To buy DS a pair of cheap school shoes?

[TheHouseofMirth]

His Clarks shoes have just died. There are only 10 weeks left of term. He is 7. My head is saying go to the Shoe Zone and buy him a pair of, admittedly unstylish, but cheap leather shoes for £7.99 but my heart is telling me that I will ruin his feet forever and should go to Clarks and pay £38.

I realise this is the most boring and uncontroversial AIBU thread ever but...

I'd go for cheap ones.

Go with the head!! half a term will not ruin his feet forever and they will grow over the summer meaning that he will have less wear from clarks shoes next term.
I have just bought cheap shoes for DD who is in year 11 and will not need school shoes next term...yeh!!!

It would BU to buy shoes two sizes too big and shove newspaper in the toes.

It is not BU to buy inexpensive shoes for ten weeks as long as they fit well.

I'd go to Shoe Zone. As long as they are comfy with enough room for his toes they should be fine.
I've already bought DD a cheap pair of not Doodles in there to last her the summer - and it doesn't matter what happens to them for £6!
DS2s new trainers were £34 in Clarks last week

Don't be so bloody silly.

Go to ShoeZone or the like and get the cheap ones. There's no point buying expensive shoes that will be outgrown by the new term. Cheap shoes for 10 weeks will not ruin his feet.

Just gone through this decision process with dd2, who has made a hole in her school shoes in time to get soaked socks every morning. Mulled over a pair of cheap black ballet pump types from Primark to tide her over till the traditional August shoe buying session, but decided in the end to splurge on the £38 Clarks. Their feet don't seem to grow at an even rate, so I'm crossing fingers these might make it through next academic year as well - dd1 stayed the same size for 18 months about 2 years ago.

I've done it. No regrets.
That said I find mine never outgrow their shoes over summer break, so quality shoes would be fine to buy ime, too.

I put mine in trainers over the Summer, Mrs. I don't make DS wear his school shoes.

Oh, the OP also said she wasn't buying plastic shoes, btw.

Vegan families buy non leather shoes all the time: I'm not aware that their kids have increased foot deformities!!

As far as I can see, there's no evidence whatsoever that Clarks shoes are any better for children's feet than shoes from anywhere else. If they don't have the size they measured the feet to be, they give you the next size anyway, so it's not like they're that fanatical about perfect fittings. They are way overpriced as well. My children have had Clarks, Stead and Simpson, ShoeZone, Tesco, Asda and god knows what other brands of shoes... and they still can walk properly and have all their toes.

I have switched from Clarks to Shoe Zone, and see no difference (except for £££). He wrecks his shoes in no time and I just don't see the point in spending. And about the sweaty shoes. On hot days, sandals. On colder days, shoes. No sweat.

DS has these

See when I was growing up (in India) we never had any of these clarks £££ shoes.
My feet are perfectly fine.

Id say go with your head get the shoe zone ones.

My dd has had Clarkes which were scuffed to death in no time at all. I then bought her shoe zone leather shoes 14.99 with a protective coating. They were amazing. Comfy and no scuffs even after two terms Now they are too small she is in an asda pair that are similar to the show zone ones. Leather with a protective coating. They seem great so far bit only worn them since Easter. I not bothering with Clarkes from now on. Leather shoes should be comfy as long as you get the correct sizes.

Some of us don't have the choice. Some of us bitter, me? yes have to leave one child in shoes with a hole in for a fortnight because we can't afford two pairs of cheap shoes at once.

There is always the option of ebay! Get some cheap clarks from there, problem solved!

What is say cheap isn't good though????

If your child has feet that are neither too wide nor too narrow go for it. It's about fit not about expensive.

Sorry pom . Can you do wellies to the school and change in the playground?