To spend £115 on 12yo's school shoes?

[Readysteadygoat]

He's 6ft tall and wears a size 12. His current pair cost £28 from ASOS and are falling apart after half a term. DH says buy another pair the same, I'd like to buy him some Dr Martens because I believe they might actually survive till July and beyond. Its a false economy to keep buying cheap.
We both own DMs but they were birthday or Christmas presents because they're dear.
Any suggestions for sturdy black shoes that don't cost as much please?

My friends DD has a pair, and they've lasted her through year 8 now into year 9. I've got two pairs of boots, one classic and one pair of Chelsea style DMs. They're an investment!

I have bought DMs as school shoes for DD and DS in recent years. They lasted all school year and after that, when they'd grown out of them I sold them on eBay because they were still wearable. Also, kids DMs go up to 5.5 and are quite a bit cheaper than adults.

My DD has a £25 supermarket pair at the moment which she thinks is more fashionable (she's 15) but I'm expecting them to last til half term if I'm lucky.

I think it's cheaper to buy DMs in the long run, unless the child has a growth spurt!

I also thought this was nuts until I read it was DMs they will last forever

DMs will not last forever! He’ll outgrow them and scuff them.

I buy my dd docs for school I she's still growing so I buy a size up and put insoles in. I don't think it's unreasonable but you could check the sales to get them a bit cheaper.

Another vote for DMs. My children walk miles to and from and around school. Nothing else seems to last very long.

My son has "unidays" app and it offers 10% discount on DM. Has loads of other great discounts as well. All your son needs to subscribe is his school email address.

I bought DD a pair of Docs for school. Didn't mind the cost as assuming her feet don't get any bigger they will last year's. She still has a pair of Timberland boots from last year that's are going strong.

Builders' websites - Screwfix, Amazon, etc - you can get work shoes (or boots if the school uniform policy allows them) for about £30. Black leather, supportive insole, padding, designed to support the weight of a large man all day rather than what is now a fashion item. They're better made, absolutely indestructible, don't require breaking in and you won't be sobbing at the state of your bank balance when he goes up another size in the next four months (summer growth spurts in teenagers are ridiculous).

YANBU to think of DM's, but when you can get something better for a quarter of the price, you would be to spend that much.

Even for my definitely still growing DD I get DMs as they last so much better than anything else we've tried. She just seems to trash others where her DMs last the full year (and more if not outgrown) with ease.

I had DMs as school shoes when I got to about 15 because DM was sick of wasting money on shoes that wouldn't last.
My DRM shoes lasted me through yr 10-13 although I did mix with some lovely blue DM boots in yrs 12/13. Others went for cherry reds but I preferred by dark blues!

DS has some school shoes from Treads. They have been great. He says they are comfortable. He walks to school and has to walk around all day as it is a large site.

My DM's are the comfiest boots I've ever owned. They have seen me through 6 years of dog walking, every day, for approx 5 hours a day. Once these have died - There's no sign of them dying yet - I will definately replace with another pair of DM's.

I suppose it depends if that's what he wants to wear (none of mine would have worn them at all, although I lived in them as a teen my now 13 yo would be horrified at the thought of wearing them!) and if they are in line with school policy. If he's happy with them and school are happy with them then what's the issue?

trendy trainers in that size are only available in adult sizes which are all around the £80-100 + mark, I'm not sure why school shoes (which are worn far more) should need to be cheaper?

My DD’s feet are still growing, but after her ruining £45 Clark’s shoes every 6 months I gave in and forked out the extra (about £20 as small feet) for DMs and they have saved me a small fortune. She’s now on her second pair having grown out of her first, but that’s 3 years and counting. Not only that, she loves them, and wears them all the time so I’ve definitely got my money’s worth.

DMs are no longer the high quality they once were. What about the factory that used to make them:
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