The 5 Best Hiking Shoes For Kids 2023
How Did we decide on the best hiking shoes for kids?
First, trial and error and our own experience! Our oldest child is eight so we’ve had multiple seasons to figure out exactly what works for young kids on the trail.
When deciding on the best hiking shoes for kids we look for a few qualities:
- Durability: Kids might grow fast but that doesn’t mean you want to replace their shoes each season. Our experience has been that shoes will last us a max of two seasons but typically one. However, we have multiple kids and very much so believe in handing shoes down to friends. All of the recommendations below should last three seasons if not more.
- Comfort: Nothing else matters if your child isn’t comfortable. The shoe can be the prettiest, ruggedest shoe there is but if your kid isn’t comfortable then you aren’t going to make it very far. Rest assured all of the shoes will get you down a trail and back without complaints.
- Traction: Young children are prone to adventure. That often will mean climbing on uneven rocks or shimmying up a tree for a better view. There are enough things to worry about in life, your child losing their footing shouldn’t be one of them!
- Support: As an adult with flat feet, I can’t stress the importance of arch support enough. All of these shoes are incredibly padded while maintaining a firm insole to support the smallest feet. As you are thinking about which shoe to purchase, make sure to consider low versus mid ankle. We find that for most easy to moderate hikes, a low ankle shoe offers ample support. If we are going on a hiking trip and have multiple day-long hikes scheduled we will flex up to a mid-ankle hiking boot.
This post contains affiliate links, however, the opinions are my own and I only share products we’ve personally used and love. I appreciate your support!
The 5 Best Hiking Shoes For Kids
Most Like An Everyday Sneaker: Salomon Unisex Speedcross Trail Shoe
These shoes are built tough and will last you multiple seasons, making them ideal for hand me downs! While the Salomon Speedcross Trail Shoes might feel like a sneaker, you will get the durability, grip, and support of a hiking shoe. These are the perfect option for young children who might feel overwhelmed by a heavier trail boot.
Built Tough: Keens Unisex Targhee Mid Height Waterproof Boots
Our family are huge fans of Keens because it is difficult to beat them on quality. The Targhee Mid Height Waterproof Boot checks all of the boxes needed to make it one of the best hiking shoes for kids. In addition to offering ankle support the shoe is waterproof so it can handle the most epic of adventures. I recommend the Targhee for longer hikes that involve elevation gain or crossing uneven terrain. While we don’t wear these on our local hikes, we definitely get good use out of them each year. If you’d like to see some hikes the Targhee has gotten us through check out our favorite hikes in Iceland.
Budget Friendly: Northside Cheyenne Jr Hiking Shoes
Not only is the Northside Cheyenne Jr a durable hiking shoe, it is budget friendly. Those two factors combined pushed the Northside Cheyenne Jr to the top of our list of best hiking shoes for kids! While the Northside Cheyenne Jr is a fantastic shoe it lacks some of the traction offered by the higher-end kids hiking shoes. I would recommend you reserve this one for easy to moderate hikes. If you are family that is looking for a little adventure in your hometown or the occasional visit to a national park the Northside Cheyenne Jr is probably more the sufficient.
best for Toddlers: Merrell Unisex Junior Trail Chaser Hiking Sneaker
Don’t forget about the littlest members of your family! While toddlers may spend most of their time in a hiking pack or sling carrier, they will inevitably want to exert some independence and get out on the trail. Possibly even more than older kids and adults, toddlers need durable shoes that provide adequate support and a lot of traction. The Merrell Junior Trail Chaser Hiking Sneaker offers that and so much more. First, it offers sizes that will fit one year-olds so it is truly enabling families to get their kids out of the trail at a young age. Second, the shoe offers maximum breathability with a suede and mesh upper. If you’ve never felt a toddler’s feet after a long day in shoes, trust me, breathability matters!
vessi Unisex Waterproof Shoes
Functional and attractive! If you are in need of a waterproof adventure shoe for your children look no further than Vessi. These shoes are perfect for hikes that will take you through streams or puddles and don’t require ankle support. What sets Vessi apart is their ability to transition easily to the playground or classroom while still being supportive and comfortable enough to qualify as one of the best hiking shoes for kids. An added bonus, instead of shoe laces Vessi’s have a pull tab so even young kids can manage getting them on and off independently.
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