Since the theme of our guide is dino footwear, it stands to reason that one of the criteria we evaluated our items by - if not the most important one - was how relatable to this theme the designs were. We looked at the uppers, their decorations, and features, and ranked them according to how fitting they are to the dino topic, how interesting to look at, and if they do enough to pique a child’s interest.

And the results, as you have seen for yourself, are quite varied.

At the top we have the interactive Skechers Damager III sneaker, which doesn’t only come with a fierce, dino-fighter-plane-theme upper, but also has a built-in game! It serves to prevent your kid from getting bored even in the most mundane of situations, and you will be grateful that they have something to occupy their attention with. In terms of interesting features, this one is pretty high up.

Then we have those which have truly outstanding decorations. Dinosoles footwear particularly stands out in this regard, with their 3D ornaments and blinking LED lights and some pretty realistic depictions of our favorite reptillians. While we, as adults, may think that this many gadgets and gizmos is an overkill, a child will take full delight in running their fingers over the 3D T-rex, and watching how the large dino eye twinkles in the dark.

Speaking of LED lights, there is also the option of having them in the outsole, such as in the Outee Rain Boot. The reason we love the lights so much isn’t only because we know that the children will enjoy them, but also because they represent a good way of keeping track of your young one in poor visibility. If it is gray and rainy outside, all you need to do is take a quick glance at the playground and spot your kid a mile away thanks to the light show on their rain boots.

More subdued, but no less fun upper prints are those which have various drawings and artistic depictions of dinos. They are fun to look at and always evoke a smile out of someone, and your kid will maybe even get inspired to take up a pencil and try to draw their own version of the scary reptile!

And finally, we have those, like in the case of the Carter’s Damon and the Vans Classic, which are less obvious in their dino theme. These come with an unobtrusive print of small dinos, or with a dino claw slashing through the upper as a cool, but not excessive way of expressing love for the creatures. The good thing about these sneakers is, even though they may not be as attention-grabbing as the others, they are appropriate for any occasion, school included, and your kid can wear them wherever they want!

After being presented with so many options, don’t forget that the most important thing is for your child to love the shoes they’re going to wear. So, show them the pictures, explain to them what every design is about, and let them pick out the one they find the most appealing!

When you’re running around, climbing up the jungle gym, playing tag with your friends, it is essential that you feel comfortable and supported. Any irregularity in the footbed, a seam which digs into your skin or a shoe collar that is too tight can ruin the fun at best, and cause pain in the form of blisters or lacerations at worst. No one likes spending time in uncomfortable footwear, and neither do your children.

Comfort, however, is a somewhat individual characteristic. We all have feet of different shapes and sizes, and sometimes what works for us doesn’t necessarily work for other people. Regardless, there are features you can look for to make sure that your kid feels nice and cozy as they take on the world, and we’re going to list some of them here.

• Footbed:
  The footbed is the layer of the shoe which comes in direct contact with the sole of the foot. It can be a regular, flat footbed, or, preferably, it can be a molded footbed, contoured in such a way to fit the forms of the foot. This is what we look for in footwear - these curved lines, the hills and valleys of a footbed, can keep us supported and prevent foot fatigue, as well as medical conditions such as flatfoot.
  Not only that, but a molded footbed is especially significant in children’s designs, because it has the ability to correct any disbalance in gait. If your child tends to roll their foot inward as they walk - what is called overpronation - or outward - known as supination - then a properly formed footbed will do wonders to correct this and make sure they develop a healthy, balanced way of walking.
• Midsole:
  If constructed right, the midsole has the ability to absorb impact. Everytime the heel of the foot strikes the ground, there is a force, an energy, which travels up and into the joints of the leg - the ankle, the knee, even the hip. Over time, these impacts cause damage of the joints, and as a result people can start feeling pain.
  To prevent this, midsoles are constructed out of shock-absorbing materials (such as EVA), which prevent the impact from going up into the leg, and instead they disperse it through the shoe, minimizing the strain put on the joints.
• Lining:
  If your kid is a very active one, it is imperative that the materials which come in direct contact with their feet - especially if they’re not wearing any socks - are gentle to the touch. Rough, stiff materials cause chafing, and subsequently blisters, which can quickly turn into a real nightmare. A comfortable shoe is the one which softly hugs the foot, takes on its shape, and doesn’t cause any pressure points. Look for smooth fabric or canvas linings, as well as those made of wool or felt, for more winter-oriented footwear.
• Fit:
  Finally, the fit is also an important factor when it comes to comfort. The design shouldn’t be so wide that the foot is sliding around in it, but also not so narrow that it feels constricting, or that it prevents blood flow. Make sure that no part of the design is pinching or squeezing the heel, and that the toes can comfortably wiggle in their box.
  What’s more - even though it may be tempting if your child tends to grow out of their footwear in record time - don’t give in and purchase designs which are several sizes up. This can lead to awkwardness and injury, if the shoe happens to slip off mid-run, but it can also cause problems in walking.
  A perfectly comfortable design is one which fits well, not too tight and not too loose, and which doesn’t impede your kid’s normal way of walking.

While young ones don’t necessarily follow all the latest fashion trends, they do still want to look cool, and to be the best dressed in their group of peers. We already talked about the upper decorations, and what makes dino footwear so amazing, but now we’re going to focus on the overall style of the designs, and see what makes them good for which occasions.

We’ll start with the most common one in our guide - the sneaker. This is a casual, everyday option which your kid can wear absolutely anywhere - to school, to play outside, to grandma’s house, to the park or the mall, you name it. Children love sneakers (everyone loves sneakers, for that matter), because they are lightweight, comfortable to wear, and go well with any outfit.

Of course, as we mentioned in our Upper section, there are sneakers which are appropriate to wear in more serious settings, such as at school, and which are not. While twinkling lights and roaring dinos are all the rage on the playground, maybe it’ll be better to reserve these more embellished designs for when class is over, as they may distract from the school curriculum.

However, when summer rolls around, perhaps sneakers become too hot and too confining, and it is time to set young toes free. Slippers, such as the Anddyam Slipper, are the perfect option for that. They are comfortable to wear, have one large strap across the instep to keep the foot in place, and they allow the foot to breathe. This not only reduces sweating and overheating, but it also lowers the risk of infection. Bacteria and fungi are very fond of damp, closed spaces, such as in closed footwear during summer, and keeping most of the foot exposed prevents itchiness, redness, and bad odors that come with that.

What about the other end of the season spectrum though? What happens when the cold sets in and harsh winds pick up, and all we need is solid, sturdy footwear to help us trudge through the slush and the snow?

Well, in that case, boots are a no-brainer!

Rain boots, such as the Outee Rain Boot, and snow boots, such as the Lonecone Snow Boot, are amazing when it comes to protecting young feet from the elements. They keep all the moisture out, and all the heat trapped in, and your kid is both dry and warm as they jump through puddles or make snow angels.

Don’t forget that there is a right design for every situation. Here we summarized all the styles that we have in this guide, but they all have slight differences between them, things that make them more suitable for one occasion, but maybe not the other. Think about the season you’re shopping for, and what the purpose of this design is supposed to be, and make a decision accordingly.

As it stands to reason, materials are the ones which determine if the design is comfortable or not, how it fits, how durable it is, how breathable or flexible. We could also say that construction plays a role in all of this, but the materials are definitely crucial when it comes to the quality of the design.

In our list we encountered numerous combinations and options when it comes to materials, but we can categorize all of those in three large groups. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do here, as well as explain a little bit more about each one.

1. Brand-specific:
   In this guide there is only one design which is made out of brand-specific materials, and that is the Crocs Clog, made out of Croslite. In this particular case, Croslite is a never-before-seen resin material which represents innovation and advanced technologies. It is comfortable, antimicrobial and water-friendly all in one, making it perfect for Crocs.
   However, bear in mind that unique and high-tech doesn’t always mean the best. Croslite works for Crocs, and makes them stand out in a sea of other shoes of their type - despite its lack of style - but the quality of the material doesn’t have to be higher or better just because it is something new and revolutionary. The best course of action would be to test out the product beforehand, try walking in it for a short while, and then deciding if the material suits your kid’s needs or not.
2. Genuine:
   Here we mostly mean genuine leather and suede. This we see in the Skechers Damager III and the Dinosoles T-rex Boot. Leather is a durable material, especially if it’s layered thickly, but it also allows for proper air flow in and out of the design, making it highly breathable. Not only that, but both leather and suede have that wonderful ability of molding to the shape of the foot over time, and providing comfort customized just for your or your kid’s foot.
   Suede is a little more delicate version of leather, one which has a soft, plush finish, but which is still just as durable and breathable as full-grain leather, if maybe more prone to stains.
   The downsides of genuine materials such as these is that they are expensive, and also not waterproof unless treated with waterproof agents.
3. Synthetic:
   If you’re not looking to spend a lot of money, a good alternative to genuine leathers are synthetic ones. However, while they are more affordable and animal-friendly, they aren’t as durable, and don’t promote ventilation, either.

There are certain materials, such as canvas and felt, which can have either a natural or a synthetic origin. Their characteristics in these cases don’t differ too much, and both of these materials serve their purpose well. Canvas is lightweight and breathable, perfect for summer footwear, while felt is a moisture-wicking and heat-preserving material which serves as an excellent inner lining to winter boots, and other types of footwear and apparel which provide warmth in cold months.

Talking about durability in children’s footwear is a tricky subject.

For one, kids are active. They run and jump and skid and slide and roll around and play all kinds of sports and do all kinds of different activities that are in general hard on the footwear. Soles get worn out, the uppers get scuffed and stained, and perhaps even the straps or the shoelace eyelets break off. If your kid is a lively one, you should not expect a miracle out of their footwear. If a design lasts until they outgrow them, that means it’s definitely worth the price.

Which brings us to our next conundrum - the fact that children grow. A pair of sneakers that fits today probably won’t fit a few months from now, and that renders the durability of the design obsolete, in a way.

So what should you keep an eye out for, in order for your kid’s new footwear to last until they need to size up?

Well, for one, as we briefly touched on before, look for high quality materials. Genuine leather and suede, and original materials such as Croslite are champions in durability. Footwear made of these will survive all sorts of activities, from playing tag to a rough game of soccer.

After that, look for rubber outsoles. Rubber is a highly durable material, and footwear with rubber outsoles lasts longer than most. If the rubber outsole extends up around the middle and turns into a rubber bumper or a shell at the same time, even better! This protects your kid’s feet from getting injured as well as the design from excessive wear and tear.

While there is no perfect formula for a durable design, we are certain that these little details will help you in picking out the one which lasts the longest. Simply sort our list by durability, and choose the items from the top which catch your eye!