Finding sneakers that meet the needs — and desires — of both parents and kids is no easy task, especially because they are not all that much cheaper than adult sneakers. A brief poll of Strategist parents found that we all expect to pay somewhere between $40 and $60 for a high-quality pair of kids’ shoes. And once they hit a certain age, most children will have their own opinions about the style of sneakers they want to wear. Some will only wear slip-ons, some just want whatever their friends have, and some will prioritize colorful patterns, flashing lights, or glitter above all else.
Then there’s the confusing matter of kids’ shoe sizing. “Little kid” shoe sizes, sometimes referred to as toddler sizes, run from 0 through 13 and will fit infants and toddlers as well as kids up to about 5 or 6 years old. Then they move up to “big kid” sizes (sometimes referred to as just “kids” or “youth” sizes), which start over again with size 1 and can run as high as size 7. (The next consecutive size up is a men’s 8 or a women’s 10, as women’s shoes sizes are typically about 1.5 sizes smaller than men’s.)
If you’re lucky, one pair of kids’ sneakers might last an entire year. But for those of us with kids in the midst of a growth spurt or kids who regularly wear their shoes into the ground, you may find yourself shelling out for new shoes every few months. In that case, buying cheaper, slightly less durable sneakers — or shopping resale sites like Kidizen, Poshmark, or eBay — is often the most practical way to go. But no matter where you buy them, leaning on the wisdom of more experienced parents will help you avoid too much pricey trial and error.
So to find the best sneakers for kids of all ages, I talked to children’s shoe experts and stylish yet practical parents — Strategist writers and editors included — about the shoes they buy for their own kids. We’ve organized their recommendations by age, from toddlers all the way to teenagers, and noted which styles are available in multiple age categories.
Update on September 24, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
Best sneakers for toddlers and preschoolers
Stacey Fauci, owner of kids’ shoe store Runnin’ Wild, says canvas shoes from the Seattle-based brand See Kai Run are among her best sellers year after year. “They have a functional soft sole, and the styles are very nice,” she says, adding that they’re also cut a little wider than other sneakers and make a great first-walker shoe. Jennifer May, a children’s-footwear consultant, adds that because many kids have wide feet, it makes sense that these comfy, roomier shoes are so popular. This pair of first-walker sneakers is available in little-kid sizes 3 through 6; the brand also makes other styles in sizes up through a big kids’ size 3.
Since he’s been in and out of playground sprinklers all summer, my 19-month-old son has been wearing his Native Jefferson sneakers every single day. They’re the easiest shoes to put on and must be comfortable because he never tries to take them off — and countless other little kids on the playground are wearing them too. I love how easy they are to clean and that the footbed is wide and flat, giving him lots of room to stretch his toes. They come in lots of different colors and patterns as well as more ecofriendly versions made using algae and sugarcane instead of just plastic. The adult-size Jeffersons are pretty cute too, for parents who might want to match with their kid.
The Nike Swoosh 1 toddler sneakers are another shoe that I’ve seen on all sorts of little kids in Brooklyn, including two of my closest friends’ kids. Allegra Farina, a marketing executive and parent of an almost 2-year-old, says they are her favorite sneaker because they’re easy to slip on and can be machine washed (plus they dry quickly). She also pointed out that the soles are thin, which makes it easier for her daughter to run around without falling, but they’re also quite durable.
Like See Kai Run’s sneakers, Ten Little’s baby and kid sneakers are cut wide to promote healthy foot growth. They are also great for kids who will only wear one pair of sneakers because the minimal design makes them appropriate for both playdates and fancier events. My son has a high-top pair that served him well during the slushy spring weather when he was just starting to walk. They wipe clean super easily and are often handed down since they last a really long time. Fellow toddler mom and Wrangler design director Teresa An also recommends Ten Little’s sneakers, particularly this Everyday Original style. Her son Isaac has wide, chubby feet, and she says they’ve offered the best combination of fit and comfort, adding that they are quick to put on with minimal fuss. All of Ten Little’s styles are available in sizes 4 through 13.
According to Strategist writer Lauren Ro, almost every baby or toddler in Brooklyn owns these shoes. Indeed, I have a pair of the same sneakers on a shelf in my son’s room, waiting for him to grow a shoe size. “I got a red pair for my younger son Solomon when he was 1.5 and they were the only shoes he wore for 7 months straight until he grew out of them,” Ro says, adding that she recently got him a new pair in navy blue with a red stripe because she loves them so much. Ro likes them because they’re really well-made shoes for the price, plus they’re comfortable, adorable, and easy to put on.
As long you’re willing to help tie them, these New Balance 550s are a great choice for elder preschool-age kids who are still growing and gaining coordination, thanks to the wide toe box and flat sole. And in terms of style, they get the approval of sneaker expert Mike Kaufman of Overtime. He likes the classic basketball-inspired shape for little kids because it’s trendy and looks good with everything, from overalls to frilly dresses. They are available in whole and half sizes from little kid size 10.5 through big kid size 7, so they’re a nice-looking option for many older kids too.
I bought a pair of these adorable New Balance shoes for my son, who currently wears a little kid size 5.5. I love the dad-ness of them in contrast to their tiny size. And aside from his Native Jeffersons, they have become my favorites for him to wear. They are very solid, which gives him a good base for walking and running. And while it takes extra time to lace them up, once the laces are tied, he cannot take them off. They come in gray and black and are available in a full-size run (with some half sizes) from little kid 0 through big kid 7.
This pair of slip-ons from the family-owned Spanish brand Cienta is reminiscent of Bensimons, those dainty French Converse-like shoes. Ashley Melone, the co-founder of nursing-friendly clothing line Madri Collection, recommends them for their versatile, timeless look and how easy they are to slip onto her daughter’s feet. “Shoes that she can wear comfortably without socks make getting out the door that much simpler.” The slip-ons are available in little kid and big kid sizes from little kid size 5 all the way through big kid size 3.
These sleek Nike Air Maxes are Follain founder Tara Foley’s favorite sneakers for her kids. “I have the same ones, so I know from personal experience that they’re super-cushy and have the perfect amount of height. They’re also seriously cute,” she says. Foley appreciates that the kids’ version has no-tie elastic laces, which she prefers to Velcro straps or regular laces. They come in little kids sizes 3 through 10.
“I absolutely love Reebok Classics for my preschooler,” says Danielle Walish, Madri’s other co-founder. “For the spring, I ordered her a pair of the Classic Leathers in white, and for the fall we changed to black with the gum bottoms.” In her opinion, the retro look is especially cute on small feet. These little kid sneakers start at size 4 and go through size 10. But they are also available in the full range of big kid and adult sizes.
Best sneakers for kindergarten and elementary-schoolers
Milk Teeth co-founder Rebecca Calavan says she loves getting the mini no-tie versions of classic grown-up sneakers for her son. “It has to be Velcro for school as no-one has learnt bows yet,” she says. Another consideration for her is reinforced toes because many kids, hers included, choose not to use the brake on their scooters and drag their foot behind them instead. These pastel Vans check both boxes and are easy to put on too. They come in a handful of different color combinations and sizes little kid 10.5 through 13.5 and big kids 1 through 3.
Paige Lauren, founder of the eponymous children’s clothing brand and mom of an 8-year-old, recommends Asics GT-1000 sneakers because of the great arch and ankle support they provide along with cushioning and stability for lots of running around. “My son is very sporty, and these Asics have been our go-to shoe for school and part of his uniform since he was 5 years old. He had growing pains with other shoes, but when he wears these, he has none of the aches and pains,” she says. There is a version of the sneaker for younger kids that features a Velcro top strap and comes in little kid size 10 through big kid size 3, or this version without the Velcro comes in big kid sizes 1 through 3.
Ro and her almost-5-year-old son Augie have been loving this pair of On Cloud Play sneakers. Ro says he wore them to school last fall, and they were great for the playground, biking, and everything in between. “He likes to call them his running shoes, because they look cool and sleek, and are also very lightweight,” she says. One minor issue is that the elastic laces sometimes come undone and slip out of the eyelet holes. As a result, one of them got lost, but she ordered some black elastic online and replaced it pretty easily.
Both of Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio’s daughters, who are 6 and 9 years old, have worn these Bogs slip-on sneakers, with her younger daughter requesting them again after outgrowing her pair. They are lace-free with a fixed tongue, which means the girls can yank them on quickly without worry of uncomfortable misalignment. And while the edges of the rubber on the soles has finally started to wear away, Trolio estimates that each kid got a solid six to eight months of hard everyday wear out of them. Her older daughter even wears them to play indoor soccer on Astroturf, where the relatively “flat” shape allows for great ball control. The shoes are also machine-washable, which Trolio especially appreciates. These shoes start at a little kid size 10 and go up to a big kid size 3.
Program manager Kristin Knight says that this innovative pair of sneakers gave her son an extra boost of independence while he was learning to tie his shoes. “He loved how easy they were to put on and take off. The BOA tightening mechanism felt very exciting to him,” she says. Trolio confirms this sense of thrill, as her 5-year-old niece saw a kindergarten classmate wearing these shoes and asked for her own pair; now multiple kids she knows are sporting variations on this style, and Trolio just bought a pink-and-purple pair for her own daughter, who’s starting first grade. The shoes have a single flap that hooks onto a disc that can be tightened to secure the shoe so kids can quickly and easily put their shoes on by themselves. They come in whole and half sizes from little kid size 10.5 through big kid size 7.
Trolio first discovered Billy Footwear high-tops when working on a Strategist story about the best back-to-school clothes according to kids and immediately bought a pair for her now 9-year-old daughter. Her kids are very particular about the way their socks sit on their feet, and because the zipper on the Billys goes nearly all the way around the top of the shoe, you can flip the shoes open and step right in “without mussing your socks at all,” she says. The brand is beloved for its accessibility for people with mobility issues or who wear corrective devices, and also has lots of colorful patterns and bling-y details, which is a big deal for kids who refuse to wear more muted colors. They are not the longest-lasting sneakers Trolio’s family has tried, but where the sole on her daughter’s Billys wore out more quickly than the soles on other pairs, the glitter held on remarkably well compared to other sparkly shoes they have owned. They come in multiple widths and little kid size 5 through big kid size 9. (Billy’s also makes full lines of adult shoes.)
Mika Oakes, the founder of maternity swim brand Moloco, and Eunice Byun, the CEO and co-founder of direct-to-consumer kitchenware company Material, both swear by Stan Smiths for their children — but only the version with Velcro, which comes in little kid size 10.5 through big kid size 3. “It’s so easy for kids to manage the new task of putting on and taking off shoes without bothering with tying laces,” says Byun. Oakes agrees that no-tie shoes are the way to go, saying, “I was never the mom who wanted to deal with tying up laces.” Of course, there are also Stan Smiths with laces, which may be a better fit for older kids.
For a no-fuss shoe, Maisonette co-founder Sylvana Ward-Durrett loves Vans slip-ons because, as their name implies, they’re so easy for kids to slip on and off. She also notes that “they’re the perfect price point for the wear and tear of the week.” They’re available in all sizes, starting as small as little kid size 4, and going through the full range of little kid, big kid, and adult sizes, so you can match your child when you feel like twinning.
Best sneakers for middle-schoolers
Dopple stylist Monika Wajda loves that the quality of Veja sneakers is consistent, whether she’s grabbing an adult pair for herself or this cute mini pair for her daughter. “What I love about these shoes is that Veja Kids offer the same level of quality when it comes to flexibility and lightness,” she says. The sneakers run from little kid size 11 through big kid size 7. “I can now share twin moments with my daughter when we go out! Vejas are way more fun when shared,” she adds.
Unlike the less structured, barefoot-style shoes that Shevaun Mackie Doyle, a pediatric orthopedist at the Hospital for Special Surgery, recommends for younger kids, she says that “as they get older and closer to their adult body weight, it’s okay to have a shoe that equally distributes load and absorbs shock,” like a traditional running shoe. As kids enter middle school and pick up track, cross country, or other sports that involve running, she says, these more specialized shoes help prevent stress fractures and calluses. With the same cushioning technology found in the brand’s adult shoes, Asics are a good choice for active kids in this age group. Fauci recommends the Gel-Contend in particular as “a very stable shoe.” It’s available in big kids sizes 1 through 7.
Toward the tail end of elementary school, lots of kids will start to prioritize aesthetics in their sneakers. “Adidas is doing a great job with styles right now,” says May. She suggests this pair that’s flexible and breathable while also being stylish, noting that as long as the shoe fits correctly and is functional, it’s fine to let a kid pick a pair based on looks. Doyle says this is true even for the one in five kids who have flat or collapsed arches. “Don’t get a shoe to accommodate a flat foot,” she says. “It’s been shown that it’s a normal variant within foot shape.” These are available in big kid sizes 3.5 through 7.
Best sneakers for high schoolers
High-school kids can be the pickiest when it comes to coordinating their outfits during the school year. Iris Adler and Tali Milchberg, co-founders and designers of kids’-clothing brand nununu, say that you can’t go wrong with black Chuck Taylors: “Black All-Star high-tops are classics and always the right choice. They’re cool, laid back, and literally work with anything from a pair of jeans to a fancy dress. The more worn and shabby, the better.”
For teens who are into fashion, these platform All Stars are a little more on trend — and a little less flat as well. They are a favorite of Wrangler senior men’s designer William Ortiz and his 17-year-old daughter.
Meanwhile, Ortiz’s 13-year-old son Jake is all about Nike. “He is becoming quite the sneakerhead,” Ortiz says, describing his son’s collection, which contains a range of old-school and new-school Jordans, low Dunks, Air Forces, Waffles, and some of his favorite basketball players’ sneakers, like Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Freak and Immortality Nikes. For his part, Ortiz recommends these Nike Waffle Debut sneakers because they work with both khakis and a button-down or a sporty pair of shorts.
In addition to Ortiz’s son Jake, dozens of teens have told us how much they love wearing all-white Nike Air Force 1s. The key to these chunky low-top sneakers’ popularity is that they are comfortable, stylish, and pretty affordable for a shoe that’s perennially on trend.
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