13 Best Running Shoes For Kids (Review) In 2022

If you have a kid who just loves to explore, whether that’s the playground, urban jungle or getting out and about as kids do venturing to the park or a forest trail, then they will love these Adidas Kids Cloudfoam TR Sneakers. Inspired by a trail shoe but designed very much for the modern world, these kids specific sneakers are light and breathable and are excellent for day-long comfort and support. While it’s been molded and shaped in the familiar design of a running shoe, this is all about cruising and comfort as opposed to being designed for any specific exercise which is what makes it such a versatile shoe for the little legs in your family.

With both a tongue pull as well as a heel strap, it’s easy to pull on and off and is a sensible go-to sneaker that delivers plenty of cushioning as well as looking fashionable and being affordable too. It’s constructed with a seamless knit technique on the upper and features three stripes, as you’d expect from Adidas. The low top design is perfect for a clean and sleek look, and it works well with joggers, shorts, jeans, and sportswear so your kid will look stylish too. The rubber outsole ensures plenty of excellent grip and traction, just what you need in a pair of adventurous kids shoes. Make sure you also check our guide to the best barefoot running shoes.

Always a hit with the kids, these New Balance 680’s are their V5 and continue to be a popular and affordable running shoe that comes in a wide range of attractive colors. Featuring no-sew material, they’re flexible which is just what those active little feet need but are also incredibly durable too. The fabric construction is easy to break in and won’t cause any irritation or chafing which again is a winner when it comes to kids shoes. It’s a dependable running shoe that’s great for supporting a wide range of actives, including walking, running and generally doing all the things that kids love to do.

Featuring the same ABZORB technology that you find in the adult version of New Balance 680s, the shoe supports with every jump, step or hop while the XLT footbed delivers plenty of cushioning as well as suppleness and flexibility. This is a neutral position style shoe so great for kids feet and the lace up closure, and padded tongue provide a secure fit. It’s a breathable and lightweight shoe and features a durable rubber outsole with flex grooves, and New Balance’s signature patterned lugs to deliver dependable grip and excellent stability. Overall customers rate this as being a comfortable, durable and stylish looking kids running shoe.

Our next best running shoes for kids are a superb choice and bound to be a big hit with the kid in your life. In a whole range of fabulously fashionable and stylish colors, whether you’re looking for a new pair of kicks for a boy or a girl, you really can’t go wrong with the Nike Kids Tanjun sneaker. Above all else, this shoe is rated for being superbly comfortable, and the fact that it’s so affordable too is just an added bonus. It’s lightweight and well ventilated and straight out of the box is a pleasure to wear. No risk of blisters while you’re little one gets used to wearing his or her new trainers. They’re supportive and yet flexible at the same time and let’s not forget, pretty stylish looking too.

The Nike Tanjun is the natural choice for any cool kid with plenty of comfortable mesh fabric delivering lots of breathability. Tanjun actually means “simplicity” in Japanese, and these really are a streamlined, simple yet stylish sneaker. The lightly padded collar and tongue feel comfortable to wear, and the lace-up closure delivers a snug and secure fit. This is an eye-catching and affordable running shoe which offers a casual looking silhouette. The vibrant colors and lightweight design make it a natural choice for Spring and Summer seasons, and it’s versatile to style and easy to wear for day long comfort. If you love running, check out our guide to the best running shoes for flat feet.

For active kids, you can’t give them a much better or more comfortable shoe to kick about in than the Adidas Kids Duramo 9 Running Shoe. It’s lightweight, stylish and features a two-layer seamless print overlay which is soft and breathable. There’s plenty of underfoot cushioning thanks to that Adidas Cloudfoam superior technology plus the shoe is easy to pull on and off. If you’re worried about durability, then don’t be. With an Adiwear outsole, this running shoe is definitely built to last, no matter how active your child is and how brutal they are to their trainers.

Overall the Adidas Duramo 9 is a versatile and flexible running shoe for kids that provides high endurance along with a supportive fit. This means that your child can run about to their heart’s content without any restraint. The underside of the shoe is resilient to wear and tear which is just what you need, and outsoles tread pattern allows for stable and multi-directional mobility. With plenty of protection as well as breathable comfort, this running shoe is a popular choice.

We’re back with New Balance again for our next recommendation, and it’s their affordable entry-level Kids 519 V1 running shoe that we’re taking a look at next. If you have a kid who’s growing fast and who loves fashion too, then this could be the perfect shoe. Even if they are growing at a rate of knots and you know you’re going to have to invest in a new pair a few months down the line, you’ll be happy to do so at such an attractive price point.

It comes in a wide range of really fun and funky colors all featuring a soft, textile, no-sew upper overlay. What that means is that this kids shoe is comfortable and won’t cause any chaffing. We’re already established that the price is pretty unbeatable so if you don’t want to splash out loads of cash, but you still want quality, then the 519 V1 is a savvy choice. It combines stylish good looks with performance and comfort in one durable and cost-effective running shoe. Your kid will love wearing these New Balance running shoes just as much as your bank balance will appreciate them too. You may also like to check our guide to the best running shoes for underpronation.

Be prepared as in these Asics Kids Venture 6 Gs Running shoes, your kids are quite likely to give you the runaround! You’ll be lucky if you can catch them wearing these versatile trail style shoes. They’re comfortable, performance-based shoes that are excellent for day-long wear. These Asics are a really versatile running shoe, superb for hiking, biking and just generally hanging about. With a super supportive heel collar, they also happen to be durable and supportive too.

If you’re looking for a great all-round shoe for your child, this design gets a big thumbs up and comes with plenty of new and improved functionality too. We’re talking a specially designed outsole, perfect for conquering rugged terrain, or just the playground. They’re breathable as well as cushioned for a high energy return plus they feature Asics high abrasion outsoles so are durable and supportive too both uphill and downhill.

Designed with girls in mind, the New Balance Girls 519 V1 running shoe is an attractive trainer at a seriously affordable price. So much so, that you might end up buying a couple of different color for your little princess. Why not? At less than $15 you could pick out a bright pair for summer and a darker pair for the winter months. It’s a basic running shoe with no frills or special features, but it is a comfortable and solid shoe that they will get plenty of wear out of and that you won’t mind if they scruff up a bit. The 519 V1 from New Balances combines a versatile fabric upper which is lightweight and comfortable, alongside a durable full rubber outsole for all day long comfort and support. Be sure to also check out our list of the best running shoes for beginners for more great items like this. 

We’re staying with New Balance for our next best kids running shoe, the Fuel Core Reveal. This is a super stylish trainer that the kids are just going to love, not least because it features a BOA closure system which is bound to automatically make them feel more grown up. If you have a budding athlete in the family, then these are the perfect trainers for them. They feature a lightweight and breathable mesh upper that has plenty of ventilation and lots of responsive and comfortable cushioning. That custom fit BOA closure system ensures a stable ride every time.

This is one kids running shoe that’s all about setting the bar high and going for it. Smashing those personal bests, either on the track or field at school or just out playing in the street. They come in a series of highly attractive colors that kids are bound to love and we’re particularly taken ourselves by the Silver Mink and Rainbow combo. We’re wondering if they come in adult sizes? Asking for a friend obviously!

A sturdy and robust looking and performing kids shoe from New Balance in the popular trail style. The New Balance Kids Nitrel V3 running shoe has been handpicked today as our Premium Pick although it still offers exceptional value for money at less than $35.00. This is a versatile and dependable trail style shoe that’s great for all kinds of rugged outdoor pursuits. You don’t need to worry about what scapes your child is getting into wearing these durable running shoes. They’re highly stretchable, lightweight, breathable and fit really naturally. As you’d expect from a trail style shoe, they also deliver highly when it comes to grip and support across a variety of different surfaces.

Bottom line, this is a popular running shoe that looks great and provides just the right amount of grip, comfort, and support. It’s versatile and dependable as well as still being affordable. The upper utilizes engineered mesh for maximum breathability, the midsole futures injection molded EVA for your comfort while the toe is protected so that this shoe can be worn in a variety of rugged and demanding environments. An integrated AT Tread rubber sole completes this hard-working and hard wearing New Balance Kids Vitrel V3 trail shoe. Our handy guide to the best zero drop running shoes features more great products like this.

If you’re looking for a decent pair of kids running shoes that feature plenty of functionality along with a cool design and which won’t break the bank either, these Nike Kids Revolution 4 running shoes are reassuringly affordable at under $35. They’re an excellent natural shoe with plenty of underfoot support as well as ventilation and flex. Overall it’s a lightweight and easy to wear running shoe with optimal breathability and plenty of responsive cushioning.

The parents among you will appreciate the mon marking rubber soles which aren’t going to scuff and damage the flooring but still delivers security and a stable footing giving your kid plenty of confidence when they’re out and about. With deep flex grooves, the Nike Revolution 4 also supports a nice and natural range of motion. It’s a stylish and minimalist looking running shoe made with a single layer to mesh and a no-sew overlay to be comfortable even without socks.

Another comfortable and cost-effective choice up next from the New Balance range of unisex kids running shoes. This one is their 515 V1 sneaker, and it comes in a wide selection of colors to suit all styles and personalities. It’s a comfortable sneaker that creates a clean and sleek silhouette which also happens to be reasonably durable too, especially considering that sub $20 price point. It features a low profile but is still supportive and overall it’s very lightweight and easy to wear for many an occasion. One of the great things about this New Balance 515 V1 is that it takes no breaking in and can literally be worn straight out of the box.

With almost a retro, vintage style look, this still manages to be a very contemporary kids running shoe that is bound to go down a treat. The primary attribute of this sneaker is all about comfort, and if the customer reviews are anything to go by, the experience is akin to walking on fluffy clouds. Intended more as a lifestyle sneaker than to support any serious physical activity, this is still a dependable, durable and reliable training shoe that looks attractive but is still highly functional. Love this product? Check out our review of the best stability running shoes for our top picks. 

If you want to give your kids the freedom and flexibility of movement, coupled with plenty of cushioning for a supremely comfortable ride, then these are the trainers from New Balance you need to be looking at today. Their Unisex kids version of the popular 860 V9 running shoe is highly recommended for its responsiveness as well as stability. It’s a lightweight and breathable kids running shoe that comes in a good range of attractive and visually appealing color schemes.  Part of an impressive roster of performance-based but budget-friendly training shoes from New Balance, this 860 V9 is breathable, eye-catching and is perfectly suitable for accommodating various foot profiles.

The upper is designed with flexible mesh which delivers plenty of ventilation while the outsole utilizes rubber compounds including abrasion-resistant Ndurance along with blown rubber to be hard wearing, durable and still offers plenty of forefoot propulsion. In terms of that all-important midsole too, New Balance has added a one-piece unit of TruFuse underfoot cushioning for a flexible and responsible feel.

Let’s face it, laces can be a pain in the backside for the most patient of us, let alone for young kids who just want to pull on their running shoes and be off outside like a shot! If that sounds like a common scenario in your home and you’re bored of struggling to sit your kid down to do up their laces, then these Adidas Original RapidaRun laceless running shoes will be just the ticket for you and that hectic adventurous kid you’re raising.

Overall they’re a comfortable and very lightweight shoe with plenty of cushioning, and they feel plush to wear. They deliver a nice snug and secure but not overly restrictive fit and are suitable for both wet and dry conditions. Despite the lack of laceless, they’re also surprisingly stable and feel very secure on foot. The Primeknit upper construction promotes a sock-like comfort as it comfortably wraps around the foot when in motion. There’s also plenty of boost foam in the midsole for a high level of energy return and plenty of shock absorption. The Adidas Kids RapidaRun is also hard wearing and capable of withstanding plenty of wear and tear.  Just what you’d expect from one of the best running shoes for kids. Don’t forget to also check our guide to the best trail running shoes for men.