The Best Shoes with Ankle Support – Support Your Kids’ Ankles!
Do you have a child who is experiencing ankle pain? Did you know that the correct pair of supportive shoes with a firm heel counter can significantly reduce or fully eliminate the pain? Ankle pain normally occurs due to the overuse and inflammation around the growth plate located in the heel bone. I am going to show you a list of supportive shoes with ankle support based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes
I have been fitting children’s shoes since 2013, and that’s where I learned everything I know about children’s shoes. Most physical or occupational therapists recommend that children wear shoes with ankle support to help reduce or fully eliminate the pain.
Is Ankle Pain Common in Active Children?
Ankle pain in children is more common than you think. I have noticed how ankle pain occurs particularly in very active children and in those who participate in organized sports. When a child comes to our shoe store experiencing ankle pain, I start by checking the shoes that the child is wearing to make sure that they are providing the correct amount of ankle support.
This means that before you take your child to be evaluated by your doctor, check the shoes that your child is wearing and press on the heel counter of the shoes to make sure it feels firm. The heel counter is the part of the shoe that provides ankle support, and the firmer it is, the better.
Once you grab your child’s shoes please press on the heel counter and check whether it feels soft or firm. Let me show you the difference between a shoe with a soft heel counter versus a shoe with a firm heel counter:
I also want you to inspect the outsole of your child’s shoes and make sure the shoes come with a substantial outsole. The outsole of the shoe is the part that provides arch support and shock absorption. These feature helps reduce the impact that your child’s feet take every time they become in contact with the ground. Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a substantial outsole versus a shoe with an outsole that is too thin and doesn’t provide the correct amount of support:
It’s important to always provide your child with shoes that provide the correct amount of support to keep your child’s feet healthy. The shoes I describe in this article provide ankle and arch support, and they will reduce your child’s ankle pain.
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 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 with ankle support. 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 with Ankle Support – Firm Heel Counters
The shoes below are available in medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW) widths, so please choose your child’s foot width accordingly.
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SRT Emilia by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Tracks by Timberland on Zappos
- Available for toddlers
- Double velcro straps
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance Online Store
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion on Zappos
- Available for toddlers
- Velcro closure
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Bootie by Timberland on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Padded collar for a comfortable fit around the ankle
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Mary Jane by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style New Balance Fresh Foam 650 on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Ankle Support by Memo on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Chicago Corrective by Memo on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Own the Game 2.0 by Adidas on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Non-marking outsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Oder the shoe style Kinvara LTT by Saucony on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Shadow 6000 by Saucony on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 327 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Effective for Ankle or Heel Pain?
The shoes provide targeted support right below the heels. Let me show you the difference between one of the kids’ shoes I recommend and a different pair. Do you notice how the shoe on the right has more padding below the heel area? This will help reduce the impact on your kids’ heels every time they impact the ground.
If you tried a pair of supportive shoes already and your child’s ankle pain persists, the next step is to try a heel cup inside your kids’ shoes as they work wonders in reducing or completely eliminating ankle pain. Heel cups are going to be the most cost-effective alternative, but I will expand on this shortly.
Heel Cups for Kids – Targeted Support to Your Child’s Ankles!
The children’s shoe store that I work for is one of the few retailers in the country authorized to fit prescription orthotics. Moreover, I have seen first-hand the positive impact that good shoes and orthotics have in keeping feet and legs healthy. However, instead of fitting an orthotic in your kids’ shoes to help treat and prevent ankle pain, I recommend that you try a heel cup instead. This is going to be a more efficient and cost-effective alternative.
There is a particular heel cup that I have fitted before and I know it’s the most effective one as it provides maximum shock-absorbing protection to support your child’s heels. I have seen how this heel cup has significantly reduced or fully eliminated the pain that children were experiencing.
Best Heel Cups for Kids for Extra Cushion and Support
- Ideal to treat and prevent general heel pain, plantar fasciitis, Sever’s disease, excessive pronation, Achilles tendonitis
- Innovative multi-cell, multi-layer waffle pattern design, helps to absorb impact pressure (shock) and return impact energy back to the feet
- The extra cushion this heel cup includes reduces and prevents sore heels and shin splints
- Small Size – Fits from a little kid shoe size 10.5 to a big kid shoe size 6. Best for children under 80 lbs.
- Regular Size – Fits big kid shoe size 6 and above. Weight up to 175 lbs.
Heel cups only fit in shoes that provide extra depth, otherwise, the heel cup won’t fit deep enough inside the shoes and will raise your kids’ feet, giving your child the impression that his/her feet are coming out of the shoes. All of the shoes I recommend above provide extra depth, so you will be able to fit a heel cup inside of them.
Get in Touch for a Personalized Suggestion
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. My e-mail address is:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Have you tried any of the shoe styles that I recommend in this article? Is there a particular shoe style that has worked well for your children’s ankle pain? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
My son can walk but he has significant special needs…he has very low muscle tone which has made his heels especially weak….he also has extremely narrow feet. Do you have Any specific suggestions?
Hello Katie,
I am happy to help.
To recommend specific shoes for your son I first need to know the shoe size that he wears and the country that you are contacting me from to check what specific shoes you might be able to order.
I just wanted to say thank you so much for this article.. every time my son needs a new pair of shoes, I always come back to this!! I see it even has been updated! Thank you so much and I hope this stays up forever! ?
I just wanted to say thank you so much for this article.. every time my son needs a new says pair of shoes, I always come back to this!! I see it even has been updated! Thank you so much and I hope this stays up forever! ?
Hello Jess,
I am happy to help! I always review the articles and update them with my latest shoe recommendations.
Hi, we have tried New Balance 680v6 running shoe, the Saucony Axon, and heel cups. Thanks to your article, my son’s ankle pain has decreased TREMENDOUSLY. I don’t know what I would have done! THANK YOU!!!
Hi, we have tried New Balance 680v6 running shoe, the Saucony Axon, and heel cups. Thanks to your article, my son’s ankle pain has decreased TREMENDOUSLY. I don’t know what I would have done! We also use the heel cups now. THANK YOU!!!
Hello Jess,
I am happy to hear that!
Hi my son is 9 years old, he has hyper mobility and hind foot valgus deformity, where his ankles are in turned. He is flat footed and has narrow, slim feet. His foot size is 1 or 2 depending on shoe brand. He is being provided with shoe inserts from the podiatrist but they have requested I buy him good trainers that support his ankles to use the supports in.
Hello Jennifer,
I am happy to recommend specific shoes for your son, but first I need to know from which country you are contacting me to check what specific shoes are available in your area.
My step daughter has heaps of ankle pain she is 10 , unfortunately she has to beable to do her own shoes up at school as they take them on and off, she can not pull the laces tight enough on her own nor can she tie them tight either , what runner do you recommend that doesn’t have laces as she has had quiet a few runners including sketches all with laces but I feel this is where the problem is, not old enough to tie them tight enough to give her supports
Hello Cheryl,
Maybe the reason that your step daughter can’t make the shoes tight enough is that the shoes are either too big or too wide for her feet. I can recommend a pair of velcro shoes for her, but they won’t provide her with the same support or stability that shoes with shoelaces provide.
I suggest that you apply this shoe lacing technique: How to Tie Shoes for Heel Pain – The Most Effective Way!
If you want to make sure that your step daughter is wearing the correct shoes in the correct size you can also use this resource: How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Hi, I was wondering if there is a cheaper alternative for families on a budget? In the $50 price range.
Hi Jess,
Please send me your child’s foot size and shape (narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide), and I also need to know whether your son has a high instep or not. I will then send you specific shoe recommendations that are more affordable. You can send this information to my email: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
If you are unsure of your child’s foot shape start by taking a look at the article below:
How to Measure Your Kids Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width