Heel Cups for Shoes – How to Stop Heel Pain!

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on March 2022 and reflects an up-to-date selection of the best heel cups for shoes.

Do you have a child who is complaining about heel pain? Has your child been diagnosed with Sever’s disease or Plantar fasciitis? Pay close attention if your children are limping or walking on their toes because those might be signs that your child has Sever’s disease, which is an inflammation of the heel growth plate.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes

I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for 10 years at a children’s shoe store that specializes in fitting 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 the shoe brands and styles that are ideal for use with these orthotics or heel cups.

I have been contacted by several parents who have children who are experiencing ankle or heel pain, and they don’t know what to do about it. I always recommend parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their child’s foot conditions. Without treatment, heel pain may last several years.

Children are always running and jumping, and some of them are involved in sports or activities that require high-impact movements.

I have found a particular heel cup that has proven to be the most effective one in significantly reducing or completely eliminating heel pain, as it provides shock-absorbing protection to your child’s heels.

What Makes the Heel Cup I Recommend Effective for Heel Pain?

☑️ The heel cup I recommend offers superior shock absorption, protects the heel, and prevents foot fatigue. This is one of the most advanced shock-absorbing heel cups available today and will significantly reduce or fully eliminate your child’s heel pain.

☑️ The heel cup acts as a shock absorber for your child’s feet as it provides multi-layers of cushion as shown in the image below.

I have fitted this heel cup in several different children’s shoes before, and in most cases, the pain fully disappeared or was significantly reduced.

I only write reviews of shoes and heel cups that I have fitted before, so I can personally assess how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how well they fit. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

The Best Heel Cups for Shoes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tuli’s Heel Cups are the #1 podiatrist recommended heel cup in the world.

Before I show you the best heel cups for shoes, I am going to describe the most common reasons why children experience heel pain and the best kids’ shoes that are capable of fitting heel cups.

Getting the Correct Heel Cup Size for Your Child – Get It Right!

Small Size – Fits from a little kid shoe size 10.5 to a big kid shoe size 6.

Regular Size – Fits big kid shoe size 6 and above.

I am always emphasizing to parents how if the heel cups are not fitted in the correct pair of shoes, their children won’t get any of the benefits that the heel cups have to offer.

To help treat and prevent Sever’s disease we must fit the heel cup in a pair of shoes that come with a firm heel counter, provides good shock absorption in the heel and support in the outsole. The shoes must also provide extra depth for the heel cup to fit deeply inside the shoes and prevent your children from getting the impression that their feet are coming out of the shoes.

Let me help you visualize the difference in depth between two shoes that are the same length and width. Do you notice how the heel cup is fitting deeply in the left shoe (New Balance) compared to the shoe on the right?

I wrote another article where you will be able to see a selection of the most supportive and deepest shoes for children who need to wear heel cups in their shoes. Click on the link below to see a full selection of the best kids’ shoes to fit heel cups.

Deep Shoes for Orthotics – The Best Kids’ Shoes for Orthotics

Why Do Kids Experience Heel Pain? – The 4 Most Common Reasons!

These are the 5 most common reasons why children experience heel pain:

✅ Sever’s Disease: This is the most common cause of heel pain in children. It’s an overuse injury caused by repetitive micro trauma during sports or running activities.

✅ Plantar Fasciitis: This condition is an overuse injury that involves irritation of the plantar fascia, the thick band of connective tissue that runs along the arch from the heel to the front of the foot.

✅ Wearing the Wrong Type of Shoes: Your kids’ shoes must come with a firm heel counter, which is the back part of the shoes that provides ankle and heel support. Always make sure that you press on the heel counter and make sure it feels firm. If you are not sure where the heel counter is located please take a look at the picture below for clarification:

Shoes with poor shock absorbency or minimal arch support are also a contributing cause of heel pain.

✅ Rolled Ankles: This is usually a hereditary condition that can be fully corrected by wearing the correct type of shoes and heel cups.

Fitting Tuli’s Heel Cups in Your Kid’s Sport Shoes! 

If your children are playing soccer, baseball, football, basketball, or lacrosse, you can fit this heel cup inside their sport shoes – as long as they are substantial and supportive, and you will help minimize the impact that their feet take every time they are running around on the field. When children are playing sports they tend to stress their feet and legs at a whole different level.

All of the cleats described below come in wide widths and provide extra depth, so you can fit a heel cup inside them.

The Best Soccer Cleats ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Best Baseball Cleats ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Best Basketball Shoes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Best Football Cleats ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Best Tennis Shoes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Best Lacrosse Cleats ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should Order?

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

If you need to know how heel cups are supposed to be fitted inside shoes, please take a look at an article I wrote along with a video where I explain how to fit heel cups in shoes in more detail. Go to the link below:

How to Fit Heel Cups – The Most Effective Way to Fit Heel Cups Inside Your Kids’ Shoes!

Heel Cups for Kids Made Easy – Watch Video!

You can also watch a video I made where I explain the benefits of wearing a heel cup if your child is experiencing heel pain.

If you are a woman who is experiencing heel pain, you should take a look at an article I wrote where I explain the most effective way to reduce or fully eliminate your heel pain:

The Best Shoes for Women with Plantar Fasciitis – Alleviate Your Pain

Have you tried this heel cup before? Is there another heel cup that has worked well for your child’s heel pain? Please share your thoughts and experiences below so other parents can benefit from them.