The Best Hiking Boots for Kids with Wide Feet – Waterproof, Lightweight, and Supportive!
Have you been looking for a pair of hiking boots that can fit your child’s wide feet? Do you feel like every pair of hiking boots that you try on your child’s feet is hard to get on and off and leaves red marks on your child’s feet? Finding a pair of hiking boots that will fit the shape of a child with wide feet can be time-consuming, but the good news is that I will help you find them! I know exactly which are the best hiking boots for kids with wide feet and I will help you find them since I have been fitting children’s shoes for many years.
At the shoe store where I work, we carry shoes in different widths such as wide (W) and extra wide (XW), as that is the only way we can guarantee to fit every single child, no matter how wide the child’s feet are. This is the reason why I am familiar with every single shoe style that is available in wide widths.
Pro Tip: If you’re pressed for time you can go directly to a selection of wide hiking boots for kids.
What Makes the Hiking Boots I Recommend Effective for Kids with Wide Feet?
➡️ Round Toe-Boxes
➡️ Extra Deep
Let me show you the difference between two hiking boots that are the same length and width, but fit very differently. Do you notice how the hiking boot on the right has a much rounder/wider toe-box? That type of hiking boot is going to be capable of accommodating the shape of a child with a wide foot better.
Are Hiking Boots Available in Wide Widths (W)?
Several parents have asked me if hiking boots for children with wide feet exist, and the answer is yes. While the selection is small, there are a couple of hiking boot styles that are available in wide widths (W). However, finding a pair of hiking boots for your child with wide feet takes a lot more than just choosing a hiking boot that is labeled as wide. The hiking boots must also provide extra depth, that way your child’s feet can sit deeply inside the boots and prevent the top part of the foot (instep) from rubbing against the top part of the boots.
Below you can find an image to better visualize the difference between a hiking boot that provides extra depth and one that doesn’t:
Do You Usually Struggle Getting Your Child’s Shoes On and Off?
Do you know what the instep of the foot is? The instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it makes it very complicated to find shoes that fit. Below you can see where the instep of the foot is located:
If your kids happen to have wide feet and a high instep, don’t panic! I know exactly which hiking boots will fit the shape of their feet.
In addition to fitting the shape of your kids’ feet perfectly, we also have to make sure that the hiking boot provides good support, is lightweight, flexible, and waterproof. It’s extremely important for the hiking boot to be waterproof if you want to keep your kids’ feet dry and warm.
Before I provide you with a selection of the best hiking boots for kids with wide feet, let me first show you which features these hiking boots provide, and how to make sure that you provide your child with the correct shoe size.
Hiking Boots for Kids with Wide Feet – 5 Important Features!
I always recommend to parents that before they buy a pair of hiking boots to make sure that it provides these 5 important features:
- Oversized Openings: This feature makes it easier for parents and children to get their boots on and off. Children with chubby feet have a hard time slipping into boots that don’t easily open. You will notice that the hiking boots that I recommend open up widely, which makes it easier for children and parents to get the boots on and off.
- Support: The hiking boots must be supportive in order for your child to be able to wear them for longer periods of time.
- Lightweight and Flexible: While the hiking boots must be supportive, they must also be lightweight and flexible at the same time. These features help prevent your child’s feet and legs from easily getting tired. Your kids’ hiking boots should bend at the ball of the foot but no further.
- Waterproof: This is a very important feature as waterproof hiking boots are extremely versatile, as your child will be able to use the hiking boot for those rainy days instead of a rain boot. By the way, the only way to tell if a boot is waterproof is by checking if it has a label that reads “waterproof”. Take a look at the picture below for clarification:
- Traction: The hiking boot must provide good traction in order to prevent your child from slipping and falling, especially when walking on slippery surfaces:
Can we find a pair of hiking boots that provides all of these features and that also fits the shape of your child’s wide feet? Yes, we can! However, before I provide you with a selection of the best hiking boots for kids with wide feet, I want to make sure that you know your child’s exact foot size.
How to Order the Correct Shoe Size Online?
It doesn’t matter how many features a particular shoe provides, if the shoes are not fitted properly, your child won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer. What’s even worse, if you don’t provide your child with the correct shoe size, you will end up creating all sorts of issues to your child’s feet such as blisters, calluses, and corns.
Start by reading an article I wrote where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home.
In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.
Now that you know what features the hiking boots that I recommend provide and how to make sure that you provide your child with the correct shoe size, you are ready to see a selection of the best hiking boots for kids with wide feet. 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.
The Best Hiking Boots for Kids with Wide Feet
Many of the boots featured below come in several color options, so if you want the boots to be made of a specific color, please make sure to click through and see if they are available in that specific color.
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Shoe style Timberland
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Padded collar for a comfortable fit around the ankle
- Water-friendly
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Sam II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Waterproof
- Double velcro closure
- Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Atlas II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Waterproof
- Double velcro closure
- Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Atlas II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Waterproof
- Double velcro closure
- Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Rover by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Water-friendly
- Wide toe-box and an outsole with rounded edges
- Flex grooves in outsole for maximum flexibility
- Reinforced protected toe
- Velcro closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Rover by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Water-friendly
- Wide toe-box and an outsole with rounded edges
- Flex grooves in outsole for maximum flexibility
- Reinforced protected toe
- Velcro closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Tracks by Timberland
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof
- Heel and toe bumpers add durability
- Cushioned EVA midsole for all-day comfort
- Lining and removable insole made out of textile material
- Double velcro straps
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Tokyo by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Waterproof
- Velcro closure
- Machine washable
- Removable insoles
- Order this boot the same size as your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Maddsen by Timberland
- Fits medium and wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Full-grain leather
- Lace-up vamp
- Padded puffy collar
- EVA foam footbed
- Waterproof
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style Moab Speed by Merrell
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Waterproof
- Velcro closure
- FLOATPRO FOAM footbed for enhanced cushioning
- Removable insoles
- Order this boot half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Moab Speed by Merrell
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- M Select DRY bootie waterproof construction to keep feet dry
- Non-marking outsole with M Select GRIP for superior traction
- Reinforced protected toe
- Velcro closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Maker by Deer Stags
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Gusseted tongue keeps the water out
- Padded insole
- Reinforced protected toe
- Double velcro straps
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style DynaSoft Trail Magic by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Breathable mesh upper with synthetic overlays for added strength
- DynaSoft midsole adds plush cushioning and responsive performance underfoot
- The BOA® Fit System makes it easy to adjust the fit with a simple turn of a dial
- Removable, padded insole
- Bungee lace closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style DynaSoft Trail Magic by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Breathable mesh upper with synthetic overlays for added strength
- DynaSoft midsole adds plush cushioning and responsive performance underfoot
- The BOA® Fit System makes it easy to adjust the fit with a simple turn of a dial
- Removable, padded insole
- Bungee lace closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Moab by Merrell
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Constructed with M-Select® waterproof construction with faux-leather uppers and breathable mesh panels.
- Non-marking outsole with M Select GRIP for superior traction
- Reinforced protected toe
- Lace-up closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Moab 2 by Merrell
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Constructed with M-Select® waterproof construction with faux-leather uppers and breathable mesh panels.
- Non-marking outsole with M Select GRIP for superior traction
- Reinforced protected toe
- Lace-up closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Howser II by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- KEEN.Warm® insulation rating of -4ºF/-20ºC
- Waterproof
- Removable insoles
- Lace-up system with toggle closure offer a secure fit
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Maddsen by Timberland
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof to keep your child’s feet dry
- Traditional lace closure
- Padded collar and tongue
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Chameleon7 by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- M Select Dry waterproof construction for keeping toes dry
- Traditional lace closure
- Good traction
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Do You Need a Pair of Wide Hiking Boots for Yourself?
If you have wide feet and can’t seem to find a comfortable pair of hiking boots I suggest that you visit a different website that describes the best wide hiking boots for women.
Before you leave, I want to let you know that socks play a key role in keeping your kids’ feet healthy. Socks act as a barrier between your kids’ feet and the shoes, and they prevent the formation of bacteria inside the shoes.
What Are the Best Hiking Socks for Kids?
Whether you are planning on providing your child with a pair of waterproof hiking boots to go hiking, wear them to school, or wear them occasionally for those rainy days, it’s important that your child wears a good pair of socks with the hiking boots.
Socks also help cushion and prevent your kids’ feet from rubbing against certain parts of the shoes, preventing the formation of blisters around the toes or the ankles.
There are certain socks that provide better warmth and cushioning for those really cold days. These are the best socks for the winter season as they are made of merino wool, an ultra-soft, naturally anti-microbial, breathable material. Below you can find a selection of the best hiking socks for kids:
- Socks made by Meriwool
- Merino wool’s natural wicking and odor-resistant properties keep your child’s feet dry
- 75% Merino wool blend ensures comfort all day long
- Socks made by Meriwool
- Merino wool’s natural wicking and odor-resistant properties keep your child’s feet dry
- 75% Merino wool blend ensures comfort all day long
- Socks made by Seeyan
- 6 pairs childs thermal socks
- Made from high-quality wool materials, durable and breathable enough for flexible movements with its great elasticity and durability
- Provide enough stretch to easily put them on and don’t squeeze legs
- Socks made by Smartwool
- Flat knit toe seam for additional comfort
- 65% wool, 31% nylon, 2% recycled nylon, 2% elastane
- Socks made by Smartwool
- Cushioning on the entire bottom of the foot
- 58% wool, 38% nylon, 2% recycled nylon, 2% elastane
- Socks made by Antsang
- Made of the 55% wool, 25% cotton, 15% polyester and 5% spandex
- Special fuzzy inner design will keep the feet warm
The socks should be the same length as the hiking boot, that way the boot won’t rub against your kids’ ankles and create blisters.
What Are the Best Sneakers for Kids with Wide Feet?
Here is a different resource that showcases the best wide sneakers for kids.
Hiking boots for children with wide or extra wide feet do exist, and I provided you with the best selection that I have fitted before. If you are unable to find a particular shoe style for your child with wide or extra wide feet, please do not hesitate to contact me since I will help you find it:
Is there a particular hiking boot style that has worked well for your child with wide feet? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
