To be unable to find school shoes (teen boys)

[Brian9600]

What do your teen boys wear to school?

Uniform list says "Plain, all black, low heeled footwear (not trainers)". DS (size 11 adult) doesn't want anything that looks like smart men's shoes (brogues or Oxfords or whatever). So what does that leave? I think I'm trying to find shoes that are un-trainerish enough that the school are happy but trainer-ish enough that DS is happy.

Doesn't help that none of us have really worn closed shoes since March!

The ones singlehandsue posted are what my sons had for the last 3 lots of school shoes. Only replaced as he needed bigger sizes. They are fab.

My son has treads. They do a slip on shoe, and it's the first time he's had a pair of school shoes that have lasted him more than a term. He's horrendously hard on shoes. He's had these since Sept 2019 and they're still going strong. Very hard wearing. They can also adjust up half a size by taking out the special insole, which helps them last longer from a fit point of view too. They're not too 'mens work shoey' and are apparently very comfy too.

Look at treads on line they go up to 11 I am really impressed with a pair (and hoping he's stopped growing)

My size 11, 13 year old has had man’s geox? They’ve been fine

DS aged 13 and 14

@whiplashy

how’s this an AIBU

Does it matter? OP wants lots of traffic so has posted here. Let’s help her, eh?

OP. See if your school has a preference list at local shoe stockists.
My children’s schools had lists and you went to your local shoe shops where they measured your children’s feet then asked which school they went to . They had all the different schools’ lists.

Sports Direct - much as I hate buying stuff from them, is your friend. They have loads of cheap black shoes/ trainers that pass the school shoe test. They usually get through a year without falling apart by which time your DS feet will have grown another size.

Startrite Rhino laceups

Something like this, but cheaper

www.anatomicshoes.com/belem-floater-black-sole-black/p

@SylviaM I’m not a fan of Sports Direct either, but it’s the only place I go for reasonably priced, sturdy school shoes

My son wears Clarks shoes that have velcro straps as he can't do up laces (SEN) - they don't look like trainers and pass the high uniform standards at his school. Go up to size 8 I believe.

I bought mine from eBay (new) and they were for professionals who worked on sites so really sturdy and smart