The Best Spring Shoes for Kids – Breathable, Supportive, Durable, and Affordable!
Are you looking for a pair of shoes for your child to wear in Spring and through most of the Summer season? In addition to finding a pair of shoes that meet the parents’ and child’s fashion standards, the shoes must provide the correct amount of support and fit the shape of the child’s feet perfectly. I am going to show you a list of the best Spring shoes for kids based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
During Spring children tend to be more active and like to play outside, which means that the shoes need to be able to support their feet and be durable as well.
The best type of shoes that your child can wear during Spring are the ones that are supportive, breathable, durable, and affordable at the same time. I know which are the best Spring shoes for kids from having fitted them before, and I will describe them shortly.
I live in Washington DC, and starting in April most families get ready to buy a new pair of sneakers for their kids. Some families also like to provide their children with an additional pair of casual shoes such as “boat shoes”, so their kids have something to wear other than sneakers.
Below you can find how a pair of “boat shoes” look like. Your child can wear them for casual occasions such as going to dinner, church, or a special occasion that you might need to attend. There are several different pairs of “boat shoes”, but I am going to show you the most durable ones that are capable of fitting different foot shapes such as wide, and extra wide feet. However, if you have a specialized children’s shoe store in your area then I recommend that you go there.
Other families also like to provide their children with a pair of sandals, that way they get their kids’ shoe shopping all done early in the season. If you decide to provide your child with a pair of sandals in early April, then you need to make sure that you leave the correct amount of growing room so your child can wear the sandals for the whole summer season.
As a standard rule of thumb, most children tend to outgrow their shoes between 3 1/2 to 6 months, depending on the child’s age.
I always recommend parents to get their Spring shoes at their local children’s shoe store, the issue is that most stores have been closing down, which means that most families end up buying their kids’ shoes online. If you are unsure whether you have a good children’s fitting shoe store in your area start by taking a look at a resource that I created that describes the best stores by state.
If you still can’t seem to find a store in your area, then keep on reading because I will show you a selection of the best kids’ shoes for Spring 2023.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
It’s important that you know your child’s exact foot size before ordering the shoes online. 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.
Before I provide you with a selection of the best Spring shoes for kids, let me show you the 5 important features these shoes are going to provide to your child’s feet.
Spring Shoes for Kids – 5 Awesome and Important Features!
As far as your kids’ sneakers are concerned, there are 5 important features that the sneakers need to provide to keep your kids’ feet supported and healthy during the Spring.
1️⃣ Breathable Mesh: The shoes must come with a soft mesh fabric upper to provide comfort and breathability by allowing airflow and preventing your kids’ feet from sweating so much.
2️⃣ Support: For your child to be able to wear the shoes on an everyday basis, the shoes must be supportive to minimize the impact that your kids’ feet take every time they become in contact with the ground. In addition to being supportive, the shoes must be lightweight and flexible at the same time, to prevent your kids’ feet and legs from easily getting tired.
3️⃣ Machine Washable: This feature helps kill any remaining bacteria inside your kids’ shoes and keep them smelling fresh.
4️⃣ Antibacterial Insole: Some of the shoe styles that I describe below come with an antibacterial insole to minimize the likelihood of bacteria building up inside your kids’ shoes. An antibacterial insole also helps wick away moisture and prevent foot odors.
5️⃣ Durable: It’s important for your kids’ shoes to be durable so they can outgrow them before they wear them down.
I only review shoes that I have fitted before, as that is the only way for me to tell how well-made the shoes are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. 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 Spring Shoes for Kids: Sneakers
Below you can find a selection of the best kids’ shoes for Spring. These shoes are capable of fitting children with medium or wide feet only.
- Shoe style 3537 by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Leather/mesh upper
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Durable rubber outsole designed to withstand wear-and-tear
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Shoe style 2510 by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Generous toe box provides room for healthy foot development
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s foot size (shoe fits long)
- Shoe style Saylor by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Hook and loop closure for easy on off
- Lightweight, water-friendly open mesh upper with rubberized overlays
- Oversized openings for easy-on
- Removable EVA sockliner with mesh overlay
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Saylor by See Kai Run
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Hook and loop closure for easy on off
- Lightweight, water-friendly open mesh upper with rubberized overlays
- Oversized openings for easy-on
- Removable EVA sockliner with mesh overlay
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Wader 21 by Geox
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Breathable mesh upper
- Unique microporous membrane that absorbs and expels sweat while keeping water out
- Lightweight and flexible with padded collar and tongue for added comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Sprintye 16 by Geox
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Breathable mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- Lightweight and flexible with padded collar and tongue for added comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Buller by Geox
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Hook and loop closure for easy on off
- Unique microporous membrane that absorbs and expels sweat while keeping water out
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Artin 2.0 by Stride Rite
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Breathable mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- OrthoLite® memory foam for enhanced comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 3570 by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Heel Stabilizer – Long heel counter provides stability
- Velcro closure
- Machine washable
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s foot size (shoe fits long)
- Shoe style 3584 by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Breathable mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s foot size (shoe fits long)
- Shoe style Velocity by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Leather/mesh upper
- Hook and loop closure system for easy on and off
- Durable rubber outsole designed to withstand wear-and-tear
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Shoe style 1521 KAZ by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Breathable mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe the same size as your child’s foot size (shoe fits long)
- Shoe style M2P Player by Stride Rite
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Breathable mesh upper
- Removable insoles
- OrthoLite® memory foam for enhanced comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
The Best Spring Shoes for Kids: Casual Shoes
As I mentioned before, some parents prefer to provide their children with an additional pair of shoes that their kids can wear other than their sneakers. The shoe styles below are capable of fitting children with medium, wide or extra wide feet.
- Shoe style Gamefish Jr. by Sperry
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% genuine leather upper
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Alternative closure with fixed lace for easy on/off and adjustability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Gamefish by Sperry
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% genuine leather upper
- Lace for easy on/off and adjustability
- Memory foam footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Gamefish Jr. by Sperry
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% genuine leather upper
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Alternative closure with fixed lace for easy on/off and adjustability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Lanyard by Sperry
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Cushioned insoles with additional padding at the heel
- Lace up closure for secure fit
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
The Best Spring Shoes for Kids: Sandals
These are the best type of summer sandals that you can get for your child in terms of support and durability. As I mentioned previously, if fitted with the correct amount of growing space, your child should be able to wear the sandals throughout the whole summer season. The sandals below are capable of fitting children with medium or wide feet.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Shoe style Newport H2 by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Newport H2 by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Knotch River by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Open-toe with support and protection underfoot
- Built with lateral support to help stabilize the ankle and heel
- Machine washable
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Knotch River by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Open-toe with support and protection underfoot
- Machine washable
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Seacamp II CNX by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lightweight midsole allows little feet to move naturally
- Integrated, contoured arch and metatarsal ridge provide underfoot support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Seacamp II CNX by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Two points of adjustability for a custom fit
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Knotch Creek by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lightweight midsole allows little feet to move naturally
- Integrated, contoured arch and metatarsal ridge provide underfoot support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Seacamp II CNX by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Two points of adjustability for a custom fit
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style Seacamp 2 CNX by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Metatomical EVA footbed provides excellent arch support and cradles the natural contours of the foot
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap with bungee closure for a secure fit
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Seacamp 2 CNX by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Metatomical EVA footbed provides excellent arch support and cradles the natural contours of the foot
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap with bungee closure for a secure fit
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Elle Backstrap by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Built with lateral support to help stabilize the ankle and heel
- Machine washable
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Newport H2 by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Verano Open by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Metatomical EVA footbed provides excellent arch support and cradles the natural contours of the foot
- Machine washable
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Newport H2 by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Metatomical EVA footbed provides excellent arch support and cradles the natural contours of the foot
- Machine washable
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Moxie Sandal by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium
- Metatomical EVA footbed provides excellent arch support and cradles the natural contours of the foot
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap with bungee closure for a secure fit
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Newport H2 by Keen
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Sandals are not available in half sizes, they are available in whole sizes only. This means that if your children measure a foot size 10 1/2, then you will have to provide them with a shoe size 11 to allow for growing room. If your child measures a foot size 10, then you will need to get the shoe size 11 — as the sandals are not available in half sizes.
Spring is a time for children to go out and play. Allow your kids to play and run comfortably by providing them with the correct pair of shoes.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Please do not hesitate to contact me directly if your child is dealing with a particular foot condition or foot shape that is making it hard for you to find shoes that fit:
Do you have a favorite shoe that you like to provide your child for Spring? Please share your findings below so other families can benefit from your experiences.