Importance and Price of childrens shoes???

Titch89

When I was at school, my shoes never lasted long.

I never get my feet measured professionaly. I generally find that if I buy different shoes, I need a different size anyway.

Are Clarkes shoes pricey? I've not worn shoes for about 18 months (can only walk in trainers, which is becoming irritating) and was going to try to start wearing them again. My mum always got my school shoes from Shoe Express, but they don't have that good of a selection. (I have to wear kids shoes as my feet are small)

pange

i would buy cros for the summer, bought a pair last year, and my DD is still wearing them this year! so great value for money

oystercatcher

I don't think the brand matters too much as long as the fit is right.
Clarks supposedly do more sizes and widths and have trained fitters although from previous postings and my own friends experience this can vary. It might be worth watching what the fitters do to see how the shoes fit and then trying this yourself on cheaper shoes. ie making sure there's enough room and no slippage etc.
As childrens feet are so soft and can be damaged very easily it is important that the fit is just right. I've met many people who have damaged their feet, although this can happen as adults but the process is so much quicker in a child.

I bought my boys clarks or startrite shoes but they only ever had one pair nothing different for weekends etc . If they got wet they just had to be dried quickly....

Oystercatcher

geekgirl

I always bought elephanten shoes for my kids. The shoe fitter could always get a really good fit.
I never minded putting my kids in second hand or cheap clothes as long as they were nice but I always spent out to get a good fitting brand new pair of shoes.

I had a bad experience with a clarks shoe fitter, she brought the shoes out and fitted two different sizes, and she didn't even notice. I asked for a second opinion from another fitter and she pointed it out to the woman who had fitted them immediately.

charlottecarter

I have 3 year old twins and i go to clarks and get their feet measured and check out the sale rail and then come home and buy the right size and width on ebay! My kids feet grow so quickly that they only wear their shoes for a couple of months and so i figures others must be the same!

heather38

i only buy start-rite, i hate clarkes shoes, they always rub aroud the ankles and the staff are pushy about getting you to buy extras like shoe polish etc. my local independant shop sells start rite and the staff are all experienced fitters or i have taken my dd to russel and bromley and they were very good as well.

Lunar_Eclipse

cleopatra4485 wrote: »

Hi All

My DD is in need of new shoes

Do you really need to buy expensive shoes for the best fit and quality?

Is there anywhere else that is just as good, but cheaper?

Thanks
Cleo

I don't think they need to be expensive necessarily, but given the important job that feet do over one's lifetime, it is important that shoes fit well and allow feet to breathe.

Thus leather is my choice of material for myself and my children. I only buy them fitted school shoes, from Russell & Bromley or Startrite. Clarks are out for us since they start at an E width fitting and both my girls have narrow (D width) feet. But in answer to your question, if your children have average width feet (i.e. an F), then any reasonably well made leather shoes would be fine IMO.

European countries have some beautiful shoes, typically only available in a single width fitting. The important thing is that shoes fit properly and are comfortable. Not that each shoe comes in a variety of widths (ie Clarks) to fit all feet.

dawnybabes

I always buy good quality shoes - the best ones I've ever bought where Ecco ones. I always get his feet measured at Clarks first and look at their shoes but he has a really high instep and is an F fit. But saying that I bought him a pair of crocs for our hols for the beach and he hasn't had them off his feet ! He loves them and so do I - they don't rub anywhere or touch his toes.

onlyroz

My boy (age 3) has always had Clarkes - don't see the point in him having more than one pair though. The one thing that's essential is that they have plenty of rubber armor around the toes, otherwise he wears through them in a few weeks. His current pair he's had for 3 months and they're still going strong. The most I've paid from Clarkes was £28, and the least was £14 in the sale.

Ophie

I wish I could go in to any shoe shop and buy shoes for my toddler.

Clarkes don't stock her width size... she is a C (even that gapes) and anything from a 4 to a 6.

I have to travel to shoe stores that stock skinny shoes which are few and far between and when I do find a shoe that fits I have to get it. Regardless of price. I've given up going by what the shoe fitters say and have to try them on her myself until I am happy with the fit. Because of her narrow feet we tend not to buy shoes with growing room as that just doesn't work for skinny feet.

God help my pocket as she continues to grow