to not buy my children Clarks school shoes?

[MrsSocks]

I have always used Clarks for my DS as he has very wide feet and I struggle finding shoes elsewhere that he is comfy in and I believed them to be of better quality and durability than elsewhere.....however, he has completed 2 years of school and in that time has gone through 4 pairs of shoes, not because he has grown out of them but because they have literally fallen apart around his feet. The last pair in particular looked tatty and old almost as soon as I purchased them. I have also had to resort in buying half a size bigger than he measures each time (at Clarks's suggestion) as their widest width is still too narrow for him so feel the 'made to measure' advantage of Clarks shoes is somewhat defeated.

Now here I am again, looking at £40+ for Clarks school shoes for DS and DD, who starts in September, thinking there must be better and cheaper options! Where does everyone buy their school shoes from and how have they found them? I really want something of a good quality, good for their feet, that will actually last more than 5 minutes! I've been looking at Next, Marks and Spencer, Matalan, Asda, etc but would really love some idea of how they fair.......

Thank you

[Goldenhandshake]

The absolute best ones I got for DD were skechers I found in Sports direct for £22, lasted almost an entire school year which for her is amazing.

[IsletsOfLangerhans]

Another vote for Ricosta here. Bought a similar brogue style for the last 3 years. My dd plays football every break time and her shoes have lasted a whole year each time. Think they were between 45-49£

[Magicpaintbrush]

Clarks shoes always give my dd blisters. We have got school shoes from M & S the last few times and got on much better, they seem a wider fit and are ten quid cheaper.

[WhooooAmI24601]

I like Geox Rhino shoes for DS2. John Lewis stock them and they are indestructible.

DS1 (10) is size 7 and has youth-size Timberland boots for school. Like the Geox, they last perfectly even though he's very hard on his shoes.

[Cakescakescakes]

Geox are great for my wide footed DS. Very hard wearing too.

[exLtEveDallas]

Last school year DD had two pairs of Sketchers shoes from Sports Direct. £18 each, only replaced as her feet grew.

This school year they didn't have her size in the Sketchers so I went with Kangol for £20. I just hope they last as well.

Previous year she had a pair of softies (ladies sizes) from ShoeZone that did the full year - I was amazed but I never saw the style again sadly.

Clarks shoes are shit in comparison.

[Lazymumof2]

Our last Clarks pair literally looked like mince meat last term but they'd been new for the summer term and fit him: so I refused to buy new.

Half tempted to take take them back in!

Might give Kickers a try and pay an extra £10 or so.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Well u have bought the angry angels and some Kickers t bars for my two.

Anyone want to place bets on how long these last?

92 pounds

[2ndSopranosRule]

Silly phone!

For the time being, we can't find shoes to fit from anywhere other than the likes of Clarks.

We have an independent shoe shop nearby who are normally very good and I actively try to avoid Clarks. The choice for girls is horrendous: it's like they are trying to say "You! Girl! You must like bows and flowers! You must like bows and flowers!".

I'm appalled at the the refusal to sell boys shoes to a girl.

[2ndSopranosRule]

Dd1 has wide feet (and always seems to be a half size!) and dd2 has very narrow feet, so for the time bwiny

[OverlyLoverly]

DS has worked at Clarks during his holidays and their training is quite rigorous. Fit is really important with kids shoes. He's been impressed with them.

[Fozzleyplum]

I gave up on Clarks when I realised that they were trying to sell me whatever they had in stock, rather than shoes which fitted. I used to buy Petasil, Ricosta, Start rite or Geox from the school outfitters. Generally, they were only about £5 per pair more than the Clarks. I found the Petasil shoes were very hard wearing. DSs are now in adult sizes and I have most success at TK Maxx, as they seem to have a good selection of adult sizes in styles that aren't too heavy for skinny teenagers.

[brittabot]

Clarks will replace if you return a shoe and want the same size. Ours generally last the year, which is amazing considering the scuffing & trailing of feet by my kids.

[ItWentInMyEye]

Kickers for my daughter who went through FIFTEEN pairs of cheaper shoes in a year I tried everywhere and they were the only ones to last. From Wynsors. My older boy could have 1 asda pair last 6 months.

[Middleoftheroad]

Next shoes were terrible. Only lasted weeks. I complained.
M &S not better
Yet Clarks last the whole year for both my boy twins

[firawla]

A few people have said it, but another vote for hush puppies. Geox is also good, and a brand called ricosta (or something like that??) I never shop at clarks, I don't think they do a proper job with fitting like ghost used to. If you can find a small independent shop they often do a much better job. One of my ds has wide feet as they're quite flat and clarks couldn't manage with him at all

[Etak15]

Always got clarks school shoes my dd is a c fitting which they don't even make! Have to get d so shoes from normal shops are just too wide, other dd's have wider feet - I always get them patent ones for school and they last the full school year, we do have two outlet stores near us though so they are £20 not £40 which makes them not much more than supermarkets etc. agree with another poster though if I did have shoes from there which didn't last for longer than a few weeks I would take them back!!

[Mycraneisfixed]

Wide feet and a high instep are a family thing with us. I'd economise on other things but never Clarks' shoes.

[user1471461166]

Charles Clinkard always get our custom here. Their fitters are amazing and they carry all different brands for DC to try on

[headinhands]

Not had a problem with them myself. I would take shoes back if they wore out too quickly

[GreaseIsNotTheWord]

I have 2 boys age 6 and 8 that spend every play and lunch time playing football. I've given up completely on buying actual 'shoes' because they fall to pieces in weeks.

They have plain black trainers from Sports Direct - and I mean plain black, they ask for ones with ticks and stripes and get told no. They're really easy to find though and Sports Direct have the best prices and offers i've ever seen.

Last year, ds2's black adidas trainers were £11, reduced from £30. Ds1's black Nike trainers were £18, reduced from £45. When worn to school under trousers they're indistinguishable from 'normal' kickers-style school shoes.

[tinyterrors]

I used to buy decent leather shoe, hush puppies and the like, for my ds and he wrecked them within a term (if not half a term) and it was costing a fortune that I don't have. He plays playground football and rums everywhere and I got fed up of throwing money away on expensive shoes.

Now I buy the £13 asda school shoes that are styled like trainers and have a character like spiderman or star wars etched into the sole and one pair has lasted from September to the May/June half term when he grew out of them. They still had plenty of wear left but were too small.

Now I just need to find dd some that are as hard wearing as she burns through shoes and boots (any that aren't trainers) at a pair per half term this last year.

[Nousernameforme]

This is just quickly i haven't RTFT so sorry if i am repeating but last year i went to tk maxx in the summer holidays managed to get proper leather shoes for each of them for around the £20 mark lasted until the ds's grew out of theirs and dd lasted until april which was great as she is very hard going on her shoes. Obv stock is always changing but is worth a look as i have never thought about going there before