Are kids’ athletic shoes the same quality as those for adults?
July 6, 2021 5:45 AM   Subscribe

I have tiny feet (US women’s size 5). Kids sized running and training shoes fit me, obviously. But are they the same quality?

They are cheaper so I hope they are! But my one and only data point is that I recently purchased some new balance kids running shoes, and within a month one of the lace holders tore. I was wondering if kids shoes are cheaper because they are not made to last as long since kids grow. I thought I’d see if anyone had any real information on this before I tried again.
posted by millipede to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I don’t know about shoes, but I fit in little boys’ XL track pants, and they’re indeed about $20 cheaper with the exact same material and quality. (They are *slightly* short on me but I don’t mind, it’s a look.)
posted by jitterbug perfume at 5:54 AM on July 6, 2021


If they're from the same line of shoes (as opposed to being a kid-specific model), they're made to the same pattern, just a smaller version. So the same materials, just less of them, which is why they're cheaper (plus kids get through shoes more quickly, so there's an incentive to keep them affordable). The eyelets for the laces may be smaller, or closer to the edge, though, so maybe that's why they failed.
posted by pipeski at 5:58 AM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]


Look online for Altra shoes. They have running shoes made specifically for the female foot, and sizes range from size ONE to 13!
They are priced about the same as any good running shoe.
posted by Enid Lareg at 6:12 AM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]


Kids are also athletic, sometimes -often- more than adults, so avoid anything that implies leisure or fashion, check reviews and leave one for your make & model. If you are purchasing running shoes they should hold up like adult running shoes - through at least one season (year?) of intense use.
posted by childofTethys at 6:17 AM on July 6, 2021


Kids shoes vary quite a bit -- we've had some brands last a long time and others not. (My kids are too small to recommend a long lasting brand for your size, but maybe someone else can.)
posted by slidell at 6:31 AM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]


As far as I can remember we've never had any of my son's running/training shoes fall apart or fail, and he's had them up to about 6 months or so before he grows out of them.

However I'm not sure if they have the same amount of support or cushioning as an adult shoe, as kids run pretty lightly.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 7:37 AM on July 6, 2021


As a counterpoint, my kid has always been a shoe destroyer. Many kid shoes fell apart in him within 3 mos. As soon as he fit into adult shoes I got him a pair of NB trail runners which were the first pair that he outgrew before they were destroyed.
posted by rouftop at 8:51 AM on July 6, 2021


Depends on the brand. Re running shoes specifically, I have small feet (women's size 6-6.5) that can overlap with kids' shoe sizing, but not usually with running shoe sizing. Have my more general shoe-buying anecdata.

Bad: I was trying to buy a pair of classic Bean Boots when I was visiting the LL Bean flagship store in Maine. Bean Boots' "women's size 6" are a standard women's size 7, and don't come any smaller in adult sizes. Bean Boots in adult sizes come with a LOT more options than kid sizes for warmer, higher quality materials, like the shearling-lined ones my husband was able to buy that day, or the Goretex/Thinsulate lined ones I was interested in. But my feet were too small, so I was relegated to the one kids' option they had at the time, which had NO insulation. I very grumpily did not buy said boots, the whole point was for my feet to be warm in New England winters and I'd been looking forward to this purchase for ages! Stupid LL Bean.

Good enough: I realized I'd forgotten to bring my Keen water sandals with me on a trip, so I went to go buy a second pair. Turns out my size 6 feet fit into the kids' range; the kids sizes cost half what the adult sizes did, and the only difference I ever found was that the kids' shoes had extra protective lining on the heelcup that the adult shoes did not. All of my Keen shoes have lasted years, I am a happy ongoing customer.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 9:36 AM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]


I wear a US size 5.5 and shoe shopping has been a nightmare for several years. Sales associates now automatically tell you that your feet will fit into children's sizing which is sort of true in a very general way.

IME most kids shoes fall apart quickly; manufacturers know kids tend to outgrow their shoes on a regular basis.

I also find that kid's shoes are not comfortable/supportive for adult feet, period - there is usually not good arch support, nor does the toe box correctly fit adult-length toes.

Often in kids shoes, your choice is severely limited; I do not want basic work pumps or flats that are pink glitter, or covered with little applique hearts, thank you very much.

There are still brands (Adidas, New Balance etc. for running shoes) that make shoes in smaller adult sizes but almost no brick and mortar stores carry those sizes in stock. After a lot of trial and error (and trying them on in person whenever possible, which is not often) I have found a few brands that consistently fit correctly and I am resigned to ordering them online. Good luck in your search.
posted by faineant at 11:01 AM on July 7, 2021


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