7 Great Shoe Options for Kiddos Who Use SMO Orthotics
When I first picked up my son’s new SMO Orthotics, I (naively) assumed that the Certified Orthotist would be able to provide us with appropriate shoe recommendations. I was new to the world of adaptive products, and therefore very surprised when she said, “I’m not sure, I think some parents have said New Balances work and there’s a store right down the street. Just make sure the tongue seam comes down far enough to get both the shoe and orthotic in.” So, I hopped in my car and headed to the New Balance store… where I completely struck out. The orthotics did not fit into the two toddler shoe options that they kept in stock and frustration was mounting.
I headed home and started googling “best shoes for SMO Orthotics” without success. I ended up scouring Zappos, looking for every pair of shoes that appeared to have a low enough tongue seam and ordered 15 pairs of shoes. Three pairs worked, and the rest were shipped back.
Now that we’ve been at this for over a year, we’ve found additional options that work well. In order to help you avoid frustration and confusion, I’ve compiled this list of the best shoes that we’ve found for kids with SMO Orthotics.
1. BILLY Classic Lace Highs | $55
BILLY Footwear is the best shoe option that I’ve found. The company focuses on universal design, meaning they want their shoes to look good and work well for everyone. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning when my son’s shoes arrived (he loved them, too). The shoes look great and save us time. They completely unzip, allowing the foot + orthotic to slip right in, and then you simply zip the shoe back up over the orthotic and you’re out the door.
Not only do these shoes save us time and struggles (try getting a toddler to sit still long enough to put orthotics on and then lace-up shoes), they also provide a stylish footwear option that looks great with anything my son wears. BILLY high tops get bonus points in my book for completely covering the orthotic. These shoes have been a game-changer for us, and the compliments roll in when my son wears them!
On the downside, these are the most expensive shoes in the group. At $55, it can be a challenge to pull the trigger when kiddos’ feet grow so quickly. We have also noticed that the material on the inside of the shoe wears away from rubbing the SMOs metal studs, and the zipper is hard to close from time to time. For us, the upside outweighs the down, but we have more great options below.
Use this link to get $5 off your pair of BILLY’s: http://rwrd.io/n9imjww?e
2. New Balance K574v1 | $44.95
These have been our go-to shoes from the start. The K574v1s do come in two widths, but my kid has very narrow feet and still needs wide (W) to fit the SMO Orthotics. I love how many colors this shoe comes in, and it’s nice that the options seem to constantly change. They provide great support for kiddos on the move, and the laces are long enough to give extra room for the orthotic.
I’ve found two cons with this shoe. First, we have to pull the sole out of the shoe to ensure our son’s foot fits with his SMO Orthotics. Not a big deal, but I’d have to assume it’s a bit less comfortable for him without the extra padding. The second issue is having to tie these shoes. As my son gets older and more patient, it is less of an issue, but having a toddler wait to have their shoes tied is a special game that I don’t miss playing.
3. Converse Kids Chuck Taylor All Star | $30
Chuck Taylor’s proved to be a fun option for my son. The shoe material is so soft and flexible that it’s simple to get the foot + SMO Orthotic in, and the tongue seam is very far down so there are no issues getting them on. It seems they never go out of style, and we loved having this cute option on hand.
The downsides are that the flexible nature of the shoe makes it the least supportive of the group. And, once again, we are back to shoes that tie, which are especially difficult with impatient toddlers.
4. Cat & Jack Toddler Vance Sneakers | $19.99
I was browsing the kid’s shoe aisle at Target for a Halloween costume when I came across these Cat & Jack shoes. I wasn’t sure if they’d work, but the tongue seam seemed low, and I knew I’d be back if they need to be returned, so I gave them a try. Lo and behold, these velcro shoes actually fit my son’s foot with his SMO Orthotics! Now, I should warn that the velcro strap just barely closed, and I had to pull tight, but they did close, and we were able to utilize them as a quick option to get out the door. So, if you are looking for a convenient (Target) and affordable (sub $20) shoe option for SMO Orthotics, these might be a great option for you.
6. Air Jordan Kids | Price Varies
We were gifted a pair of Air Jordan's when my son was born, and luckily they were the right size when he got his SMO Orthotics. While waiting for our Zappos shipment, we tried these on to see if they might work. They did, allowing my son to start wearing his SMOs right away. If you are looking for a super stylish option for your kiddo, this might fit the bill.
The obvious cons are the price tag and the laces. The pair that we had were also quite heavy, and on top of the weight of the orthotics, it seemed as if my son was walking around in ski boots.
7. Cowboy Boots
These cowboy boots were for the aforementioned Halloween costume. I intended to buy them for a picture and not much more, but my kid ended up loving them! The SMO Orthotics fit right inside, likely because there was a side zipper, and we ended up using them quite a bit. The specific pair we purchased is no longer available at Target, but if cowboy boots are of interest, I’d recommend trying a pair with a side zip to see how they work out.
Socks for SMO Orthotics!
I’ve seen people looking for socks that work with SMO Orthotics, so here are our favorites. Crew length tend to do the trick for us:
