Best sneakers for (almost) 5 year old?

[zzammmi]

What is your recommendation for the most comfortable sneaker brand for a little guy? I'm not too concerned about the cost, just want him to be comfy and well supported.

 

[missymagic]

My DDs (5&8) both wear sketchers and neither ever complain about their feet hurting. They are cross trainer style. Never get blisters or anything. I think the funky style sneakers hurt their feet because they don't have as much support.

 

[JustineMarie]

my kids wear the Nike Running shoes adn Skechers and have had no problems with either. I like the Nike ones bc they are seem lighter.

 

[tatooed goofy]

One of mine wore the Nike brand also and never complained. The other wore Avia and didn't complain either. We had them try them on and walk around the store. Then, we walked every night for a month before we went. It really helped loosen the shoes up.

 

[KristiKelly]

DS8 and DD5 both wore Nike. DS had the kind with the holes in the sides of the soles (does that make sense?) DD had the same type but without the holes. They were both very lightweight. They never complained. With our kids, socks are a bigger issue than the shoes themselves. If the socks have a thick seam across the toe that bothers them more than anything.

 

[NotUrsula]

Unless you're visiting at the coldest part of the year, I would suggest sports sandals instead. Little ones like to play in the fountains, and that way, wet shoes are not an issue (no probs on Kali, either.) A couple of the good, reasonably priced brands for kids are Kamik and Columbia.

Mine doesn't wear sneakers for cold-weather visits, either; he wears Merrell jungle mocs at that time of year; they are very water-resistant and really supportive for serious walking.

 

[egoldber]

Unless you're visiting at the coldest part of the year, I would suggest sports sandals instead. Little ones like to play in the fountains, and that way, wet shoes are not an issue (no probs on Kali, either.) A couple of the good, reasonably priced brands for kids are Kamik and Columbia.

Mine doesn't wear sneakers for cold-weather visits, either; he wears Merrell jungle mocs at that time of year; they are very water-resistant and really supportive for serious walking.

I totally agree with this. When we go, DD almost always wears her Hurricane Tevas. In colder times, her Merrell Jungle Mocs.

 

[Lives4Disney]

My kids do best in Merrells, Tevas, Keens for sport sandals, and Skechers or New Balance tennies.

Lives4Disney

 

[Donnask8pro]

New Balance. My podiatrist swears by them. Kohls has great prices on them.

 

[The Sweetness]

I suggest if your kids have comfy sneakers already, bring them. More than one pair if they have them. Flip flops or sandals as well if they have comfortable ones!

 

[justhat]

Well my daughter is only 1 and so far has only worn Stride Rite sneakers but she's been fine on our WDW trips. But what I really want to say is to bring 2 pairs of sneakers/shoes with you unless you go the Teva route. I remember when I was 15 and went to WDW. I got to bring my friend and of course we stayed out in the pouring rain and my sneakers got soaked. I didn't have another pair of shoes with me so the next morning my mom had to take me to DTD to buy another pair of shoes cause mine still were not dry. My friend was fine since she had 2 pairs of shoes (wore Birkenstocks the day it rained). Ever since that trip I have gone on any vacation without at least 2 pairs of shoes, and I now do the same for my daughter.

 

[Brina]

For sneakers my kids (2 boys, 5.5 and 1 girl, almost 3) wear mainly striderite. My one son is a merrel jungle moc addict - I have to buy summer and winter versions for him. My other son chose a pair of addidas sneakers in august and they look so much more worn than his brothers shoes. I don't think I will buy those again.

 

[DazedandConfused]

Another vote for Stride Rite!!!! I never put my boys in anything else. They both have wide feet and stride rite has wide widths. I don't like a lot of the sneakers for kids sold at bob's or such stores because they are all flash, they hook the kids into buying them but they are definately not good for their feet. I am having trouble finding sneaks for my 8 y.o. because stride rite stops at about a 5 and he is a 5.5. They do make them just really hard to find. We have been to Bob's, khols, and a few shoe stores and nothing he has tried seems to fit right. He gets all excited by the look of the shoe but then says they just aren't comfortable (too pinchy, narrow, the back hurts, etc.). I just wish I could keep getting stride rites. They hold up great and if they don't with normal wear you just bring them back and they will replace them! I just can't say enough good things about them - and I am a physical therapist so I am very picky about what I put on my kids feet!

 

[zzammmi]

Thanks folks! Stride Rite sounds good and we've used them before. Current pair are not Stride Rite but some flashy spiderman design which seemed to give him blisters near his ankle. He never told me about it though, I just noticed one day. We're going in December but even if we weren't I think I'd need a pair of sneakers anyway (the GF Pirate Cruise for example requires them.) All comments were much appreciated!

 

[NotUrsula]

If the GF Pirate Cruise is requiring sneakers, that must be a new rule. DS has been on that cruise 4 times, and wore sports sandals every time. He has actually never worn sneakers at WDW.