Topic: The Best Hiking Shoes for Kids of 2022 (Read 33 times)
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Why It Made the Cut
The lace-free Reima Evastes will be the easiest for kids to pull on and off, and are lightweight to leave little feet unencumbered
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If my kid hadn’t already gone all in on polka-dotted galoshes, I think the Evaste would have been a major hit for one simple reason:They are the easiest to put on of everything I looked at. Instead of cinch-up laces, there were just wide velcro tabs that hit the middle ground between having enough hold to stay in place while also having enough give that a small child could actually loosen it themselves. This design also means that the tongue flips all the way out.
Parents will also like that the inside sole has a handy sizing guide on it—especially useful if you are trying the shoe on in store, but also helpful if you are trying to confirm that you have the right size from an online purchase before asking your child to try it on for the first time.
Why It Made the Cut
Kids that love to copy their parents will appreciate how much the Trail Quest Jr. looks like the Merrell Moab.
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Whether it’s a toy phone or one of the best kids’ fishing poles, children love to have kid-sized versions of adult products. So if you are already hiking in the Merrell Moab (one of the most popular hiking shoes out there), then your kid may well gravitate toward that brand’s Trail Quest Jr., essentially a mini version of the full-size shoe. What’s different here is that in lieu of traditional laces, it has elastic bands and a velcro closure (although this one might be too tough for young children). It was also the only kids’ hiking shoe that I looked at that had a detectable (although slight) bump along the arch—something to keep in mind if your child is especially sensitive to unusual sensations.
Why It Made the Cut
Little kids that hike hard and play hard will benefit from the protective Targhee Sport Vent.
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While it shares the same name as one of the best hiking boots for women, the kids’ version of the KEEN Targhee isn’t quite the mini-me version that the Merrell Trail Quest Jr. is to the Moab, although it’s pretty close. But where this kids’ hiking shoe really shines is in the protective details. In addition to its non-marking soles and cinch-cord closure with a secure Velcro strap, it also has a robust rubber toe that will help protect your little ones when they hit the inevitable rock while flying down trail at top speed. In addition to being on the pricey side for kids’ shoes, this one also came in a fairly limited color palette, which may be less appealing to little ones in love with bright colors.
Why It Made the Cut
The Columbia Little Kids’ Trailstorm had better traction than plenty of shoes that adults use for hiking, with lightweight mesh that will keep feet cool in the heat of summer.
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Parents of small children know they co*e in only two speeds: full-tilt running or “carry me.” And the former can quickly turn into the latter if they take a tumble on a sandy or rocky trail. To help keep your little one upright, the Columbia Trailstorm (available for both “little kids” and “big kids”) added adult-style traction underfoot, in addition to its other kid-friendly details: generous cinch-cord laces, breathable mesh, and a toe bumper.
I wish the Columbia Trailstorm came in a wider color palette—a useful incentive for getting kids to try on new shoes: the Big Kid version is only available in black and gray, while the Little Kid shoe also co*es in pink.
Why It Made the Cut
The Mishansha shoes, which were one of the least expensive I looked at, co*e in seemingly every color of the rainbow
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Choosing the right size when you are ordering the best hiking shoes online is fraught enough for adults, where seemingly every manufacturer makes their shoe in a slightly different length or width for the same size. But for little kids, who are apt to tell you that a shoe is the wrong size with a wail of despair, it can be especially fraught. Fortunately, the Mishansha Kids Trekking and Hiking Shoes, which is only available on Amazon, is inexpensive enough that you can purchase a couple of pairs in different sizes to help ensure you’ll find something that works for your tot (and then return the rest). Even better, this was the only shoe I looked at that came in a truly wide array of colors—black, blue, brown, green, pink and purple—increasing the odds that you’ll find something that will speak to your kid.
Hiking shoes for kids vary in price from $20 all the way up to $80 or more.
According to Thomas Jinguji, Pediatric Orthopedics specialist at Seattle Children’s Hospital, as long as your children’s feet are protected from rocks on the ground, then hiking shoes aren’t necessary. If your kid wants to wear crocs on your next hike, go ahead and let them!
Sizing up a pair of kids hiking boots is a great way to extend their lifespan. Typically, hiking boots are made from much more robust material than tennis shoes, for instance, and a single pair can last the whole summer (assuming your kids aren’t too destructive). That being said, if the hiking shoes are too large, they may cause your kiddo to trip, discouraging them from heading out on a hike in the first place. Trial run a full size up (which should last for a few months at least) before co*mitting to the purchase.
In the end, my biggest mistake in the search for the best hiking shoes for kids was putting too much importance on the decision. Like with so many things, my idea of what is essential for a hike (the best hiking shoes) is not my daughter’s idea of what is essential (the best camping snacks).
And when we’re out on a hike, she’s not looking at the vistas or appreciating the serenity: she’s looking for bugs and slugs, ready to stomp in every stream that crosses the trail. So maybe it’s just as well that she is still wearing those galoshes.
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