Do you have a child with wide feet and always struggle to find shoes that are wide and comfortable for your child’s feet? Do you always have a hard time getting the shoes on and off, and once they are on your child’s feet, you are unsure whether they are fitting correctly? It’s important to provide your children with shoes that don’t pinch or squeeze their toes, as shoes that are too narrow can create all sorts of issues such as blisters, calluses, corns, bunions, and ingrown toenails. I will show you which are the best children’s shoe brands with wide toe box based on my 10 years of shoe fitting experience.
Certain shoe brands are more consistent than others when it comes to manufacturing shoes for children with wide feet.
How Do I Know Which Shoe Brands Work Best for Children with Wide Feet?
My name is Juan Valenzuela and I work for a specialized children’s shoe store that focuses on helping children with “complicated” foot shapes (narrow, wide, extra wide), but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. I handle approximately one hundred shoe fittings/try ons per week, and over the years I became familiar with which shoe brands and styles among those brands work better than others.
I am passionate about fitting children’s shoes as I truly believe that fitting children in the correct type of shoes can be life-changing. Children’s feet are constantly growing and developing, and what happens to their feet during their childhood will affect their physique as they grow older.
Once a family of a child with wide feet walks into the shoe store, I usually have a couple of shoe brands that are my go-to ones for children with wide feet. Please note that simply because I recommend a specific shoe brand for children with wide feet that doesn’t mean that all shoes among that shoe brand will work well for your child’s wide feet. There will be certain shoes that will work a lot better than others.
What Makes the Shoe Brands that I Recommend Ideal for Children with Wide Feet?
The shoe brands that I recommend manufacture shoes that provide these 3 key features:
1️⃣ Round Toe-Boxes
This feature helps prevent your kids’ toes from overlapping and rubbing against one another or the side of the shoes.
Let me show you the difference between a shoe that provides a rounder toe box versus one that doesn’t. Both shoes in the image below are the same size in length and width. However, do you notice how the shoe on the left (Nike) has a narrower toe box compared to the shoe on the right (New Balance)?
2️⃣ Extra Depth
Shoes that provide extra depth allow the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes, which helps prevent the top part of the child’s feet from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. This feature also helps prevent the top part of the child’s toes from rubbing against the top front part of the shoes. This is a key feature if you usually notice red marks or indentations on the top part (instep) of your child’s feet.
Let me show you the difference between a shoe that provides extra depth versus one that doesn’t. Both shoes below are the same size in length and width. However, do you notice how the shoe on the right (New Balance) is a lot deeper compared to the shoe on the left (Stride Rite)?
3️⃣ Available in Wide and Extra Wide Widths
Shoes that are available in wide and extra wide widths usually have an advantage over those that are only available in standard widths. You will notice that most of the shoe brands that I recommend all manufacture shoes in wide and extra wide withs.
Now that you know what features your children’s shoes must provide to accommodate their wide or extra wide feet, we are ready to take a look at the best children’s shoe brands with a wide toe box.
Best Children’s Shoe Brands with a Wide Toe Box
Remember that just because I recommend a specific shoe brand, that doesn’t mean that all shoes from that brand will work well for your child’s wide feet. Certain shoe styles will work a lot better than others, and I will also show you which styles those are shortly.
New Balance
Most families have heard of this shoe brand as it manufactures children’s shoes as well as adult shoes. New Balance is my go-to shoe brand for children with wide or extra wide feet as it makes the deepest shoes with the roundest toe boxes. This shoe brand is also ideal for children who have extra wide feet and high insteps.
Below you can find a list of the best New Balance shoes with wide toe boxes. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Toddler Sizes
- Available in wide and extra wide widths
- Hook-and-loop closure
- Synthetic upper
- Breathable
- Flex grooves for natural movement
- Rubber outsole with traction zones in toe and heel to help provide grip
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s foot size
- Available in wide and extra wide widths
- Hook-and-loop closure
- Breathable
- Synthetic upper
- Flex grooves for natural movement
- Rubber outsole with traction zones in toe and heel to help provide grip
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your baby’s foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- No-sew overlays
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot fresh foam
- Firm heel counter
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Shoelaces
- Top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot fresh foam
- Firm heel counter
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Shoelaces
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Shoelaces
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Leather/mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Saucony
Saucony is also a shoe company that you might already have heard of as it manufactures children’s shoes as well as adult shoes. Keep in mind that Saucony shoes are not as wide or deep as the New Balance shoes that I recommended above, but this shoe brand has some styles that work great for children with wide feet.
Below you can find a list of the best Saucony shoes with wide toe boxes.
Toddler Sizes
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
- APMA Certified
- Traction pods on the outsole for serious grip
- EVA midsole for lightweight feel
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Leather and mesh upper
- Alternative closure for easy on and off adjustability
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable insoles
- Machine washable
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Water-repellent upper for protection from the elements
- Anti-stink lining helps reduce odors
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lightweight EVA midsole for cushioning
- Anti-bacterial properties in lining helps prevent bacteria and control odor
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lightweight EVA midsole for cushioning
- Anti-bacterial properties in lining helps prevent bacteria and control odor
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
See Kai Run
See Kai Run is one of the most popular children’s shoe brands as it manufactures shoes that are supportive but lightweight and flexible at the same time. Keep in mind that See Kai Run shoes are not available in wide or extra wide widths, but their fit is naturally wide. The shoes allow natural movement and growth and every single shoe is approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association.
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Generous toe box provides room for healthy foot development
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap and faux laces allow for a secure fit
- Rubberized toe cap to protect little toes
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Generous toe box provides room for healthy foot development
- TPR full rubber outsole provides flexibility and traction
- Rubberized toe cap to protect little toes
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Wide openings make on and off quick
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap and faux elastic laces keep the shoes securely on
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Wide openings make on and off quick
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap and faux elastic laces keep the shoes securely on
- Oversized openings
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Metallic leather and textile upper with padded collar and tongue
- Removable, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- APMA approved
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- FlexiRun EVA foam outsole is ultra-lightweight and flexible
- Machine washable and water-friendly
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- Dual hook-and-loop straps allow for a secure fit and custom adjustability
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Can’t Find Your Child’s Shoe Size?
If you can’t seem to find your child’s shoe size I suggest that you ask your question in the comment section below or send me an email at:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Some of the shoes I recommended above are also capable of accommodating orthotic devices. If your child happens to wear orthotics, reach out to me and I will tell you which shoes will work best for his or her feet.
Help me make this resource even better by adding your favorite shoe brand recommendations for children with wide feet!
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