The 14 Best Shoes For Kids, According To Extensive Kid Testing
While shopping for kids shoes, a top criteria for parents and caregivers is that any given pair can survive life with your child while still being comfortable. Based on our testing, we found the best shoes for kids ace the delicate balance of being durable enough to survive the daily abuse, while providing the support children need for their fast-paced lifestyle. Our top pick for the best shoe for kids overall—which has been a consistent favorite after a year of testing—is the Hoka Clifton 9 for its impressive support, durability and fun, kid-friendly colors combos.
Here are all of the best shoes for kids, according to our panel of testers:
When you’re shopping for kids’ shoes, it’s important to “focus on buying something that’s good for their feet,” says Richard H. Graves, a board-certified podiatrist and founder of Sol Foot & Ankle Centers in Long Beach, California.
Specifically, looking for pairs with a good sole, supportive fit and durability is vital, given how much kids are on their feet every day. Choosing cool colors they approve of is crucial, too, our testing revealed. For older kids, we learned during testing that getting the thumbs up on brands in advance is also important to ensuring they’ll wear a new pair. If it’s time to upgrade your child’s kicks, consider these kid-approved picks below.
Hoka launched a kids’ version of its massively popular Clifton 9 sneakers in 2023, and we eagerly tried them out. After a year of testing, they remain our favorite shoes for kids thanks to impressive construction and fun style. These shoes are packed with features you don’t often see in shoes for kids, including a high-abrasion rubber outsole that has special zones to make them more durable and harder to wear out (but keep in mind that no shoe is indestructible).
The sneaker is lightweight (it’s under 6 ounces) and offers neutral stability to give kids just enough support without making them feel like their movement is restricted. It’s become a go-to sneaker for at least one of our kid testers, who wears them for track practice and daily use alike. The Clifton 9 has also held up when similar sneakers have worn out.
Hoka offers 15 color combinations with bright and neutral shades to please bold and shy children alike. The only major drawback with these sneakers is the price. At $110, they admittedly aren’t cheap. It’s also worth noting that the shoes also only start at size 3.5, which bypasses preschoolers and young kids. But Hoka designed these with athletic kids in mind, and they’ve proved impressively durable with several of our kid testers. If your playground warrior or sports fan regularly wears through their sneakers, we think these are a worthy investment.
These Ten Little Everyday Original sneakers are easy for the youngest kids to get on and off, and are the top overall pick on our list of best baby shoes. They come in a range of bright primary shades and neutrals—and more importantly they carry the APMA seal of approval, meaning it’s been evaluated by podiatrists and found to promote healthy feet. The toe box is rounded, reinforced and roomy enough for those chubby baby feet, and our testing found that the no-slip tongue truly stays put. They have a cotton lining, a natural rubber sole and vegan leather upper that’s easy to wipe clean.
Ten Little shoes have a broad array of features that make their shoes stand out, including sweet details, like a cartoon leopard on the insole that spans across two shoes. Kids can customize their shoes thanks to rainbow, unicorn and shark stickers that come with the shoes.
During testing, we found that these shoes are soft and flexible, making them a comfortable first pair for children. The materials used in the shoe feel high quality, too. Just be aware that scuff marks may show easily on lighter colors, although they brush off quickly. We tested a pair of these shoes for a year and found that they are durable enough to be passed on to future siblings.
These Stride Rite sneakers are also approved by the APMA for your baby’s foot health. They include features like an Ortholite memory foam footbed for comfort, as well as a flexible, rounded rubber sole to help toddlers have secure footing. With toddler shoes, “less is more,” says Megan Beam, a physical therapist with the Center for Bone Health Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “A lightweight, flexible shoe with a wide toe box is recommended to assist in the strengthening and sensory opportunities similar to barefoot.”
Our toddler testers were drawn to the colors of this shoe, and both were able to learn how to secure the strap themselves. During testing, we found that the hook and loop, Velcro-like strap was durable and sturdy enough to secure the shoe into place firmly. It also didn’t lose its grip over time, even after the shoes were worn in sand, dirt and mulch. We were impressed at the thickness of the outsole and treads, which can help keep newer walkers on their feet.
Several color options (which vary by season) allow you to choose the look that’s right for your little one, although the colorways are more limited than some other brands. Just a heads up: Stride Rite shoes tend to sell fast, so you won’t want to sit on this purchase if you’re considering this pair in a particular color. These shoes top our list of the best toddler shoes, which you might want to browse if you want more tot-sized options.
While you don’t want to send your child in on gym day wearing a pair of Crocs, experts say they’re a great option for an everyday shoe, which is wonderful news given how trendy this clog has become among kids and teens. Our kid testers—especially the younger ones—love their Crocs, choosing to wear them on most days, including around the house.
Crocs can be worn anywhere, but they were particularly easy to take to the beach, where sand quickly filtered out of the perforations on the sides with each step. The vinyl acetate material makes them a good choice for feet caked with wet sand, and the roomy fit keeps kids comfortable both on the way to the water and back. We like how easy it is to clean these shoes after a day at the beach (or tromping through wet grass)—just hose them down and move on. One child accidentally stepped in dog poop, and we were able to easily clean the shoes with water and all-purpose cleaning spray.
An adjustable strap in back allows for more or less support. Our kid testers appreciated the wide variety of solid hues, tie-dye and marble patterns, as well as glitter designs and even superhero-themed clogs. Many kids also love Jibbitz charms, which they can use to adorn the exterior of their Crocs, as well as trade with their friends.
Our top value pick comes from a familiar brand. The Asics Kid’s Contend 8 Pre-School Running Shoes are designed with preschoolers and younger elementary school kids in mind. They have a breathable mesh upper made with 20% recycled polyester, along with a reinforced toe cap with rubber stitching to lower the risk that feet-draggers wear them out quickly.
The sneakers have a Velcro closure, making it easy for kids to put them on themselves. Testing found that the shoe’s tread is solid for an everyday sneaker, with plenty of traction for little kids who are still a bit unstable. A sweet detail our kid tester noticed right away: The insole features a tiger character printed across both shoes to help kids learn their left from their right feet.
The sneaker comes in an impressive selection of 26 colors (although it can vary by retailer), making it highly likely you’ll find a color that works for even the pickiest of children. Our kid tester called these her “fast shoes” and was able to get them on and off easily on her own. While these are a less expensive find, they’re a sturdy playground shoe.
The Pre Venture 9 Grade School Running Shoes have a solid rubber outsole and medial wrap-up for durability—that’s key if your child regularly drags their feet. Foam cushioning and specialized gel technology provide great shock absorption, whether your child is running miles or leaping around the playground. The upper is made of mesh for a breathable feel.
Our kid testers admittedly had different opinions of this shoe. One found that the extra-thick outsole made the shoe sturdy, but a little heavier than their go-to running sneaker. Another liked to use these as a training sneaker for track.
The sneaker has a mesh upper for breathability, with a reinforced toe and edges to protect against scuffs. While it adds weight, the outsole got high marks for its impressive traction. This sole looks like the bottom of a hiking shoe attached to a sneaker, making these good for kids who play on a variety of surfaces, or are just generally are rougher on their shoes.
The shoes are lace-ups, making it important for kids to have that skill down if this will be a daily shoe. One of our testers appreciated the loop at the top of each heel for yanking the shoes on. Asics offers many color options, and you can snag these on sale often.
Once kids hit a certain age, they start to see sneakers more as a fashion accessory. The Nike Dunk Lows are a popular choice for tweens and teens in the know, coming in a wide range of colorways (although these black and white “pandas” are a classic). Our kid tester was thrilled to get a pair of pandas, noting that he didn’t want to do anything in them that would risk creasing or scuffing them.
Still, testing uncovered that the Dunks are a versatile shoe that can be used for a variety of sports, although kids are more likely to want t