PLAE Shoes for Kids – Are They Good for Your Kids’ Feet?
PLAE shoes for kids stand out for their unique blend of style, comfort, and customizability. With interchangeable tabs and vibrant colors, children can design shoes that truly reflect their personality. Beyond style, PLAE shoes also promote independence, as kids can easily adjust their own fit. They’re even a fantastic alternative to light-up shoes, offering just as much excitement but with greater durability and support. Even better, some PLAE shoes are designed to work with orthotics—so kids can enjoy fun, stylish shoes without sacrificing the support their feet need. As a children’s shoe fitter with years of hands-on experience, I’ve carefully selected the best PLAE shoes for kids.
My Experience Fitting PLAE Shoes
Working in a children’s shoe store has allowed me to test countless brands and styles, and PLAE shoes truly stand out. What I love most is how thoughtfully they’re designed with kids’ biomechanics in mind. From the rounded toe-boxes that give toes room to move, to the flexible soles that encourage smoother, more balanced steps—every detail supports healthy foot development while keeping kids comfortable and active.
What Sets PLAE Shoes Apart?
PLAE shoes are a hit with kids thanks to their customizable Velcro straps and easy slip-on design. They open wide for quick on-and-off—perfect for children with wide feet or those who struggle to get shoes on by themselves.
Here are PLAE’s standout benefits:
- Customizable straps – interchangeable designs keep kids excited about their shoes.
- Number Two: Lightweight & flexible – reduces fatigue so little feet can play longer.
- Number Three: Breathable & cushioned – all-day comfort without irritation.
- Number Four: Durable materials – built to last while staying comfortable.
Parents often ask me at the shoe store, “Are PLAE shoes good for my child’s feet?” My answer: It depends on your child’s foot shape and activity level.
What Foot Shapes Can PLAE Shoes Accommodate?
Understanding your child’s foot shape is crucial in selecting the right pair of shoes. PLAE shoes are versatile and can accommodate a variety of foot shapes. But how do they manage this?
Wide and Narrow Feet. One of the standout features of PLAE shoes is their ability to fit both wide and narrow feet. The adjustable tabs allow for a snug fit regardless of foot width, ensuring that the shoes stay securely in place during movement.
Flat Feet and High Arches. For children with flat feet or high arches, finding the right shoe can be challenging. PLAE shoes provide the necessary support and cushioning that these foot types require. The shoes are designed with a contoured footbed that supports natural foot development and helps in maintaining proper alignment.
Can PLAE Shoes Fit Orthotics?
Many parents wonder if PLAE shoes can accommodate orthotics, especially if their child requires additional support. The good news is that most PLAE shoe designs have removable insoles, making them orthotic-friendly.
PLAE shoes can accommodate certain orthotics, but it really depends on the type your child wears. In my experience, they work best with 3/4 or full-length orthotics, but they’re not the right match for AFOs or SMOs.
As an experienced shoe fitter, I have seen firsthand the positive impact that well-fitted shoes can have on a child’s foot health. Here are my top recommendations for PLAE shoes in 2025. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Choosing the Right PLAE Shoes for Your Child
Most of the shoes featured below are sold directly through PLAE’s official website, as only a limited selection is available on Amazon or Zappos.
- Order the shoe Ty by PLAE on their official website
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Removable insoles
- Washable
- Double velcro straps
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe Mimo Water by PLAE on Amazon or PLAE’s official website
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% IMEVA
- Ultra lightweight EVA
- Water-friendly, quick dry
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Reach Out for Specific Shoe Recommendations
If you’re unsure about which PLAE shoe is best for your child, don’t hesitate to reach out for personalized recommendations. As a shoe fitter, I’m passionate about helping families find the perfect pair of shoes that cater to their child’s unique foot shape and needs. Whether you’re dealing with wide feet, flat feet, or the need for orthotics, there’s a PLAE shoe designed to meet those requirements.
How to Find Out What Shoe Size to Order Online
Buying shoes online can be tricky, especially when it comes to ensuring the right fit for your child. To make the process easier, use my virtual guide to determine the correct shoe size to order online.
I hope you don’t give kids orthotics unless they’re in pain. Are you familiar with Naturalpodiatry.com or naturalfootgear.com? Please take a look and do some research. Kids’ feet need to splay and the muscles need to work and not be supported. (So do adult feet for that matter). Why is it that our feet are the only part of the body that we feel it’s necessary to permanently brace with orthotics? We wouldn’t dream of leaving a neck brace on indefinitely. The muscles and joints of the feet provide the body’s foundation. Only by using them do they work well.
Thank you for your attention to this.
Hello Kyle,
Thank you for your feedback. Pain is not the only reason to treat. When a child has a foot condition that’s left untreated, it might produce a problem sometime later in the child’s life. It might not be on the foot, it might be on the knee, the hip, the back, all of the structure and joints above the feet depend on the feet.
Some medical professionals recommend children to wear orthotics while some other take a different approach. I always tell parents to follow the advice from their medical professionals.
My daughter has been wearing plae for the last 3 years and they fit her perfectly and are very durable. Her feet are actually more towards the narrow side and the fact that you can decide how tight you want the shoe has made these shoes the perfect feet! Plae shoes are reliable they will last until your kids outgrow the shoes.
Hi Elisa,
Thank you for sharing! Which specific style worked well for your daughter’s narrow feet?
My 3 year old daughter is battling a brain tumor and wears orthotics on her left side. Plae is the only shoe that has worked for her. They open wide and we buy the longer velcro strap to fit across her brace. They also let you order 2 different sizes. We’ve tried everything.
Hello Kristen,
I am sorry to hear that but thank you for sharing. Other parents will be happy to know PLAE shoes work for children who need orthotics. I believe they make great shoes and the velcro straps are fun and come in different colors!
I bought a pair of PLAE shoes for my 5yr old son. His feet are xw, high instep & wears an AFO. There was no support at all. My 7yr old son who has flat narrow feet also had a pair and ended up twisting his foot because the shoe offered no support for him. Needless to say I was highly disappointed and wasted over $100. Still searching for a good comfortable shoe for them
Sandra,
While the shoe company PLAE claims that their shoes fit orthotics, I have NEVER fitted a pair of orthotics in these type of shoes since I don’t find them supportive or deep enough to fit an orthotic. There are other several styles that will fit a pair of AFO or any other type of orthotics much better.
For your child that wears orthotics, you should check out this post where I describe the best shoes for children who need orthotics:
The Best Shoes for Kids that Need Orthotics – Keep Your Kids’ Feet and Legs Healthy!
I will also recommend you read that post for your child how has narrow and flat feet. You should strongly consider providing him with a pair of lace up sneakers instead of velcro closure, since it will hug his narrow feet much better, and provide him with more support and stability!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Wow. I’m not a parent but I have a lot of smaller cousins who are SUPER active and love to run around. They’re around the ages of 5 or 6 years old and I’m really glad I found this article.
I’ve been tasked with finding new shoes because my aunt is tired of replacing the new shoes she buys all the time (I keep telling her it’s the quality of the brands). The fact that you can WASH these shoes is a serious plus.
I was thinking about getting crocs but the only downside was that they’re not really sporty. Would you recommend crocs by the way? I was going to recommend both pairs because the PLAE ones seem like great all rounders whereas crocs seem like a great indoor shoe (my cousins like wearing shoes in the house).
But what would you recommend?I might recommend two pairs of PLAE shoes just because they seem so comfortable and more importantly, washable. How would you compare crocs to the PLAE brand of shoes? Any advice?
Hello Rhys,
Crocs and PLAE shoes are totally different types of footwear and serve very different purposes. Crocs are meant to be worn to the beach, walk around the house, or walk around the swimming pool, while PLAE sneakers are meant to run around all day.
I recommend Crocs as long as parents let their kids wear them for what they are meant to be worn, short periods of time and short distance walking. I actually wrote a post where I describe this in more detail called:
Crocs for Children – Is Your Child in Danger When Wearing Crocs?
I love the fact that the shoe is machine washable and stylish at the same time! I don’t have a local shoe store in my area so I always end up buying them online. You recommend Amazon to get kids shoes? What about shoes for myself? Also Amazon? Do they offer the best prices?
I found that Amazon offers the best prices for kids adult shoes. It is also a reliable retailer so you know what to expect from them. I always recommend to try to go to the shoe store to try the shoes on, but if you are sure about which shoe style and which shoe size to get for your child or yourself, then you can definitely get them online.I wrote a post where I describe how to make sure you are getting your child the correct shoe size and you might find it helpful since you don’t have a children’s shoe store in your area. The post is called:
How Can I Make Sure My Kids’ Shoes Fit? – Learn The Secret Here!
My husband is always wanting to make sure our kids have good shoes because they can impact so much of their gait and body health. I have heard about this PLAE shoe brand before but wasn’t sure if it will fit my kids feet and how well they will hold up. Does Amazon provides the best prices? After reading your post we are ready to try them!
Hello Katie,
I have found that Amazon provides some of the best prices when it comes to kids shoes. PLAE shoes are great for kids since they are soft, flexible, and will fit children with wide feet!
I read this article a while back and got convinced to try these shoes for my son. He is hard to fit, since he has a very high instep and always complains about his shoes feeling too tight. I ordered one sneaker from the link provided below in the article.
Now having my son wear these shoes for over 2 months, I am amazed and at the same time very much satisfied with the quality of the shoes. My son loves to customize the shoes and says they feel really comfy. Thanks Juan!
Hello Tushar,
I am glad the shoes worked for your kids feet! It’s good to know that these shoes do fit in the wider side, and also will fit a child with a high instep. They also look pretty stylish!
My child has been wearing the PLAE shoe brand for three years straight now and loves them! They provide a roomy fit and look really stylish! He also loves customizing the shoes!
Could you recommend a shoe brand for kids with extra wide feet? One of my nieces has the widest feet and we can’t seem to find shoes that are wide enough for her feet!
When I need to fit a child with an extra wide foot in a pair of shoes, I normally choose the New Balance shoe brand. They tend to have the roundest, widest toe boxes. I wrote a post where I describe the best extra wide shoes for children, and you can find that post here:
Extra Wide Children’s Shoes
I can guarantee you that those shoes will fit your niece with extra wide feet!