The Top 2 Shoe Brands for Kids with Flat Feet – The Most Supportive and Durable Shoe Brands!

April 21, 2023 Shoes for Flat Feet Juan Pablo Valenzuela 0 - Comments

Children with flat feet are usually limited to the types of shoes that they can wear. I have worked for a specialized children’s shoe store for over a decade, and one of the most common questions that families ask me is: What are the best shoe brands for kids with flat feet? I explain to them that I don’t usually like to recommend specific shoe brands, as there are certain models among each brand that work a lot better than others. However, they insist on specific shoe brand recommendations, so I am going to show you the top 2 shoe brands for kids with flat feet based on my many years of shoe-fitting experience.

My Go-To Shoe Brands for Kids with Flat Feet

My 10+ years of fitting children with flat feet have provided me with valuable insights and made me acknowledge that certain shoes can help improve a child’s walking gait and overall posture.

There are two shoe brands that are more consistent when it comes to manufacturing comfortable, supportive, and durable shoes for kids with flat feet. My go-to shoe brands for children with flat feet are:

➡️ New Balance

➡️ Asics

This doesn’t mean that all shoes from these 2 shoe brands will be effective in treating your child’s flat feet. There are only certain styles that will, and I will describe them shortly.

In most cases of children with flat feet, it usually needs to be treated and corrected by wearing the correct type of shoes, as it is very difficult to correct through exercise.

Check Out What a Difference the Correct Pair of Shoes Can Make!

Let’s start by looking at an image of a flat-footed child standing barefoot and then wearing a pair of supportive shoes.

Before Image: Child with Flat Feet Standing Barefoot

Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards?

child-with-flat-feet

After Image: Same Child with Flat feet Wearing a Pair of New Balance Shoes

Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child standing in a pair of the New Balance shoes I recommend. Do you notice how the child’s feet are a lot straighter? These shoes will help improve the child’s walking gait and overall posture.

supportive-shoes-with-straight-lasts-for-children-with-flat-feet

In this particular case, the child had wide feet so I chose a pair of New Balance shoes over a pair of Asics. If a child has wide or extra wide feet or a high instep I tend to go with New Balance, but when a child has narrow or medium feet I tend to go with Asics. New Balance tends to work best for children with flat and wide feet as the shoes are available in wide and extra wide widths.

Below you can find an additional example.

Before Image: Child with Flat Feet Standing Barefoot

child-with-flat-feet

After Image: Child with Flat Feet Wearing a Pair of New Balance Shoes

supportive-shoes-for-kids-with-flat-feet

Let’s take a look at a different example of a child with flat feet but wearing a pair of Asics shoes.

Before Image: Child with Flat Feet Standing Barefoot

Child with flat feet and overpronation standing barefoot.

After Image: Child with Flat Feet Wearing a Pair of Asics Shoes

Child with flat feet and overpronation wearing a pair of supportive shoes to help improve his foot posture.

In this particular case, the child had narrow feet so I chose a pair of Asics with narrow platforms. If a child has flat and narrow feet I tend to go with Asics.

Recap: Which Shoe Brand Should You Choose for Your Flat-Footed Child?

Whether you choose New Balance or Asics depends on your child’s foot shape.

  • If your child has flat feet, a high instep, or wide and extra wide feet, I recommend that you go with New Balance.
  • If your child has flat feet and has narrow or medium feet I recommend that you go with Asics.

What Kind of Shoes Are Best for Flat Feet? – 4 Important Features!

The type of shoes I recommend for children with flat feet are not orthopedic shoes, they are simply everyday sneakers that provide better support and stability. These are the 4 most important features that the shoes I recommend provide:

1️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: This feature helps prevent the child’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards. Do you notice how the shoe on the right has a thicker and more supportive outsole compared to the shoe on the left?

supportive-shoes-for-children-with-flat-feet

2️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: This feature provides ankle support and helps correct rolled ankles. Always make sure that you press on the heel counter to make sure it feels firm and not soft.

children's-shoes-with-heel-support

3️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible: The shoes need to be supportive but lightweight and flexible at the same time to prevent your child’s feet from easily getting tired. Your kids’ shoes should always bend at the ball of the foot but no further.

children's-shoes-with-the-correct-amount-of-flexibility

4️⃣ Straight Lasts: This feature helps improve foot posture by preventing the forefoot from pushing out:

How to find out if your child's shoes provide straight lasts.

Prevent Your Kids’ Shoes from Falling Apart – Durable Shoes!

Do you notice that the insides of your kids’ soles get worn out faster than the outer edges? When children are flat-footed they usually tend to wear their shoes down faster than expected. This is because flat feet create a foot imbalance that makes children put pressure on parts of their feet where they are not supposed to.

That is the reason why it’s especially important to provide your child with a pair of durable shoes from a trusted shoe brand.

Do you usually notice uneven wear on the soles of your kid’s shoes? This is a sign that the shoes your child is wearing are not providing the correct amount of support.

kids'-shoes-worn-out-due-to-flat-feet

It can be frustrating for children to not be able to wear the shoes they want, but unfortunately, there is a very small selection of shoes appropriate for children with flat feet.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at a selection of the best shoes for kids with flat feet made by New Balance and a different selection of shoes made by Asics. 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 Kids with Flat Feet by New Balance 

All of the shoes that I recommend are available in medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW). The shoes below can also fit children with high insteps.

  • 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
  • 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
  • Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
  • Extra Deep
  • 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 Amazon
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Customizable fit adjusts to your child’s foot shape
  • Extra Deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 on Zappos
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Leather and mesh upper
  • Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
  • Extra deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650v1 on Zappos
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Leather and mesh upper
  • Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
  • Extra deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
  • 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
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
  • 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
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Leather and mesh upper
  • Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
  • Extra deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Velcro closure
  • Leather and mesh upper
  • Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
  • Extra deep
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or 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 DynaSoft v5 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Fits children with medium or 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
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
  • Velcro closure
  • ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
  • AT Tread outsole provides versatile traction during both on and off-road activities
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
  • Fresh Foam midsole cushioning
  • TPU heel clip for stability
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 880V12 by New Balance on Amazon
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide
  • Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • 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 527 by New Balance on Zappos
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • ENCAP® midsole technology provides support and maximum durability
  • Suede/mesh upper 
  • Fits orthotics
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
  • Leather and suede upper
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
  • Fits orthotics
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Suede and mesh upper
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Suede and mesh upper
  • I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • 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

Make sure that you tie your kids’ shoes correctly as that is the only way for them to get all of the benefits that the shoes have to offer.

Best Shoes for Kids with Flat Feet by Asics

All of the shoes below can fit children with narrow or medium feet. Most Asics shoes are only available with velcro closure but they also have a selection of shoes with shoelaces.

Boys

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 71XNajS97wL._AC_UX535_.jpg
  • Order the shoe style Gel-Noosa by Asics on Amazon
  • The Asics shoe style Gel-Noosa Tri 13 is available for little and big kids
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Removable Insoles
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Contend 8 by Asics on Amazon
  • The Asics shoe style Contend 8 is available for little and big kids
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Removable insoles
  • Rearfoot GEL technology cushioning system
  • Breathable
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
  • Fits children with narrow or medium feet
  • EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
  • Cushioned footbed
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Novablast 2 GS by Asics on Zappos
  • The Asics shoe style Novablast is available for little and big kids
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Removable insoles
  • Rearfoot GEL technology cushioning system
  • Breathable
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Saucony-shoes-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • Order the shoe style Kinvara LTT by Saucony on Zappos
  • Lace-up closure
  • Fits children with narrow or medium feet
  • Cushioned footbed
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Contend 8 by Asics on Amazon
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Removable Insoles
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

Girls

  • Order the shoe style Gel-Noosa by Asics on Amazon
  • The Asics shoe style Gel-Noosa Tri 13 is available for little and big kids
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Firm heel counter with supportive outsole
  • Removable insoles
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style GEL-Cumulus by Asics on Zappos
  • The Asics shoe style Gel-Cumulus 25 is available for little and big kids
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Removable Insoles
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style GEL-Excite 10 by Asics on Amazon
  • The Asics shoe style GEL-Noosa Trim 15 is available for little and big kids
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Removable Insoles
  • Infused gel for extra cushion and support
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Contend 8 by Asics on Amazon
  • The Asics shoe style Contend 8 is available for little and big kids
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Lace-up closure
  • Firm heel counter with supportive outsole
  • Removable insoles
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Wind FST by Saucony on Zappos
  • The Saucony shoe style Wind is available for little and big kids
  • Fits narrow and medium feet
  • Breathable mesh and synthetic upper
  • Heel grid system for stable cushioning in the heel
  • EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
  • Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
  • Fits children with narrow or medium feet
  • EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
  • Padded tongue and collar
  • Cushioned footbed
  • I suggest that you order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size

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

If you want to be absolutely sure about what shoe size to order online, you can refer to the guidance on how to retrieve your child’s exact foot size, including length and shape.

Can Flat Feet be Cured? – Let’s Find Out!

All babies have flat feet, but by the time they turn 4 or 5, the arches should have already developed. If your kids’ feet remain flat after the age of 5 then it’s highly likely that your child will remain flat-footed for the rest of his/her life.

Flat feet is a hereditary condition and there are no shoes or orthotics that can mold your child an arch. However, the correct type of shoes can help prevent foot and leg pain and improve your child’s walking gait.

You will be able to prevent your child from developing foot and leg pain as well as poor posture habits by fitting your child in the correct type of shoes.

Is Walking Barefoot Good for Flat Feet?

I usually don’t recommend allowing children to walk barefoot if they have flat feet. This doesn’t mean that you can’t allow your children to walk barefoot for a couple of hours when they are home, just make sure they wear their sneakers for most of the day.

Flat Feet and Foot Pain are not Normal!

I have seen how a lot of pediatricians tell parents that their child’s foot and leg pain will go away as the child keeps getting older. Waiting for your child’s foot condition to correct on its own or to magically disappear can only lead to your child’s foot condition getting worse.

Something so simple as providing your child with the correct pair of shoes can make a world of difference when it comes to treating a flat-footed child!

diagnosing-kids-with-foot-problems

Please remember that not all New Balance and Asics shoes are going to be effective for your child’s flat feet. I hope I made it clear that there are only a few styles among these two shoe brands that can help improve your child’s walking gait and prevent foot and leg pain.

Don’t leave your child’s flat feet untreated. Imbalances in the feet can affect your child’s hips and lower back.

You have no idea how many of the families who come to the store tell me how they only wished their parents would have treated their foot condition sooner, as now they have to deal with foot, leg, and lower back pain. Some of them have to deal with bunions. hammertoes, and tendonitis.

Should I Provide My Child with a Pair of Orthotics?

If you believe your child might benefit from wearing an orthotic inside the shoes, then I encourage you to get more informed about this option.

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my email if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child.

Nike Shoes VS New Balance Shoes for Kids with Flat Feet – Find Out Which One Is Better

I have noticed that a lot of children ask their parents for popular shoe brands such as Nike. However, if your child has flat feet, you should stay away from these popular shoe brands. I created a video to help you better visualize why you should stay away from shoe brands such as Nike (if your child has flat feet), and the reasons why certain New Balance shoes can make a world of difference in preventing pain and improving posture.

Is there a different shoe brand that has worked well for your child’s flat feet? I encourage parents to share their findings below so other families can benefit from your experiences.