Did you know that not all New Balance shoes work well for children with wide feet? Do you feel like you try several different shoes but none of them seem to be wide enough for your child’s feet? I have been working for a children’s shoe store for over 10 years, and I have helped hundreds of children with wide feet find the perfect pair of shoes for their feet. Unfortunately, most children’s shoe stores have gone out of business. Do you remember when you used to take your child to be properly fitted for shoes at your local shoe store? I am going to show you a list of the best New Balance shoes for children with wide feet based on my 10 years of shoe fitting experience.
A recent study conducted by the National Health Institute showed that 65% of all children are wearing the wrong shoe size. Most of these children were either wearing shoes that were too short or too narrow, which is a huge problem as it can lead to developing the following foot conditions:
- Blisters
- Ingrown Toenails
- Bunions
Many families now shop in big-box stores, which are often self-serve, or in sporting good stores where employees may have only a rudimentary knowledge, if any at all, of how a shoe is supposed to fit the child’s foot.
Are New Balance Shoes the Best Choice for Children with Wide Feet?
New Balance is my go-to shoe brand for children with wide feet as it manufactures shoes that are available in wide (W) and extra wide widths (XW). In addition, New Balance shoes provide two key features that makes them ideal for children with wide feet:
1️⃣ Extra Depth
This is a feature that most parents often overlook, but it’s of utmost importance for children with wide feet and high insteps. Shoes that provide extra depth allow the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes, which helps prevent the top part (instep) of the child’s feet from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. This feature also helps prevent the top part of the child’s toes from rubbing against the top front part of the shoes. This is a key feature if you usually notice red marks or indentations on the top part (instep) of your child’s feet.
Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes. The shoes below are the same size in length, but do you notice how the shoe on the right is a lot deeper compared to the shoe on the left? I will provide you with a link to that specific New Balance shoe style shortly.
2️⃣ Round Toe-Boxes
Shoes that provide round toe-boxes help prevent the child’s toes from overlapping against one another or rubbing against the side of the shoes.
Let me show you the difference between a shoe that provides a rounder toe box versus a shoe that doesn’t. Both shoes in the image below are the same size in length and width. However, do you notice how the shoe on the left has a narrower toe box compared to the shoe on the right?
Below you can find a list of the widest New Balance shoe styles that I have fitted before at the shoe store that I used to work for. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best New Balance Shoes for Children with Wide Feet
If you like a specific style make sure to click on the image of the shoe as it might be available in girls’ and boys’ colors. I also suggest that you take a look at the description below each shoe to find out the following information:
- The foot shape the shoe can accommodate (medium, wide, extra wide, high instep)
- The best size to order allowing for growing room
- Other important information such as material
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Suede/mesh upper
- Velcro closure
- EVA-cushioned midsole
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
- Extra Deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Suede/mesh upper
- Lightweight and flexible
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- AT Tread outsole provides versatile traction during both on and off-road activities
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- AT Tread outsole provides versatile traction during both on and off-road activities
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Leather/mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Leather/mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Suede and mesh uppers
- Padded tongue and collar offer a snug, comfy fit
- ENCAP® midsole technology provides support and maximum durability
- Dual-layered EVA midsole for cushioning
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning
- TPU heel clip for stability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- ENCAP® midsole technology provides support and maximum durability
- Suede/mesh upper
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- Leather and suede upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Fits orthotics
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
- Lace-Up closure
- Non-marking outsole
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
Did you notice that below each shoe style I describe exactly what shoe size you should order to allow for the correct amount of growing room? All shoe styles fit a little differently. For example, you should never assume that the size marked on the box (or advertised online) accurately conforms to the size of the shoes in the box (or delivered from a website). Shoes can fit short, long, or true to size, and depending on how they fit, you need to adjust the final shoe size that you order. I know exactly how each shoe style fits from having fitted them before.
Are These the Only New Balance Shoes that Work Well for Children with Wide Feet?
New Balance manufactures many other shoe styles, but these are the styles that work best for children with wide or extra wide feet as well as high insteps.
Do You Know Whether Your Child Has a High Instep or Not?
Some children in addition to having wide feet also have high insteps. The instep is the top part of the foot as shown in the image below:
How many parents struggle to get their children’s shoes on and off? Have you ever noticed red marks or indentations on the top part of your child’s feet? These are both signs that your child might have a high instep.
What is the best way to deal with a child who has a high instep? Fit your child in shoes that provide extra depth! I already went over the importance of this feature, and rest assured that all of the shoes I recommended above are capable of fitting children with high insteps.
Don’t Order Any of the Shoes I Recommended If You Are Unsure of Your Child’s Foot Size
If you don’t know your child’s exact foot length and shape, you won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online. If you still have a specialized children’s shoe store in your area, I strongly suggest that you take your child to be properly sized and fitted for shoes there. If you don’t have a shoe store in your area, you can use a resource I created:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below! You can also help other families by sharing what New Balance shoes have worked best for your children’s wide feet.
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