Extra Wide Sandals for Boys – They Do Exist!

Are you having a hard time finding a pair of extra wide sandals for your boy? Do you feel like every sandal that you try on his feet feels too tight and leaves imprints and red marks on the top of his feet (instep)? Finding a pair of extra wide sandals for boys can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience if you don’t know what sandals to look for.

I want you to remember one thing: It doesn’t matter how wide your kids’ feet are, there is always at least one shoe style out there that will fit the shape of your kids’ feet perfectly and I will help you find it. There is only a small selection of sandals for boys with extra wide feet, but the good news is that I know exactly which styles these are from having fitted them before.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!

I have worked for a specialized children’s shoe store for the last 10 years. We specialize in helping children with “complicated” foot shapes such as wide or extra wide feet, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. I have gotten familiar with the best kids’ shoe brands and the best styles among those brands. 

Images of Children with Extra Wide Feet – Do They Look Familiar?

Several parents send me pictures of their children with extra wide feet and high insteps wondering to know how they are supposed to find sandals that are wide enough for their kids’ feet. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples of children with extra wide feet:

What Makes the Sandals I Recommend Effective for Kids with Extra Wide Feet?

There are 2 key features that the sandals I recommend provide that increase the chances of fitting the shape of a child with extra wide feet:

1️⃣ Extra Depth: This feature allows the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the sandals and prevents the top part of their feet and toes from rubbing against the top part of the sandals. Let me show you the difference between a pair of sandals that provides extra depth versus one that doesn’t:

2️⃣ Rounder Toe-Boxes: This feature prevents the child’s toes from overlapping one another or rubbing against the side of the sandals. Below you can see the difference between a pair of sandals that provides a rounder toe-box versus one that provides a pointier one:

Most parents get confused about how are they supposed to find sandals with those two features if sandals don’t come labeled as “extra deep” or with “rounder toe-boxes”. You have nothing to worry about, the sandals that I describe below provide these two key features and some other important ones as well.

Most Common Mistakes Parents Make! – Compensating Width with Length

One of the most common mistakes that I see parents make is to provide their children with sandals that are extra long to compensate for the width. As soon as the child complains that the shoes feel too tight parents start trying larger shoes until the child says the shoes don’t feel tight anymore.

If you provide your children with a pair of shoes that are too large, you will end up compromising your child’s stability and making your child more prone to falling.

I will provide you with a selection of extra wide sandals for boys shortly, but first I want to show you what additional features the sandals I recommend provide and how you can figure out your child’s exact foot size from home.

Extra Wide Sandals for Boys – The 5 Most Important Features

In addition to providing extra depth and rounder toe-boxes, there are 5 additional features that the summer sandals I recommend provide to keep your kids’ feet healthy:

1️⃣ Support: Sandals must provide good support and come with a substantial outsole for your child to be able to run around all day and play comfortably. A supportive sandal helps keep your child’s feet and legs healthy by minimizing the impact that your child’s feet and legs take every time they become in contact with the ground.

2️⃣ Lightweight/Flexible: While we want the sandals to be supportive, we also want them to be lightweight and flexible at the same time so your kids’ feet and legs do not get tired easily.

3️⃣ Traction: A sandal that provides good traction helps reduce the likelihood of your child slipping and falling, especially when walking or running around wet surfaces.

4️⃣ Durable: Every parent wants their kids to outgrow their shoes before they get destroyed. It’s important for the sandals to be durable so your boy can wear them for the whole summer season – remember that boys tend to be really rough on their shoes.

5️⃣ Quick-dry: Sandals need to be able to dry fast to keep your kids’ feet healthy. When children’s feet get wet, they are more susceptible to developing foot issues such as blisters.

 Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best extra wide sandals for boys. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

You will notice how some of these sandals are labeled as wide (W) or extra wide (XW), while some others do not. If the sandal is not labeled as wide or extra wide it means that they just fit really wide. I have fitted boys with extra wide feet and high insteps in all of the sandals below.

The Best Extra Wide Sandals for Boys ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Many of the sandals featured below come in several color options, so if your child likes a specific model, please make sure to click through and see if they have the desired color.

What Sandal Size Should You Order?

In each of the descriptions of the sandals, I indicate whether you need to order a half size or a whole size bigger than your child’s current foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.

I am always emphasizing to parents that it doesn’t matter how many features a particular shoe style provides, if the shoes are not fitted properly which involves getting the correct shoe length and the correct shoe width, your child won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer.

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

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.

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

Providing your child with the correct type of sandals is going to keep his feet healthy during the summer. Sandals that are too narrow create a mixture of friction and pressure that usually leads to a myriad of foot issues that range from blisters, calluses, and corns, to general foot pain. In addition, when kids’ feet get wet and are continually rubbed against the sandals, irritation and inflammation often occur. The result is pain, swelling, and redness.

How Can You Tell If Your Kids’ Sandals Are Too Narrow?

• Notice if there are imprints on the top of your kids’ feet when you take the sandals off. This is the first sign that the sandals that your child is wearing might be too narrow:

• Are your kids’ toes cramped against the side of the sandals? This is the second sign that the sandals might be too narrow:

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

If you need any other type of shoes such as everyday, summer, winter, or sport shoes, you can find them all in a tool I created which lets you filter by the type of shoes that you need. This tool is extremely valuable since it will show you shoes in different widths such as narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide. I also tell you exactly how each shoe style is cut (short, long, narrow, or wide) and will let you filter by the instep of your child’s foot. You can even find shoes that will accommodate an orthotic. Go to the link below:

Find the Best Shoe Style for Your Child’s Unique Feet

Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of extra wide shoes for your child. My e-mail address is: 

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

Have you found another summer sandal style that has worked well for your child’s extra wide feet? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.