Shoes that work with braces, orthotics and different feet

PLAE's adaptive styles are built for kids who wear an AFO, SMO or a custom orthotic, and for kids whose feet simply don't fit a standard last. They are ordinary-looking shoes first. Nothing here is branded as medical footwear, because most kids would rather not advertise it.

What makes a PLAE shoe adaptive

• Wide openings. The upper opens far enough to get a braced foot in without a fight.
• Removable insoles. Take the footbed out and you gain the depth a custom orthotic needs.
• Adjustable closures. Our interchangeable tab system lets you set the volume of the shoe to the foot, not the other way round.
• Four tab sizes. Small fits shoe sizes 6 to 7.5, medium 8 to 12.5, large 13 to 3, and XL covers 3.5 to 4.5 as well as a high instep or an orthotic at any size.

Sizing with a brace

If your child wears an AFO, order the shoe in their normal size and size up on the tab rather than the shoe. A high instep or a full foot usually means one tab size up; a narrow foot or low instep, one size down. Kids sizes run 5 tiny-tots through 4.5 youth.

Free shipping over $79 and free returns, so you can try the fit at home with the brace on.