Durable Shoes for Kids – The Most Durable Shoe Styles for Kids Who Destroy their Shoes!

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on April 2022 and reflects an up-to-date selection of durable shoes for kids.

Are you looking for a pair of durable shoes for your child? Do you feel like no matter how much you spend on your kids’ shoes they end up wearing them out before they are ready to outgrow them?

Finding a pair of durable, supportive, and comfortable pair of shoes for your children can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience.

Most children outgrow their shoes before they wear them out, but certain children destroy their shoes before they are ready to outgrow them. Since you are already replacing your kids’ shoes pretty often because they tend to outgrow them pretty quickly, the last thing you want is to have to replace your kids’ shoes from being destroyed.

Frustrating, isn’t it? If your children keep destroying their shoes before they are ready to outgrow them, it’s time to provide them with a shoe style that will hold up better.

Numerous parents have contacted me through my website complaining that their kids’ shoes don’t last more than 2 months. Do your kids always look like the ones below?

If you have been experiencing this yourself, you are either buying shoes made from low-quality materials, or you are not fitting your kids’ shoes properly, they might be too short, too long, too narrow, or too wide.

There are certain shoe styles that I have fitted before that are durable, supportive, lightweight, flexible, and affordable.

At the children’s shoe store that I work for, there are certain parents that come with one goal in mind, which is fitting their children in the most durable pair of shoes that we offer.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes

I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for the last 10 years at a specialized children’s shoe store that focuses on 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 among those brands are better than others.

Keep in mind that most children are highly active throughout the day. They often engage in numerous physical exercises and high-impact activities, which leads them to put an enormous amount of stress on their feet and legs.

I have fitted certain shoe brands and shoe styles that have proven to be more reliable than others when it comes to durability. Many parents, who face the issue of their kids wearing out their shoes want to know the answer to this question.

Which are the most reliable/durable children’s shoes?

Before I provide you with a selection of the most durable shoes for kids, I first want to show you which are the best shoe brands that make durable shoes and how you can figure out your child’s exact foot size from home.

Keep in mind that the price of the shoes is not indicative of the quality of the shoes. More expensive shoes don’t automatically translate into better shoes for your child.

My point is that while higher-priced shoes tend to be made from higher quality materials, you can probably get a good pair of supportive and durable shoes for a reasonable price.

These are the two kids’ shoe brands that make the most durable shoes for children. I have fitted hundreds of different shoe styles and none of them compare to the styles made by Geox and Keen. However, among these two shoe brands, certain styles are more durable and supportive than others, and those are the styles I will describe below.

Durable Shoes for Kids: GEOX

Geox is a footwear brand founded on the revolutionary goal of creating a comfortable environment for your kids’ feet in every season and in all kinds of weather. Established in 1990, the company stands as one of the leading footwear companies today.

They come up with the idea of the “shoe that breathes” to provide shoe ventilation after years of laboratory research, combined with Italian style and refinement. Moreover, the material from which these shoes are made is leather, which is comfortable, supportive, and soft, so your kids can feel comfortable when running and playing around.

Geox is a shoe brand that doesn’t only make splendid looking shoes, but also engineers them in a way that makes them pretty much indestructible.

Needless to say, Geox is the dream of most parents, isn’t it? By engineering, we mean, the intricate details provided by the company applies down to the stitching in the shoes. Every single style comes with well-thought and thoroughly reviewed stitching chemistry behind it, which ensures extended resilience for the shoes.

Geox introduced a ground-breathing product to the footwear industry: a shoe with a breathable outsole. In a matter of a few years GEOX footwear gained millions of customers around the globe. And this means stylish and happy feet everywhere.

One of the most important features of this brand is the GeoxTM, which allows the shoes to wick away moisture from your kids’ feet. Take a look at the picture below which shows how the shoe also breathes through the sole:

Do you have a child with stinky feet whose feet tend to sweat a lot? Geox assures excellent breathability, the perfect solution to your kids’ sweaty, stinky feet. These shoes will guarantee that your kids’ feet will remain dry and cool even in the hottest weather conditions. Geox shoes also come with an antibacterial removable insole:

I assure you that your children will outgrow their pair of Geox shoes before they wear them down.

Durable Shoes for Kids: KEEN 

I am sure you have heard of the shoe brand Keen before. They are mostly known for making supportive, and durable summer sandals for children, but they have a selection of regular sneakers as well.

Keen shoes can take anything your child can dish out!

In addition to making some of the most durable kids’ shoe styles, Keen shoes are also flexible and lightweight, and the sneakers come with a non-marking rubber outsole and multi-directional traction. The shoes also come with a quick-dry mesh that makes them breathable.

One of the most important features is how the shoes come with a reinforced toe-box at the front that is practically indestructible.

The non-marking rubber outsole will provide great support and traction to your child’s feet.

The Most Durable Shoes for Kids ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

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

To be able to order your kids’ shoes online, you need to be 100% sure of your child’s exact foot size.

I always recommend parents to take their children to their local children’s shoe store that they trust, the issue is that most stores have been closing down and parents need to end up buying their kids’ shoes online. There is nothing wrong with this, but you must know your child’s exact foot size to know what size to order.

I created a resource that showcases the best fitting children’s shoe stores by state:

The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores In The United States – Where To Go For Proper Fittings

If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to identify a shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at an article I created that describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home:

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.

Always make sure that you have your kids wear socks with their sneakers. Foot sweat can destroy inner insoles, regardless of how intricately they are engineered. Socks also help prevent your child from developing foot problems, since they act as a barrier between your kids’ shoes and feet.

I describe why it’s important for your kids to wear socks with their shoes in another article. I also describe the most breathable, comfortable, seamless, and durable socks. Please go to the link below:

The Importance of Wearing Socks – Grippers or No Grippers?

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me if you are having trouble finding a particular shoe style for your child, it’s highly likely that I fitted it before and I will help you find it. My e-mail address is: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

Have you found a particular shoe brand or a particular shoe style that has worked well for your children who always destroy their shoes? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.