Finding my son a sole-mate

February 7, 2024 10:36 PM

My son (under 10) wears Crocs. He is the sort of person who tries one thing, likes it, and never wants to change, so he has been wearing Crocs since he could first walk. These are not great though for running around and probably not awesome for his feet. He needs real sneakers. Problem is, I got him running sneakers and he does not like them. He says they are too heavy. That's fine. But is there a better brand? Maybe a brand more like Crocs? This is the US. Happy to order online or in person.
posted by Toddles to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (22 answers total)

How about vibram?

https://www.vibram.com/us/shop/fivefingers
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 10:58 PM on February 7

Try the Nike Free RN line. They have stretchy fabric uppers and the soles are very light.

I recommend visiting a store (or ordering multiple sizes), because Nike shoes of different models have very different fits, even if they're listed as the same size.
posted by homodachi at 11:02 PM on February 7

I can't cope with even slightly heavy shoes, so I feel for lil bro. See what he thinks of sketchers? Adidas also do Cloudfoam. And I mean, Crocs make real shoes too, check them out! Had Crocs loafers once that I could do fifteen kilometer s day City walks in.
posted by Iteki at 12:28 AM on February 8 [5 favorites]

When I switched to Brooks Ghosts I was pleased by how much lighter they were than my previous Nikes, New Balances, etc. had been. But my use case (mainly everyday walking) is probably not the same as your son's.
posted by JimN2TAW at 2:28 AM on February 8

I hate heavy shoes and shoes that squeeze my feet and I also like Crocs. In sneakers, Xero shoes (specifically, Prios) are the ones I've found that work best for me; they're roughly the same weight as Crocs, flexible and fit a high-volume foot as well. Minimalist shoes are billed as very foot-healthy, but there's also room in there for insoles if he wants a cushier foot feel.
posted by Bardolph at 2:48 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Finn comfort sandals are more supportive than any sneaker I’ve ever had.
posted by wheatlets at 3:10 AM on February 8

My kid (5) has sensory issues and prefers lightweight, Velcro sneakers in a washable mesh material. I usually order them off Amazon.

Brands vary, but her most recent pair are by Coasis.

If you search "lightweight washable sneakers for kids" and filter by size, loads of options should populate.
posted by champers at 3:22 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

These are not great though for running around and probably not awesome for his feet. He needs real sneakers.

If I were a parent, I would never put my kid into "real sneakers" such as Nike and such. Crocs are far better for his feet as they allow natural growth whereas Big Name sneakers constrict the foot, which is terrible for growing feet.

Want to know why so many people have pain in their lives from their feet? Blame the "real sneaker" industry reinvented by Nike and others over the past 50 years. They are terrible for your feet.

Get your kid flat, wide shoes like MukiShoes or VivoBarefoot or Feelgrounds (extremely light). These will allow natural growth and for the foot to do what it's supposed to do: allow for the full spread of the toes and for the foot to have room to grow and strengthen rather than weaken because they're relying on arches and heels to do what the foot itself is supposed to do.
posted by dobbs at 3:22 AM on February 8 [2 favorites]

Use the search terms "perforated kids' sneakers," and these lightweight more sneaker-like footwear will pop up:

Natives

Skechers has something similar:
posted by Elsie at 3:26 AM on February 8

My kid who also finds most shoes too heavy and hot likes the Sketchers Ultra-Flex slip ons a lot -- very breathable, very lightweight.
posted by redfoxtail at 3:40 AM on February 8

I am very picky about wearing "foot-shaped" lightweight shoes and I too enjoy wearing a Croc. Unfortunately my favorite sneaker brand, Altra, no longer makes kids' shoes but maybe they'll work for your kiddo in a couple years.

I wear "barefoot" style shoes sometimes too, and there are a lot of brands that sell barefoot style shoes for kids, many already mentioned above. Barefoot/minimal shoes are great in the "no squishing toes" and "lightweight" department but generally they have minimal cushion, so they don't have the "comfy squishy sole" aspect that Crocs have.

I've never tried them but I've heard good things about Saguaro as a "transitional barefoot" shoe that's available in kids' sizes and has some cushion.
posted by mskyle at 4:41 AM on February 8 [2 favorites]

They're not the same look, but the reason I like my Converse All Stars is that they're so light. The soles aren't very soft/squishy though.
posted by AzraelBrown at 5:31 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

I find my saucony running shoes so light and comfortable that I'm on my 4th pair.
Maybe a little pricey for a kid who would might outgrow them fast though?
posted by bowmaniac at 7:03 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Allbirds shoes are very lightweight.
posted by shw at 7:22 AM on February 8

My child is pretty much ride or die for Crocs as well, but needs sneakers for gym class. We've had success with See Kai Run (you can usually find discounted at 6pm or Nordstrom Rack) and also the Sketchers you can get at Target, which have the added bonus of coming with pop-its in some styles.
posted by notjustthefish at 7:51 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

My nephew is a Crocs-only kid and is able to tolerate Tsukihoshi shoes - very lightweight and roomy.
posted by sencha at 8:32 AM on February 8

A few years back I learned the wondrousness of a "light" shoe and I have refused to go back. My go to is Sketchers but to be fair, I haven't tried too many - once I found my specific shoe I've been buying the same one for eons. I think i'm on my 6th pair! So unfortunately I can't recommend a specific line of boys Sketchers, but if he'll tolerate it I'd take kiddo to your nearest Sketchers store or outlet and just try on all the things...
posted by cgg at 8:43 AM on February 8

Seconding Tsukihoshi shoes. And then when ages out of little kids, Altras worked.
posted by ReluctantViking at 8:54 AM on February 8

Is there an actual kid's shoe store near you? It would be really good to have him fit really properly (kid shoe sizing seems really tricky to me, they vary a ton between brands and kids in particular seem to have narrow or wide feet, and also some kids have quite "tall" feet.) Support kids shoe retail! It's really valuable.

For kids sneakers we liked that have been lighter weight, we liked Saucony (especially the originals line with the foam bottoms), Puma (the ones with the foam bottoms) and Plae. (Also, for my kid, Tsukihoshi ran really wide.)
posted by vunder at 9:59 AM on February 8 [2 favorites]

Sometimes, kids will say one reason that does not cover all the reasons behind why they don't like a something. It sounds like your kid is comfortable with Crocs and it might be about the weight but it might also be about the width at the toes, etc. My local kids shoe store is really great - they just look at the feet and instantly know what shoes your kid should wear. They only stock a couple of brands because they know will keep repeat kid customers. One of these brands that might work for your Crocs kid is Froddo. The Barefoot line might be a good sneaker substitute for your son.
posted by ichimunki at 10:43 AM on February 8 [2 favorites]

Have a look at Skechers - they're super lightweight and seem to fit my wide feet nicely without feeling at all tight. They're far from the cheapest, but so far they seem to last pretty well, in my experience.
posted by dg at 3:41 PM on February 8

Seconding the Natives suggestion. They’re light, slip-on, and rubber just like crocs, but they’re a bit narrower/snugger and have a proper enclosed heel - definitely better for running in. My kiddo wore them as their all-around sneaker for a few years before relenting to proper sneakers. They worked great.
posted by marlys at 9:18 PM on February 10