The Best Shoe Brands for Kids – The 5 Most Durable and Affordable Brands
Have you always wondered which are the best shoe brands for kids? Five shoe brands have proven to be the most consistent ones when it comes to manufacturing kids’ shoes that are supportive, lightweight, flexible, durable, and affordable. Among each shoe brand that I recommend, certain shoe styles are a lot better than others, and I am going to show you exactly which models these are based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
Key Features of Comfortable Sneakers for Kids
1️⃣ Lightweight and flexible to help promote natural foot movement.
2️⃣ Stable base of support with firm heel counters to help minimize the impact that your kids’ feet and legs take every time they become in contact with the ground.
3️⃣ Soft and well-padded around the heel and ankles to increase comfort and prevent foot issues such a blisters:
4️⃣ Oversized openings allow for easy on and off so your children to put these shoes on by themselves and easily take them off.
5️⃣ Breathable/Antibacterial insoles in case your child struggles with sweaty and smelly feet.
What Are the Best Shoe Brands for Kids? – My Top 5 Choices
Parents want to provide shoes for their kids that are durable and affordable. The shoes need to be able to accommodate the shape of their child’s feet as well and promote healthy foot development in toddlers and older children. If you happen to have a baby or toddler who is learning how to walk then you should read a different resource I created that describes the best shoe brands for toddlers.
1️⃣ New Balance: The Winner for “Complicated” Foot Shapes and Foot Conditions
New Balance is my go-to shoe brand for children who have “complicated” foot shapes such as wide or extra wide feet (and high insteps as well). I also tend to choose this shoe brand if a child has a specific foot condition such as flat feet and needs extra support from the shoes. Certain New Balance shoes are ideal for treating common foot conditions in children such as flat feet, heel pain, toe walking, and many more.
New Balance shoes are partially manufactured in the United States. The company makes domestic manufacturing a top priority, producing and assembling over 4 million pairs of athletic shoes per year in the United States.
2️⃣ SAUCONY: The Winner for Manufacturing High-Quality and Affordable Shoes
Another iconic shoe brand is Saucony, one of the leading technical shoe manufacturers out there. The company is known for its shoes’ high quality and support. Saucony is a great brand for kids, as they produce shoes that can accommodate different foot shapes. What parents love the most is how they make great quality shoes that can fit different foot shapes at an affordable price.
3️⃣ ASICS: The Winner for Kids with Narrow Feet who Love to Run!
Asics is one of the best shoe brands when it comes to running. In addition to providing excellent support and stability, Asics shoes are extremely well-built. Did you know that Asics is one of the most popular running shoe brands worldwide? Their styles are all made to accommodate the boundless energy of young children!
The shoes come with infused gel and offer optimal support for children who have narrow feet and need actual running shoes. Additional layers of gel are associated with the highest prices.
4️⃣ STRIDE RITE: The Winner for Babies and Toddlers Learning How to Walk!
Stride Rite is the best choice for babies and toddlers who are learning how to walk, as they offer “transition shoes,” which help children balance and make the process of learning how to walk a little easier. Most Stride Rite shoe styles come with sensory pods on the sole of the shoe, which allows babies who are learning how to walk “feel” the ground, making them more confident and stable when taking those first steps.
The shoe company also offers shoes for older children. Whether your child is walking, running, or jumping, this brand of shoes can handle it all. The company also manufacture shoes in different widths such as medium, wide, and extra wide.
5️⃣ GEOX: The Winner for Durable Shoes
Geox doesn’t only make fantastic looking shoes, this brand makes shoes that are virtually indestructible. The stitching detail found on every single style of their shoes provides extended durability. A huge plus of this brand is their GeoxTM breathes patented system that absorbs and wicks away moisture.
If you have a child whose feet tend to sweat a lot, Geox shoes will provide them with excellent breathability. European customers love Geox shoes for their leather materials and for construction that provides excellent support.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home. In that resource you will find out whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also be able to determine whether your child has a high instep or not.
Why Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour Didn’t Make it to the Top 5 Best Shoe Brands for Kids?
While these shoe brands are some of the most popular shoe brands among children, their shoes don’t provide the correct amount of support that children need to perform their everyday activities and keep their feet healthy. In addition, these shoe brands don’t manufacture shoes in different widths so they are not able to accommodate different foot shapes.
Let me elaborate a bit more. Most Nike shoes are too flimsy and soft, providing minimal arch and ankle support. Do you know what the heel counter of the shoe is? The heel counter is the back part of the shoe that provides ankle support. The heel counter of the Nike shoe style is much softer compared to a New Balance shoe style, which is evident in these photos:
Shoes play a key role in keeping your kids’ feet and legs healthy, so it’s very important that you choose the correct shoe styles for your child. Certain shoe brands that are consistent in making supportive, and well-made shoes for children.
Are You Confused About Which Shoe Brand to Choose?
In all honesty, you really can’t go wrong with any of these brands. They all make excellent quality footwear for kids, and when it comes to durability, there are no other better shoe brands for kids than the ones mentioned above. It will all come down to which brand fits the shape of your kids’ feet best.
When looking for shoes for their children, some parents’ top priority might be where the shoes are made, while for some other parents it might be the cost of the shoes. Aside from what your top priority might be, keep in mind that selecting good quality footwear for your children is important to keep your kids’ feet, legs, and back healthy.
Also, please don’t assume that a certain shoe brand manufactures poorly made shoes just because you had a bad experience with one particular style. Sometimes it happens that one shoe from the whole batch might be defective, in other words, a manufacturer defect. In the case of defective shoes, any of these 5 shoe companies will typically provide you with a refund or an exchange.
Do You Need Specific Shoe Recommendations for Your Child?
Children’s shoe needs can vary depending on their age, activity level, and any specific foot conditions they may have. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, you can contact me via email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. I am happy to help you find the perfect pair of shoes for your child so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
I hope you enjoyed reading about the most durable brands for children, and I would love to know if you have had positive experiences with any of the brands mentioned. Also, let me know if you have another brand that you would recommend.
But where do we find these shoes in stores? I wouldn’t want to order on line because of needing to try on.
Hello Rae,
You might find some of these shoe styles in your local shoe store. If you are unsure whether you have a good fitting children’s shoe store in your area I suggest that you take a look at this map that I created: The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores in the United States – Where to go for Proper Fittings
If you don’t have a children’s shoe store in your area you can retrieve your child’s exact foot length and shape here: How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Juan, thank you for making such an interesting post, a lot of good things to know especially in these times where going out to the store in person is not always and option and a lot of shoe stores seem to be very low on stock because of covid 19 here in Canada.
I was wondering if you have any recommendations for my situation, I have 15 month old very active twin boys one of them was born with an extra baby toe on his right foot so as you can imagine it is quite a bit wider than his left foot, we still haven’t come to a decision about weather or not to do a surgery and have it removed, as long as it’s not hurting him right now. I was able to find a pair of nikes for the summer time with a sort of fabric mesh top where his foot could form to the shoe but now that it’s colder I want to find him something that will be water resistant and a little warmer, I ordered Nike manoa ACGs and it seems to be bothering him my husband suggested we try stretching it out with a blow dryer or hot water but if that doesn’t work I’m not sure what to order next… as I said before all the shoe stores here seem to be very low stock for actually going in and trying things on.
Thanks so much for reading this I hope to hear from you soon !
Hi Valarie,
I suggest that you take a look at the following article:
Best Shoes for Kids with Six Toes – Extra Deep and Rounder Toe-Boxes
To answer your specific question, we need to look for shoes that provide extra depth and rounder toe-boxes in order to prevent your son’s toes from overlapping and rubbing against one another or the side of the shoes. Nike tends to make shoes with pointier toe-boxes rather than wider ones.
I can send you specific shoe recommendations but I would need to know your son’s specific foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide). I help parents figure this out in a different article:
How to Measure Your Kids Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Hi Juan. My son has narrow feet and I always buy him Asics. They tend to fit his feet best so your recommendation was right on point. That being said I have an older daughter who is really into his Nike sneakers and refuses to wear any other shoe brands. Her shoes always look quite flimsy and not as durable as a lot of other brands.
Hi Nile,
Asics is my go-to shoe brand for children with narrow feet. They also provide excellent support and they are durable. As long as your daughter doesn’t have a foot condition or complains about foot or leg pain it’s okay for her to wear Nike shoes. However, when it comes to support and durability Nike doesn’t even come close to any of the 5 shoe brands I recommend.
I need a shoe brand that is durable as my son is always destroying his shoes. He has extra wide feet. Which shoe brand is the most durable one that can fit the shape of his wide feet at the same time?
I am tired of having to replace this shoes before he is ready to outgrow them.
Hi Jay,
I suggest that you choose any of the New Balance shoe styles. They are durable and can fit the shape of your son’s extra wide feet as long as you choose the extra wide (XW) width.
Hi Juan!
Among these 5 shoe brands which is the one you would recommend for a child who has flat and extra wide feet? I am thinking I need to choose either New Balance or Saucony but I am not sure which one to choose. My child is complaining about foot pain.
Hello
I suggest that you choose any of the New Balance shoes I recommend and choose the extra wide width (XW). I suggest that you also choose any of the shoes with shoelaces instead of velcro as they provide better support and stability. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi Juan – Thank you for all the informative articles.
My son is 8 years old. He is pretty tough on his shoes. 3 months max before shoes give up ?. But he uses only one pair everyday just to keep all details fair.
He uses Velcro.
Can you please suggest some good brands (under $50) and what models in those brands?
Thanks.
Hi Nilima –
Before I send you specific shoe recommendations I need to know whether your son has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also would like to know if your child has a foot condition or not.
After almost an year and half, I am still at same Dilemma. I think he has wide foot. We bought ASICS and within few months of starting school, there is already an hole near the toe area of left-side shoe. He doesn’t have any foot condition but does need good support/cushioning. He is bit on the heavy and tall side for his age.
Hello Nilima,
I don’t recommend Asics for children with wide feet, Asics can fit children with narrow or medium width feet.I suggest that you look into New Balance or Saucony.
Do you know if your son has a high instep? If you are unsure about your son’s exact foot shape I suggest that you follow the instructions here: How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
My boys used to wear New Balance running shoes. While being indestructible, I have found that these shoes do not offer much cushioning, and are very hard and not as flexible as other shoe brands. I don’t like them for myself either and wear only Brooks.
Hello Sandy,
Thank you for sharing. Among each shoe brand there are certain shoe styles that will be more flexible and provide more support than others, that is why I provide specific shoe recommendations among each shoe brand.
Plae shoes are amazing for children (and now adult styles too)! they fit great and are impressively durable, they have a guarantee although I don’t recall the terms of it off the top of my head, they also will replace the shoes should the child hit a growth spurt. They also accommodate children with orthopedics and inserts. If you haven’t heard of this brand before it’s definitely worth checking out.. their regular sneaker styles are around $40-55 but they offer a first purchase discount and have a rewards program as well 🙂
Hello Ashley,
I have fitted PLAE shoes before and they are great and the only reason why they didn’t make my top 5 list is because I believe the other shoe brands are even better. I actually even wrote an article that describes PLAE shoes. Thank you for sharing your own experience about PLAE shoes!
HI:
I have an 8 year old who is very active. He likes to run and play soccer at recess. All his shoes have worn out within 2 months. I’m unsure of what brand of shoes to get him as he has high arches and wide feet too. What brand shoe would suit all the above conditions? I was thinking of getting him indoor soccer shoes to wear so he doesn’t destroy his sneakers but I heard they don’t offer support..
Help!
THank you.
Best, Wenn
Hello Wenn,
There are several brands that will work for his feet, but among those brands there are certain shoe styles that will work better than others. There is a particular shoe style made by New Balance that is my to-go shoe for children who destroy their shoes. It’s durable, supportive, and available in wide and extra wide widths. You can find that shoe style here:
Supportive and Durable Shoe Style
If your son doesn’t know how to tie his shoes yet please let me know and I will provide you with some Velcro options.
I hope this helps!
I have a 4 year old who has shoe trouble. She only likes the little slip on plastic shoes from old Navy but can’t wear them to school. We have been to every shoe store in my area and can’t find her a pair of tennis shoes. She does not like a shoe to “move” on her foot when she runs or jumps or anything. When she does wear anything else besides the plastic shoes she tightens them so tight she gets marks on her feet or the strap drags the ground. We have tried putting in heal protectors and anything we can think of. Any suggestions? It’s almost like she is always between sizes.
Hello Desiree,
Have you consider providing her with a pair of shoes with shoelaces? They will grab her foot better and prevent her feet from moving inside the shoes.
Does she like to wear socks with her shoes? It’s important that she does since socks will cushion and protect her feet when she is pulling either the shoelaces or the velcro closure too tight.
My recommendation will be to try a shoe with shoelaces, but if she has a shoe in mind that she likes already, you can always put a tongue pad inside the shoe to prevent her feet from moving. A tongue pad is an adhesive-backed pad that goes in the tongue of the shoe and pushes our heels back against the shoes (securing them). Tongue pads work in all enclosed shoes.
You can learn more about tongue pads in an article I wrote called:
Leather Shoe Tongue Pads – Stop Heel Slippage
I hope this helps!
Hi,
My 3 and a half year old has achilis tendonitis and also has pigeon toe.
After reading your article I think we are going to get the insoles and try a pair of the new balance runners.
Do you need to go up a size if you use the insoles?
Any information is greatly appreciated.
We are in the process of seeing a consultant.
Regards,
Claire
Claire,
I will say that 90% of the time we do require a larger shoe size ( but we don’t want to go any longer than a whole size up of the size that your child measures in the shoe measuring sale). What you will probably need is a wider shoe. Most New Balance kids shoes come in wide and extra wide widths. Please make sure that the shoe style that you choose has a very firm heel counter. I hope this helps.
My two sons, ages 10 and 13, are very active and can wear out normal sneakers in 2 or 3 months or less (usually a hole forms on the toe or the soles start to come off). As I tennis player, I knew tennis shoes are designed to be very durable and can last for years, so I bought my sons some tennis shoes from a tennis website, and these indeed have lasted much longer. However, the tread on tennis shoes is pretty smooth and there’s not much traction like you would get with like running shoes. If a shoe company would combine the construction and materials of tennis shoes with the tread of a running shoe, then they’d have the best all-around kids general purpose sneaker. Still waiting to find such a shoe, but maybe Geox is it.
Hello Jon,
Your boys like to play rough! You make a good point, combining the traction of a running shoe with the construction and materials of a tennis shoe will give us a very sturdy, almost indestructible pair of shoes (maybe not for your two sons though).
I have fitted the shoe brand Geox before and almost all of their shoe styles are practically indestructible. I have helped several families who told me how their children destroy every single pair of shoes that they have own, I always direct them to Geox. You should give Geox a try and tell me how it goes!
Thank you for this detailed and helpful article. You introduced me to brands I didn’t know existed (Geox). I’m curious … do you think the quality of these kids shoe brands translates into the same brands adult shoes? I’m very much a brand loyalist if the product is good. It just makes life easier (everyone in the family gets New Balance shoes etc.) For my daughter, I’m going to try New Balance, Saucony and Asics per your recommendation and see which work best for her. But do you think that if I buy Mom a pair or the same shoes the quality will likely be there also? Thanks! Michelle
Hello Michelle,
Yes I do. However, keep in mind that even though the shoe brand might be popular, it all depends on the particular shoe style that you choose among that shoe brand. For example, New Balance makes great shoes for kids and adults. However, there are certain shoe styles made by New Balance that I wouldn’t recommend wearing either because they are too flimsy, non supportive, or no breathable.
New Balance, Saucony, and Asics are three great shoe brands, but keep in mind that they will fit different. For example, Asics won’t fit a child with an extra wide foot while New Balance and Saucony will. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Wow. Thank you for all this useful info.
I love saucony. My husband and I wear it ourselves so we bought both our daughters a pair. My youngest LOVED hers. And yes. She outgrew then while they still looked new (toddler- Velcro closing). Same as her deck for pair. My second one loved hers too. And even though they held up pretty well, the shoe laces barely survived 2 month or so. Kind of frustrating because the color is hard to match. However, saucony are my faves. I’ve also bought my first daughter some Geox while visiting Spain and I love the design and the colors.
Hello Mena,
Parents can relate to the best shoe brands for kids because they wear them themselves! Saucony shoes are one of our top selling shoes in the store, and Geox are for those children who need a durable and good quality shoe since they are practically indestructible. Thank you for stopping by!
Geox and saucany are the best. I would avoid stride rite unless for toddlers not for older kids the soles wear out and stitching comes apart.
Sue,
Thank you for your input. When you mention that the stitching on Stride Rite shoes comes apart, have you had this happen to you more than once? Some parents tend to shy away from shoe brands once they have a bad experience with it, but sometimes it’s just a manufacturer defect.
We have purchased stride rite for my very active 6yo boy and they always come apart at the stitching (on top of the toe). He definitely gives them lots of wear, but we are going to try another brand and see if we have better luck
Hello Jamie,
Certain Stride Rite shoe styles are better than others. If your child is really rough on shoes, you should loon into the New Balance shoe styles or Geox!
Wow I did not expect for there to be so much useful information on this article about fitting children shoes but there is. All of this information is great and can be helpful for parents trying to figure out how to make shoes fit better on their children. What is the most consistent shoe brand that you have ever fitted?
Gilbert,
If you mean consistency in terms of “fit”, New balance tends to be the best. When it comes to holding up, Geox are pretty much indestructible.
Thank you so much for sharing this. With three little ones we are always buying new shoes as they seem to fall apart as soon as the kids out them on. Usually we just buy cheap ones from Wal-Mart but i think it might be time to try something different. My wife loves Soucony shoes and i just recently bought a pair of new balance that i really like. I think we will look at one of those 2 brands for the kids and see how they fair.
New Balance and Saucony are two of the best brands I have ever fitted. Because they come in medium, wide and extra wide widths, they can fit all sort of feet! Children should definitely outgrow their shoes before they wear them out!
Hi Juan,
My son is 7 years old and his feet are growing really fast. If we buy new size in spring, in autumn these shoes don’t fit him anymore. So on the one hand, I understand that good shoes are important and I do want my son wearing shoes that are not made of good quality materials, but on the other hand I don’t want to spend big money for shoes that fit him only few months. We actually choose Nike shoes, as these are not so expensive and also they are durable enough for the time period these shoes fit him. We used to buy also Ecco shoes and these were both durable and very expensive. Do you have any experience with Ecco shoes?
Arta,
Some people love Nike shoes, but it is a brand that puts a lot of effort on marketing campaigns when they could be using some of that money to improve the quality and support of their shoes. I am not experienced with Ecco shoes but I do know they are made out of great quality! I have heard plenty of good things about that brand!
I have a nephew and I’m looking for shoes for his birthday. He is 8 years old on his birthday. I like the asics and the new balance. I have some questions though. Why is that nike is not on the list? Also adidas? Are nike and adidas not durable?
John,
I feel like Adidas and Nike are great brands, but not durable or sturdy like the ones I mentioned in the post. Nike and Adidas have a great marketing team and famous sport players doing commercials promoting the shoes, but that does not make them quality shoes. If you are looking for quality and durability, stick with the brands I recommend. You will definitetely see a difference!
Hi Juan, thank you for such an interesting post. I have tried for sometime several brands until I found one more durable and affordable for my kids, specially for my boy. Usually a pair of shoes was for 2 months! When I tried the Geox brand everything changed because those are much better in terms of quality and durability than the most brands in the market!
I never tried Asics, so, maybe it will be my next purchase!
I really don’t have any problem with my girl because she doesn’t screw up any shoes…
Thanks
Alex
Alex,
Geox shoes are practically indestructible! The quality and durability of this brand is superb, your child will definitely outgrow these shoes before anything happens to them! Asics makes great running shoes with a lot of support. As your son gets older and the velcro options are not available anymore, you should definitely consider Asics as his new brand, since Geox doesn’t make a lot of lace-up shoes.