Durable Shoes for Kids – The Most Durable Shoe Styles for Kids Who Destroy their Shoes!
Do your children go through shoes in one or two months? 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? I have put together a list of the most durable shoes for kids based on my many years of shoe fitting 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.
If you are in a rush, you can go directly to the selection of the most durable shoes for kids.
Most Common Places Children’s Shoes Start Falling Apart
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.
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.
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.
What Shoe Brands Manufacture 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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.
The Most Durable Shoes for Kids
Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out whether it can accommodate your child’s foot shape (medium or wide).
- Shoe style Chandler 2 CNX by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Elasticized lace panel with hook-and-loop closure
- Protective rubber toe bumper to protect your toes
- Reverse Strobel construction provides a streamlined interior
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Chandler 2 CNX Sport by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Elasticized lace panel with hook-and-loop closure
- Protective rubber toe bumper to protect your toes
- Reverse Strobel construction provides a streamlined interior
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Wanduro by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- Protective rubber toe bumper to protect your toes
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Wanduro Hound by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- Protective rubber toe bumper to protect your toes
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style H2sho by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Wader by Geox
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- Water-friendly
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Nova 3 by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Abrasion -resistant toe bumper
- Long-lasting leather upper with combined mesh panels.
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Moab Speed 2 by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Abrasion -resistant toe bumper
- FloatPro Foam™ footbed for enhanced cushioning and energy return
- Anti-stink lining helps reduce odors
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Knotch Peak by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Hook and loop strap with toggle closure
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Keen Newport H2sho by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Toggle lace for easy on and off
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- Waterproof
- Padded collar and tongue help to reduce irritation and discomfort
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Moab Speed 2 by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- Waterproof
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Moab Speed 2 by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- Waterproof
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Moab 2 by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof
- Rugged rubber outsole
- Highly slip-resistant stability on wet and dry ground, over mixed terrain
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Agility Peak by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper for durability
- Lace-up closure
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Waterproof
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Agility Peak by Merrell
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Toggle elastic lace closure
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Water-friendly
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Waterproof by Columbia
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Omni-GRIP non-marking traction rubber outsole provides high grip across a wide variety of terrain
- Toggle lace for easy on and off
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Redmond Waterproof by Columbia
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Omni-GRIP non-marking traction rubber outsole provides high grip across a wide variety of terrain
- Toggle lace for easy on and off
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s foot size
Learn What is Your Child’s Exact Foot Size
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 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. Therefore, I created a resource that showcases the best-fitting children’s shoe stores by state.
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.
Should Your Child Wear Socks with His/Her Shoes?
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.
Shoe Alternative Options
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 email address is: [email protected]
Finding a pair of durable, supportive, and comfortable pair of shoes for your children can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience. I hope I made things easier for you by showing you which children’s shoes are more durable than others.
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 in the comments section below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
