School shoes

building_with_lego

My two trash their shoes too but this year I've been quite thorough with polish, scuffcote and (my new trick) back to black car interiors polish! The three together seem to get quite a good coating onto the leather and polishes up beautifully, helping to protect the shoe and the foot.
They're both in Hush Puppies, bought for £17 per pair in TK Maxx in the summer , and thankfully the fit is still good on both children and they might just about last until the summer before falling apart. DD has always worn Clark's before and never got a whole year out of a pair but I'm very pleased with the Puppies. We've had cheap 'leather' shoes from Shoe Zone in the past and I swore never again- the hassle of returning them every few weeks was just too much. Every time I go into Clark's I'm :eek: at the increase in prices from the last time and I live in an affluent area so the local independent shoeshop sells £60 pairs for toddlers.... _pale_. It's TK Maxx or ebay for me once I know the sizes!

liney

My son has the Clarkes with rubber bumpers as mentioned, and has 2 or 3 pairs each school year. We have his feet measured and haircut each half term like clockwork, and he seems to be averaging out now he is 7.

That said, he has cheapish trainers from the likes of Sports Direct to wear out of school, and I do cover them in plenty of proper boot polish on a Sunday and let them 'soak' overnight, which keeps them looking smart.

Janepig

I don't think the shoe size mentioned in the OP is that small. My DS is 6 and he's a size 10. Never had a problem with choice in Clarks, he currently has the shoes that have the rubber "buffer" at the front and if I remember rightly we got them for him in the October half term. And if there was ever a child who could road test a pair of shoes to destruction it would be DS, he's a proper ruffian, and if nothing else he spends most of his time playing football when he's not in the classroom. DH is rigorous with the polishing of both DD and DS's school shoes, so they last really well as you're building up a layer of polish and so they're scuffing that, not the leather. Seeing as they cost a fortune to buy, it's important to look after them. If you don't then I don't see how anyone can complain when they go to bits from kids being kids.

Jx

gibson123

I stopped buying Clarks when my daughter ended up in blisters and Clarks would not believe it was down to her new fitted shoes. I started buying my daughter kickers shoes, they are hardwearing and waterprrof.

pinkclouds

rosie383 wrote: »

I know some people won't agree with me, but I get the kids' feet measured properly, then buy a decent brand online from the like of ebay. Second hand yes, but I only pay maybe £5-10 and they last longer than cheap ones at the same price. I can't afford to pay £45 a pair for each child especially if they lose them, or otherwise 'kill' them.

The important thing is properly sized/fitted shoes, not the price you pay. You buy what you can afford, with due consideration for the health of your child's growing feet.

I don't think cheaper shoes necessarily wear out any faster than more expensive shoes. But getting them fitted/sized properly is a must.