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Original poster

Alternatives to Clarks H width for kids’ trainers?

31 replies

triflinpud · 13/12/2021 12:19

My DCs have wide feet, I think in part due to fairly high insteps. Clarks H width fitting usually does the job, but there are hardly any options for them! At the moment there is just one style of trainer available in H width. DCs are 9yo and 7yo, eldest is in 2.5 (junior size) and younger is in 11.5 (infant size).

I don’t have a problem with the one available style, but I’d like to know what our options are. Getting out and about to shops to try isn’t feasible, so I am trying to narrow down options to order so I don’t end up ordering and returning repeatedly if they’re just not suitable for wide feet.

Any recommendations would be great!

OP posts:

Talipesmum · 13/12/2021 12:25

Also have h+ width child. We’ve found that Karrimor trainers and Nike Revolution trainers (both sports direct) are the best for wide feet. We didn’t try them in those sizes though - started around size 5/6 as it started to get hard buying width fitted kids trainers. But I would have tried if I’d known about them! They’ve got fairly soft tops to them so it’s quite easy to check the fit.

hemhem · 13/12/2021 12:28

Nike are OK. Keen are the best for my wide fitting DD. She can wear size 13 in Keen (her Clarks size is 13H+) whereas most other shoes she has to wear a size 1 to accommodate the width.

CountingToThree · 13/12/2021 12:30

George at asda have some styles in a wide fit, I've got school shoes from them before. Do free collection and returns to store if you have an asda nearby

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QueenRefusenik · 13/12/2021 12:32

Next have the best range I've found

weebarra · 13/12/2021 12:36

DS2 has very wide feet - our local specialist shoe shop recommended Hummel trainers.

Original poster

triflinpud · 13/12/2021 12:37

Ooh fantastic! Thank you, already quite a few to investigate! I’ve spent far too long Googling and getting nowhere, should have just asked here in the first place

OP posts:

RavenT · 13/12/2021 12:40

Nike Revolution from sports direct also. Often have to go up a size to get the width, but they feel secure and ds says they are very comfortable. He's nearly 9 and at his age, for him, they also look a lot better than clarks. They're also at least 10 quid cheaper than clarks as well!!

ThePontiacBandit · 13/12/2021 13:01

DD has wide feet. We gave up on Clark’s, they never fit properly and they slipped at the back. Started going to an independent shop near us and they suggested Ricosta (German firm). They fit so much better and DD wears them all the time (even on her weekends).

This is where we get them from but you can get them elsewhere online:
www.happysoleslincoln.co.uk/product-page/ricosta-lillia-patent

Original poster

triflinpud · 13/12/2021 14:23

Thanks for more recommendations!

Good point @ThePontiacBandit I live in an inner city borough and finding anything independent here (apart from coffee shops!) is always a challenge, I think as we have so many chains even on the local high street other things go out of business easily but would be good to see if I can find something we can get to.

OP posts:

luverlybubberly · 13/12/2021 14:28

Mine switched to Nike around that age. He had to size up but found them very comfy.

Do you normally go to a Clark's shop? I buy school shoes in John Lewis where they stock lots of different brands and will fit them

BedSoComfyWhyLeave · 13/12/2021 14:36

Ds2 is still an H+ fitting now at 15. I had hoped his feet would narrow down but alas, no.

We get Skechers trainers from Sports Direct. We have done since he was about 6 years old. Ds1 is a G fitting. Again, Skechers.

Original poster

triflinpud · 13/12/2021 14:45

Not usually @luverlybubberly we have the Clarks foot gauge and measure at home and then order, DCs are autistic and couldn’t get on with shoe fitting so we’ve always done a sort of ‘order and test’ approach. We’ve bought from Clarks purely for the closest reliability to measuring and width sizing with the gauge when DIY. However whenever we can next try some stores we might give in store testing another go

OP posts:

ThePontiacBandit · 13/12/2021 15:08

triflinpud I am Autistic and I suspect DD is too. We found Clarks overwhelming (our local one is awful, cramped, smelly and no natural light in the children’s section. The independent shop has a large front, they only allow two kids/families in at a time and it’s so much better. Bit more expensive but worth the extra cost for the ease!

ThePontiacBandit · 13/12/2021 15:09

Did you know you can buy your own foot measure? We got one online. Saves traipsing in or ordering on guess work!

Original poster

triflinpud · 13/12/2021 15:28

Thanks @ThePontiacBandit no local independents unfortunately but we do have the Clarks foot gauge, so use that to buy Clarks, just doesn’t really tell us about other brands - if only all brands would give more detailed measurements! That’s how I buy clothes (referring to cm in size guides), especially as DC seem to be growing exponentially lately

OP posts:

Shelleyjelly80 · 13/12/2021 16:23

Clarks have never fit my DD properly, she has my wide feet unfortunately! I have found George at Asda to be brilliant for school shoes and trainers and also Adidas seem to fit very well and they do half sizes x

TheMooch · 13/12/2021 21:31

Superfit might be worth a look at.
They are also pretty robust.

skkyelark · 13/12/2021 21:50

Not the cheapest, but www.happylittlesoles.co.uk/ stock a lot of wider styles, and if you email them, they're usually happy to discuss what would suit and even look at pictures of the feet in question. They have more options for your younger one than your older one, though.

Travellingraspberry · 13/12/2021 21:54

My dc have wide feet and have always bought sketchers. They have a great range of colours and styles and can normally find them on offer somewhere

AuditAngel · 13/12/2021 21:56

DS is also an H fitting in Clark’s, he wears Nike too, but is older now.

We found Start Rite worked for him, but due to high instep often had to size up

Original poster

triflinpud · 13/12/2021 21:57

That’s great, will check out the site @skkyelark

Thanks for more recommendations! A few popping up regularly too. We might actually find other trainers beyond the one Clarks style

OP posts:

SmellyOldOwls · 13/12/2021 21:59

@Travellingraspberry

My dc have wide feet and have always bought sketchers. They have a great range of colours and styles and can normally find them on offer somewhere

Yes my son has always worn extra wide in Clarks and Start Rite but can wear sketchers no problem now. Joules is best for wellies for wide feet, Sainsbury's do school shoes in wide fit too.

Mummydoctor · 13/12/2021 22:20

We’ve always used our local independent shoe shop. Best brands we have had for our H width boys have been Geox, ricosta pediped and lurchi. These are all fantastic quality European brands. Not cheap but fit very well and extremely durable.

TrundlingAlong · 13/12/2021 23:22

We usually end up with Start Rite.

Where on earth do you go for sandals and wellies, though? My DC's feet are too wide even for Clarks widest fit so wellies and sandals are too painful for him to wear as I can't find any in wide fit and they would be several sizes too long if the width were correct.

hemhem · 13/12/2021 23:34

Sandals from Keen and wellies from Dirt Boots (on Amazon) both come up wide enough for my H+ DD. Crocs are also quite wide

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