How much do you pay for kids shoes / school shoes

lolly_896

mrsa wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. Interesting to see the different options. Just wanted to add that I agree how important good fitting shoes are aswell as a good sturdy leather school shoe.
I do however feel Clarks in particular have a very good marketing ploy directed at parents that make them feel they are 'harming' thier child if the dont get measured and fitted from them.
I have personally had a few bad experiences from them with ill-fitted shoes, rubbing my sons feet (more than once) one pair they fitted a different width than measured as were out of stock and reasured me would be fine and they kept slipping off!!
I tend to get them fitted at John Lewis, or local independant store.
I am going to look into Hush Puppies....has anyone tries Kickers ??

Kickers! - DS1 had some special Lego Kickers to start school with and he adored them! They were the only shoes that lasted him the whole year, but they were harder leather? He did have a pair of softer ones which didn't last.

This style http://images.nitrosell.com/product_images/8/1915/thumb-Kickers%20Infant%20Kick%20Hi%20Lego%20Strap%20Blk.jpg

Were 100% better than http://poppy-red.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/fragma-strap-e.jpg

pollys

My 2 teenagers (boys) both wear Kickers for school. They cost £50 and last the year. They are looking a bit worn, due to lunchtime football, but they will last.

Pollys

Threebabes

School shoes, between 35-40, girls are clarks and son is river island.

Out of school they wear uggs, converse, nike blazers, adidas, vans etc. Just bought DD2 some new converse and the other two wanted adidas gazelles, that was about £150 :-O.

MadDogWoman_2

I spend £36 on school shoes for my DD age 5, for the same reason as previous posters, good quality as worn so much.

I go to a local independent shoe shop that stocks several brands so get the shoe that fits best.

Shoe fitting time does get expensive as I then need to buy new jazz and tap shoes!

Out of school she has a pair of sparkly trainers, crocs and party shoes. Just waiting for the weather to get warm so I can get her some sandals.

valk_scot

Just to put the price of school shoes into perspective...I went to buy DS a new pair of walking boots for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and for Scout camps etc. They had to be proper hill boots, waterproof and sturdy etc etc. They were £130 in the end and by no means the most expensive pair in the shop. I had to go and sit down quietly for a little while after that.

I don't do second hand shoes either btw, except for the Timberland boots I found in a charity shop last year for DD, brand new with tags and a perfect fit for £4. I am absolutely fine with most types of hand me downs or charity shop finds but for shoes, undies and PJs? These have to be new imho. Though I might possibly stretch a point for PJs between siblings....

bouncydog1

Start rites when little, then Clarkes and then kickers. Religiously measured every three months. Oh, and because DD's feet were non standard in width and dreadful choice (none) where we lived, we had to add on travel costs at least twice a year! Result - she loves shoes and now at 20 has over 60 pairs!

On a more serious note, when we were little and money was tight, my dad would work extra hours to pay for good shoes for us, because it was important to look after you feet.

notanewuser

DD is only 2.5, but her first 8 pairs of shoes came from clarks. Of those i think 2 were full price and the others were from an outlet store.

However, I've recently discovered startrite shoes and I'm in love with them. They are sooooooo much more supportive than clarks shoes, with better sizing and sturdier construction. I've bought DD 2 pairs online in the sale for £20 each. One is for now, the other to grow into.

Spendless

valk_scot wrote: »

If a child has flat feet then a podiatrist can supply support insoles that can be used with most enclosed shoes. Get a referral from your GP, flat feet can affect other parts of the developing skeleton.

We do have these. The specially moulded for his feet ones he had made aged 11 that would allow for growing room until he was 14, he'd outgrown in 18 months. I went back in the past year about them and they don't make them this way anymore, they gave me some 'over the counter' ones that I can order in future in next sizes up. Son has wide feet though regardless and then he has to put insoles in and make sure they sit comfortably in. It definately reduces stock available to me.

moomoomama27

No more than £30 per pair, I get them in outlets usually. Have been lucky with school shoes bargains for my three. My eldest just buys fashion shoes from new look now (Brogue style), as she's 16 and refuses decent school shoes.

Lunar_Eclipse

I spend £42-52 on school shoes, which usually last a school year. I will only buy leather school shoes, correctly fitted to the individual, so it's probably the only thing I wouldn't hand down.

I buy in Russell & Bromley (Startrite, own brand or European brands) or from a traditional old fashioned shoe shop in Southampton. Clarks have never fitted (skinny feet issues), otherwise that would be another option.

For outside school, I buy anything from the odd pair of £5 canvas pumps from Primark, to Ugg boots at an absolutley ridiculous £170 (once!) Most shoes/boots would be around £30-80. I buy trainers from Sports Direct whenever possible, at about 50% off RRP.