Heelys Kids Shoes – Is Your Child in Danger?

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

Has your child been asking you for a pair of Heelys shoes? Are you worried that your child might hurt his/her feet by wearing this type of shoes? Before you jump the gun and provide your child with a pair of Heelys I recommend that you read this article and decide whether your child is ready to wear a pair of Heelys.

Heelys have been a trendy Christmas present, and the craze about them continues to rise.

Let’s start by clarifying what is Heelys. In a few words, Heelys is a brand of shoes that roll. Their shoes come with a removable wheel embedded in the sole of the shoes, which allows children to walk, run, or roll by shifting their weight to the heels.

Sounds complicated, doesn’t it?

Maybe to us, the adults, but children have no problem learning how to use these shoes.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes

I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for the last 10 years, where we specialize in children with foot and leg problems, as well as regular shoe fittings. I have fitted thousands of shoes and I am familiar with which shoe brands and which shoe styles are better than others.

Please keep in mind that I only recommend shoes that I have fitted before since that’s the only way to tell how well-made the shoes are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit.

Your children will be fine wearing Heely’s as long as they wear them for what they are: Fashion shoes. This means that your children should not wear this type of shoes for their everyday activities, and no more than 4 hours a day.

Among the Heelys shoe brand, certain styles work better than others. Certain styles are more lightweight, flexible, and durable.

I will show you a selection of the best Heelys kids’ shoes that I have fitted before, but let’s first make sure that you know how to provide your child with the correct shoe size.

Attention Parents and Grandparents – Let’s Clarify What Heelys Are

Heelys are shoes with an integral wheel embedded into the heel of the shoe. There is an integrated hole in the heel of the shoe where the wheel can be popped out whenever the child is ready to roll around, and can be put back whenever the child wants to walk or run.

They tend to be heavier shoes compared to the regular tennis shoes that your child might be used to wearing, but at the same time they are very sturdy.

One of the most common questions parents ask me is whether they are putting their children at risk by providing them with these types of shoes. The answer is not that simple. While Heelys have been a contributing cause to some children’s foot and leg injuries, if proper instructions are followed and protective gear is worn, your child should have no problem wearing these shoes.

I have fitted several different types of Heely’s shoes before and I have never had an issue, but studies have actually shown that this type of footwear puts children at an increased risk of suffering injuries.

Keep in mind that most Heelys are extremely heavy sneakers and they should not be worn as everyday shoes. I do not like the idea of children “wheeling around” since this usually leads to less waking throughout the day. I believe sneakers should encourage children to walk, run, and be active!

With that said, the selection of Heelys shoes that I recommend are lightweight and flexible.

The Best Heelys Kids’ Shoes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Below you can find the best Heelys kids’ shoes. These are the lightest and most flexible styles that will fit children with medium or wide feet. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should Order?

All of these shoes fit “short”, which means that you need to get a whole size longer (3/8 of an inch or 0.8 centimeters) of the size that your child measures in the standard shoe measuring scale (Brannock device) to allow for growing room.

All Heelys shoes that I have fitted before tend to fit really short, that is the reason why I recommend parents to provide their kids with a whole size longer instead of a half a size.

Having Fun in Heelys – Read the Instructions!

Before your children start wearing Heelys, make sure you go over the instructions with them. Reading the instructions is a step that parents often overlook. Go to Heelys.com and watch their how-to videos and in-store lessons. Emphasize the importance of protective gear to your children, like a helmet and wrist pads. Think of Heelys as skates rather than sneakers!

Below is a set of guidelines that you should recommend your child to follow when wearing Heely’s:

✅ Always wear safety gear.

✅ Don’t wear Heelys in skate mode in or near traffic, on uneven surfaces, or the stairs. You also might avoid injuries by telling your kids to not go heeling in crowded areas.

✅ Always make sure the wheels are tightly secure in the shoes and that the shoelaces are not untied. If your child doesn’t know how to tie his/her shoes yet, I wrote a post where I explain the best proven method to teach kids how to tie their shoes. Go to this link:

How to Teach a Child to Tie His Shoes – Follow these Easy Steps

Rolling in Heelys – Are They a Direct Cause of Children’s Injuries?

Did you know that due to safety concerns, several schools and shopping malls have banned Heelys? A lot of people believe that children are at risk of suffering sprains and fractures when “heeling”.

In all fairness, “heeling” is no less dangerous than skating or roller boarding, but I am one of those people who strongly believe that “a shoe should be a shoe, and a toy should be a toy.”

Football, basketball, and bicycle accidents are the most common causes of fractures among children. Studies show that the children who suffered most of the injuries from Heely’s did not follow the instructions or wore the suggested protection.

Can My Kids Wear Heelys As Their Everyday Shoes? – Let’s Find Out!

I don’t recommend wearing Heelys as everyday shoes as Heelys tend to be much heavier and less flexible than your kids’ regular running sneakers. Children need to wear Heelys the same way they will wear a pair of fashionable shoes.

If your children have been asking you for a pair of Heelys for some time now, and you promised them that they could have them, then be prepared. Provide your child with safety gear when using their Heelys in skate mode. The manufacturer even states that children should wear a helmet, wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads when wearing the shoes.

Don’t worry, we have fitted hundreds of these roller shoes and we haven’t had a single issue with them. This reminds me that providing your child with the correct shoe size is crucial to keep your child’s stability and comfort when wearing these shoes.

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

I wrote an article where I describe 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.

With obesity becoming a major concern among young children, people say that their children are better off “heeling” than watching TV and playing video games. Children love Heelys, and every time they come to the shoe store with their parents, they won’t leave without asking if they can get a pair of Heelys. Most parents tell them that ” it’s not the right time”.

The funny thing is that those children will come back to the shoe store with their grandparents, who are more than happy to please their grandchildren, even if they don’t have a clue of what Heelys are! That’s how most children get their first pair of Heelys!

Parents should be able to use their good judgment when it comes to Heelys. Most things out there can be dangerous, and you cannot protect your children from everything.

Now that you know which are the best Heelys kids’ shoes you are ready to make a better and more informed decision. Please don’t allow your child to wear Heelys for more than 4 hours a day.

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

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 shoes for your child. My e-mail address is:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

Has your child been asking you for a pair of Heelys? Are you afraid that he/she might get hurt? Have you had any experience with your child falling and hurting himself due to wearing Heelys? Please share your thoughts and comments below so other parents can benefit from your experiences!