Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on May 2022 and reflects an up-to-date selection of Nike shoes for kids with high insteps.
Are you having a hard time finding a pair of Nike shoes to accommodate the shape of your child’s high instep? Do all the Nike shoes that you have tried feel too tight around your child’s instep?
When children have a specific shoe style in mind they can be quite persistent and will keep asking you for those shoes until they get them. Nike is one of the most popular shoe brands among children, the issue is that the company only seems to manufacture shoes for children with medium feet.
Finding a pair of shoes for a child with a high instep is hard enough, and when children have a specific shoe brand or shoe style in mind it makes it even harder. The issue is that most Nike kids’ shoes are too shallow and too narrow, so it’s hard for children with high insteps to even get their feet inside these shoes.
Let’s start by clarifying what the instep of the foot is. The instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it makes it a lot more complicated to find shoes that fit. For example, let’s take a look at an image of a child with a high instep:
As you can see there is a lot of extra foot volume that needs to be fitted inside of the shoes:
There is a very small selection of Nike shoes that are capable of fitting the foot shape of a child with a high instep, but I am here to help you find them.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for 10 years and counting. I am lucky to be able to help children with foot and leg issues daily, but we provide regular shoe fitting as well. I have helped hundreds of children with “complicated foot shapes” find the perfect pair of shoes for their feet, and I can help your child too. Over the years I became familiar with which are the best Nike shoes for kids.
When children have high insteps, I usually fit them in she’s that provide one key feature: extra depth.
What Makes the Nike Shoes I Recommend Effective for High Insteps?
✅ Extra Depth: This feature allows the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes and prevents the top part of the feet (instep) from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. Let me show you the difference in depth between one of the Nike pair of shoes I recommend versus another Nike shoe:
These Nike shoes are the same size, but it’s pretty clear that the Nike shoe on the right is a lot deeper compared to the Nike shoe on the left. The shoe on the right is one of the shoes I recommend for children with high insteps.
Shoes with extra depth allow children to easily slide their feet inside the shoes, and they will prevent the top part of your child’s foot from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. In addition, shoes with extra depth prevent the child’s toes from rubbing against the top front part of the shoes.
Shoes don’t come labeled as with “extra depth”, so the only way to know if a shoe provides extra depth is by having fitted that shoe before. This is where I come into play as I know exactly which Nike shoes are deeper than others.
One thing I want parents to keep in mind is how they won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online if they don’t know their child’s exact foot size to begin with.
If you have a good-fitting children’s shoe store in your area, I suggest that you take your child there to be properly fitted for shoes. I believe it’s important to support local businesses. If you are not sure whether you have a good store in your area take a look at the resource I created below that describes the best fitting children’s shoe stores by state:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores In The United States – Where To Go For Proper Fittings
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a store in your area, let’s take a look at the simplest and most effective method to measure your child’s foot size from home:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
So far, we established that we need your kids’ shoes to provide extra depth and by now you should be 100% sure of your child’s foot size.
I am going to provide you with a selection of the best Nike shoes for kids with high insteps, but please keep in mind that if your child is experiencing foot or leg pain, there are other shoe brands that provide better support than Nike.
Best Nike Shoes for Kids with High Insteps ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Below you can find a selection of the best Nike shoes for kids with high insteps. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro closure
- Extra deep
- Extra foam around the collar and on the tongue for comfort
- Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro closure
- Extra deep
- Extra foam around the collar and on the tongue for comfort
- Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro closure
- Mesh upper for optimal breathability
- Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Mesh upper for optimal breathability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro closure
- Extra deep
- Leather made
- Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Extra foam around the collar and on the tongue for comfort
- Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Available in wide widths
- Extra foam around the collar and on the tongue for comfort
- Lightweight foam midsole offers flexible cushioning
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Extra deep
- Mesh upper for optimal breathability
- Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Extra deep
- Mesh upper for optimal breathability
- Soft midsole foam provides cushioning and support underfoot
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s foot size
What Shoe Size Should You 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.
These are the deepest Nike shoes that I have fitted before, so if these shoes are not able to accommodate your child’s high instep, maybe it’s time to look into another shoe brand. If none of these Nike shoes are capable of fitting your child’s high instep, please refer to the article below:
The Best Shoes for High Instep – Stop Getting the Wrong Shoe Size for Your Child!
Make sure that your child either opens up the velcro or the shoelaces widely before trying them on.
If you happen to notice red marks or indentations on the top of your child’s feet (instep), then it means that the shoes are not deep enough for your child’s feet. Let me show you an image of a child with indentations on his feet:
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Let me know if you are having trouble finding a different pair of shoes to accommodate the foot shape of your child’s high instep:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Have you tried a specific Nike shoe style that has worked well for your child’s high instep? Let us know in the comments section below so other families can benefit from your experiences.
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