Do you buy expensive trainers…for your kids

My 18months old is in Nike trainers BUT that’s because (and no I’m not just saying this- I’m sure it’s the sizing) that anything else tends to rip my feet to shreds and I never want him to be uncomfortable. I also get them when on offer so sometimes he will have 2 bigger sizes in the cupboard.

There's no need for branded fashion trainers but I'd make sure they were a good fit as their feet are developing and be happy to spend money on that. So Clarks etc.

Yea. They last longer than the cheap ones.

I started to buy branded ones for my seven year old last year as the supermarket ones don't last at all.

No

I’d only buy Gazelles if I could afford to buy another pair of trainers suitable for sport alongside them.

I tend to go to Diechman or Mountain Warehouse for trainers. DS2 has a pair of sketchers that still look perfect more than half a year later (they are a bit pinchy now, so I will donate them)

DS1 (8) ruins all shoes/trainers within a half term playing football in the playground and/or park. He's after airforce ones, I said no way!

I think that its more about the quality of the shoe than trend. So its ok to spend more so they are wearing shoes that support them (its likely they might be a bit trendy). You can always sell them as they grow. They must get sore feet like us from cheapo shoes. The stupidly expensive ones that are just for the trend - maybe not until teenager

When dd was younger- no I didn't.
We went to sports direct and she got branded trainers, but they were £20-£30 a pair.

I bought her a pair of vans when she was about 8 /9 and she hated how they fit.

Then I bought her a pink pair of gazelles they were lovely but the most impractical shoe for PE and if you got them wet they would have water marks cos they were suede.

Now shes 15 and has a sporty pair of black Nike mesh trainers for PE. (£60)
A couple of pairs of converse (£65 each) and a couple of pairs of Nike air force 1s (£110 each).

At that age I'd buy trainers from Clarkes, Sketchers etc and occasionally cheap ones from Decathlon or the supermarket. Now they're older they want Nike.

A hundred percent this. He actually has a pair of Nikes that (rarely) fit most of this criteria.

I wouldn’t put him in sketchers or Clark’s because of their generally narrow toe boxes and unnecessary hard soles and padding but would if they actually made good shoes.

Basically it’s not about the brand but looking for certain attributes - good material, wide toe box, no heel rise, flexible sole, well fitted around ankle. Mostly that means I buy brands such as vivobarefoot for him which are unfortunately more expensive that Nike, adidas. Going to try a more budget option soon - saguaro but I’m not sure they’ll be ok for his super narrow feet! But I’m hoping!

DS5 burns through trainers if I buy them new - but I'm a sucker for a branded trainer (and for us to 'match') and DS is now also excited by the brands so we do a lot of vinted. I normally spend around £30 total on 4 pairs of each size - 2x trainers (Nike/NB/addidas) 1x school appropriate (Clarks/sketchers) 1x Birkenstocks (if summer) or Hunter wellies (if winter). Works for us 🤷🏻‍♀️ but I probably spend too much time scrolling vinted.

The flip side is my mum never brought branded or quality, or enough of anything, which came with teaching me not to care about what I look like (at all) so I think I'm paranoid with making sure DS has plenty of nice clothes/shoes all the time.

I bike sport branded ones but usually for between £15 and £30/pair for a 4, 6 and 7 year old. We have an outlet near us so Nike and Adidas are easy to get.

No.

Ds1 and 2 (16 and 14) cost a fortune in clothes and shoes.

I'm thoroughly making the most of ds7 being thrilled with anything and unconcerned about brands. I reckon I have another 4-5 years left of that, with luck!

Aged 5 no. Teens yes. Ds2 gets a trainer, an astro, adidas, white air force. Gazelles are lovely, Dh has loads, but too heavy for a little one.

Sketchers have been the best lasting trainer for my adventurous 6 year old.

Gazelles are not good for sports.
for sports you need cushioning, lightness, breathing, arch, flexible, back support especially as their feet grows.
gazelles are really unsuited

I always buy Ds good quality. Usually super fit or geox. They need to be waterproof also for autum and spring at nursery and home as they are outside a lot. He wears snow boots or hiking type waterproof in winter when it’s cold and snowy here as any trainers rubbish then.

I wouldn't buy gazelles at that age the suede will look awful within weeks if she's using them for PE

Yes absolutely. Mine have Nike & Adidas mainly. Those Adidas ones are gorgeous, I've a few pairs like that myself 😁 the only thing is when the weather is wet you may need to have an alternative pair because the suede will get ruined.

Quality shoes are important for growing bodies and impact so much!

When DS was 2, I bought him an absolutely adorable little pair of Nikes. Totally impractical, not good value for money at all, but so cute. I found them in the loft the other day, and they still made me smile.

If you like them, buy them.

Little kids no. You'll need to save for when they are a teen!

To add, I also like Geox as they have the switch to turn off the lights as she isn’t allowed them on at school.

I buy Geox/Clarks because they are better for her feet I worry because I destroyed my feet with bad shoes growing up, but always on sale or second hand. Sketchers too for sports and can find them even at Tkmax.
I once bought her adidas on sale as she wanted some like daddy’s. However, I have boycotted the brand since due to recent scandals.