Warm Hiking Boots for Kids – Waterproof, Insulated, Durable and Affordable!
Have you been going to many shoe stores or searched online for a pair of warm hiking boots for your child but you always end up having to return the boots? Do you want the boots to be insulated, waterproof, durable, and capable of accommodating your child’s foot shape? It can be frustrating and time-consuming to find a pair of insulated hiking boots. In this article, you will find a list of the best warm hiking boots for kids that can fit different foot shapes and will help you save time and money.
Some families prefer to provide their children with warm hiking boots instead of snow boots for the following reasons:
- The child might feel more comfortable in a pair of lightweight boots (snow boots tend to be heavy).
- Some children don’t like how snow boots come up too high up the legs.
- Hiking boots are more versatile compared to snow boots as they are an all-terrain, year-round type of footwear.
Buying your kids’ shoes online means a wider selection of shoe brands and styles to choose from, but it has the important downside that your child doesn’t get to try the shoes before buying them. I have a solution for this and I will describe it shortly.
Pro Tip: If you’re pressed for time you can go directly to a selection of warm hiking boots for kids.
One common question that parents ask me at the shoe store is: Do I have to buy warm boots for my child or can I just add an extra pair of socks? Adding a pair of extra socks or buying thicker socks might actually make things worse. Thicker socks don’t always translate into warmer socks and might lead to your child’s feet sweating excessively inside the shoes and making your child’s feet damp. They might also cut off circulation to the toes as they tend to put more pressure on the foot.
How Can You Tell If Your Kids’ Hiking Boots Are Warm and Insulated?
Insulated boots are meant to keep your child’s feet warm while walking or playing in the cold. Let’s find out how you can make sure that your kids’ boots are insulated:
➡️ If you are buying your kids’ hiking boots at your local shoe store, look for tags indicating a branded insulation like Primaloft, Thinsulate, or something similar from the footwear manufacturer. For example, the boot below made by See Kai Run features a label that reads “Insulated”.
➡️ If you are buying your kids’ boots online make sure that you read the product details or the description of the boots. However, be careful about relying too much on the product descriptions as I have seen cases where the information is wrong. Make sure that you buy the boots from a reputable online resource.
Now, let’s say that you find a hiking boot that is waterproof and insulated. How do you know it will fit your child’s foot shape? If your child has a regular foot shape (medium width feet), chances are that the boots will fit your child’s foot shape just fine. However, if your child happens to have a “complicated” foot shape such as narrow or wide feet, it can become more challenging to figure out whether the boots will work well or not. The good news is that all of the insulated hiking boots that I recommend are capable of accommodating different foot shapes!
Do You Know Your Child’s Exact Foot Shape?
Since most specialized children’s shoe stores have gone out of business, I decided to help families from all over the world retrieve their child’s exact foot length and shape from home. I created an awesome free resource that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size in two simple steps.
What Makes the Warm Hiking Boots I Recommend the Best Choice for Your Child?
All of the hiking boots that I will show you in this article are fully waterproof and insulated. With that said, they also provide these 4 awesome additional features:
1️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible: The hiking boots need to be supportive, but they need to be lightweight and flexible at the same time. This will help prevent your child’s feet and legs from easily getting tired. The hiking boots need to bend at the ball of the foot but no further:
2️⃣ Oversized Openings for Easy On and Off: This feature makes it easier for parents and children to get their boots on and off. Children with chubby feet have a hard time slipping into boots that don’t easily open. You will notice that the boots I recommend open up widely, which makes it easier for children and parents to get the boots on and off.
3️⃣ Good Traction: Proper traction is critical when attempting rock scrambles or crossing streams on wet rocks. Even if you are not planning on doing a challenging hike with your child, traction is still important.
4️⃣ Stable Base of Support: The hiking boots that I recommend provide substantial and supportive outsoles to support and protect your child’s feet. This feature will increase comfort while hiking through uneven and tough terrain. In addition, hiking boots that go over the ankle provide additional support and protection from serious injuries such as ankle sprains.
If you don’t have a local shoe store and must shop for your children’s shoes online, then the list of warm hiking boots that I have put together will hopefully save your day. Keep in mind that all of the hiking boots that I recommend have been fitted by me at the shoe store that I work for, as that’s the only way for me to tell whether they are fully insulated, waterproof, and the foot shapes they can accommodate.
Warm Hiking Boots for Kids – Waterproof, Insulated, Durable and Affordable!
Make sure to look below the image of each boot to find out what foot shapes it can accommodate (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide), and the size you should order to provide your child with the correct amount of growing room. You will also find out about the additional features the boots provide.
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Shoe style Timberland
- 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
- Shoe style Sam II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Waterproof
- Double velcro closure
- Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Atlas II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Waterproof
- Double velcro closure
- Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Atlas II by See Kai Run
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Waterproof
- Double velcro closure
- Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Rover by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Water-friendly
- Wide toe-box and an outsole with rounded edges
- Flex grooves in outsole for maximum flexibility
- Reinforced protected toe
- Velcro closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Rover by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Water-friendly
- Wide toe-box and an outsole with rounded edges
- Flex grooves in outsole for maximum flexibility
- Reinforced protected toe
- Velcro closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Tracks by Timberland
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof
- Heel and toe bumpers add durability
- Cushioned EVA midsole for all-day comfort
- Lining and removable insole made out of textile material
- Double velcro straps
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Tokyo by Tsukihoshi
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Waterproof
- Velcro closure
- Machine washable
- Removable insoles
- Order this boot the same size as your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Maddsen by Timberland
- Fits medium and wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- Full-grain leather
- Lace-up vamp
- Padded puffy collar
- EVA foam footbed
- Waterproof
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style Moab Speed by Merrell
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Waterproof
- Velcro closure
- FLOATPRO FOAM footbed for enhanced cushioning
- Removable insoles
- Order this boot half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Moab Speed by Merrell
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- M Select DRY bootie waterproof construction to keep feet dry
- Non-marking outsole with M Select GRIP for superior traction
- Reinforced protected toe
- Velcro closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Maker by Deer Stags
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Gusseted tongue keeps the water out
- Padded insole
- Reinforced protected toe
- Double velcro straps
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style DynaSoft Trail Magic by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Breathable mesh upper with synthetic overlays for added strength
- DynaSoft midsole adds plush cushioning and responsive performance underfoot
- The BOA® Fit System makes it easy to adjust the fit with a simple turn of a dial
- Removable, padded insole
- Bungee lace closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style DynaSoft Trail Magic by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Breathable mesh upper with synthetic overlays for added strength
- DynaSoft midsole adds plush cushioning and responsive performance underfoot
- The BOA® Fit System makes it easy to adjust the fit with a simple turn of a dial
- Removable, padded insole
- Bungee lace closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Moab by Merrell
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Constructed with M-Select® waterproof construction with faux-leather uppers and breathable mesh panels.
- Non-marking outsole with M Select GRIP for superior traction
- Reinforced protected toe
- Lace-up closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Moab 2 by Merrell
- Available in medium and wide widths (accommodates high insteps)
- Constructed with M-Select® waterproof construction with faux-leather uppers and breathable mesh panels.
- Non-marking outsole with M Select GRIP for superior traction
- Reinforced protected toe
- Lace-up closure
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Howser II by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet (accommodates high insteps)
- KEEN.Warm® insulation rating of -4ºF/-20ºC
- Waterproof
- Removable insoles
- Lace-up system with toggle closure offer a secure fit
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Maddsen by Timberland
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Waterproof to keep your child’s feet dry
- Traditional lace closure
- Padded collar and tongue
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Chameleon7 by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- M Select Dry waterproof construction for keeping toes dry
- Traditional lace closure
- Good traction
- Order this boot a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
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The Importance of Wearing the Correct Types of Socks
There are certain winter socks that will help wick moisture off the skin and still insulate when wet. Most families believe that cotton is the best type of sock material, but cotton will soak your child’s skin and keep the feet cold.
Let me know in the comments section below if you are unsure about which specific boot might work best for your child’s feet. I am happy to help guide you in the right direction. You can also contact me via email:
What Are the Warmest Winter Boots for Kids?
If you are looking for the warmest type of boot for your child I suggest that you take a look at a different resource where I describe the best snow boots for kids.
What could be more unpleasant than having cold feet? Finding a pair of warm hiking boots can be harder than it seems. especially if your child has a “complicated” foot shape. I hope you find this resource helpful, and help me make this resource even better by sharing insulated hiking boots recommendations that worked well for your child’s feet!
