School Shoes?

TITEASCRAMP

Just interested to know which school shoes people think are the best?? (Clarks, Start-rite etc)?. Or do you think they are over priced and you buy alternatives?.
Would you consider sencond hand ones?

Only asking as dd has grown out of her shoes that cost £30 so quickly, they look like new. (Clarks)..

Elliesmum

Hi there

I do think Clarks are the best - yes I agree they are over priced but I think they do last a bit longer than others and for school shoes this is essential. Also they spend so much longer in their school shoes than they do any other pair they have.

DD is still in her shoes from the beginning of Sept as she hadn't grown when she was measured during the christmas hols. Her shoes are still looking ok when polished up.

I know some people have used Birthdays shoes - but I haven't. No I would never put DD in second hand shoes (unless I could guarantee they hadn't been worn), I would rather buy a cheaper pair.

We have a Clarks factory shop near us so I only pay £17 for DD's shoes, I appreciate £30 is a lot of money. However I only buy Clarks for her school shoes now - I don't she gets the wear out of any others.

If they are still looking in good condition, try selling them on ebay. Even though I would never put DD in second hand shoes, there are quite a lot of people out there who would!! I have sold Clarks quite successfully in the past.

HTH's

EM xx

jean1272

have always bought clarks for my son around £28.00 a time and they dont last very long at all (wear out not grow out, but thats boys i suppose)but last time i bought some from next £19.00 and they are just as good as clarks, so when he ruins them playing football in the playground its a little less hurtful on the pocket, and even better i manage to pick some up in the next sale for £10.00.:D

anonymousie

TBH I do think it is worth having decent school shoes fitted pretty much until your child has stopped growing. However as DD1 is now 14 I am VERY choosy about where I have shoes fitted. I am very aware that the "girls" in clarks that are about 16 and have 1-2 days training on board have a lot less experience of kids feet than I have:rolleyes:

We go to a shoe shop that stocks all sorts (Gordon Scott in solihull) and we usually get fitted out in the sales (June/dec ish) until recently (the kids are now mostly lasting 12 months or so in a pair at ages 8/12/14- eldest has stopped growing).

Best shoes ever for durability and logevity are ricosta and elefanten. Before you keel over at the cost, they aren't that much more than clarks (£40+ VS £35 for bigger clarks shoes). Because they are well made and shaped with good fastenings that sit welll on the foot the ladies in GS (most are granny age and have been fitting my kids for ever:rotfl: ) can ffit them with oodles of growing room-because they don't slip etc.

We have had startrite lately for DD2 and they are lovely and last well. I hate the face that clarks girls shoes above about a size 1 are "fashion statements" really with clumpy heels and soles (or "ballet pump style" with a nominal strap which has no function as it is sited so far down the shoe!).

The kids are in the shoes 8-5 ish 5 days a week 30 days ayear, so it isn't ecpensiver per wearing!

I do buy trainers etc from the high street (or clarks sale and hope I can guess they will fit when they have grown a bit- mostly fine, but the ones that haven't been OK I've ebayed and got my money back!).

BTW we are all croc mad here and they are lovely for out of school wear- they would hand down well too, but we are wearing them out now as the kids fit them for so long! They stretch gently with wear and growth:rotfl:

DD1 has these for schoolhttp://www.jellyegg.com/croc_shoes/637-1/index.asp- she has very wide feet and stubby toes, she lived in boys school shoes for years but now she is a young lady these are the only ones that really have fitted well!! Mind you she worse cayman crocs for 2 terms and the teachers didn't say anything:rotfl: (actually they fitted, stay on her feet, were safe agains slipping and good for the miles she walks daily so they are better than most teen girls shoes:D )

justontime

I think Start-rite are a better fit. I always got my children's feet properly measured but I didn't always buy from the shop that measured the feet. We had a shop locally that sold seconds of various makes including Start-rite and once I knew the size and width fitting I often bought seconds. It is reasonably easy to check the fit yourself.

shelley_crow

DS has always had clarks shoes. They are pricey but good quality, the branch that we go to is staffed by the same ladies who measured his dad's feet 25 years ago. I'd rather spend more on decent shoes and buy cheaper clothes.

Second hand shoes (unless unworn) will be moulded to the shape of the previous owners feet, i'd steer clear if possible.

Savvy_Sue

If Quackers sees this, I think she'll remind us what Clarks' policy is on outgrowing shoes too quickly: I think they allow 3 months growing room, and if you don't get that they'll give you a discount on the next pair.

Although if you had them fitted in September, you're doomed ... and that would probably only be in Clarks shops.

elle_gee

Brantano sell Clarks shoes. Might be cheaper there

yellowmonkey

I think that we need to find the underlying reason why, when Children put on school shoes, they have a physical infliction to invert thier feet so the toe becomes the heel and is always in contact with the ground

ym

TITEASCRAMP

Thanks everyone who replied.
DD has only had her shoes about 2 months. They were clarks and cost £30. They look like new. I have put them on ebay. I was just thinking that I would buy hers second hand if they were a size bigger. Honestly I really think someone will get a bargain. They dont look like they have been moulded to her shape of foot at all, just look they when I got them.
Then putting them on ebay got me thinking- Would I buy shoes on ebay?? Not sure?
(I'd buy mine):D

amandada

I'd NEVER EVER buy 2nd hand shoes for a child, no matter how "new" they look.
I don't rate Clark's shoes at all, I think they are overpriced for the quality of leather used and for the standard of workmanship.

I think for school shoes, because of the number of hours children spend in them, then you buy the ones which are the best fit-no matter what the "make".
For my children (10&5) this tends to either be Start rite, or as is more often the case now, Elefanten or Ricosta.

Haivng just lashed out £46 on a pair of school shoes for my son, £30 for Clark's sounds positively cheap!

I'm a bit anal about my children's feet-can you tell:o