The best childrens running shoes for most kids are a light, neutral lace-up from a major brand, such as the Asics Contend or the Nike Star Runner 5, at about $60 to $80 a pair. A child who needs extra structure may suit a support shoe like the Asics GT-1000 at about $110 to $120. Fit matters more than the brand name, and a good fit takes five minutes to check.
Open any online shop and you see hundreds of kids’ running styles. The sizes read PS, GS or toddler. Prices run from about $50 to $180 for a shoe that does the same job in the playground. Kids outgrow shoes fast, so you want a pair that fits now and does not cost a fortune. Podiatrists see what a poor choice causes: blisters, bruised toenails and sore heels.
This article gives you four picks from Asics, Nike and adidas, each with its fit, support and Australian price. A short guide then shows you how to size a shoe online and test it at home. ModPod Podiatry has treated children’s feet in Sydney for over 20 years. We do not sell running shoes, so we have no stake in which pair you pick.
1. Asics Contend: the budget pick for school PE
The Asics Contend is the shoe to buy when you want a sound, plain runner at a low price. It suits a child with healthy feet who needs one pair for PE, sport days and play.
Fit and support
The Contend is a neutral running shoe. It adds no correction to the foot, so it lets a healthy foot move as it should. It carries Asics GEL cushioning, which softens each landing on hard school grounds.
Asics keeps older versions on sale after a new one launches. The Contend 9 sits at reduced prices while the Contend 10 sells at full price. If your child’s size is in stock, the older version is a sound buy and saves you $20 or more.
A plain, neutral shoe at a fair price suits most kids with healthy feet.
Who it suits and what it costs
Choose the Contend for a child with no foot pain who runs, plays and walks to school in the same pair. Australian retail listings show these prices, and sales change them:
- Contend 9 toddler: $49.99 (was $69.99)
- Contend 9 PS: $59.99 (was $79.99)
- Contend 9 GS: $69.99 (was $89.99)
- Contend 10: $89.99 in PS and $99.99 in GS
2. Nike Star Runner 5: the light everyday pick
The Nike Star Runner 5 is a good all-round choice for active kids with healthy feet. It costs a little more than the Contend 9 at list price and comes in many colours.
Fit and support
This is a light, neutral trainer for running, play and school sport. Nike sells it in toddler, PS and GS sizes, so siblings can wear the same style.
Check the width before you buy. Nike lists one regular width in kids’ sizes. If your child has a wide forefoot, try the shoe in a store, or read the returns policy before you order online.
Light and neutral works for most kids, but a regular width will not fit every foot.
Who it suits and what it costs
It suits kids who run at carnivals, play netball or football, and want one shoe for it all. List prices are $69.99 for toddler, $74.99 for PS and $79.99 for GS. Sale pairs have dropped to $49.99 in PS and $39.99 in GS.
Here is a worked example. You buy for two children, one in PS and one in GS, at list price: $74.99 plus $79.99 comes to $154.98. Sale colours can cut that total a lot, so check a few colours before you pay.
3. Adidas Galaxy 8: a second neutral option
The adidas Galaxy 8 is a neutral everyday trainer for older kids. Its GS size is listed at $89.99, between the Star Runner 5 and the Contend 10.
Fit and support
The Galaxy 8 gives you a neutral shoe from a different brand. Brands shape their shoes on different foot models, called lasts. A child who finds Asics narrow may find adidas fits better, and the reverse can hold too.
Treat it as a fit-led pick. If the Contend or Star Runner rubs your child’s heel or squeezes the toes, try the Galaxy 8 before you give up on neutral shoes. The same fit checks below apply to any brand, and a good fit beats a good reputation.
When one brand fits badly, a different brand often fixes the problem.
Who it suits and what it costs
It suits older primary and high school kids who run each week and need a neutral shoe with a different fit. The GS size lists at $89.99. Stock of the Galaxy 8 in small sizes is thin, so check your child’s size before you plan around it.
4. Asics GT-1000: the support pick
The Asics GT-1000 is the support shoe on this list. It suits a child who has a reason for extra structure, not a child who has flat-looking feet.
Fit and support
A stability shoe adds firmness through the midsole to limit how far the foot rolls inward. The GT-1000 is Asics’ entry-level support shoe. It comes in PS and GS sizes, and it costs about $30 to $40 more than the Contend.
Not every child needs this. Flexible flat feet are common in young children and cause no pain in most cases. Buy a support shoe if a podiatrist advises it, or if your child has pain in neutral shoes that goes away with firmer ones.
A support shoe suits a child with a reason for it, not every child.
Who it suits and what it costs
It suits kids with feet that roll in a lot, kids who need to fit an orthotic, and kids with growing pains. If your child has been prescribed orthotics, pick a shoe with a removable insole so the orthotic sits flat. Prices in Australian retail listings are:
- GT-1000 14 PS: $109.99
- GT-1000 14 GS: $119.99
How to check fit before you buy online
Online shoes fit well when you size from a traced foot, not from last year’s shoe. Test every pair at home on a clean floor, and return any pair that fails.
Measure your child’s foot
Measure in the afternoon, when feet are at their largest. Follow these steps:
- Stand your child on a sheet of paper with weight on both feet.
- Trace each foot and mark the heel and the longest toe.
- Measure the length in centimetres and use the larger foot.
- Add about 1 cm, the width of your thumb, for growing room.
- Compare the total with the brand’s size chart. Children’s shoe sizes differ between brands, and most listings use US sizes.
Test the shoe at home
Put the shoe on with the socks your child wears for sport. Check that you can fit a thumb’s width in front of the longest toe, that the heel stays put when your child walks, and that the toes can wiggle. Bend the shoe: it should flex at the ball of the foot, not in the middle. Let your child run on a hard floor for a few minutes, then check for red marks.
Heel pain after sport is a sign to stop and get advice, not to buy a bigger shoe. In children aged 8 to 14, it can signal Sever’s disease. Toe walking, in-toeing and frequent tripping also warrant an assessment.
The four picks at a glance
| Shoe | Support | Sizes | Typical price (AUD) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asics Contend 9 | Neutral | Toddler, PS, GS | $49.99 to $69.99 | School PE on a budget |
| Nike Star Runner 5 | Neutral | Toddler, PS, GS | $69.99 to $79.99 | Everyday play and sport |
| adidas Galaxy 8 | Neutral | GS | $89.99 | A different fit from Asics or Nike |
| Asics GT-1000 14 | Support | PS, GS | $109.99 to $119.99 | Kids who need extra structure |
You may see other models as you shop. The Nike Pegasus 42 GS lists at $149.99, and the Hoka Clifton 10 GS lists at $179.99 and above. These cost more, and a regular school runner does not need them.
Pick the fit first, then the price
A good pair of childrens running shoes fits the foot, suits the sport and costs what you can afford. For most kids that means a neutral shoe such as the Contend, Star Runner 5 or Galaxy 8. A support shoe like the GT-1000 belongs with kids who have a reason for it. Measure at home, test the shoe on a hard floor, and send back any pair that rubs.
If your child has heel pain, walks on their toes or has feet that look unusual, a shoe will not fix it. A podiatrist can assess their gait and tell you whether they need support. Book a children’s podiatry visit at one of our five Sydney clinics, and we will assess your child’s foot and leg concerns.
