DD is fiercely independent and is currently walking about 2.5 miles a day on her school run, much of which is on muddy bridleways and untarmaced roads. Her shoes are falling apart. I've bought her 2 pairs so far this year from kids' school shoes sections but they can't cope with the punishment she puts them through. I've explained to school that she walks along some fairly filthy tracks and could she have a place to store outside boots at school so she can change when she gets there, and they have offered her the option of storing her boots in the head of house's office. She has rejected this as being far too embarrassing as no one else pops into the head's office twice a day unless they are very naughty/teacher's pet.
So can anyone recommend a make of shoes that will survive some serious outdoor hiking while being sufficiently acceptable in looks/coolness factor for school? I used to wear Doc Marten occupational shoes (same as normal Docs but with black stitching instead of yellow) for work and they lasted forever in some rather disgusting environments and just rinsed off under the tap to come up looking good as new, but I don't know if these would be too frumpy for a tweenager?