School shoes - is it worth spending more?

looby-loo_2

I buy Clarkes in the sale

SUESMITH_2

if your kids are young its vital to have their shoes properly fitted as the bones in their feet are still soft and growing. my kids have got wide feet and even clarks shoes didnt fit properly so we used to go to jones the bootmaker and a local shop who stocked many differant brands. i found cheap shoes a false economy for kids

Fizog

Always buy the best shoes you can afford for children. Their feet are growing and they need the best support. Damage to bones through ill fitting shoes will give a lifetime of pain.
My Mum always had my feet fitted and I hated the sensible shoes I was made to wear but after dancing professionally for 15 years my feet are in incredibly good nick despite point shoes and stress fractures.
As soon girls can they will be shoving feet into stilettos and narrow toed shoes so best they grow straight for now.

funky-footprints

When my son started school, I actually went to 4 clarks shops in 1 day trying to get him measured, all 4 stores measured him differently, and none could find a shoe to fit him properly. I went to an independent childrens shoe shop that have the startrite franchise and I have stayed at that shop since. I pay more, but the kids always have fitting shoes.

My kids have feet like heffalumps, the elder 2 have a wide foot, (H) with high insteps and short heels, the baby has wide feet also (H) but short heels with a lower instep. Clarks seem to over measure and always put my kids in shoes that are miles to big for them, where as I find in general Startrite shoes have a better fit for thier feet.

Shoes are the one thing i pay for. My mum has terrible feet, from having ill fitting shoes as a child.
x

ailuro2

Well fitted shoes are worth every penny.

If they come from a Clarks outlet store they are even better value.

My DD's feet are the same shape as mine, if I don't put her in decent shoes I know she will end up with dreadful feet like mine. Corns, a bit of a bunion, fallen arches.... but we didn't have money for properly fitted shoes for school when I was young.(money was available for ciggies though... :rolleyes:)

£32 for a pair of shoes that fit and will last, and that will be exchanged or refunded if they start to rub because they don't fit properly is worth paying, imho, especially since she might get a whole year out of them now her feet are a bit bigger (size3) they don't seem to grow as quickly.

funky-footprints

My son had one pair of shoes last school year, that cost me £36, but worth every penny. He got through 3 pairs of nike trainers however! he was size 13 last september,and size 13 at the beginning of july when he was measured for the summer, i took him this week and he is now a 2 !!!!!!!! how did that happen ? lol !!!!

sooty&sweep

Hi

I get mine from a Clarkes factory shop so cheaper than the high street.

Is there one ear you ??

lauren_1

We go to a outlet or go to the main store in the sales, as a rule we generally ask for either clarkes or adams vouchers for christmas and birthdays so we actually end up paying very little or nothing at all.

If you catch the sales you can get some for £5 each.

BillScarab

We alway buy Clarkes or occassionally Startrite for school shoes. My view is that they wear them all day for five days a week so it's worth getting decent shoes that fit well. I'm sure when they're older they won't want to wear them and will want trendy shoes at which point Clarkes will start to look cheap.

serena

Agree absolutely about getting well fitting shoes for children. I think you're quite lucky to spend as little as you do - I have three teenagers, all in adult sizes, and I won't get much change from £150...

The factory outlets are certainly cheaper, but they often don't offer proper fitting, so for younger children I would definitely get them from a proper Clarks shop. They have quite a good website, and you can then see the whole range they offer. DD has narrow feet, and there is usually only one pair in the range that fits - and that will involve me ringing round all the local shops to find out who has it in stock! Clarks are also very helpful about getting shoes sent from other branches, and on the one occasion when there was a problem with one shoe coming apart a little - faulty stitching - they exchanged immediately and without any fuss.