Stride Rite Adaptive review
These Stride Rite kids’ shoes look cute and actually fit over AFOs and braces
Credit:
Reviewed / Eden Strong
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Stride Rite Journey 2.0-XW-Adaptable
If you’ve ever had to fit an orthotic brace into a shoe, you know it can be a struggle. Whether it’s an ankle foot orthosis (AFO), supramalleolar orthosis (SMO), or even a SureStep, braces change the way a shoe fits. Oftentimes it can be difficult to find any shoe that fits at all. But as more and more brands strive to be inclusive in their clothing designs, shoe companies, including the best-selling kid’s brand, Stride Rite, are beginning to understand the need for adaptive footwear.
Specifically designed to accommodate braces, Stride Rite adaptive shoes claim to be customizable in how they fit, but as the mom of a 4-year-old who wears AFOs, I was leery that a mainstream brand could accommodate my son’s braces; especially after we failed to find a Billy shoe that would fit. But since my son needed shoes and I had no other option than to find some, I took the risk and ordered a few pairs of Stride Rite’s Journey 2 Adaptable Sneakers. To say that I was surprised by the results would be an understatement.
What makes Stride Rite adaptive shoes different?
Stride Rite’s adaptive line includes features such as extended hook-and-loop closure straps that can be cut to accommodate the size of your child’s brace.
A best-selling children’s shoe brand since 1919, Stride Rite shoes have long been a favorite among parents due to their durable construction, supportive qualities, and absolutely adorable designs. Yet even though Stride Rite has been around longer than most parents, the company has come a long way from where it first began, and its designers have continued to incorporate new technological advances into their designs; including an understanding that inclusiveness is important.
Offering a variety of designs, Stride Rite’s adaptive line includes features such as extended hook-and-loop closure straps that can be cut to accommodate the size of your child’s brace, stacked removable soles to match the depth of shoe needed to fit a brace, extra-wide sizing options, and even a looped pull tab on the back of the shoes to assist wearers in getting the shoes on.
Priced on average from $20-$55, Stride Rite shoes are available in little kids’ sizes 0-10, big kids’ sizes 10.5-7, and most offer four different width options.
How to find the right Stride Rite shoe
To start, I headed to the Stride Rite “Find Your Fit” page on Amazon to learn how to accurately measure my child’s feet, so I could find his correct shoe size. In this case, I measured his brace because I know that it is larger than his feet, and it needs to be able to fit inside the shoe. Settling on the Journey 2 Adaptable Sneaker, I ordered them as part of Amazon’s Try Before You Buy program, and within just a couple days I had a pair delivered to my door.
If I’m being honest, I was not feeling hopeful. After striking out with several other adaptive shoe companies I was sure that these would not fit, but to my shock and surprise they slipped right on!
What I liked about Stride Rite adaptive shoes
They’re customizable
The footbed is crafted with Ortholite memory foam for enhanced, superior comfort.
The fact that Stride Rite has thought to include so many customizable options in its shoes is what totally and completely sets them apart from any other adaptive footwear brand I have found. In the past, I found myself needing to use footwear on my son that was significantly longer than his feet are, just to accommodate the depth or width of his brace.
It was quite frankly a safety risk, because the extra-long length made him trip. With Stride Rite adaptive shoes, like the Journey 2, nearly everything can be made to fit by removing a layer of the sole for the perfect depth or ordering an extra wide, without needing to order up in size.
To top it off, they have a strap closure that is extra-long so you can cut it to fit. That’s hugely beneficial, since orthotists and parents alike often find themselves sewing extra Velcro onto shoe straps just to ensure they can close, or only utilizing shoes with laces; a consideration that can be difficult for young kids or individuals with manual dexterity limitations.
Quality construction
These shoes are built to last. Slipping is a big problem for my little guy, but we found the Stride Rite shoes to have a high-traction rubber sole and sturdy toes that were able to withstand destruction when he drags his feet. As a mom, I’ve purchased the Stride Rite brand in the past for my other children, and I can personally attest that their construction far outlasts any other shoes I have bought.
Inclusive designs
If we really get to the center of what being inclusive means, it means that someone is included; not simply accommodated. Kids who wear braces don’t just want shoes that fit, they want shoes that include them in what everyone else has. Stride Rite seems to understand that basic but oft-forgotten detail exceptionally well. Whether it’s a sparkly mary jane, a light-up neon green “beast shoe,”or a variety of sandals, Stride Rite offers 58 different styles of adaptive shoes so that every kid can find one that makes them feel special.
What I don’t like about Stride Rite adaptive shoes
As with any product, there are bound to be a few things you don’t love, but I’ll be honest, there wasn’t much here to complain about.
Sizing (which could be a user error)
I am not exactly sure what happened, but I measured my son’s brace several times and had my husband measure them according to the Stride Rite’s website instructions. However, the shoes I ordered were still much too big, and I needed to exchange them for a smaller size.
I am willing to admit that this may have been my own fault, although I really don’t know what I could have done differently. Not a huge deal, but if you are in dire need of shoes and you don’t have time to wait, you may want to consider ordering a few pairs just to make sure you get the right size in a hurry. After all, you can always return the rest later.
Should you buy Stride Right adaptive footwear?
Priced on average from $20-$55, Stride Rite shoes are available in little kids’ sizes 0-10, big kids’ sizes 10.5-7, and most offer four different width options.
I am not typically someone who sways too far to either side in my opinions, but I truly can give a confident “yes” when recommending Stride Rite adaptive shoes. The quality, adaptability, and variety of styles makes finding the right fit, and putting a smile on your child’s face, easy despite AFOs or braces.
However, it is important to consider that every child and every brace is unique to the person, so what fits great on one kiddo might not fit well on another. With that said, it’s definitely worth giving Stride Rite adaptive footwear a try, especially since most of its styles are available on Amazon for easy shipping and free returns.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.