Advice on wide shoe brands for kids?

[JessicaCollins86]

We’ve just moved back to the UK after living abroad for a number of years, and I’m struggling to find shoes for my son. He’s always had very wide feet and I used to order from a Danish site (MilkyWalk.dk), but they don’t deliver here. I mainly bought a brand called Arauto RAP – I think it was Portuguese – but they’ve gone bust now. Can anyone recommend children’s shoe brands that are good for wide feet and high instep and easy to find in the UK?

Clarks and Startrite both come in different width fittings. Ecco might be worth trying too.

Clarks or startrite. Startrite can be harder to find in shops but the quality is really good (much better than Clarks) so I would consider getting their measuring gauge, which also measures width as well as size and goes up to adult sizes so is a worthwhile investment, and then ordering online.

Highly recommend looking into barefoot shoes

Yes we use Clark’s wide fit.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! Really helpful 😊
I didn’t know Start-Rite had a proper measuring gauge that also does width – that actually sounds like a good investment, especially if it goes up to adult sizes. Will definitely look into that.
I’ll also check Clarks wide fit again, and I’ve heard good things about Ecco too.
And the barefoot shoes are also interesting – I’ll read up a bit more on that option.
Appreciate all your input!

If you've a John Lewis near you, they have a kids shoes dept with measuring which will stock multiple brands including startrite and clarks

Definitely Start Rite
Geox
Ricosta
Superfit

We go to an independent retailer - DGD has inserts which make the foot sit
higher in the shoe, like a high instep.

Some brands have insoles which can be removed and adapted/cut to accommodate the foot. DGD has her insert at the back of the shoe and half an insole at the front.

We also have DGSs with high instep who can't get boots/wellies to fit because of high instep and they end up with larger sizes than measured.

Even with trainers we get them fitted by someone who knows what they're doing because most high street stores don't have specialists. Asking a child 'How does that feel?' isn't a good way of ascertaining how the footwear fits if they really like the colour/brand/style.

We only buy fitted footwear for the children.

Start-rite, Geox or any of the barefoot brands. Go to an independent shoe shop for a better fit check. They also usually have a selection of different brands. Different brands fit differently. Our local independent shoe shop stocks at least 10 different brands and measures width, length and advises on instep. My DD has wide feet and long toes and our local independent shoe fitter recommended start-rite or Geox and hush puppies or kickers in the bigger junior sizes. We seem to get longer out of these brands and my DD is more comfortable.

My MIL took her to clarks and she moaned the shoes were too small after 8 weeks and her toes were right at the end. Also the clarks were pretty much falling apart after 8 weeks whereas the start rite and Geox still look like new even after 8 months of daily school wear. My DD is not even rough on shoes unlike some friends DC.

Start rite have a measuring system on their website that is amazing, in my experience. You put your child's foot on an A4 sheet of paper and take photos on your phone. Their imaging technology does the rest.

There's a website called Happy Little Soles where you can find a bunch of suitable brands and they have helpful measuring advice too.