To be cross that all boys' school shoes are basically black trainers?

[Shoppingwithmother]

Just doing some preliminary looking for school shoes before DS starts school for first time. Seems that almost all the available shoes are just actually black leather trainers. Have DD already at school so used to getting school shoes for her.

Why does it seem that the manufacturers think that there should be loads of choice of smart shoes for girls, but boys should just wear trainers all the time - or have a choice of literally 1 or 2 styles of actual shoe. Surely not all boys spend all day running around and have to wear trainers all the time??

DS's new school stipulates not trainer-style, so presumably they'll all have to turn up in the exact same shoes!

I agree with bikerunski, I drove myself mad finding 'proper' school shoes for DS1 and then in year 1 he discovered football and I realised that if I didn't want him to completely trash his shoes the trainer style really were the only option.

i havent ound this with shoes specifically but do find clothes shopping for boys a pain in general rows and rows of pretty pink girls stuff and about half a rail of boys clothes because boys dont need clothes!

It says "plain black shoes - not trainer-style" although I'm sure plenty will be in ones that I think are trainer style!

I tried Ricosta but didn't find they held up to hardcore footballing. I moved on to the ones with an ugly rubber bumper which were good and then onto the trainer ones. Interestingly have found girls Clarks Mary Janes to be really robust for footballing girls although prefer the look of start-rite for girls

They have to change into trainers for playtime anyway so that their shoes don't get wrecked.

Hush puppies do a good range of boys and girls shoes

Mine wear their school shoes for every activity. Only ones that have lasted have been Clarks ones with aeroplane on the side wih rubber toe. He managed to destroy every other show in less than 3 months

purple is that these ones with the plane? Probably not allowed if it says no trainer style. you have my sympathies OP!

Thank you!

I find the opposite, more choice of style for boys then girls (I don't count flowers/butterflies/hello kitty as styles as they're all Mary Jane style shoes). My dd's have the choice of t-bar / Mary Jane style shoes which scuff as soon as you look at them or brogues. My ds has the choice of trainer style, kickers, lace ups, slip ons or timberland style boots.

I've found that the trainer style shoes last until the next size is needed, ds plays football every play time and had one pair of trainer style shoes which looked as good at easter when he grew out of them as they did when they were bought, for £12 they lasted much longer than I thought. Dd1 had three pairs of boots (£20 a pop) in the same time and a pair of shoes which had to be checked two weeks before she finished for summer.

I wish they did trainer style school shoes for girls.

i havent ound this with shoes specifically but do find clothes shopping for boys a pain in general rows and rows of pretty pink girls stuff and about half a rail of boys clothes because boys dont need clothes!
It's not easier shopping for girls if they aren't into pink and frilly stuff.

I know! I remember trying to explain to 2 year old DD why we were unlikely to be able to find the girls' pirate swimming costume that she wanted - the one she described in her imagination sounded lovely!

Also remember her disgust that when it was the 2012 Olympics and there were Union Jack on everything - you could get lovely Union Jack pants for boys but the girls ones were Union jacks in shades of pink!?!?

My god I think you could not be any more unreasonable! Boys' school shoes are great. Good chunky grippy soles, cover the whole foot, waterproof, protected toes that don't scuff. Most boys (or indeed children) in primary school do spend a lot of time running round in all weathers and their school shoes tend to reflect that.

Don't get me started on my rant about stupid fucking girls' school shoes which don't keep their feet dry and are scuffed to ribbons with holes in the bottom after a term.

Luckily DD gets on well with the Start Rite Mary Jane style. Last pair has lasted a full school year. I've found the patent leather ones look much better for longer - when they go they really go and all the top layer comes off, but until that time they look good and don't show up every scuff from day one like the matt leather ones do.

We bought DD some t-bar kickers and had them fitted at John Lewis. Since they're still in great condition after 6 months of daily wear and hard use, I'd definitely recommend kickers!

I only ever buy Geox now, we've just got DS and DD new pairs fitted today at John Lewis.
They last longer than both Clarks and Start-Rite, we've tried them all!
DS has had the same William ones for two years now and grows out of them before they're worn out, all leather and not trainers. DD was a bit of a madam to fit but we got the new version of the Shadow style she wears, they last well too.

Thank goodness you can get black trainer-type school shoes.

I've just bought DS some school shoes from Clarks (an outlet) and there were lots of different designs yes a few that looked like trainers but lots of normal sturdy shoes

I went to clarks. DS had a choice of 5 different types of shoes. All looked different. None trainery. One pair the basics linked anove, one lace up, one of the stitching round top ones then 2 with subtle patterns on.

I detest girls shoes. They are flimsy and naff if your dd likes climbing...

Agree. A lit of girls shoes are rubbish. Flimsy, terrible for actually doing any kind of sport, don't keep the rain out, all sorts o of colours so you need to keep buying different polish... DD will be in boys shoes if I have my way. She's a total tomboy with mostly boys for friends already so hopefully it won't be an issue.

I sympathise op. We are even more limited by ds's extremely narrow feet. He measures as a d width. This rules out most brands completely, and we usually end up in clarks or start rite e fitting but a half size down from what he measures. The trouble with this is that out of however many school shoes there are, our choice has been limited to 2 different trainer type shoes. I'm really disappointed as I don't think they look smart at all.

My Ds wrecked proper shoes within a half term, I'm happy for him to wear smart black trainer type now, as they're the only ones that last.

Honestly, just get him some black shoes, job done. They're shoes for school not a fashion statement. As long as they're comfy and sturdy that is the main thing.

Ah yes annandale but what if the school specifies no trainers? It's getting better as DS's feet get bigger.

I love the face that so many boys shoes are trainer- like. Ok, it's a PITA when the school have specified otherwise but I have two DDs and think it's crazy that the majority of girls shoes are completely impractical for kicking a ball with, keeping their feet dry etc. Gets worse as they get older - then there's all this hand ringing about why girls play less sport