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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for honest view of Clark's kids shoes

97 replies

scrabble1 · 29/09/2017 09:45

DS new school shoes from Clark's £55. Goretex, look sturdy but already wearing smooth on the sole. Doesn't walk a lot as straight onto school bus and back every day. Experiences please

OP posts:

nocake · 29/09/2017 16:55

I bought DD a pair of DMs for school which are so much better than Clarks. I'm now on the look out for the next size up in a sale as there's no way I'd go back to Clarks.

ChocolateWombat · 30/09/2017 19:18

I agree that if you can get Clarks that fit in an Outlet, then they are usually okay. A price tag of about £20 for school shoes which able of a similar quality to M and S or better supermarket own brand shoes makes them a reasonable buy if you must have shoes with width fittings because you lack the confidence to fit shoes ina range of shops yourself.

Startrite outlet also has cheap shoes, often much better quality.

AtSea1979 · 30/09/2017 19:21

They don't do girls shoes that are full and have velcro, for that reason I do not buy from there. Girls do not want wet socks any more than boys do. Girls want to climb on the tricky trail at school just like the boys do.
Asda do a girls full shoes in Velcro, I was very pleased to see this but disheartened at how many parents were instead opting for flimsy Hello Kitty open shoes instead

lozzylizzy · 30/09/2017 19:27

Doesnt matter what shoes I buy DS (9) he splits the seams at the side and the sole falls off in weeks....bloody slide tackling goalkeeper!

lozzylizzy · 30/09/2017 19:28

Asda do a girls full shoes in Velcro, I was very pleased to see this but disheartened at how many parents were instead opting for flimsy Hello Kitty open shoes instead

Maybe those certain girls preferred the Hello Kitty shoes........

NotCitrus · 30/09/2017 19:28

Some styles are OK - ds's somehow lasted two years before he grew out of them, with a mile to and a mile from school and wearing them most weekends and holidays. And I picked up some glittery trainers for dd that were reduced to £12 and they lasted well until she outgrew them 6 months later.

The girls shoes are crap though - I refused to pay £35 for basically a ballet pump with a wee strap, but most shoe shops don't have much better for girls (the boy shoes with a wee butterfly or something so dd doesn't get accused of having boy shoes would be ideal). Ended up getting discounted ones for summer and then black boots for winter. Shoe Zone ones lasted all winter; hideously expensive ones from Trotters needed re-heeling within a fortnight. And again six weeks later. Ds's trainers were £10 from Shoe Zone and have lasted really well.

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 30/09/2017 19:37

DS's feet have slowed down so I bought him a pair of Start-rite warriors (or rhinos or something) this year thinking they might be tough enough to last a year. £60.. fine I thought as they'll last so long. Total false economy as they were so stiff, heavy and uncomfortable that DS rejected them after a couple of days.

He now has some Clarks Hula Go's, and even if they don't last a full year, at least he has lovely comfy feet.

Acopyofacopy · 30/09/2017 19:45

Both ds and dd wear Clarks boy style school shoes. They hold up well and are reasonably priced in the outlet nearby.

Ecco shoes are much better, but so much more expensive!

mrsRosaPimento · 30/09/2017 19:57

Had to stop buying them as they literally fell apart after three months. We go to Russel and Bromley.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 30/09/2017 20:05

I don't rate their kids shoes or their fitters.

I used to until I took my youngest to get the soft ones they do and they insisted he's a 4 there is no way he's anything other than between a 2-3 and now he has shoes he can't walk in

1DAD2KIDS · 30/09/2017 20:07

I have had no problems with them. That have worn well and fitted well. No complaints from me and voth my kids. Do they deserve the cost and are good represent good value for money is a different question. I have normally been able to get them in a sale or a discounted 3rd party store. Also on a plus side if they remain in good condition once your child has grown out of them (babies/toddlers grow out of them so fast) they can fetch a few quid on EBay.

Hebenon · 30/09/2017 20:13

I don't think they are good for children with non-standard feet. Anecdotally, children I know who have wider or narrower feet than Clarks caters for have had problems with them in terms of them actually being uncomfortable (rubbing sore spots etc). Comfort is the bare minimum that I think children's shoes should offer so I don't buy Clarks any more. I do buy properly fitted shoes (from an independent shop with a wide range of makes) and find them much better both in terms of comfort and wear. They are pricey, though!

naomi83mother · 30/09/2017 20:15

Clarks measurement different in every shop you go in. I always find they want the shoe to be as sung as possible too and your kid just ends up growing out of them in a few weeks. They are ok but nothing special.

BikeRunSki · 30/09/2017 20:19

I stopped buying DS clarks shoes when the soles wore through in 6 weeks, I had gone off them for several other reasons, but that's what did it.

IME, The only thing that Clarks are good at is marketing. They are riding a wave of a reputation built in the past that they no longer deserve.

NotTheMrMenAgain · 30/09/2017 20:45

I've totally sworn off Clarks after years of never going anywhere else, because the quality of the girls school shoes is abysmal.

They've really gone downhill in recent years. The final pair I bought from Clarks let water in like a sieve. I buy Geox or M and S now. Geox seem to be almost indestructible!

jennielou75 · 30/09/2017 21:19

I don't buy children's shoes but also won't be buying adults after this happened to my boots on the first day! £80 and they nearly killed me as one tried to come off as I was going down the stairs!

To ask for honest view of Clark's kids shoes

KindergartenKop · 30/09/2017 21:21

Toddler shoes are ok. School shoes don't last 6 months.

AtSea1979 · 30/09/2017 21:25

lozzy my DD preferred the Hello Kitty ones but she's 8 and it's my money, she doesn't get a choice.

Athome77 · 30/09/2017 21:44

My sons (11 and 13) have always had clarks for school, they usually last the year (unless they have a growth spurt). I get them from the outlet. No complaints from us- except the 13 year old is now in adults shoes so really expensive, I think they were £70.

BikeRunSki · 01/10/2017 18:49

School shoes don't last 6 months.

They barely last 6 weeks in my experience!

MrsPeacockDidIt · 01/10/2017 19:33

There are lots of different brands out there if you can find an indepentant shop. Shoes don't need to be sturdy or supportive (unless there is a medical need). Kids shoes need to stop the soles of the feet getting hurt and the rest of the shoe keeps it on. I think primary school children should be in the most flexible shoes possible or even just socks whist inside (some schools do this). There's lot of research to show that as close to barefoot is good for growing feet. Clark's boys school shoes are really sturdy which is why I stopped shopping there.

WreckTangled · 01/10/2017 19:39

Have never bought from clarks as my dd's physio said not due to the shoes not being supportive. Whenever we've been in there to get the dc's feet measured they've always measured completely differently to our local independent shop who do a brilliant job and stick startrite/geox etc

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