AIBU to think that 5 pairs of school shoes a year is too many?

[wbailey]

My DD (8) and DS (11) seem to fly through their school shoes. If they haven't outgrown them then they wear them out as if there's no tomorrow!

On average, I think we've been going through almost 5 pairs of shoes, per child, each year of their primary schooling so far. I've tried a whole variety of brands, styles and prices, and there's been no consistency in terms of how quickly they wear out. We seem to be spending a near fortune on keeping good shoes on both of their feet...

I am wondering what others experiences have been with how many pairs of school shoes their child goes through each year? Is five pairs a year an abnormal amount? and should the money i'm spending on the shoes reflect on how long they last before falling apart? Recommendations more than welcome!!

Are the Mary Jane style doc martens an option? They are expensive but they will 100% not wear out and would probably work out cheaper than constantly buying new ones constantly?

I used to average 3 pairs of Clarks a year but got Kickers last year for DD 8, from Wynsors £28, and they lasted the entire year!

I believe my sons got through that amount in primary. Definitely 3 pairs a year maybe up to 5.

They had tried all sorts of brands but just a lot of running around at playtime, playing football, scuffing their shoes meant they busted through them quite often.

We have had everything from cheap supermarket shoes to Clarks due to feet width (widest fitting they do) and they all die.

In secondary school, Ds1 had 1 pair for an entire year despite walking to and from school every day. Once the running around and football stopped the shoes lasted. He has had Skechers and Clarks.

Are they all wearing out in the same way? There may be something wrong with the way they walk? My children are still young but wearing Clark’s remy shoes. DC has outgrown every pair and I expect them to outlast DC2.

My DC are 15 & 17 now and except when they were very small and growing quickly, I have never bought more than one pair of school shoes per year. Often they last four terms.

Clarks, polished now and again but not particularly well cared for. DS2 walked the three miles home today and he's still wearing last year's shoes. I don't have a clue what happens to others' school shoes.

That sounds about average to me. My DS wore through two pairs in the first six weeks of being back at school. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for it.

Way too many! Clarks last us the full year! Usually still in good condition as well, just outgrown.

Even as an adult I get through that many pairs of work shoes a year easily.

our shoes last a full year or very near. my boy does plenty of running, ball games, climbing etc in his shoes plus walking to and from school. he usually has startrites.

ditto what previous posters have said about doc martins or similiar.

good luck!

wow!

My Dcs (ages 5 and 8) both go through 1 pair a year. One year DS needed a second pair before the year was out because he grew, They never wear out they grow out of them.

I buy Clarks

My DD trashes her shoes but even she wouldn't go through 5 pairs a year. We've switched from lovely, well-made but not robust enough leather Mary Janes (by Petasil) to Plae, which are sooo tough. I'm really impressed so far. Kickers were recommended to me as well.

I remember DD having a series of growth spurts one year that necessitated several pairs of shoes. Even with a little bit of growing room, her big feet put too much strain on them. Not every year though.

I think some people's gait takes a lot out of shoes - I'm one of them. DH has shoes he's had for years, whereas mine split across the instep or wear down on the heels very quickly.

Are they all wearing out in the same way? There may be something wrong with the way they walk?

My DH always wore his shoes out in the inside toe area. He has had back problems in his 30s/40s and a physio told him his posture needed correcting. He had been walking with a bad postiure and that is why his shoes were wearing out.

We probably go through 2/3 per child every year, growing feet obviously can't be helped
Do they wear their school shoes when playing after school ever? Change into trainers instead if they do. And I think our school allows them to wear P.E shoes during lunch if they're running around which you could ask about

My dd wore her Clarks lace ups for two years (her feet had stalled - she was 15-16 to be fair). For 6th form she got DMs, after 15mo they are still immaculate. Tbh tho we live v near school - do yours have a very long walk op? Or are they playing a lot of football at lunch in them? If so could they take trainers? I do think five pairs in a year is a lot, esp for an 11yo whose feet shouldn't change size that many times in a year.

What do you mean by worn out? Holes or just scuffed? My 12 year old has gone through a pair of shoes in two terms to a year, and has gone up one full size a year (no growth spurt yet!).

@garethesouthgatesmrs I have something similar. I have knocked knees so I always wear out the heel on the inside very quickly and have to be mindful to reheal regularly. The way that shoes wear out can tell you a lot about a personals skeletal health.

Doesn't sound overly excessive.

DD8 outgrows at least 2 a year. Add in the ones she wreaks because she's 8 and last year she had 4 pairs. She is banned from some patent.

Depending on how they break them you can take steps to make them last longer eg DD recently broke the strap on her DMs. Cost £7 to fix at cobblers. Or if they wear out the soles, you can get a cobbler to replace them or even add an extra layer before they start wearing them.

Hush puppies last really well

Way too many! Clarks last us the full year!

^This

I love the m and s school shoes. Last really well and have that removable wedge inner sole which gives an extra half size. Usually under £30 too

My DS have never ever worn out a pair of school shoes, his feet always grow before he has the chance.

His great big feet cost us a fortune.

Always get a year out of them. And they are grown out, not worn out.

Usually buy M&S (about £25-£30), never had to buy more than one pair a year and we walk miles, he runs around and plays football at break and generally scuffs his feet around a lot on days he takes his scooter in too.

DD wears the soles out of her Clarks within a few months. The patent lasts OK though.