“A shoe is not only a design, but it’s a part of your body language.”
Imagine regretting purchasing a pair of wrong-sized shoes, causing your toes to cramp or your heels to slip out. Of course, you don’t want that.
However, people with small feet have some extra things to consider – will the adult running shoe fit my small feet? Can adults wear junior running shoes?
The answer is yes.
Adults can wear junior shoes without any issues. However, they must consider some factors – if you’re overweight or have any specific health issue like foot pain, etc. The reason is – junior running shoes often have lesser cushioning and support for adult feet.
However, this isn’t the complete picture. Keep scrolling to get to know everything about adults wearing junior running shoes.
Why Do Adults Buy Junior Running Shoes?
Over the course of a lifetime, the average American adult spends approximately $44,000 on footwear! It is equivalent to the deposit for a house! Now, I know this figure sounds weird, but it’s only because I don’t have a closet full of shoes to compare it against.
If you have small feet, you can still save money on some of your shoes by shopping in the junior area of the store.
Apart from saving money, Junior shoes are more flexible, lighter, and typically have softer cushioning. As a result, they are a superior option for adults who have small feet.
The size 9/5 or 10/6 junior running shoes are better for people who have small feet. They don’t have to buy a bigger adult model that might not fit well because it’s too wide or long.
What Is The Difference Between Adult and Kids Running Shoes?
Although adults can wear junior running shoes, there is some significant and minor difference between the two shoes;
| Adult Running Shoes | Junior Running Shoes | |
| 1 | Adult running shoes are heavier and larger. | Kids’ running shoes are lighter and smaller than adults’. |
| 2 | The soles of adult shoes may have cushioning. | Their shoes contain less cushioning than adults. |
| 3 | For instance, You’re an adult woman and wear a US 9 in your shoes. | At the same time, when you wear junior women’s shoes, your shoe size will be 7 or 7.5, which means women’s junior shoe size is 2 or 1.5 lesser. But adult men’s and kids’ shoe size is the same. |
| 4 | Adult sizes do not have a J following the number (for example, 5). | Junior sizes do have J following the number (for example, 5J). |
| 5 | Adult shoes have much protection. | Kids’ shoes are structurally weaker than adults. |
| 6 | You can use it for a long time. | Kids’ one doesn’t last long. |
| 7 | Adult shoes keep the user irritation-free for a long time. | It may cause injuries if the shoe is overused. |
Will Junior Shoes Fit Adults?
Yes, junior shoes should fit adults if the measurement is correct. You just need to make sure that the shoes aren’t too big or too tight for your feet.
The main distinction here is that junior shoes may be marginally narrower. So, if you’re going to get a junior size, go for something a little bigger.
There are a lot of options like these which are junior running shoes but fit adults.
You can buy a pair that is half a size larger than your typical size. For example, if you usually buy a size four pair, you can acquire a size 4.5 by selecting the junior size.
Furthermore, most junior-size shoes have designs that don’t even resemble juniors. So, no one will know about it.
Why Are Junior-Sized Shoes Cheaper?
The parents may have noticed that children’s trainers are far less expensive than those for adults.
The price of children’s clothing and shoes is sometimes a mystery to many, and for a long time, I imagined it was simply because they are smaller and thus cost less to produce. There are several other factors to consider when purchasing adult-sized trainers, and this is one of them.
But this is a misconception.
The reason is – they don’t have to pay taxes. As a result, junior-sized shoes remain cheaper. It holds for all types of clothing, including children’s.
Importance of Wearing The Perfect Sized Shoes
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a pair of shoe – only if you are wearing the perfect-sized shoe.
Wearing the right-sized shoes will help you stand on your feet without feeling any pain or discomfort. The wrong size may lead to specific health issues like blisters, sore feet, bunions, etc.
So, make sure that you are aware of the size of your feet before choosing the right size of shoes.
As far as fit is concerned, it’s essential to know that not all companies are in sync with sizing. When purchasing a new pair of shoes, always use the Brannock Device’s dimensions. It measures your foot’s length, width, and arch length, providing 95-96 percent accuracy.
How to Make Sure That The Shoes Will Fit You?
Your shoes must be comfortable. In other words, they should neither be too tight nor too loose, nor too huge nor too little in size. To guarantee that you get the ideal fit possible, here are some things to follow:
- You should get your feet measured before shopping. The best way to determine your shoe size is to go to a store.
- Try on both feet to see if they fit.
- Try the shoes on and walk around to see if there is any friction or pain, as this may indicate that you need a different size.
- If you would normally wear socks with this pair of shoes, do so when you try them on so that you can see how they fit with the extra layer.
Is Nike Older Kid’s Size Same As Adult?
Nike will periodically produce the men’s hues in “Big Kids” sizes for a limited time.
Nike does not discourage adults from purchasing children’s shoes. A sizing chart is provided to help you translate children’s sizes to men’s or women’s sizes.
People with little feet will appreciate this because the adult version does not always come in their size. Most of the time, it’s the identical shoe with only the slightest changes to the detailing.
We’ve compared adult and junior shoe sizing for the Nike brand in the table below. We’ve also included Adidas for your convenience.
If you need any recommendation for a quality pair of junior running shoes, visit here!
Pros and Cons of Junior Shoes
To get a crystal clear idea about junior running shoes, this ‘pro-con’ list will help you.
Pros
Junior running shoes offer numerous benefits to runners. Here are a few of them:
- The lightweight nature of kids’ shoes makes them more comfortable.
- Shoes for juniors allow natural walking and are flexible.
- They protect your feet and ankles from injuries, such as shin soreness or knee pain for long runs.
- It enhances the performance of runners because of added cushioning and support.
- Kid’s shoes will minimize your cost on shoes.
- It’s easy to get on.
Cons
Junior running shoes, like any other footwear style, have some drawbacks as well. For example-
- These shoes need to be replaced frequently because they wear out quickly due to overuse or inappropriate care.
- They do not give adequate support for their feet or ankles over longer periods of standing or strolling around in public venues such as shopping malls or airports.
FAQs;
- Is size 4 Junior the same as women’s?
A junior shoe size 4 matches an adult shoe size 4 in all practicality. Generally speaking, newborn sizes range from one to thirteen, whereas junior sizes begin at one and go up to the twenties. It’s just like adult women’s size for these juniors!
- Is it acceptable to wear shoes that are half a size larger?
Ensure that your shoe fits you perfectly at all times. Neither it should be too tight, nor it should be excessively loose.
This is because your shoes must give your body the necessary support. You can only get away with wearing a larger size if you’re wearing sneakers. However, this should be half the size. You can only wear size 5 shoes up to a maximum of 5.5.
- How much do parents pay for their kid’s shoes?
When asked how much parents spend on children’s shoes, 28% of respondents said they spend between $35 and $50. This report was published in 2019, and obviously, it will be higher now.
Final Words
Can adults wear junior running shoes? Yes, they can.
It’s perfectly okay if adults wear junior running shoes as long as you pick the right size pair and good quality shoes.
Since the material and design of the shoes matter when it comes to comfort, keep these things top of whether its a kid’s shoe or an adult’s. Hopefully, you’ll get a perfect pair of shoes with our suggestions. Good luck!
