Are kids picked on for having 'cheap' PE trainers?

I have just asked DS who is 18 if he ever got teased about his trainers (normally ASDA £3 ones) and he looked at me blankly and said ' no why should I?' His school was in Surrey if that makes any difference.

Sports Direct and the nike outlet can be pretty much guaranteed to find trainers in any size and adult size 12 black jogging bottoms any day of the week. It is their main business.

Clothes are just useful extra income to the supermarket, they know you'll be back for milk next week.

My DC have branded trainers for September (both still in primary at the moment though) but only because there was a sale in Sports Direct and they cost the same or less than unbranded ones from supermarkets would have.

Trouble with Asda here and Sainsbury's are they are very hit miss.

Perfectly nice stuff, but very, very random stocking. Chances of finding the item you want in the size or colour you want on the day you need it is ~ zero.

No, I don't think as much bullying goes on as people think.

My DC have never had Designer/Named trainers, but have never had a problem. I think a lot of this sort of thing is fuelled by the media.

DD just got her new plimsolls for indoor gym sent home, apparently the school itself insists on proper trainers, two pairs, one for indoors one for out. She's only in P2 so I thought I would get a little while out of gutties but apparently no!

When I was at school people were bullied for writing notes in a class rather than picking on the teacher.

If tell my DD to tell the bullies to go fuck themselves. Year 9/10 above only.

Nope - no bullying on cheap stuff round here - we have the oddly middle class anti-snobbery here -"Oh they only cost a fiver from ASDA you know" despite folks having squillions....

DSs going into Yr8 and Yr10 and not had a problem with them wearing various cheap black branded ones from Sports Direct. Apparently lots of their friends wear expensive ones, but they've never had anyone bullying or making unpleasant comments, general comments maybe, but not malicious ones.

The official plain black track suit bottoms are expensive and far too warm.

Having girls I don't think anyone cares much. DD1 is wearing 3 year old Clarks ones. DD2 has Nike ones because we have a Nike outlet shop and really nice ones are cheaper than Clarks.

Officially all PE trainers and track suites are supposed to be plain and unbranded, but given said Nike shop and a big sports direct cheap branded stuff is actually far easier to get and school have given up.

M and M Direct is your friend.

It was true when I was at school. Similar for school shoes, bags and coats.

Dd1 told me today that you get picked on for having cheap plimsolls. Every one wears ones with embellishments or ones by something called Flossie. She's only 8.

It's the opposite at DD2's school. She has "challenging" feet, and so needs well fitted trainers. Everyone wears ultra cheap plimsoles though, and she is desperate to get them. All sorts of stupid excuses for not wearing trainers.

Cheapies from one of the ghastly sports warehouse places - no one cares.

The one child that ponced about in designer trainers soon got brought down to earth - PE teacher wipes mud across them after child complained that field was muddy and his new trainers cost £80!! rest of class laughed!!

My 2 had cheap Tescos trainers last year, with no trouble, getting cheap Gola ones from Shoe zone this year, (£10.99 at the moment). Lots of their mates seem to wear these at school.

3 kids at secondary here and they've always taken in old/cheap trainers for PE and I don't think anyone has ever commented. 15 year old DS2, who is mega cool and clothes conscious, just sticks any old pair of his dad's cheapo, bashed up trainers in his gym bag.

I suspect that, if a child is going to be bullied, the bullies will find something to have a go at and trainers are an obvious target. If a child isn't going to be bullied then they can probably get away with cheap stuff. Not sure if I've explained that very well ...

My mum refused to buy me trainers despite the school saying we needed them. I got plimsoles. I only got mildly bullied for it but felt embarrassed so saved birthday and Xmas money to buy my own. She could afford trainers, I just don't think she cared.

I agree there should be a 'uniform' for trainers/plimsoles. It's shallow but it feels horrid at the time.

That was happening when my DBro and I were at school in the 90s.

One boy got bullied for bringing in Asda's own brand coke, instead of coca-cola

No, neither of mine have been / are (ds, Yr 11 going into 6th form at one school, and dd, between Yr8 and Yr9 at another).

I have assumed bullying, so bought DS the adidas predator's he says everyone has. They were £30. However, they won't be staying at school. He'll be wearing them at home and taking them in when needed. That was my compromise

No bullying here, primary and secondary kids wear gym shoes with no issues

Bullied here. Sports Direct Nike's are not much dearer than Tesco's trainers on teen sizes though, thank god.

Ds got the piss taken out of him quite badly because of cheap trainers. However if you go to sports direct you can usually get a branded pair at a decent price. They may not be the most up to date but they should be enough to stop the nastiness.