5 Best Toddler Hiking Shoes: A Buying Guide
The Camping Kiddos wearing our favorite Keen Newport H2s at Egmont Key, Florida
When your youngest hiker decides to tackle the trail, it’s time to start researching the best toddler hiking shoes!
While many families shy away from the idea of purchasing speciality shoes of any kind for growing little feet, I’m here to reassure you that on-the-go toddlers need hiking shoes just as much as anyone on the trail.
We are a family that tries out everything before we purchase anything big (read: we’re cheap), so know that these suggestions below come from a fellow parent who knows the cost of child-rearing.
In each of our suggestions for best toddler hiking shoes, we’ve balanced cost with features and durability, so that you can choose a supportive trail shoe that’s right for your favorite little hiker.
This post contains affiliates. I will receive a commission at no charge to you if you purchase through the links below.
Do Toddlers Need Hiking Shoes?
For the most casual of family hikes, your toddler can probably get away with a well fitting pair of shoes and socks.
However, if you’re hiking frequently, or if you have a toddler who will NOT be carried on trails, you’re going to want to invest in a good pair of hiking shoes for your little one.
While hiking shoes can be pricey, we’ve always felt that investment was worth it.
In fact, toddler hiking shoes is one of my top tips for hiking with toddlers!
Making sure that your little hiker has proper footwear on the trail does a few things:
It makes the experience more enjoyable and comfortable. This is a good thing as you want your child to associate hiking with fun—not with pain.
It supports proper foot development. While it’s always important to have a good fitting shoe, that becomes even more crucial when you’re frequently involving your child in strenuous activity.
It lessens the chance of ankle twists and foot injuries. Your toddler will always find a way to get into a few scrapes (they are toddlers, after all!), but you can keep their ankles and feet more protected from rocks, briars, sticks, and dirt with hiking shoes of their own.
Plus, you’re getting them used to the idea that hiking requires specialized footwear.
My older kid has always loved hiking and exploring outside—even in her bare feet—but our younger child complained constantly that his feet hurt.
It was only when we got him a pair of hiking shoes that his entire attitude towards hiking changed.
And that, my friends, is well worth the money that we’ve spent on buying tiny kids their own boots.
Getting a good pair of toddler hiking boots will help you normalize getting out on the trail with your family!
Plus, having them dress the part goes a long way to making hiking fun for your kids.
Don’t know where to start hiking with your family? Check out our comprehensive guide to hiking for beginners on a budget!
What is the Best Overall Hiking Shoe for Toddlers?
Gibby wearing his favorite hiking boots of all time—Keen Targhee boots—while on the Bluff Trail in Congaree National Park
Keen Targhee Midheight Hiking Boot
For versatility and comfort, we would recommend the Keen Targhee midheight hiking boot for new little hikers and experienced ones.
My son has had a pair of these boots for a while (we’re actually on our second pair as he grows!), and they’re comfortable enough that he wears them on and off the trail.
We love that the Keen Targhee boot is waterproof enough to stand up to most trail conditions and flexible enough for him to move comfortably.
They also provide enough support for him to attempt to jump off all manner of rocks and hills. So far, I have no major foot injuries to report!
Plus, the Keen brand is one we love—you’ll see another must-have pair below—and the quality is outstanding.
Gibby, our son, has put some serious miles on his Keen Targhee boots and they hold up to whatever he throws at them.
These start at a little kids’ size 8 and run all the way to a big kids’ size 7.
That way, you can keep your kids in these same style for years if they love them as toddlers.
While the Keen Targhee boots aren’t great for submerged trails or river crossings, they are excellent for all-around toddler hiking shoes, whether you’re visiting Arches National Park in 1 day or hiking Yellow Branch Falls in Upstate South Carolina.
My least favorite thing about these boots are the extremely limited colors that they come in.
The neutral greys and browns offered in the kids’ Targhee boot are great for an overall forest-y feel, but they’re not fantastic if you’ve got kids who want more pop in their footwear.
A new pair of kids’ hiking shoes makes for a great present! See our other favorites in this list of best camping gifts for kids.
Best Toddler Hiking Shoes by Category
Best Water Shoes for Hiking: Keen Newport H2
My family is obsessed with these shoes.
I’m not kidding. We love them. Here we are waiting for the ferry over to Egmont Key State Park with matching sandals!
Part sandal, part hiking shoe, the Keen Newport H2 has plenty of support, quick drying straps, and protective uppers.
I bought my first pair about 4 years ago, and they are still going strong. They are so great that I had to include them in my round up of the best hiking clothes for women!
I loved them so much that I immediately bought a pair for each of my kids, and they wore them non-stop as well.
Each year, we have to buy them new pairs thanks to those growing feet, but they’ve begun to mark the transition to summer with their new pairs of Keen Newports!
We’ve worn these as beach shoes down in St. Pete Beach, Florida, as our main water shoes while tubing down the French Broad in Asheville, North Carolina, hiking in the Grand Canyon, and everywhere in between.
We love wearing these on trails with river crossings as the kids can splash in the water without having to worry about hauling around soggy shoes for the rest of the hike.
I’ve compared these to Tevas and Chacos, and the Keen Newports win hands-down for my family.
There’s less foot showing in the Keen Newports, which means less of an opportunity for rocks and dirt to get on your feet while hiking.
(You will get a pretty hilarious tan in these, too!)
Plus, they come in a BUNCH of colors—tie-dye is my favorite—so your toddler can get his or her favorite.
I’d name these as my number one favorite toddler hiking shoe if it weren’t for the fact that they’re not great in colder weather.
Still, you can’t go wrong with these as 3-season hiking shoes, or if you live in a warmer year-round climate.
Best Entry Level Toddler Hiking Boot: Mishansha Water Resistant Boot
The Mishansha toddler hiking shoe is a great way to introduce your child to the way that a typical hiking boot feels without breaking the bank.
These hiking shoes are the lowest cost on the list, but they don’t scrimp on important features.
For starters, the footbed is flexible enough to encourage your little hiker over roots and rocks, while still having enough grip if there’s anything slippery on the trail.
Another feature we love on the Mishansha hiking boots is the lack of shoe laces!
The stretchy, adjustable bands on the top of the shoe allows you to help your chlid get a comfortable fit, while the Velcro band on top ensures snug ankle support.
The Mishansha hiking shoe isn’t as structured as the Keen Targhee (above), so your child will have some ankle movement in this shoe.
The mesh uppers do dry quickly if they’re lightly sprayed with mist, but you’ll want to opt for the Keen Newport H2 shoes if you’re doing a lot of stream crossings.
We also love that this shoe comes in so many fun colors for boys and girls!
Overall, the Mishansha shoe is great for families who want an solid kid’s hiking boot for a reasonable price.
Best Low Profile Toddler Hiking Boot: Hawkwell Kids Outdoor Hiking Shoe
A dupe of the more expensive Merrell Child Trail Chaser Hiking Sneaker, the Hawkwell Kids Outdoor Hiking Shoe packs comfort into a low profile.
The thick sole provides traction for shimming up rocks and jumping over roots, while the below-the-ankle cut of the shoe provides more ankle movement.
There’s debate in the hiking world on whether ankle boots improve support or allow the ankle muscles to atrophy, but I think it comes down to personal preference.
My hiking shoes are similarly low cut as I don’t like the feeling of standard hiking boots.
I feel as if I’m always fighting against the ankle support instead of it helping me.
My daughter is the same way, while my husband and son prefer ankle support.
If your little hiker likes the feel of a sneaker, but you want more trail support for their footbed, the relatively inexpensive Hawkwell hiking shoe is a great option.
Because this hiking shoe is made of breathable fabrics, you’ll still need to watch for water on the trail.
Thanks to the bungee pull and Velcro strap, the Hawkwell shoes are easy enough even for the smallest trail hikers to pull on and off.
Best Hiking Boot for Reluctant Little Hiker: Merrell Bare Steps Ridge Jr.
If you’ve tried the Mishansha hiking shoe (above), and want to upgrade your toddler’s footwear, the Merrell Bare Steps Ridge Jr. is going to be your best bet.
It’s structured similarly to the Mishansha boot with a mid-ankle profile and semi-supportive fabrics, but everything is upgraded here.
The metal tabs on the uppers are tough and won’t snap loose, while the fabrics are more robust than that use on Mishansha.
The fabric on the uppers are water resistant—to a degree.
Again, these aren’t going to hold up to wading through a stream (get the Keen Newports H2 for that), but they will be okay for a few errant drops or a misty walk under a waterfall.
Of course, these upgrades show in the price, so you’ll need to balance which is more important: price or overall quality.
Overall, these shoes feel the most like a sneaker of all of the mid-ankle options on this list, so these are an excellent (and comfortable) way to ease your child into proper hiking shoes.
Merrell is a fantastic brand when it comes to hiking shoes, so these will make a great investment if you have several kids who will use these shoes in turn.
Buying Toddler Hiking Shoes: FAQs
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All of the suggested shoes above can be found on Amazon, which we love for its easy and free Prime delivery and wide selection of items.
I’d also suggest looking at an REI store, if you have one nearby. They don’t have as big of a selection as Amazon does, and REI has higher end brands, but their store associates are great about helping find the right product for your needs.
Plus, there is a hiking shoe tester with different inclines that my kids love!
You could also check at local sporting goods stores like Dick’s Sports or Sportsman’s Warehouse. Again, the selection is going to be limited, but it’s still a good option to try out different styles and rises for your child before purchasing.
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A hiking boot should fit roughly how your child’s normal sneakers do.
Keep in mind that hiking shoes tend to have wider foot boxes than a typical shoe to provide your toes more room to grip and maneuver on the trail.
For hiking shoes that are midrise and above, you’ll want to ensure that you have a snug—but not overly tight—fit around the ankle. You don’t want the shoe so tight that it’s cutting into the skin, but you also don’t want the shoe slipping up and down the ankle while the child walks.
To determine if the hiking boot is long enough, you should be able to feel at least a half inch or so in the toe box between the top of your child’s toe and the top of the shoe.
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You’ll want to find a pair or two of wool toddler socks, preferably with a cushioned sole.
Wool socks provide an important barrier between your child’s feet and the interior of the hiking boot, which reduces the chance of getting blisters.
Wool also dries quickly if your little hiker splashes in a puddle or two, and it’s remarkably good about staying clean smelling.
The only shoes recommended above that you don’t need socks with are the Keen Newport H2s.
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Some toddlers are content to watch the trail from inside of a hiking carrier, while others are running down the trail from the time they can walk.
If your child is spending more time out of the hiking carrier than in, or if she or he is super wiggly, it’s probably time to purchase that first pair of hiking shoes.
Of course, don’t dump the carrier altogether!
My younger child liked to go back and forth between the carrier and exploring on his own for years.
