The 10 Best Light Up Shoes

For a school-age kid who wants lights that simply work, the Skechers Flex-Glow Ultra is the safe bet. Lights in the midsole flash with each step, and the battery is sealed inside the sole, where small hands can't reach it. Bigger sizes add an on/off button for quiet school days. Stretch laces and a strap mean no tying. The catch is that the glow fades as the battery ages, and the battery can't be swapped.

Glitter, rainbow stripes and a unicorn on the side give the Skechers Unicorn Chaser plenty of shine before the lights come on. Each step sets off the flashing, and bigger sizes get a button to turn it off. Bungee laces and a strap let a child put them on alone, and the footbed is cushioned for long days at school. Skechers says to spot-clean only, which is a chore on a pale, glittery shoe.

Dinosaur fans get teeth on the toe and a T. rex heel on the Skechers Skech-o-Saurus Lights, with lights that blink in the dino details as a child runs. Skechers gives it a flexible, grippy outsole for the playground and a scaly mesh upper that breathes. Bigger sizes have an on/off button, and stretch laces with a strap handle the fit. The loud red-and-black look is hard to pass down to a sibling who isn't into dinosaurs.

Kids who want to choose the color should look at the Aptesol Rechargeable High-Top, which charges through a USB-C port hidden in the tongue. One button cycles through steady colors and flashing patterns, and a long press turns the lights off. The seller says a two-hour charge gives about six hours of glow, and that the shoe passed U.S. children's safety certification. It has to be charged every few wears, and the shiny upper creases with use.

Made for toddlers who can't manage laces yet, the Skechers Sola Glow Ombre Deluxe closes with a hook-and-loop strap alone. Pastel colors fade across the mesh, and the sole flashes in several colors as little feet move. The battery sits sealed in the sole, so there's nothing to charge or pry open. The smallest sizes have no off switch, so the lights flash at nap time and in the car seat too.

The whole see-through sole of the Simple Joys by Carter's Anka glows with each step, and the navy-and-orange look hides playground dirt. Stretchy no-tie laces and a wide strap let small kids dress themselves, and the mesh upper keeps feet cool. It comes from Carter's budget line. Carter's lists no off switch, so the lights run whenever the shoes move.

Chase and Marshall cover the sides of the Nickelodeon Paw Patrol sneakers, and lights flash in the sole with every step. A strap opens wide, so toddlers can step in and close it themselves, and the rubber sole is made for grip. The faux leather upper wipes clean after a muddy day. It breathes less than mesh on hot days, and fans tend to age out of the show fast.

Little walkers get a soft mesh upper and a clear, glitter-flecked sole with the Yeskis Mesh Toddler, and the lights flash along one side as they move. A strap over elastic laces means no tying, and many color choices are offered. The seller rates the lights for at least 300,000 flashes, a claim nobody has checked. Yeskis doesn't explain how the battery is sealed, so look over the sole for any opening.

A canvas high-top with a cartoon print, the Euxterpa Canvas High-Top looks like a classic court sneaker, with a row of lights along the sole that blink on each step. A hook-and-loop strap over the laces lets a child skip tying, and the tall collar wraps the ankle. Canvas soaks up mud and shouldn't go in the washer with lights inside. Euxterpa says nothing about the battery, so check the sole for an opening.

Adults heading to a party, a concert or a costume night can wear the Sanyes USB Low-Top, a plain white sneaker with a strip of light around the sole. A hidden button steps through steady colors and flashing modes, and a few hours on USB gives an evening of light. The faux leather upper wipes clean. It's built for dancing and walking, not running, and the cell inside loses capacity over the years.