How Do the Different Kids’ Shoe Brands Fit? – The Most Popular Brands Reviewed
Have you ever wondered why shoe sizes differ so much among shoe brands? Do you want to know how each shoe brand fits to be able to provide your child with the correct shoe size? Shoe sizes are inconsistent and parents need to understand that different shoes in identical sizes and widths will fit differently. One of the most common questions that parents ask me at the shoe store where I work is: How do the different kids’ shoe brands fit?
I have been contacted by several parents who are having a hard time finding the correct shoe size for their kids, and they want to know how each shoe brand fits — long, short, narrow, wide— I always explain to parents to not assume that the size that their kids’ feet measure in the shoe measuring scale automatically translates into their actual shoe size.
For example, let’s say that your child measures a foot size 10 in the standard foot measuring tool (Brannock device). To provide your child with growing room you will need to get the shoes in a size 10 1/2. However, if the shoes fit “short” you might need the shoe size 11. If the shoes fit “long” you will need to provide your child with a shoe size 10 (since the shoes already fit long).
To help those parents who don’t have a local children’s shoe store in their area and must purchase their kids’ shoes online, I decided to create a table with the most popular children’s shoe brands that I have fitted before, showing parents how each shoe brand fits.
How Do the Different Kids’ Shoe Brands Fit? – Let’s Find Out!
This table I created displays how the different children’s shoe brands fit, that way you can make sure that you are providing your child with the correct shoe size.
| Shoe Brand Name | How do These Shoe Styles Fit? | Do These Shoes Fit Narrow, Medium, or Wide? | Can These Shoes Accommodate an Orthotic? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adidas | True to Size | Medium | No |
| Asics | Short | Narrow/Medium | Yes |
| Bearpaw | True to Size | Medium | No |
| Bogs | True to Size | Medium/Wide | No |
| Chooze | True to Size | Medium | No |
| Converse | Long | Medium | No |
| Crocs | Long | Medium/Wide | No |
| Deer Stags | True to Size | Medium | No |
| Dr. Martens | True to Size | Medium/Wide | Yes |
| Footmates | True to Size | Medium/Wide | Yes |
| Garvalin | Short | Narrow/Medium | No |
| Geox | True to Size | Medium/Wide | Yes |
| Heelys | Short | Narrow/Medium | No |
| Jambu | Long | Medium/Wide | No |
| Keen | True to Size | Medium/Wide | No |
| Kenneth Cole Reaction | True to Size | Medium | No |
| Livie & Luca | True to Size | Medium/Wide | No |
| Merrell | True to Size | Medium/Wide | Yes |
| Native | Long | Medium/Wide | No |
| Naturino | True to Size | Narrow/Medium | No |
| New Balance | True to Size | Medium/Wide/Extra Wide | Yes |
| Nike | Short | Narrow/Medium | No |
| Nina | True to Size | Medium/Wide | No |
| Pediped | True to Size | Medium/Wide/Extra Wide | Yes |
| PLAE | True to Size | Medium/Wide | No |
| Primigi | True to Size | Medium/Wide | No |
| Puma | Short | Narrow/Medium | No |
| Reebok | True to Size | Medium | No |
| Ricosta | Short | Narrow/Medium | No |
| Saucony | Short | Narrow/Medium/Wide | Yes |
| School Issue | True to Size | Medium/Wide | Yes |
| See Kai Run | True to Size | Medium/Wide | Yes |
| Skechers | True to Size | Medium/Wide | No |
| Sperry | Long | Medium/Wide | No |
| Stride Rite | True to Size | Medium/Wide/Extra Wide | Yes |
| Twinkle Toes | Long | Medium/Wide | No |
| Teva | True to Size | Narrow/Medium | No |
| Timberland | True to Size | Medium/Wide | Yes |
| Tsukihoshi | Long | Medium/Wide/Extra Wide | Yes |
| UGG | True to Size | Narrow/Medium/Wide | No |
| Under Armour | Short | Narrow/Medium | No |
| Western Chief | Long | Medium/Wide | No |
| Zephz | True to Size | Medium/Wide/Extra Wide | Yes |
Let me just explain to you how this table works. Under the column “How do these shoe styles fit” you can find 3 different categories so let’s find out what they mean:
➡️ If the shoe brand fits “true to size”, that means that you need to provide your child with half a size longer than the size that he or she measured on the shoe measuring scale. This translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
➡️ If the shoe brand fits “short”, that means that you need to provide your child with a whole size longer than the size that he or she measured on the shoe measuring scale. This translates to 3/8 of an inch or 0.8 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
➡️ If the shoe brand fits “long”, that means that you need to provide your child with the same size that he or she measured on the shoe measuring scale.
Under the column “Do these shoes fit narrow, medium, or wide” you can find four different categories:
➡️ If the shoe brand fits “Medium”, that means that the shoes will fit children with medium width feet better.
➡️ If the shoe brand fits “Narrow”. that means that the shoes will fit children with narrow width feet better.
➡️ If the shoe brand fits “Wide”, that means that the shoes will fit children with wide feet better.
➡️ If the shoe brand fits “Extra Wide”, that means that the brand will fit children with extra wide feet better.
If you see two or three different widths mentioned in one brand that means that specific brand is capable of accommodating children with different widths as the brand offers shoes in different widths.
The last column “Can These Shoes Accommodate An Orthotic” simply tells you if the shoe brand provides shoe styles that work well with orthotics. Kid’s shoes that work well with orthotics are supportive, deep, and durable.
Now that you know how each children’s shoe brand fits, you are ready to keep your child’s feet and legs healthy by providing your child with the correct shoe size.
What Are the Best Shoe Brands for Children?
You should also take a look at three articles I created where I describe the best shoe brands for babies, toddlers and older children — as certain shoe brands provide shoe styles with better support, better quality, and more durability than others.
Are you wondering why shoe sizes are so inconsistent? You don’t need to know this as it gets a little more technical, but some parents might want to know why certain shoe brands differ so much in the way the shoes fit.
Let’s reveal that secret right now:
1️⃣ Materials can affect size: Two shoes of identical style and size, but one with a leather upper and the other one with urethane upper, will often fit differently.
2️⃣ Construction/Shoe Manufactures affect size: The process by which a shoe is made can sometimes influence size.
3️⃣ Lasts affect size: Lasts are designed on countless different shapes, each with its own volume or inner space allowance, which in turn affects the dimensions and the fit.
4️⃣ Heel height affects size: Shoes on high versus low heels will fit differently on the same size.
5️⃣ Style affects size: For example, a pair of New Balance shoes in a given size and width will fit differently than a pair of Saucony shoes of the same size and width.
As I said before, you probably didn’t need to know all that, but I wanted to break it down for you, so you have a better idea of why shoe sizes are so inconsistent. At least now you know that it’s not to make your life harder when trying to find shoes for your child!
Did you know that Stride Rite is one of the shoe companies that came up with an iPad app that claims to accurately measure your kid’s foot at any place and at any time? I was actually excited when I heard about this because we all know that their salespeople can’t seem to properly figure out how to measure kids’ feet at their retail stores, which I believe is the reason why they had to close most of them.
My point is that this device will not do any good if you don’t know how that particular shoe brand or that particular shoe style that you want to provide for your child actually fits. The size that your children’s feet measure on the shoe measuring scale is only a starting point when trying to find the correct pair of shoes for them.
Do You Know Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape?
I always encourage parents to take their children to be properly fitted for shoes at the local fitting shoe store that they trust, and this information is mostly for parents who don’t have a good children’s shoe store in their area.
If you are not sure whether you have a good-fitting children’s shoe store in your area then start by taking a look at a resource that I created where I describe the best-fitting children’s shoe stores by state.
I created a different article to assist parents in determining their kids’ foot size and shape at home effectively and with ease.
Is there a particular children’s shoe brand that I didn’t mention? Have you found a particular shoe brand that has worked well for your child? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
