Comfortable school shoes for a Y7

[schooloflostsocks]

I’m struggling to find size 9 (men/ adult UK) school shoes for my Y7 that are comfortable. His feet suit a barefoot shape (round wide toe box) but he doesn’t want a barefoot sole. Any suggestions would be most welcome. School rules are:

Plain black leather shoes. Fastening must be laced or slip-on. Velcro shoe fastenings are not allowed. Boots (including the ‘Kicker’ make), trainers, high heels and open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Just bought my DS year 13 these from Clarks. He needed round toe box so got these. Says they are sold out but just bought them for £70 in store last week so might be a new version?

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Loxham-Derby-Youth/p/26151593

At my daughter's school everyone wears black airforce 1s but I know some schools don't allow them

My son chose these. He usually has trainers but opted for these as they're a more trainery type shoe. He says they're really comfortable which is important to him! He has a high instep so struggles with getting a good fit.

www.schuh.co.uk/mens/schuh-wes-court-black-trainers/3570007060/

M and S are our go to shoes. We order a few online and do store collection. Try them on instore and return ones don't need.

@NotPlops thanks ill look into whether we can try any of those. Tbh I don’t consider them that round toed but they are better than many.

@XelaM yes the (very posh) school I work in they all wear Air Force 1s but I don’t think they can at DS’s (not so posh) new school.

really wonder who all these people are who have pointy toes who can wear the men’s and women’s shoes in the shops without hobbling around all day!

I bought for my son at the school shoe section at John Lewis. They have a variety of brands that fit his school's requirement of black polishable shoes with laces.

@veryberrypericherry they look a bit like the Nike airforce but without the label or the price I’ll see if they might pass…

@Hankunamatata ill have a look at M&S thanks

@BoohooWoohoo did you go to JL? On their website they only have 4 types in DS’ size and all pointy toed

My dh wears a 12 or 13. He has wide feet. We find m and s or hush puppies are comfortable

We like these, bought after finding Clarke's lasted 5 minutes before looking wrecked, decent room the toe though not a fully rounded toe box.
https://www.geox.com/en-GB/special_occasion_shoes-black-federico_boy-J04D1C00043C9999.html

@PimpMyFridge they look worth a try but sadly they don’t seem to be available in a 9.

wonder why no one except vivo do a foot shaped toe box. Don’t think DS’s and my foot shape is that unusual.

This is the shape I’m after though preferably with a slightly more structured sole and not costing upwards of £100!

Ok OP, here’s the list I gave to my wide footed child last year when he bust out of the kids sizes:

https://www.hushpuppies.co.uk/products/joseph-shoe-black (this is what he ended up with - they look less trainer-y in real life, black leather)

https://www.hushpuppies.co.uk/products/mason-lace-shoes-black

https://gb.ecco.com/en-GB/product/5643202584/ECCO-STREET-LITE-M?_gl=1rh1o2s_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiAwomeBhBWEiwAM43YIHNm8ZVs7LnFTROvQLXzFecN5ThOHKoTZAO63WAAmSviipeSyjqA_xoCiKwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://gb.ecco.com/en-GB/product/5642785723/ECCO-IRVING

Clarks men’s section were the other place to look - there are a couple of more rounded style ones amongst the weird pointy ones.

Ecco, hush puppies and Clarks.

You’re right in that it is a normal looking foot shape, but most shoes aren’t shaped that way. I find you just have to allow random space in front of the toes where the shoe narrows, and learn not to trip over it. As you have probably seen you don’t tend to get many smart school type shoes in that style. It helps a lot if you get a softish leather.

@Talipesmum thanks! I thought Ecco were for old men! They look nice although still too narrow and pointy.

don’t get me started on rugby boots!!

Do try some in real life. My son has truly square H++ feet and he finds the hush puppies ones very comfortable. I find you can get a certain amount of elimination online but you just have to order a load and try them all out to see if they truly can work. I’m the same - wide square feet and I stick to the brands I know will work online but try a lot on. The leather often makes all the difference.

Oops sorry forgot to check the sizes. Good luck in your search.

It's a shame he can't wear airforce 1 as they're the perfect school shoe / trainer

Dr Martens are the shape your looking for

You're

My son is for the 4th year wearing kickers fragma, seem to work well for his wide foot.

Far and away the best school shoes we ever had were the Petasil brand. They're made in Portugal and come from small retailers but you can buy online. Lovely quality, all leather lined. DD wore the same pair for her last two years in uniform and they still looked new (I did polish them). For c.£60 for the pair I was extremely happy with them.

https://petasil.shoes/product-category/back-to-school

DMs?

Oh thanks all I’ll work my way through all these suggestions. I love DMs never wore anything else between age 15- 21. Tried them on last year for myself —trying to recapture my lost youth— and they just seemed so heavy and stiff. Also they seemed too pointy toed as well! I guess the pair I had were very well worn in. Are there any DMs without the yellow stitching? They don’t seem to like recognisable brands and kickers (great square toes on some of them) are explicitly banned for DS’ new school.

Will stick a few pairs on the credit card as @Talipesmum suggested and he can try them on. My bank account can’t take much more after £400 of uniform shopping yesterday. Since when did state school uniforms cost that much?

Btw I’m more than happy to flout uniform rules once he’s settled in but I don’t want him getting pulled up on details in his first term and I definitely don’t want to have to buy another pair!

I got these DMS for school from the outlet for £79 ( for me: teacher )

Was scared they'd be stiff and heavy but they were comfy from day one. Haven't worn them that much yet though as switched to sandals

I do have wide shovel shaped feet -those barefoot look amazing!

Fwiw i think we should allow trainers as much better for feet and childrens feet. (We don't, must be black polishable)