Extra Wide Basketball Sneakers for Kids – Supportive, Extra Deep and Rounder Toe-Boxes!
Are you having a hard time finding a pair of basketball shoes for your child with extra wide feet? Do you feel like you try several different basketball shoes but you always end up empty-handed? I have put together a selection of the best extra wide basketball sneakers for kids based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
Most sport shoes are cut slightly narrow to ensure a tight fit. Fortunately, there are a few basketball shoes for kids that are capable of accommodating extra wide feet.
If you are in a rush, you can go directly to the selection of extra wide basketball sneakers for kids.
Most Common Mistakes Parents Make When Buying Their Kids’ Shoes
One of the most common mistakes that I see parents make is to buy larger basketball shoes to take the pressure away from the widest part of the foot. Buying longer shoes increases stress on the foot, leg and related soft tissue and bone structures.
Children with extra wide feet have the hardest time finding shoes that fit the shape of their feet. The selection of shoes they can choose from is usually very limited to non-existent. However, I have helped hundreds of children with extra wide feet find the perfect pair of shoes for their feet.
What Shoe Brands Manufacture Basketball Shoes for Kids with Extra Wide Feet?
If your child has extra wide feet you need to stay away from some popular shoe brands such as Nike and Under Armour, as their shoes tend to fit on the narrower side. There are certain styles made by New Balance and Adidas that are capable of fitting children with wide or extra wide feet.
Most parents of children with extra wide feet end up fitting their children in extra wide sneakers as they can’t find a single pair of actual basketball shoes to fit the shape of their child’s extra wide feet. I strongly suggest that you stop doing this as basketball shoes are specifically designed to provide good ankle support and excellent traction on the court, which helps prevent injuries.
Does Your Child Also Have High Insteps?
Some children in addition to having extra wide feet have high insteps. The instep is the top part of the feet and when it’s high it makes it a lot more complicated to find shoes that fit. Let me show you an image of a child with a high instep. As you can see there is a lot of extra foot volume that needs to be fitted inside of the shoes:
When children play basketball they are stressing their feet and legs at a whole different level. The shoes need to provide targeted support to the heels to minimize the impact that the feet take when they come in contact with the ground. Basketball courts have a hard resilient floor that can be rough on your child’s feet.
In addition to finding a basketball shoe that comes labeled as wide (W), the shoes need to provide extra depth and come with rounder toe-boxes.
What Makes the Basketball Shoes that I Recommend Effective for Extra Wide Feet?
The basketball shoes that I recommend provide 3 key features that makes them ideal for children with extra wide feet and high insteps;
1️⃣ Available in wide widths (W): Make sure that when you order the basketball shoe you select the wide width option (W).
2️⃣ Rounder Toe-Boxes: The basketball shoes I recommend provide a rounder toe-box that is going to prevent your kids’ toes from overlapping or rubbing against one another or the side of the shoes. Let me show you the difference between the basketball shoe I recommend and a different style. These shoes are the same length, but do you notice how the shoe on the right has a much rounder toe-box?
3️⃣ Extra Depth: This feature is going to allow your child’s feet to fit deeply inside the basketball shoes and prevent the top part of the feet from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. Let me show you the difference in depth between one of the basketball shoes I recommend and a different style. These shoes are the same length, but do you notice how the shoe on the right is a lot deeper than the shoe on the left?
The Issue of Fitting Your Child in Narrow Basketball Shoes
If you fit your child in a pair of basketball shoes that are too narrow you can make your child more prone to developing the following foot issues:
- Blisters
- Calluses
- Corns
- General foot and leg pain
I only recommend shoes 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 Best Extra Wide Basketball Sneakers for Kids
The basketball shoes below are capable of fitting children with extra wide feet and high insteps, just make sure you choose the wide width option (W).
- Shoe style Coco Unity by New Balance
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Own the Game 2.0 by Adidas
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Cross Em Up Select by Adidas
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Non-marking outsole
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Cross Em Up 5 by Adidas
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Cross Em Up 5 by Adidas
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Extra padding around the ankles
- Lace-Up closure
- Rubber outsole provides excellent grip
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Cross Em Up Selec by Adidas
- Available in wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Padded collar to increase comfort and prevent blisters
- Firm heel counter
- Cloudfoam base supports every step with pillow-soft cushioning
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Flash A/C Mid by Saucony
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Stable base of support with firm heel counters
- Velcro closure
- Perforations for breathability
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
You won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online if you don’t know your child’s exact foot size to begin with. If you are unsure of your child’s foot size you should refer to the article on this.
To prevent your child from experiencing foot and leg pain during basketball games, the shoes must provide good support to your child’s feet. The basketball shoes I recommended provide the following 3 important features:
1️⃣ Firm Heel Counter: This part of the shoe that provides ankle support and minimizes the impact that your kids’ feet take every time they come in contact with the ground.
2️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible: These features prevent your kids’ feet and legs from easily getting tired.
3️⃣ Extra Padding: The shoes I recommend provide extra padding around the heels to prevent the formation of blisters.
Once the shoes arrive at your house you should try a specific shoe lacing technique I came up with for children who play sports.
What Are Parents Saying About these Basketball Shoes?
These are reviews from parents who already tried the basketball shoes I recommend. Let’s see what they had to say:
Basketball Socks for Kids – Extra Cushion and Extra Padding!
Basketball socks play a key role as they cushion the child’s feet in targeted areas of the feet to prevent the constant friction between the court and the shoes.
There are specific basketball socks that provide better cushioning and breathability. If your child doesn’t have a pair of basketball socks yet, you should refer to the selection below as they are the best basketball socks for kids in terms of comfort, quality, and fit.
- OLCHEE Socks
- 75% polyester cotton, 15% polyester, and 10% spandex
- Breathable and absorb sweat function to meet the demand of basketball
- Reinforced toes and heels parts to make sure good wear resistance
- Machine washable
- MadSportsStuff Socks
- 77% Polypropylene, 17% Nylon, 3% Elastic , 3% Lycra Spandex
- Moisture wicking
- Arch and ankle compression
- Machine washable
- JHM Socks
- 80% cotton and 15% nylon
- Strategically placed cushions to target impact areas for increased comfort
- Breathable and thick enough to protect feet from impact
- Machine washable
Do not hesitate to contact me if you are having trouble finding a different pair of shoes to accommodate the shape of your child’s extra wide feet.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly via email if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child. My email address is:
Let us know if you have a favorite basketball shoe that has worked well for your child’s extra wide feet in the comments section below so other parents can benefit from your experiences!
