How to Prevent Your Child from Destroying the Front Part of the Shoes – Reinforced Toe Cap
Is your child always wearing out the front part of the shoes? Are you frustrated about having to replace your child’s shoes faster than you expected it? I am going to show you how to prevent your child from destroying the front part of the shoes so you can stop wasting time and money over your kids’ shoes getting worn out at the toes first. As a rule of thumb, children should always outgrow their shoes before they destroyed them, considering how fast children grow.
Do More Expensive Shoes Automatically Translate Into More Durable Shoes?
More expensive shoes don’t necessarily translate into better shoes. I have fitted several reasonably priced shoes that were more durable than the most expensive ones. With that said, I don’t recommend buying your kids’ shoes at places such as Walmart or Target, as they do tend to fall apart faster. I have seen cases of parents who bought their kids’ shoes in these two places and found pieces of cardboard inside their kids’ shoes. The sole and the front part of the shoes were worn down after a couple of weeks of wear.
Main Reasons Why Children Destroy the Front Part of Their Shoes
I have seen several cases of children who wore out the front part of their shoes and this was mostly due to 3 reasons:
1️⃣ Cheap shoes made from low-quality materials: Parents are actually surprised when I tell them that shoes manufactured by Nike and Under Armour are the ones that tend to fall apart faster. I have noticed throughout the years that most Nike and Under Armour shoe styles are too flimsy and unsupportive, and always wore down faster than expected. I have seen several cases in which the front part of the shoes started peeling simply because the shoes were made of low-quality materials.
1️⃣ Shoes that are too narrow or too short: Shoes that are too short or too narrow increase the likelihood of your child poking a hole in the front part of the shoes.
3️⃣ Children with foot conditions: Children who suffer from a particular foot condition and have leg weaknesses are more likely to hyperextend the knees. Alternatively, they may drag their feet along the ground as they shuffle forward.
The good news is that I am going to walk you through and show you the most effective way of how to prevent your child from destroying the front part of the shoes. These are the 3 most common reasons why children destroy the front part of their shoes.
Reason #1: Cheap/Poorly Made Shoes
If you believe that your child keeps destroying the front part of the shoes from wearing poorly made shoes, I am going to provide you with a selection of some of the most durable kids’ shoes. These shoes are reasonably priced and your child can wear them as their everyday sneakers.
The shoes below can fit children with medium or wide feet. 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.
How to Prevent Your Child from Destroying the Front Part of the Shoes with These Durable Sneakers
To help parents order the correct shoe size online, I always describe how each particular shoe style fits (true to size, short, long).
- Order the shoe style Chandler 2 CNX by Keen on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Elasticized lace panel with hook-and-loop closure
- Protective rubber toe bumper to protect your toes
- Reverse Strobel construction provides a streamlined interior
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Chandler 2 CNX Sport by Keen on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Elasticized lace panel with hook-and-loop closure
- Protective rubber toe bumper to protect your toes
- Reverse Strobel construction provides a streamlined interior
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Wanduro by Keen on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- Protective rubber toe bumper to protect your toes
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Wanduro Hound by Keen on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- Protective rubber toe bumper to protect your toes
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style H2sho by Keen on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Machine washable
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Wader by Geox on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- Water-friendly
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Nova 3 by Merrell on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Abrasion -resistant toe bumper
- Long-lasting leather upper with combined mesh panels.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Moab Speed 2 by Merrell on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Abrasion -resistant toe bumper
- FloatPro Foam™ footbed for enhanced cushioning and energy return
- Anti-stink lining helps reduce odors
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Knotch Peak by Keen on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Hook and loop strap with toggle closure
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Keen Newport H2sho by Keen on Amazon
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Toggle lace for easy on and off
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- Waterproof
- Padded collar and tongue help to reduce irritation and discomfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Moab Speed 2 by Merrell on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- Waterproof
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Moab Speed 2 by Merrell on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Higher traction outsole provides grip in muddy environments and on rocky surfaces
- Waterproof
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Moab 2 by Merrell on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof
- Rugged rubber outsole
- Highly slip-resistant stability on wet and dry ground, over mixed terrain
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Agility Peak by Merrell on Zappos
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper for durability
- Lace-up closure
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Waterproof
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Agility Peak by Merrell on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Toggle elastic lace closure
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Waterproof by Columbia on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Omni-GRIP non-marking traction rubber outsole provides high grip across a wide variety of terrain
- Toggle lace for easy on and off
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Redmond Waterproof by Columbia on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Omni-GRIP non-marking traction rubber outsole provides high grip across a wide variety of terrain
- Toggle lace for easy on and off
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
These shoe styles are made from high-quality materials and they come with a reinforced toe-cap to prevent your child from destroying the front part of the shoes. In addition to being durable, all of these shoe styles provide a good amount of support that will attenuate the impact that your kids’ feet and legs take when they come in contact with the ground.
Reason #2: Shoes that Are too Short or too Narrow
Wearing shoes that are too short or too narrow is one of the main causes of why children destroy their shoes. It doesn’t matter how durable and supportive your kids’ shoes are, if the shoes are not the correct size your child is going to end up destroying them.
If you believe that your child keeps destroying the shoes by wearing shoes that are too short or too narrow, I suggest that you use a virtual shoe fitting service I offer that will help you retrieve your child’s exact foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide, high instep), identify possible foot conditions, and retrieve your child’s exact shoe size.
Just so you know, this is the second most common cause of why children destroy the front part of their shoes. The constant friction and rubbing between your child’s toes and the end of the shoes usually lead to the shoes getting destroyed at the front.
Reason #3: Foot Conditions
Children who experience foot conditions or have leg weaknesses are more likely to hyperextend the knees, which leads them to drag their feet along the ground as they shuffle forward. This usually leads to the shoes getting destroyed at the front. I have seen several cases of children who suffer from a particular foot condition that affects their walking gait such as flat feet, overpronation, toe-walking, or low muscle tone.
Wearing supportive shoes that are lightweight and flexible at the same time might help improve your child’s walking gait and prevent your child from dragging his/her toes. The correct type of shoes is also going to help treat your child’s particular foot condition.
Contact Me for Specific Supportive and Durable Shoe Recommendations
If your child is dealing with a foot condition or “complicated” foot shape you should contact me so I can provide you with specific shoe recommendations tailored to your child’s unique foot needs:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
2 Additional Common Reasons Kids Destroy the Front Part of Their Shoes
1️⃣ Wearing their everyday sneakers for multiple activities: If your child wears his/her everyday sneakers to other activities or sports such as soccer or basketball that will definitely shorten the lifespan of the shoes. I recommend that you provide your child with a specific shoe for that particular sport that he/she is playing to extend the life of the shoes.
2️⃣ Using the front part of their shoes as a kind of brake when riding their bicycles.
Remember that shoes that are too short or too narrow are also a contributing cause of why the shoes get destroyed at the front.
I know how frustrating it is for parents to have to replace their kids’ shoes faster than expected. Have you found a particular shoe brand or shoe style that has worked well for your child’s feet? Please share your experiences below so other families can benefit from them.
