Aibu to assume clarks shoes are best for kids?

[Fishface77]

My daughter is 4 and needs shoes/trainers. I went to sports direct and she attached Gerald to some frozen ones.

I want her to have clarks but my DH said these would be fine.
Where is best for children's shoes! There's so much choice (and so much expense) but I want her to have a decent pair of shoes.

I've never been that impressed with Clarks at all. If you have a Brantano near you, they have character shoes and will measure and fit for you.

It depends on your child's feet

The trainers that fitted very narrow footed ds best when he was a toddler were some cheap Thomas the Tank ones from Sports Direct. Clarks were too wide.

Dd on the other hand with her wide foot & high instep could only ever have Clarks trainers & Start Rite shoes.

I find independent shoe shops better. When we went to smaller places up north the clarks were better but the busy branches near us I found quite bad for rushing and not doing a proper fit, so independent with hush puppy shoes had been best for us

DD1 has very narrow feet and Clarks didn't do her fitting until she got to about age 4! And then they were a bit pants, really.

Local independent shoe shop is awesome; Frugi, Richter that type of thing all fit her much better and they last for EVER. And they're a bit more unisex.

(If you're anywhere near Cockermouth, Goody 2 Shoes are fantastic! And there's a really good one in Perth whose name escapes me...)

I hate clarks. We go to Jones bootmakers and the service and shoes are way nicer.

Clarks shoes are fugly. It was a running joke with my dad and I when I was a child that if I didn't stop misbehaving he'd drag me into Clarks, buy me some of their shoes and make me wear them . They just look like orthapeadic shoes...

My DC's always wear dr martens, kickers, converse, Nike/adidas trainers or Zara shoes. My DS wears Zara Chelsea boots to school, they've worn very well. Likewise DD has dr marten Mary Jane shoes for school and there's not even a mark on them, they're in such good nick younger DD shall be wearing them next. Never gone near Clarks, don't plan on it either.

Clark's may be the best but it's hard to say as we find it so hard to find shoes in DCs sizes. Obviously each time we go they are a new size and almost every time the children choose a selection of styles only to be told that they don't have their size in stock and that it is a difficult size. Given that they have neither fat nor thin feet and every child goes through every size number at some point. I am at a loss as to why they are always at a difficult size.

I also dislike my local Clark's because usually there is a queue (even if we book an appointment), then the assistant is a trainee so after every step of the procedure you have to wait for the supervisor to repeat what has just been done. The staff also aren't very bright. Last time we went in and DD was measured as a 3.5. That was a bit too big so the trainee asked me if I'd like her to bring a 2. She was confused when I suggested a 3. We ended up with a 3.5 and an insole.

However, when we were last buying for DS I said to DS that he mustn't set his heart on a particular style as they wouldn't have his size - in fact if they did I'd eat my scarf... no prizes for guessing whether it was in stock.

Generally school shoes do end up being bought at the somewhat expensive independent store. In and out in 10 minutes for both children.

I wish we had a local Start-Rite.

My kids started of with Clarks and then once it was established they were normal width I started shopping in Brantanos. My daughter is nearly 3 and loves shoes so I buy her a decent pair and then all her little dolly shoes and wellies from Asda. She never walks far in these so I don't see any harm.

Clarks are no better than any other shoes.

Anyone can size and fit their child's shoes - you can even buy sizing plates on the Internet.

They aren't even British any more - they are mass manufactured overseas. Just like every other mass produced shoe.

I thinks children need proper, quality shoes- but these don't have to be Clarks branded. Mothercare do a good range of cruising shoes.

I do stock up in the Clarks sale meself when I can tho. A £15 pair of Clarks will be significantly better made than spending the same money on supermarket or Matalan shoes. They are comfier, and they do wear better.

But I'd also be happy for Gerald to have Frozen shoes for weekends and occasions.

Independent children's shoe shops have a range of brands and generally gave a better standard of fitters in my experience.

My DC only get cheap shoes for party shoes which are only worn occasionally.

I think Clarks are a bit shite. I usually get Pediped shoes for my boy. I also liked Bobux when he was smaller. They're both American and make barefoot shoes (much better for growing feet).

I usually get them from Happy Little Soles.

I find Clarks doesn't have much choice for girls as I don't like all over bright pink. DD has had some clarks but from a local independent shop that stocks clarks rather than a big branch.

Second the independent shops, we go to another one locally that stocks lots of European brands. Lovely shoes, some are expensive but I get a few in the sale.
If you're in West Yorkshire I can recommend it

Sorry, Bobux are from New Zealand

Look at Barefoot shoes. Clarks will have you believe that children's feet need a solid sole and arch support, although this is heavily disputed with current research.
Barefoot is definitely best at least until their feet stop growing.
Yy to happy little soles website.

I gave up on Clarks for the boys, years ago. The quality rarely matched the price.

DS1, who is 12, wouldn't be seen dead in them, anyhow and is an adult size 6.5, so their kids' shoes aren't relevant to him. He doesn't need black school shoes, so wears an assortment of Geox trainers, cheaper trainers and various walking shoes and boots, as he does a lot of outdoorsy stuff with school. His feet are slightly on the wide side, though mostly in the ankle, which makes it easier to fit. His main problem is a tendency to over-pronation, which doesn't happen in the Geox. It does in some of the cheaper ones, so I discourage him from wearing those if he's going to walk a lot.

DS2 wears startrite. He has wide duck feet like mine and needs extra stability even more than his brother. He needs orthotics, but refuses to keep them on, so we go for a good high shoe or boot.

Boden ones are brilliant. Very hard wearing and I feel that the support the DCs feet really well.

Start rite and lots of lovely European shoes when mine were little The latter good for narrow feet .
Always thought clarks ugly and never a great fit .

I always go for Clarks, I think when their wee feet are still growing its important to have properly fitted, supportive shoes.

This is exactly why I don't go to clarks. I think the ones local to us are particularly bad at fitting though. DS has had geox, ricosta (pepino) and kickers then hush puppies sandals.

For bargainous Startrite shoes head to Jones the bookmakers website, click their outlet tab. Prices start at silly low money. Also the Startrite website itself has an outlet (or sale, can't remember which) button which brings up lots of bargains.

I detest Clarks, all boys shoes are clumpy and bloody ugly and all girls shoes are pink and have butterflies/flowers/glitter/shite on them.

Start-rite are better than Clarks - at least, that's what my former headmistress used to claim (her father had been a cobbler, apparently) and we weren't allowed to come to school in anything else.

Actually, I think as long as they are properly fitted, it probably doesn't matter which brand you buy, as long as they are supportive.

The thing that Clarks really excels at isn't producing quality shoes, it's getting people to believe that 'If you don't buy Clarks shoes your child will end with gnarly Hobbit feet'.

Yes, this.

Plus they are fugly.