Supportive Velcro Shoes for Kids Who Wear Orthotics – The Best Alternative to Shoelaces

Does your child wear a pair of orthotics and your medical professional recommends that you get a pair of supportive shoes? Are you looking for a pair of shoes that can fit your child’s orthotics but that have velcro closure instead of shoelaces? There is only a small selection of supportive velcro shoes for kids who wear orthotics, but the good news is that I will help you find them based on my 10 years of shoe fitting experience.

Shoes with shoelaces provide better support and stability compared to shoes with velcro closure, but if your child wears orthotics in shoes that are loosely tied, then it defeats the whole purpose of wearing orthotics. Allowing children to walk around in untied shoes can also be a safety issue.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes and Orthotics

I work for a shoe store that focuses on helping children with foot conditions such as flat feet, rolled ankles, low muscle tone, overpronation, etc. Many medical professionals recommend families to the shoe store that I work for to be fitted for supportive shoes and orthotics. 

I have noticed that shoes with shoelaces are a lot more effective compared to shoes with velcro closure, but there are instances in which the child can only wear shoes with velcro closure. Some of the reasons are:

• The child might be too young to learn how to tie the shoes

• The child might have motor or learning difficulties that interfere with their ability to easily acquire this skill

• The child simply prefers shoes with velcro closure over shoelaces

Shoes with Single or Double Velcro Straps – Does It Make a Difference?

In my experience, shoes with double velcro straps are the next best thing to shoes with shoelaces.

Shoes with double velcro straps are more effective than those with single ones as they “hug” the feet more efficiently and help keep the orthotic in place. There is a small selection of children’s shoes with double velcro straps, but I will show you which ones are still available shortly.

What Makes the Velcro Shoes that I Recommend Ideal for Orthotics?

The velcro shoes that I recommend provide 5 key features that makes them ideal for children who wear orthotics:

1️⃣ Extra Depth: Shoes that provide extra depth allow the orthotics to sit deeply inside of the shoes. The deeper the orthotic fits inside of the shoes, the more comfortable your child’s feet will feel. There is an orthotic fitted in the shoes below, do you notice how the orthotic is fitting a lot deeper inside the shoe on the right?

2️⃣ Supportive Outsoles: Shoes with supportive outsoles provide a stable base of support and help keep the orthotic in place. The shoes and the orthotics work together in helping treat your child’s foot condition, so it’s important that the shoes provide good support.

3️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: This is the part of the shoes that provides ankle and heel support. I suggest that you press on the heel counter of your kids’ shoes to make sure that it feels firm and sturdy. The firmer it feels, the better heel and ankle support that it will provide.

4️⃣ Double Velcro Straps: Shoes with double velcro straps are more effective than those with single ones as they “hug” the feet more efficiently and help keep the orthotic in place. The other advantage of shoes with double velcro straps is that they provide oversized openings, making it easier for children and parents to get the shoes on and off.

5️⃣ Removable Insoles: Shoes with removable insoles allow for extra space for the orthotics. All of the shoes that made my list will have removable insoles.

Where Can You Find Shoes that Provide these 5 Important Features?

If you have a specialized children’s shoe store in your area I suggest that you take your child there to be properly fitted for shoes. A shoe fitter will measure and size your child for the correct pair of shoes. However, not all families have a specialized children’s shoe store in their area that they trust.

For those families who don’t have a local children’s shoe store, I have put together a list of the most supportive velcro shoes for kids who wear orthotics. 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.

Supportive Velcro Shoes for Kids Who Wear Orthotics

Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out the following information:

• The foot shape the shoe can accommodate (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide)
• The best size to order allowing for growing room
• Other important information such as material

The Importance of Pulling the Velcro Straps Comfortably Tight

You must emphasize to your child the importance of pulling the velcro straps tightly. The tighter your child pulls the velcro straps, the better support and stability your child will get from the shoes.

Are the Shoes that I Recommended Durable?

Yes, all of the shoes that I recommended are made from high-quality materials and rubber outsoles that will help prevent the shoes from falling apart before your child is ready to outgrow them.

Try to get your child into the habit of undoing the velcro straps when getting the shoes on and off, as when children put on their shoes without undoing the velcro straps they tend to stretch out the shoe, making in it less supportive in the long run.

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

The shoes I recommended are the best velcro shoes for children who wear orthotics. Here you can access a selection of shoes with shoelaces that work well with orthotics.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you are having trouble finding a different pair of shoes other than sneakers to fit your child’s orthotics:

[email protected]

Providing children with supportive shoes and orthotics can make a world of difference in helping improve their foot posture and walking gait. Make sure that your child gets the full benefits of his or her orthotics by fitting them in the correct types of shoes!

Help me make this resource even better by sharing your favorite velcro shoe recommendations for kids who wear orthotics! I am sure that other families will benefit from reading about your experiences.