Mumsnet Talk

i have the same problem. ds1 is 14 next month and already a size 10.5. he has gone through so many shoes i have lost count. he killed a pair of caterpillar boots in 6 weeks when he was in year 5. he currently has a pair of my dads old steel toecapped army shoes, which have lasted since september, but are now nearly dead. i have spent more on school shoes for him, than i have my other 3 children put together, they normally have 2 pairs a year, he normally has at least 6. once the shoes he has die, i have no idea what to get him. i cant afford a fortune, and i cant afford to buy cheapy ones once a month.

Then he would just grow to spite me.

(would be worth it though if they lasted a lot longer...)

I was going to suggest Cats but thought they might be too expensive?

Oh dear, you lot have not filled me with confidence. Will no shoes put up with this treatment.

I did wonder, about some Cats? they are too lovely though, he will just trash them and not care.

Kickers are the only shoes that have lasted more than a month with my football mad 14 year old DS.
He has had the current pair for 7 months and are still intact, he polishes them every night.

Have tried that Judy. He won't. TBH I do see his point - he walks to school & his bag is already heavy enough. Though I guess he could have a cheap pair of trainers that stay in his locker.

I'm going to need to get hard but I hate the battles

When DS1 was that age I told him that if he didn't change his shoes and played football in them, he would have to pay for the replacements. We and he, actually, thought that was fair. Your DS can take trainers with him and just change into them for lunch (not play football at break) and change back for school. That's acceptable.

try & get him to give up football in favour of needlework?

My 13 year old son will be an 11 next time I buy school shoes. I have been recommended Ecco, will give those a try. What am I going to do for the next three years?!

This is the bane of my life. My DS, 14 & a size 11, plays football every lunchtime & is going through shoes in a matter of weeks. Current ones are Clarks, new at Christmas, sole now hanging off. I have tried Tesco, M & S, Kickers, Debenhams, everywhere I can think of AND IT'S DOING MY BLOODY HEAD (& BANK ACCOUNT) IN.

Sorry, not much help there but I can sympathise & if anyone can come up with a miracle pair I will be eternally grateful!

M&S men's airflex are lasting well for my ds, also a size 10 and plays football at every break.

DD is quite heavy on her shoes, I bought some from here

they have lasted her a term, they are little scuffed but very very good compared to previous shoes. Much cheaper than clarks but not "cheap" if you know i mean, they seem to be good quality.

my ds clarks bootleg survive playground football

Kickers?
Doc martins?

The only ones that have lasted for mine are from Burton's. Wouldn't have anything from Clarks. Since Reggie Yates got involved with Burton's their stuff is really good.

and they're leather!

i got these for ds and so far they seem good!

Clarks Bootleg go up to size 10 (but no further, sadly). My DS2 was a compulsive footballer & quite hard on shoes but they survived him; but he's nearly 20 so was wearing them approx 6 years ago, I can't swear they're the same quality now

I should add that he is a size 10.

ds destroys his shoes, he will not change them at break obviously 'duh Muuum!'.

His school are pretty strict that they have to wear proper smart shoes, if they look like trainers, he will get into trouble.

Does anyone have any bright ideas?