To argue with DS over school shoes?

[heavymetalheatherhead]

DS is 8. His school have a fairly relaxed uniform policy re: footwear. Shoes or trainers, in black white or grey.
He wants to wear trainers for school. I want him to wear shoes. I took him to get measured in Clark's, but he claimed every pair of shoes he tried on were uncomfortable. He wouldn't go for their trainers either (apart from
the really sporty colourful ones that he wouldn't be allowed.
We then tried Kickers, Geox. None were comfy, apparently.
Nike trainers? Perfectly comfy
In my head, he should be wearing proper leather, measured for school shoes, or his feet will end up deformed. In my head, allowing him
To wear trainers all the time is bad parenting. But the thing is, he is allowed to wear trainers for school. So why am I getting so worked up about it?! To be fair to me, another issue is the fact that he destroys footwear, so he really needs sturdy stuff, but really good quality trainers would do the job.
Talk some sense into me please!

@Kitsandkids can I ask why you're so insistent? In my experience Clark's aren't all that great. They're ok, but fairly expensive and don't seem any more hard-wearing than other brands.

Although to be fair I think the boys shoes are better; the girls pairs on offer are made of glitter and unicorn tears, held together by fairy dust.

Trainers won't deform his feet at this age... so long as they conform to school rules I don't see the issue

I was told by a Podiatrist at a post-natal class many, many years ago that trainers were the best thing for everyone to wear.

And leather fitted shoes have no give so he'll grow out of them sooner. With my high arches trainers are so much more comfortable.

Well, this is an eye-opener! Trainers deform feet - seriously? I currently have what I can only describe as a hole in one heel and an almost-healed blister on the he other from wearing ‘proper’ shoes (DMs, which are fab and last for years but take a LONG time to break in and my safety shoes for work - quite comfy but rub just at the point of the blister). Every pair of ‘proper’ shoes I have/have had does this; I have wide but small feet and bony heels (I wear holes in my shoes at the back). The comfiest shoes I own are my Brooks Ghost 10 that I have for running, the feel like slippers and I would buy nothing but these to wear if I could!

If the school allows trainers then I'd allow him to wear them.

The only i'd be skeptical about is that out of every pair you've tried on, the only one he claims fit are the big branded one that are cool and fashionable.

I think my line would be he can have trainers but he's not having branded fashion ones (like the nike ones he has clearly decided are the only pair that will fit on earth regardless of how well they fit).