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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be sick of buying school shoes and trained and peeved that...

22 replies

TotorosOcarina · 07/04/2011 08:44

Firstly I don't know what the hell DS1 does at school, but he wrecks his shoes. I've bought clarkes, they went back after a week, ditto M&S - they just fell apart at the seems!

I even bought some ridiculously over priced independant shoe shop boot type things which lasted margainally better but I cannot afford to keep them kitted out in those.

Now he needs new shoes AND new trainers for PE and TBH i'm dispairing.

I bought him some pump things, not the school ones, ones from laredoute that lace up as i was hoping th sun would come out, but his teacher has said he can't wear them unless he learns to tie the laces - which we ARE working on but it peeves me off that he is the ONLY one in his class that can tie his own school tie yet htey insistet the whole class wears those!

Is it so hard to ask for decent school shoes at a decent price? :(

OP posts:

Pheebe · 07/04/2011 08:46

If he's a shoe wrecker I would go for sheap shoes that you replace each term. You'll end up paying about the same overall but at least he'll pretty much always have decent shoes on his feet.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 07/04/2011 08:59

Teach him to tie his laces. DD desperately needed wanted a pair of horrid glittery shoes with laces. I knew her teacher didn't have time to do them for her so said she could have them if she learned to do it herself.
I got a thing from ELC which was the shape of a shoe with laces to practice on. She soon got the hang of it but never did get the glittery shoes.

NestaFiesta · 07/04/2011 09:40

OP, YANBU. We are crying out for an indestructible school shoe for boys and despite it being a potential gold mine, nobody makes one. I bought a pair of "scuffproof" from M and S and they fell apart after 6 weeks. I got my money back (posted them to Head Office), and they admitted it was a design fault. All we want is some kind of rubbery indestructible toe cover that won't injure fellow pupils.

Skinit · 07/04/2011 09:43

I agree....but cheapo ones until he's older. It's more affordable than aying out 30 to 40 quid a time. Someone on here has a foot doctor fr a DH and he said all they need is a flexible sole and support around the top of their foot...no need for posh measured ones as long as you thouroughly check they fit him.

Sportsmum · 07/04/2011 09:46

I think that too many manufacturers are skimping on the leather... we have had to rebuild DC1's shoes as they keep falling apart - and there is only about 5mm of leather tucked under the shoe onto the sole. They just don't make things like they used to. [Off to buy third pair of shoe of the same size whilst mumbling and cursing under breath emoticon]

Sportsmum · 07/04/2011 09:47

*shoes - don't like spending money!!!!

theonlywayisdevon · 07/04/2011 09:52

Just replaced school shoes (tears that only the dull ones fitted her), sandals and home shoes (converse) and still need to go back ad buy outdoor running shoes and indoor school pumps!

DS is 8 and has grown from a 34 to 37 since September.

Son has had a pair of independent shop school shoes 9from Germany) that have lasted all year, since last Easter, he is tough on them but they have been fab. Its worth the money to save going back to the shop!

Saltire · 07/04/2011 09:52

I have a 13 year old in size 10 adult shoes and an 11 year old in size 7adult shoes and they are costing me a fortune.

DS2 is on his 12th pair of trainers since october- schoolt trainers for PE.
He's also gone through 8 pairs of trainers that he wears for playing outside .

sparkle12mar08 · 07/04/2011 10:22

I'm sorry but how on earth can any child go through 20 pairs of trainers in six months?! Don't be ridicuous, that's one a week.

Saltire · 07/04/2011 19:38

He has, would you like me to sent them to you so you can check?

readywithwellies · 07/04/2011 19:44

Before you give up on more expensive brands, try doc martens. They are tough, as are caterpillar, especially if you buy 'work' ones.

Dsd went through £40 boots in two months, through the sole. The leather is still ok though!

DamselInDisguise · 07/04/2011 19:56

DS1 is a shoe wrecker. I got him a pair of shoes with an absolutely wonderful rubber toe cap in the January sales at our local posh kids' shoe shop and they still look great. The leather is really good quality and they dont immediately want to fall apart at the seams. Usually his shoes would be falling apart by now, and the toes are scruffed beyond saving within a fortnight. These ones cost less than what I'd've paid at clarks because they were in the sale.

HarrietJones · 07/04/2011 20:05

I buy dd2 DMs as she is a wrecker. Now they don't make kids ones so it's v difficult to get small sizes so I get kickers which aren't bad.

Luckily she is almost a 3 so adult DMs are on the horizon.

Grockle · 07/04/2011 20:10

Is it just boys that do this? DS has ruined 2 pairs of Clarks shoes since September and I'm refusing to buy any more. I want him to have decent shoes but they get SO scuffed and end up falling apart. I can't afford a pair a term. He's only 5 so this is going to get worse, isn't it?

HarrietJones · 07/04/2011 20:38

Mine was a dd! She can destroy Clarks in under a month. Velcro straps are worse. Hush puppies last about 6 weeks. Tesco etc cheapies can go in weeks

munstersmum · 07/04/2011 20:43

Primigi (spelling?) last DS very well & are good leather. Plays football, scuffs along pavement etc. Little bit cheaper than Clarks so watch for sale at independents.

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 07/04/2011 20:48

DS2 plays football everyday in the playground and wrecks his shoes, so recently we've started buying him black trainers from a discount sports shop. Otherwise it was 1 pair of Clarks or similar shoes per every 1/2 term (if they lasted that long!!)

MizzyDizzy · 07/04/2011 21:02

3 DS's aged 10-14 y/o... size 7-11 adult feet....skate shoes are the best wearing for my lot (and were when they were younger too) ...they last them a whole term...everything else lasts about 3/4 weeks! We get ours from Soccer Sports in town...but I have been known to buy on line when feeling lazy!

The skate shoes even last longer than hiking boots! Oh yes, we have tried all the stores and styles over the years!

Piffpaffpoff · 07/04/2011 21:17

Another recommendation for Primigi here. DS's last pair lasted him nearly 6mo and had plenty of life left in them, we only got new ones because his feet had grown. They have a heavy rubber 'bumper' right round the front and quite a way up either side so they can take a lot of knocks.

suzikettles · 07/04/2011 21:19

Ds has Geox shoes similar to these.

He's not a school yet so we've not had to get black ones (I think his were slightly cheaper), but the rubber toe cover is great. They are the first pair of shoes he's not been able to wreck before he grew out of them.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 08/04/2011 12:05

Be aware that Geox aren't as robust as you initially think. DD has had a couple of pairs that haven't lasted much longer than about three months.

suzikettles · 08/04/2011 12:57

Well, ds's are almost 6 months old now and look pretty much brand new - and apart from wellies they're basically his only shoes.

He's only 4 though and not kicking a football around every lunchtime/break. I seem to remember that football did for every pair of shoes my brother ever had (plus wrecking the knees of every pair of trousers he had).

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