If your kid just started taking karate lessons, or it has been a long time since he has been a karate practitioner, no matter what the situation, you’ll always need a pair of the best kids karate shoes.
The shoes can make a big difference in how well and efficiently things go. For instance, players need supportive equipment so they aren’t injured during competition or practice sessions.
I have been a karate sensei for the past 6 years. Because of incorrect shoe choices, I have seen many kids developing plantar fasciitis (inflammation in the lower foot). Thus, I thought people needed to know about the right shoes and how to pick them.
I’ve rounded up 7 of my favorite picks that we feel will suit your needs as a parent. Check out our reviews below!
Top 3 Recommendations
Best For Beginners – Art Taekwondo Shoes
Art Taekwondo Shoes are perfect for Beginners as they have a rubber sole that helps prevent foot fatigue. These are super soft and can be worn without socks.
Best Value – Martial Arts Taekwondo Shoes
Martial Arts Shoes offers you everything from flexibility to comfortable movement in such an affordable price range. They are best if you don’t want to invest much in kids’ karate shoes.
Best For Professionals – GINGPAI Taekwondo Shoes Martial Arts Sneaker
Gingpai Taekwondo Shoes are all-in-one and are perfect for what a professional karate practitioner needs. These lightweight shoes will keep the feet relaxed, and the rubber sole grips the surface for better performance.
Top 7 Best Karate Shoes For Kids
1. Art Taekwondo Shoes Lightweight Sneakers
These taekwondo shoes are carved with appropriate curves to help with flexibility and heel grip specifically designed for kids. A rubber sole combined with senior breathable materials, these sneakers are perfect for beginners.
Lightweight yet durable materials make sure your child will be able to kick around without slowing down or getting foot fatigue too quickly. The toes will love to avoid any constricting material on them (no socks needed!) as well as the arch support hidden inside.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 11.81 x 3.94 x 3.94 inches.
- Weight: 12.35 Ounces.
Pros
- Comfortable rubber sole.
- Lightweight.
- Perfect for beginners.
- Firm grip.
Cons
- Less color options.
2. Martial Arts Taekwondo Shoes,Unisex Children Teenager Sport Boxing Karate Shoes for Taekwondo, Boxing, Kung Fu and Taichi
The innovative lightweight martial arts shoes ensure a comfortable movement with its design specifically made with karate in mind. These sleek black kicks will be sure not only to make your kid look good but feel great too. They have rubber soles that provide grip while remaining flexible for jumping or moving around quickly on the court-side.
Senior material is durable, nonslip, and has an exquisite design. Innovative shoes with senior counterparts make them play their functional roles to ensure comfortable movement. These are the perfect karate shoes for children and teenagers to train in. They have a variety of sizes, so you’re guaranteed to find one that fits your little fighter well.
Specifications
- Shoe Material: PU.
- Sole Material: Rubber.
- Size: 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36.
- Weight: Approx. 194-294g.
Pros
- Non-Slip material.
- Availability of all sizes.
- Rubber sole.
Cons
- The rubber sole needs to adjust.
3. Adidas Taekwondo ADILUX Shoes
These Adidas Taekwondo ADILUX kid Shoes have translucent lightweight upper mesh for breathability. 3-part TORSION has lightweight arch support customized from the inside for better stability and foothold on surfaces.
They have a non-marking rubber sole with pivot points under the forefoot and heel to maximize surface adaptation. To get you started, multi-purpose indoor Taekwondo shoes are designed for comfort and maximum durability. Adidas’ torsion system provides the foot with better arch support – so your kid’s feet never feel sore when practicing!
With a sleek design and traditional Adidas stripes, these new ADI-LUXE shoes were made for your kid’s convenience so they can turn and move without restriction.
Specifications
- Package Dimensions : 11.5 x 5 x 4 inches
- Department : Unisex-adult
Pros
- Best Arch support.
- Heel for surface adaption.
- Lightweight upper mesh.
Cons
- Expensive.
4. OSdream Canvas Kung Fu Shoes
Osdream Canvas Kung Fu Shoes are made of durable canvas that can handle whatever you throw at them. They provide maximum grip for ultimate performance and are airly padded for easy-going. These canvas-booted shoes are lightweight and durable. Available in a variety of colors so you can match them or clash them with any outfit.
Specifications
- Package Dimensions : 9.06 x 2.76 x 1.57 inches.
- Material: canvas.
Pros
- Variety of colors.
- Extremely Durable.
- Lightly-padded.
Cons
- Stiff.
5. GINGPAI Taekwondo Shoes Martial Arts Sneaker
These lightweight GINGPAI Taekwondo Shoes Martial Arts Sneakers are designed with breathable material and multiple seams along with tension points. These sneakers are designed with the Art of Eight Limbs in mind.
Breathe freely through the material on these light shoes that will keep the feet airborne and supported. With a rubber sole that grips your surface, it is the most comfortable option for your feet.
Taekwondo Shoes will have your kid performing at peak form with just one easy purchase. With nineteen sizes to choose from, including kids, men’s, and women’s, these flexible kicks will be perfect for both heavy workouts and light ones alike.
Specifications
- Package Dimensions: 13.11 x 6.65 x 3.5 inches.
- Upper Material: PU.
- Sole Material: Rubber sole.
Pros
- Lightweight.
- Heavenly Breathable.
Cons
- A lightweight shoe may be easily worn out.
6. VIFUUR Sports Unisex Shoes Black
These kids’ shoes are a perfect choice as they are super lightweight and easy to easy-to-wear. The best part? They come in three different styles and have the most comfortable fit, which offers your child comfort while staying fashionable at all times.
These are super easy to wear and take out. Plus, they are made of breathable fabric, making them comfortable for long periods, and quality rubber soles that give you protection.
Specifications
- Product Dimensions : 8 x 4 x 1 inches
- Department : Unisex
Pros
- Breathable Fabric
- Different Styles
Cons
- Not Durable
7. Canvas Kungfu Training Shoes Parkour Jogging Martial Arts Sneakers Lightweight Non-Slip Shoes
These martial arts shoes for kids are made of durable canvas, which is wear-resistant and easy to clean. The low-top design ensures your kid’s soft feet won’t be stuffy, while the breathable material keeps them cool.
They also come with a rubber sole for extra grip on slippery ground – it’s perfect because children can use these non-slip sneakers without having wrestling on treacherous.
This is the perfect pair of karate shoes for training, competition, or just everyday use! Not only do they look great with your favorite kung fu outfit, but our unisex Kung Fu canvas shoe also works well in many other settings.
Specifications
- Package Dimensions : 11.8 x 7.7 x 2.9 inches
- Weight: 1 Pounds
Pros
- Also perfect for everyday use
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Narrow from the front
How To Choose Best Karate Shoes For Your Kid
1. Decide Your Budget
Knowing your budget is the first and most important step. Your research will be more targeted if you know how many greens you’d like to spend on the shoes. Additionally, it prevents you from falling for a more desirable and more expensive pair of shoes.
2. An Easy-To-Wear Design
Ensure that your child can easily put on and take off the shoes by themselves. It is usually best to use hook and loop strips for younger children, since they often like to be independent. It is important that the Velcro is strong enough to hold the shoes securely.
3. Aesthetics
Aesthetics comes last. It is important to purchase shoes that your child will wear without complaining, but the size and support should also be considered. Safety must take precedence over style but you should consider the color or design your kid likes.
4. Comfort
It is essential that your child wears the right size and fit otherwise he or she may experience discomfort, pain, and possible damage to the feet. Finding the right width and length of shoes for your child is the first step in this process. Their shoes should allow a bit room for growth, but not too much.
The easiest way to determine the right size is to check if their is room for one finger after you kid put it on. Press the front of the shoes to check if your kids toe have a little room.
5. Child’s Growth
Due to the fact that children develop at different rates, you cannot select shoes based on the age of the child. The decision should be made based on your child’s developmental stage instead. You can have a size big and put soles and cushions for fast growing kids such as:
- Non-slip, soft and flexible soles.
- Cushioning around the heel and around so it the ankle can provide support.
6. Durability
Shoes vary in their durability due to many factors. Shoes with thick rubber soles would likely be able to withstand wear and tear much better.
Conversely, shoes with good rubber soles may be easily worn out. Kids who practice for long hours should wear shoes with thick rubber soles to ensure they last a long time. Shoes with thin soles would be ideal for casual wear.
7. What Material Your Kid’s Shoes Are Made Of
Know the material of the shoe you plan to buy before making a purchase. Affordable products may not be made from 100% synthetic fibers. Many kids suffer from allergies. You may aggravate your allergy if you don’t know the composition of your shoes.
If you’re looking for breathable and comfortable shoes, make sure that they are not made out of material that can suffocate your child’s skin. This will cause excessive sweating on their feet and itching, which distracts from playing and negatively impacts overall performance; thus, always keep an eye peeled when choosing these types of apparel items.
Although the shiny finish on soft plastics gives shoes a unique look, karate experts tend to prefer PU leather for their shoes.
FAQs
1. Are these martial arts shoes easy to wear for my child?
These shoes are super easy to wear but if you concern more, you can go for lace-less shoes like VIFUUR Sports Unisex Shoes Black.
2. Is it allowed for kids to wear martial arts shoes in competition too?
Karate competitions are fought barefoot but many sensei prefer kids to wear shoes during their training for a variety of reasons.
Karate shoes won’t be allowed in competition, but your child can avoid lots of problems and injuries by training in them. Practicing self-defense with shoes could help them prepare in case they are attacked in a real-life situation, since it is extremely unlikely they will be attacked barefooted.
3. Can my kid wear martial arts footwear as a casual shoe?
Yes your kid can wear martial arts shoes, regardless of the place. Whether your kid is a novice or a veteran, you can rely on these shoes to secure their feet, irrespective of the reason for wearing them.
4. How Do I make sure my kid’s feet will remain safe and won’t be injured?
You should consider buying shoes with enough padding protection so they can resist any shocks. Martial arts shoes that are well-padded help protect the upper part of your kid’s foot from injury. They can prevent horrible injuries and breaks from occurring. Particularly when a surface has a high impact on competing practices, this can be crucial.
Final Verdict
The best karate shoes for you are the ones that provide what your feet need to perform optimally. You cannot win the battle if you aren’t wearing the right shoes, and our footwear experts understand this better than anyone else.
However, the best one among all of the above shoes is Adidas Taekwondo ADILUX Shoes. These best shoes have excellent arch support and a heel for surface adaption. Adidas shoes can be trusted for their comfortability and durability.
However, before you make a purchase, keep the buying guide in mind. Happy shopping!