The Best Shoes for High Instep – Stop Getting the Wrong Shoe Size for Your Child!

Do you have a child with a high instep and all of the shoes that you try on your child’s feet rub against the top of the feet? If you don’t know what the instep of the foot is, then you can’t possibly be getting your child the right shoe size. Finding a pair of shoes for your child with a high instep can be extremely challenging, especially if you don’t know which shoe styles are deeper than others. I have put together a selection of the best shoes for high instep based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.

How Can You Tell if Your Child Has a High Instep?

Figuring out if your child has a high instep of or not comes with experience. There is no measuring device or way to measure your kids’ instep. Because I have been fitting children’s shoes for so long, I can look at a child’s foot and tell immediately if he or she has a high instep.

Basically, if the top portion of your child’s foot is high, it means that your child has a high instep. If your child always complains that the shoes feel too tight when there is plenty of width room and length room, that’s the first sign that your child might have a high instep.

Let’s take a look at a picture of a child with a high instep. Do you notice how high the top part of this child’s foot is? As you can see there is a lot of extra foot volume that needs to be fitted inside your kids’ shoes.

There are only certain shoes that can fit a child with a high instep, and I know which ones they are because I have fitted these shoes myself. If you are in a rush, you can go directly to the selection of the best shoes for children with high insteps.

What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Ideal for Children with High Insteps?

1️⃣ Extra Deep: Let me show you the difference between a shoe that provides extra depth versus one that doesn’t. These shoes are the same length and width. Do you notice how the shoe on the right is a lot deeper than the shoe on the left?

The issue is that shoes don’t come labeled as “extra deep”, so there is no way for you to know which shoes are deeper than others. The good news is that I know which kids’ shoes are deeper than others and I will show them to you shortly.

2️⃣ Oversized Openings: This feature makes it easier for parents and children to get their shoes on and off. Children with high insteps have a hard time slipping into shoes that don’t easily open. You will notice that the shoes I recommend open up widely, which makes it easier for children and parents to get the shoes on and off:

If you don’t provide your child with a high instep with the correct type of shoes, then you can create all sorts of issues with your child’s feet since the top part of your child’s feet will rub against the top of the shoes. This can lead to your child developing blisters, calluses, and corns.

Before I show you a selection of the best shoes for high instep, let’s make sure that you know your child’s exact foot size. You won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online if you don’t know your child’s foot size.

I always recommend that parents take their children to a local kids’ shoe store that they trust to have their kids’ shoes properly fitted. The issue is that most children’s shoe stores have been closing down, and we are left with big retailers that don’t know how to properly fit children’s shoes.

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

That is the reason why I created a resource where you can check if you have a good-fitting children’s shoe store in your area.

If after looking at that resource you still can’t find a children’s shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at an article I created 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. 

Without further ado, let’s take a look at a selection of the best shoes for kids with high instep. 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.

Best Shoes for High Instep

The shoe styles I recommend below are the deepest shoes that I have fitted before. These shoes can fit children with medium (M), wide (W) or extra wide feet(XW) and a high instep. 

The shoes I described above have the support and structure a child needs to wear for their everyday activities. I have fitted all of these shoes at the children’s shoe store that I work for and they provide great support but they are lightweight and flexible at the same time.

Did you know that between 75% and 80% of the adult population has experienced some sort of foot problem? Imagine how much lower this number could be if these adults started wearing good fitting-shoes from an early stage.

The following are some of the issues that come with wearing shoes that are too narrow:

  • Bunions
  • Corns
  • Hammer Toe
  • Crossover Toe
  • Ingrown Toenails
  • Blisters

Most children like to run around all the time, they are filled with energy, and they like to play rough! Wearing poorly fitted shoes on top of all that activity worsens their foot problems.

Parents should allow their kids to perform their everyday activities without having to worry about their kids’ shoes feeling too tight.

Additional Resources for Children Who Have High Insteps!

We went over the best type of everyday shoes for children that have high insteps, but what about seasonal shoes and dress shoes? Are any specific sports shoes for children with high insteps?

If your child is involved in sports and has a high instep, it can make it very hard to find shoes that fit. Most sport shoes are extremely shallow and they don’t accommodate high insteps.

When children are playing sports, they are stressing their feet and legs at a whole different level. If you provide your child with a cleat that is too tight, you will be creating all sorts of foot problems and your child won’t be able to perform at his/her best.

The same applies for sandals, boots, and dress shoes. I have spoken with several parents who have kids with wide feet and a high instep, and they have told me that finding shoes for their kids that fit properly can be a nightmare!

I have provided you with a list of the best-fitting shoes for high instep and wide feet, and now you are ready to make a better and more informed decision.

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child’s high instep. My e-mail address is: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

Have you found a particular shoe style that has worked well for your child with a high instep? Please share your experiences below so other parents can benefit from them.