The Best Baseball Cleats for Kids Who Wear SMOs

July 31, 2025 SMOs Juan Valenzuela 0 - Comments

Finding the right baseball cleats for a child who wears SMOs (Supra Malleolar Orthoses) can be challenging—but it’s absolutely possible. If your child’s doctor has recommended wearing SMOs during sports, you’re in the right place. As a pediatric shoe fitter with years of experience, I’ll guide you to the best baseball cleats that can comfortably and safely accommodate SMOs. I’ll also share alternative options, including extra wide soccer cleats that can double as baseball cleats if needed.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes and Orthotics

For over 10 years, I’ve been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics—including SMOs—at a specialty shoe store that focuses on kids with complex foot shapes and lower limb conditions. Many physical and occupational therapists regularly refer families to us for expert fittings. SMOs (Supra Malleolar Orthoses) are designed to support a child’s ankles and feet by improving stability and alignment. Because of their bulk, finding shoes that properly fit over SMOs is essential for comfort, mobility, and function.

Should Children Wear SMOs When Playing Baseball?

This depends on the degree of your child’s foot condition, so this is a question that your medical professional will likely be able to answer. In my experience, most children don’t have to wear their braces while playing sports, but I have seen a handful of children who do.

Red baseball cleats for kids.

Which Brands Make Baseball Cleats for SMOs?

Recommending specific shoe brands can be tricky since not all models within a brand fit the same—some are significantly wider and deeper than others. The baseball cleats I recommend come from brands like New Balance and Zephz, but it’s important to note that not every cleat from these brands will work well with SMOs. I’ve carefully selected the styles that offer the best fit and support based on real-world experience.

Baseball Cleats for Children Who Wear SMOs – 3 Key Attributes

Number One: Why Extra Depth Matters. This feature allows extra space for the SMOs without compromising the fit or comfort of the shoe.

Number Two: Stable Base of Support. This design helps prevent rolling of the ankles and ensures that the child’s foot remains well-supported throughout their activities.

Number Three: Firm Heel Counters. They offer additional support to the ankles, which is crucial for children who need extra stability. A strong heel counter helps maintain the alignment and positioning of the orthotic, enhancing its effectiveness.

The Best Baseball Cleats for Kids Who Wear SMOs in 2025

I’ve found certain cleat styles with oversized openings and extra depth that may work well with your child’s SMOs. However, I want to emphasize the word may—because while these cleats have been successful for many children wearing SMOs, they might not be the right fit for every child. SMOs can vary widely in design and bulk, and some take up significantly more space than others. Finding the right match often comes down to the specific shape and size of your child’s braces.

Romero Duo Rubber Molded by New Balance. These New Balance kids’ wide baseball cleats for orthotics feature a REVlite midsole for cushioning and a durable synthetic upper that provides excellent support.

Youth baseball cleats for girls.
Youth baseball cleats for boys.
  • Order the shoe Romero by New Balance on Amazon or Zappos
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • REVlite midsole delivers incredibly lightweight cushioning
  • Lace closure offers a secure fit
  • I recommend getting this shoe one full size larger than your child’s foot, or half a size larger than the end of the SMO footplate if it extends over the toes

Fresh Foam 3000v7 Rubber Molded by New Balance. These youth wide baseball cleats by New Balance are designed with a breathable upper, which helps keep feet cool and dry, reducing the risk of blisters and other moisture-related issues.

New Balance baseball cleats for kids with wide feet.
  • Order the shoe Fresh Foam 3000v7 Rubber Molded by New Balance on the New Balance website or Zappos
  • Fits medium and wide feet
  • REVlite midsole delivers incredibly lightweight cushioning
  • Lace closure offers a secure fit
  • I recommend getting this shoe one full size larger than your child’s foot, or half a size larger than the end of the SMO footplate if it extends over the toes.

Extra Wide Width Soccer Cleats as an Alternative

While these are technically soccer cleats, their extra wide widths and supportive design make them a viable alternative for baseball. They provide the space and stability needed for SMOs and are often more readily available in wider sizes. I recommend checking with your child’s coach to see if wearing soccer cleats for baseball games or practices is allowed—they can sometimes be a great alternative, especially when fitting around SMOs.

Zephz red soccer shoe for kids with wide or extra wide feet.
Zephz soccer shoe for kids with wide or extra wide feet.

Key Features

  • Order the soccer shoe by Zephz on Amazon
  • Available in extra wide widths
  • Extra padding around the ankles
  • I recommend getting this shoe one full size larger than your child’s foot, or half a size larger than the end of the SMO footplate if it extends over the toes.

To maximize support and stability, it’s essential to lace your child’s baseball cleats snugly—but comfortably. The right lacing can make a big difference, especially for kids who wear SMOs. I use a shoe lacing technique that helps keep the braces securely in place and minimizes unwanted movement inside the shoes, giving your child better control and comfort on the field.

Should You Remove Cleat Insoles Before Fitting SMOs?

If your child’s SMOs have a footplate that stops before the toes, I recommend leaving the original insoles in place. Placing the SMOs directly on top of the insoles helps protect your child’s toes from rubbing against the hard outsole of the cleat. Removing the insole could expose the toes to extra friction, which can cause discomfort or even painful blisters.

This image shows an SMO with a footplate that stops before the toes—in cases like this, there’s no need to remove the original insoles from the shoes, as they help cushion and protect your child’s toes from friction.
This image shows an SMO with a footplate that extends over the toes. In this case, you may need to remove the shoe’s original insoles to create extra room and ensure a more comfortable, secure fit.

What Types of Socks Should Your Child Wear?

I highly recommend choosing socks with extra cushioning and padding under the feet to boost comfort and help prevent common issues like blisters. It’s also important to make sure the socks are tall enough to cover the full height of the SMOs, so the plastic doesn’t rub directly against your child’s legs. Below, you’ll find a curated list of comfortable, well-padded baseball socks that work great with SMOs.

Red baseball socks for kids.
  • Order these baseball socks made by Soft Sole on Amazon
  • 75% Nylon, 15% Polyester, and 10% Spandex
  • Moisture Wicking yarns on the tube help keep your child’s feet cool and dry
  • Mesh panels provide ventilation
  • Machine washable
Black baseball socks for kids.
  • Order these baseball socks made by Franklin Sports on Amazon
  • Acrylic
  • Lightweight and durable materials
  • These socks are constructed with extra cushion in the bottom of the feet
  • Machine washable

Can Your Child Wear a Less Invasive Orthotic for Baseball?

Don’t shy away from asking your medical professional whether your child can wear a full-length sports insole while playing baseball instead of the SMOs. The reason why I mention this is that a full-length orthotic will take a lot less space compared to SMOs, and they can be really effective in helping support your child’s feet. The advantage of the sport insole recommended in that article is that it will be easier to fit in most cleats and you won’t have to worry about getting your child’s baseball cleats extra long.

Bonus Resource: Everyday Sneakers for SMOs

In addition to baseball cleats, it’s important to have everyday sneakers that accommodate SMOs. These should feature similar qualities: extra depth, wide widths, and oversized openings. Having a reliable pair of everyday shoes ensures your child’s feet are well-supported off the field as well.

SMOs offer unique advantages and can do amazing things when it comes to improving your child’s mobility and control. Unfortunately, most of these orthoses tend to be heavy and bulky, which makes finding shoes a frustrating and time-consuming experience. With that said, it’s really important that you make sure that your child’s shoes fit the SMOs correctly, as the shoes and SMOs work together to help treat your child’s foot condition.

Have questions? Drop them in the comments below—I’m happy to help! And if you’ve found shoes that work well with your child’s SMOs, please share your experience. Your insights could make a big difference for other families on the same journey.