How long do you expect a pair of school shoes to last?

[Anney28]

Exactly that! When we buy school shoes in September for dc my partner wants them to last all year as they are expensive (DS usually has Clark’s and Dd usually has start rite). But is that realistic?

Often by the end of the year they are falling apart - I notice this more with Clark’s. DD’s school shoes are from start rite and still in perfect condition but she’s outgrown.

Obviously been off school for a few months and they are going back for 3 weeks before summer.

But do you expect a pair to last all year? My sons feet hardly grow for the last two years he’s only
grown half a size or so. Dd has jumped up one size recently!!

Aibu to think some years that two pairs might be needed? Obviously have no choice but to buy new if they have been outgrown!

[LouHotel]

Does your son run around more at playtime? I think it depends on activity, I replace my running shoes once they get to 500 miles which is roughly 6 months - I reckon most kids cover that ground easily.

[RedskyAtnight]

What age? At primary level I normally expected a pair of shoes to last a year (unless outgrown which was quite rare).
Hating to stereotype, but does your DS play a lot of football/climb trees/generally be quite active in his school shoes? That will take a toll on them.

[sleepismysuperpower1]

we get treads school shoes, so I expect them to last for the full year since that is their main selling point. They did last all of last year however, and still looked decent at the end.

[TuckMyWin]

My son's lasted this academic year, just. He's just outgrown them but they are still in good condition. He never sits down and up until summer wore them most of the time out of school as well. They are Superfit, as he has very narrow feet. I've been very impressed with them.

[Charleyhorses]

I would not buy new school shoes for 3 weeks of wear followed by 6 weeks off. If she is little, buy a pair of summer doodles and send her in them. I'm sure the school has bigger things to worry about.
Dd3 usually had patent leather startrite in primary (angry angels??). She nearly always outgrew them rather than wearing them out. Now has kickers at secondary. They have not lasted well but she walks 5 miles a day to and from school. Might try docs now her feet have stopped growing!

[geekone]

I expect to buy 3 pairs some years it’s 4 some 2.

[OneRingToRuleThemAll]

I expect a Clark's, Start Rite, Hush Puppy or Kickers pair to last until they are outgrown. But I don't consider them worn out until the sole is falling off or there is a hole.

[TheFormerPorpentinaScamander]

Other than a couple of years when they've outgrown them my DC have never needed more than 1pair of Clark's shoes per year.

[2pinkginsplease]

I expect them to last the full year or until their feet grow. Primary school I always bought Clark’s and they lasted the full year.

[TheSoapyFrog]

I expect them to last until outgrown. My, very active, 5 year olds wear Kickers or Clark's and neither have worn out yet

[FudgeBrownie2019]

Neither of my DC have ever had a pair of shoes last a school year. Their feet grow, they're hard on their shoes and it's unreasonable to imagine that all shoes will survive 5 days a week with active DC. Great if they do, but not a disaster if they don't.

DS14 has size 14 feet and I don't think he's finished growing. We usually get through at least a couple of pairs each school year for him.

[mindutopia]

I've had two pairs that lasted a whole school year. It's only been this year that they didn't and I went out and bought a brand new pair in mid-March.

I think she wore them twice before lockdown and now they are sitting there accumulating dust while she outgrows them.

Yes, I do normally expect them to last a year and I buy the good quality ones with that expectation. I also expect her to take care of them too.

[Anney28]

DS’s still look like new. Hers are from start rite but have sadly outgrown. She doesn’t really have any suitable to wear for 3 weeks. I’m unsure whether to buy some in the hope they will still fit form September onwards.

As for my sons shoes. They still fit but they are pretty worn and look dull despite polishing. His are from Clark’s! He does have autism and heavy on his food, he never walks just runs. I always buy him the shoes with the scuff bar at the front too.

I’m just genuinely curious how long shows last 😬

It doesn’t help that we also live very rurally. I buy them shoes in September and throughout the winter they get so muddy so I’m scrubbing the shoes often to get the mud off!

[Anney28]

DD’s look like new I mean. DS’s are wrecked.

[Anney28]

Shoes not shows 🤣

[Anney28]

Feet not food 🤯

[TheMostHappy]

I'm lucky to get through a term with school shoes and ds!! He's a nightmare. I don't think he's ever outgrown a pair. He trashes them with skidding, climbing and food all.

[SnowsInWater]

When they were younger my kids' school shoes generally lasted the school year (2 boys, one girl) although DS1's were usually on their last legs by the end. I have just realised that I last bought DD school shoes at the start of Y10 and she is now half way through Y11 (not UK) and her shoes still look like new. The school does expect them to be polished though which she must be doing 😂

[Rosebel]

At primary school they used get two pairs,of shoes one for Autumn and winter, the other for spring and summer. They were usually fairly cheap but did last.
I buy slightly more expensive shoes,as they're at secondary school and walk 3 miles a day. They usually last a year but only just.

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

We planned on twice a year. I liked to buy half sizes though as they grew - i wouldn't like them in school shoes a whole year when they were in infants as they'd be up a half size during the year. We were hot on getting them measured regularly though.

I wouldnt see it a boasting point at onlg buying shoes oonce a year but rather someone who wasnt getting their fee t checked!

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

I wouldnt expect the shoes to wear put though.

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

Google says average shoe size at age 4 is size 10.
Average shoe size at 7 is size 1. So thats
7 sizes in 3 years... Even if you don't get them all they will have growth spurts or suddenly grow a whole size. Why would you only check once a year?

[Pipandmum]

My son wore his shoes hard - usually fell apart before he outgrew them so definitely went through a couple pairs each year. My daughter would grow out of hers before they fell apart but since y8 has stopped growing so even she wears them out by mid year. But I don't buy expensive shoes.

[midnightstar66]

Feet tend to grow more in warmer months as a rule. Don't buy for next term now unless it's something she can wear over summer

[AllNewThings]

Probably a term. We go to Clarks, but I do think the quality has gone downhill. Our teens wear black leather Converse/Vans and they tend to get wrecked quickly because the DC actually do a fair bit of walking in them.