Children's running shoes
Junior Running shoes include running shoes for babies, children and teenagers, from adidas, Nike, Asics, Saucony, Reebok or Under Armour.
For a child, a good running shoe should first be flexible, lightweight and easy to put on.
Fastenings: Velcro, elastic laces or laces
For the younger ones, fastening is as important as cushioning. Velcro models allow children to put on their shoes by themselves from nursery age. Elastic laces with a Velcro strap, like those on the adidas Duramo EL or the Tensaur Run, combine the look of a laced shoe with the simplicity of easy slip-on without knots. Lace-free models, like the Nike Flex Runner, slip on like a slipper thanks to their elastic upper.
Classic laced shoes, for the older kids, provide the most precise support for school sports, cross-country, and athletics.
Baby, PS, GS: junior sizes
Brands classify junior shoes into ranges. Baby models, like the Duramo baby, support first steps with a very soft sole. PS sizes, for Pre-School, cover young children, and GS sizes, for Grade School, cater to older students up to their first adult shoe sizes. Models from major lines like Ultraboost, Runfalcon, Adizero or Vomero are also available in children’s versions, designed for lighter feet.
Feet grow quickly: leaving about one centimetre of space in front of the toes allows room without slipping the foot, and the shoe size should be checked with each change of season.
Flexibility above all
A child weighs little and exerts little pressure on their sole: they don't need thick cushioning, but rather a flexible shoe at the forefoot that lets the foot work, and is lightweight. Shoes with a rigid plate, even in children’s versions, are only beneficial for teenagers competing in sports, and even then, with moderation. For trails and cross-country, a rugged sole, like that of the Saucony Peregrine junior, provides better grip in grass and mud.
The junior selection
The junior selection continues with:
- Trail shoes, with studs for paths and cross-country.
- Children’s clothing, t-shirts, shorts and jackets.
- adidas, the junior versions of their flagship models.
- Under Armour, for training.
- Asics, with their PS and GS models.
- Puma, for lightweight and colourful models.
Everything is gathered on the junior page.
New arrivals and good deals
The new arrivals showcase the latest releases, the promotions feature previous versions at discounted prices, and items shipped in 24h are prepared and dispatched within 24 hours. The good deals, clearance, sales, and the Black Friday have their own running pages, throughout the Black Friday, the year-end holidays, winter sales and French Days.
Frequently asked questions
What do PS and GS mean on a children's shoe?
PS, for Pre-School, refers to sizes for young children, and GS, for Grade School, refers to sizes for larger school-age kids up to their first adult sizes. Baby models, like the Duramo baby, support first steps with a very soft sole.
How can a child put on their shoes by themselves before sports?
Velcro allows them to put on their shoes by themselves from nursery age. Elastic laces with a Velcro strap, like those on the adidas Duramo EL or the Tensaur Run, maintain the look of a laced shoe without knots, while the Nike Flex Runner, with no laces, slips on like a slipper.
Is a plate shoe suitable for a teenager?
Only for a teenager who competes, and with moderation. A young runner, being light, mostly needs a flexible shoe at the forefoot that allows for foot movement, rather than thick cushioning or a rigid sole.
What shoe for school cross-country?
A rugged sole, like that of the Saucony Peregrine junior, grips better in grass and mud than a road shoe. For older kids, classic laces offer the most precise support.
How to wash children's running shoes?
Remove laces and insole, brush the upper and sole with warm soapy water, then leave to dry in the open air, away from a radiator that can detach the soles. Stuffing the shoe with newspaper speeds up drying.
