foot Size? – Let’s Find Out!

I always recommend parents take their children to their local children’s shoe store, but if you are unsure if you have one in your area start by taking a look at a resource I created where I describe the best fitting kids’ shoe stores by state.

If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at an article I wrote where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home. In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot length 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.

Depending on your child’s age, it’s highly likely that your child might need two pair of back to school shoes through the whole school year. Most children grow a half a size to a whole size longer every 5 months (this ranges by age).

Important factors to consider before buying your kids back to school shoes:

➡️ Expect growth spurts: You need to keep a close eye on your child’s growth spurts, and leave the correct amount of growing when you buy your kids’ shoes to make sure they don’t outgrow them too quickly. Make sure you don’t provide your child with shoes that are too large, as that might end up compromising your child’s stability.

➡️ Shoes Wear Out: Sometimes you will have to replace your child’s shoes even when your child still has growing room in them. Shoes lose their support and shock absorption over time, so always inspect your child’s old and new shoes for proper cushioning and arch support. If your child is wearing shoes that are worn out, your child might be more prone to developing heel pain, Achilles tendonitis, as well as ankle sprains and stress fractures.

➡️ Buy sport shoes designed for your child’s sports: You should talk to the coach to check whether your child needs a specific sport shoe. Your child will also need different shoes for their physical education class.

Most school shoes are required to be made of leather or canvas, and certain schools might only allow the shoes to be made of certain colors.

Have you found a particular back to school shoe style at an affordable price that has worked well for your child’s feet? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.