We purchased these sneakers in a wide size, and haven't yet put them to the real test of Mayhem's normal, rowdy routine of making truck-sized mud holes and the slash-and-burn, take-no-prisoners kind of deal he usually gets up to, but the fit is great, he finds them comfortable, and the arch support feels adequate. He likes the quick on and off of the hook-and-loop straps, and the shoes grip well when he climbs over logs and rocks. The insoles are tight to the inside of the shoe. There are "breathable"'mesh panels in the shoe to keep little feet cool, and the sole seems to give a strong platform for a solid stance and balanced walking (important for clumsy or ASD kids). If the shoes wear well over the next few weeks, we will be back to buy the next size for the future. If they don't, I will update my review.

Mayhem has a wide foot, and we've only put him in Stride Rite and New Balance, but the last pair of NB "wide" sneakers didn't allow room for socks, so we have decided to stick to SR for as long as the quality is maintained. All the sandals we buy have been SR, because the only other brand of sandals we have found that do not rub or squeeze his foot (he has ASD so certain sensations are more noticeable to him) cost two or three times as much as SR. My oldest wore SR years ago as a child, and the shoes were better quality back then; all supple leather uppers, quality laces, tighter stitching. But doing business becomes more expensive and some sacrifice must be made in materials, I guess. I hope SR quality doesn't decline further. It is extremely helpful to find decent, affordable shoes to fit Mayhem. Amazon had these wide-sized sneakers priced just under the lowest price I could find elsewhere, and you can't beat the customer service if a purchase doesn't go as smoothly as usual, so I prefer to buy here.