The Best Shoes with Ankle Support – Support Your Kids’ Ankles!

Do you have a child that 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 the best shoes with ankle support based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.

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.

Pro Tip: If you’re pressed for time here is a list of children’s shoes with ankle support.

Is Ankle Pain Common in Active Children?

Ankle pain in children is more common than you think. The good news is that certain shoes can significantly reduce or fully eliminate your child’s ankle pain, and I know which ones they are from having fitted them before.

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.

Before I show you a selection of the best shoes with ankle support, let’s make sure that you know your child’s exact foot size. I always recommend parents take their children to their local kids’ shoe store, where a shoe fitter can measure their feet and find shoes that fit.

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

The issue is that most parents don’t have a local children’s shoe store that they trust, and they have to end up buying their children’s shoes online. If you identify with this, start by reading an article I wrote where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out 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.

The Best Shoes with Ankle Support

The shoes below are available in medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW) widths, so please choose your child’s foot width accordingly.

• The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is 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

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is 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

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Stride Rite shoe style Elliot is available for toddlers

• Lace-up closure

• Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• 100% leather made

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Stride Rite shoe style Emilia is available for toddlers

• Lace-up closure

• Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• 100% leather made

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Timberland shoe style Tracks is available for toddlers

• Double velcro straps

• Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet

• Water-friendly

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 574 is available for toddlers

• Available in velcro and laces

• Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet

• Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is 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

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Memo shoe style Gabi is 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 

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Memo shoe style Gabi is 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 

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Saucony shoe style Cohesion is available for toddlers

• Velcro closure

• Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet

• Heel grid system for stable cushioning

• Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Timberland shoe style Bootie fits 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

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Memo shoe style Princessa fits toddlers and little kids

• Double velcro straps

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe

• Rigid heel counter

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The Saucony shoe style Cohesion KDZ is 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

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Saucony shoe style Cohesion KDZ is 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

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650 is 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

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi v4 is 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

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

• The New Balance shoe style 2002 is available for toddlers and little kids

• Available in laces

• Fits children with medium and wide feet

• Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 2002 is available for toddlers and little kids

• Available in laces

• Fits children with medium and wide feet

• Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650 is 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

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Memo shoe style Polo is 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

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Memo shoe style Chicago is 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

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Coco is available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Adidas shoe style Own the Game 2.0 is available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter

• Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Adidas shoe style Cross Em Up Select is available for little kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Non-marking outsole

• Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Saucony shoe style Kinvara LTT is available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Cushioned footbed

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The Saucony shoe style Shadow 6000 is available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Cushioned footbed

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 574 is 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

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style 327 is available for little and big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Suede and mesh upper

• Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is available for big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Suede and mesh upper

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

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• The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is available for big kids

• Lace-up closure

• Fits children with medium or wide feet

• Suede and mesh upper

• Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

The shoes I recommend provide these additional features:

1️⃣ Lightweight and flexible: The shoes are lightweight and flexible to prevent your children’s feet from easily getting tired.

2️⃣ Breathable: This feature allows your child’s feet to breathe and prevent the formation and build-up of bacteria inside the shoes.

3️⃣ Shoelaces instead of Velcro closure: When the child is experiencing any sort of foot pain, I always recommend parents provide their children with shoelaces instead of velcro closure  —as shoelaces provide better support and stability. Shoelaces play a key role in securing the heel area and providing maximum heel support.

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.

I have experience in fitting several heel cups not just for children, but for women and men as well. Heel cups are extremely effective in reducing and eliminating heel pain. They are very easy to fit inside shoes – they fit in most shoes – and they are more affordable than an orthotic.

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.

The Best Heel Cups for Kids

• 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

Check Price

Small Size – Fits from a little kid shoe size 10.5 to a big kid shoe size 6.

Regular Size – Fits big kid shoe size 6 and above.

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.

If you want to learn more about how this heel cup works, I created an article along with a video that explains all the benefits that this heel cup provides and how to fit them inside the shoes.

Now that you know which are the best shoes with ankle support and what are the best heel cups in case the shoes don’t reduce or eliminate the pain, you are ready to make a better and more informed decision.

Get in Touch With Us 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:

[email protected]

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.