Where do you buy your kids' school shoes?

Former_MSE_Andrea

We ran a poll last year asking you where you buy your childrens' school shoes.

79% of you said Clarks.

We'd love to see if that's changed at all over the year.

Let us know!

Vote in our poll and have a look at the deals, tips, polls and chat in our Back to School Hub.

onlyroz

I bought a pair of shoes from Clarks for my son earlier in the year and was horrified when I got to the till to find they were £42. I've since been buying supermarket shoes for my daughter. They don't last as long but cost a fraction of the price. I recently got a pair for £6.99 from Aldi.

kathrynha

Still use a small independent shoe shop, although that once again isn't an option in the poll, so I guess a lot like me didn't vote last year, but commented, so the poll results will be inaccurate.


Interesting in previous years daughters shoes have been girls ones, that lasted about 1 month for supermarket or Clarks ones before a re-heal, and 2-3 months for better brands before the re-heal.
This last year she went for boys shoes as they are better for playing football in and they lasted till Feb half term till they needed re-healing, then lasted till the summer.


Why are boys shoes made to last and withstand normal playground playing, but girls shoes not? Are girls not supposed to play?

onlyroz

kathrynha wrote: »

Why are boys shoes made to last and withstand normal playground playing, but girls shoes not? Are girls not supposed to play?

This is why I buy "cheap" shoes for my daughter, because they just fall apart after about 6 months or so no matter how much money you spend. I can normally get close to a year out of shoes for my son.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Brantano

kathrynha wrote: »

Still use a small independent shoe shop, although that once again isn't an option in the poll, so I guess a lot like me didn't vote last year, but commented, so the poll results will be inaccurate.

I'm hugely into using local and independent shops and businesses when they're competitive- it's something I'm hoping to blog on at some point as it's a no-brainer - it helps your local economy, saves you money on fuel and, if it's entertainment eg a fun day that supports your local school, it's cheap fun for the kids.

A friend of mine has a smallholding and is building up a local, organic veg business which I'm trying to help and support as much as possible as it's really, really tasty for no more than you'd spend at your nearest supermarket by the time you paid for fuel to get there too.

So I'd love to have added independent shops in but we only have 10 poll options available unfortunately and the poll was based on the top suggestions by forumites on a previous thread.

Which option above would you have replaced it with?

Former_MSE_Andrea

Brantano

kathrynha wrote: »

Interesting in previous years daughters shoes have been girls ones, that lasted about 1 month for supermarket or Clarks ones before a re-heal, and 2-3 months for better brands before the re-heal.
This last year she went for boys shoes as they are better for playing football in and they lasted till Feb half term till they needed re-healing, then lasted till the summer.


Why are boys shoes made to last and withstand normal playground playing, but girls shoes not? Are girls not supposed to play?

That is really interesting!

Has anyone else found that?

Former_MSE_Andrea

Brantano

onlyroz wrote: »

I bought a pair of shoes from Clarks for my son earlier in the year and was horrified when I got to the till to find they were £42. I've since been buying supermarket shoes for my daughter. They don't last as long but cost a fraction of the price. I recently got a pair for £6.99 from Aldi.

I bought both my girls Aldi shoes last year. They're scuff-free and have done well. They didn't look half as tatty after a few weeks as other brands I've got them in the past.

I may buy the ones in B&M Bargains for £5.99 but haven't checked whether they're scuff proof yet.

kathrynha

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Which option above would you have replaced it with?

Amazon - does anyone seriously buy kids school shoes online?


Or combine the supermarkets in to one option.

LilElvis

I take my daughter to Clarks to have her feet measured.

Then I log on to eBay and buy from there. Lots of brand new, boxed Clarks shoes at a fraction of the retail price. Last year's pair cost £16. And they lasted all year! Very slow growing feet saves me a fortune.

BJV

Clarks

Hate to say it but still Clarks.


Our family has broad feet and other brands don't cater for the broader foot. They don't last long normally 3 months but my two are active so they tend to ruin them long before they wear out.


They are expensive normally £40-£50 but .... it is so important to make sure that children's shoes fit as otherwise it can effect how they walk, lead to back and spinal issues. OK a bit extreme but after having my feet shoved into riding boots for years they are horrible and I would hate for my two to have he same.

Baby_Angel

Tesco

Have tried different shoes for DD. Expensive and cheap ones. All last no more than a term time. So it is only cheap ones now. She is a very "girly". She would never wear boys shoes. Even the PE shoes have to look girlish!!!

I always have spare ones in her next size at home.