To Be Considering Patent School Shoes?

[Toomuchtooyoung01]

I’ve seen a lovely pair of school shoes in Clark’s for when DD starts primary school in September but they are black patent. I’ve never owned a pair of patent shoes before but I remember wanting to have some as a young child (yes living vicariously a little here) and I know DD would like them as she likes anything a bit sparkly or jazzy. My question is, to those who have experience of patent shoes and particularly who have bought their children patent shoes, are they likely to scuff super quickly? They have a rubber toe bumper thing on them which would hopefully help them not get worn as quickly. Thanks!

They do, but all kids shoes do.
You can get restorer for them. Mine always had patent, it’s smart.

After buying matt leather for the first pair and them scuffing within days, I always got patent for my DD through primary. Harder wearing IME.

We find patent far better than leather and less likely to scuff. I always try and encourage my girls to pick patent now.

M&S ones are fab btw.

I got patent 'paint' when DDs got their first patent pair (eldest has narrow feet so usually has a choice of one in her size) and in the many pairs since then it has never been needed.

DDs tend to wear through the soles or grow out of them instead.

@Shellfishblastard

We find patent far better than leather and less likely to scuff. I always try and encourage my girls to pick patent now.

M&S ones are fab btw.

This for sure! Always choose patent.

Oh wicked thanks guys! Complete patent novice so had no idea how durable it is! Thanks for your replies! Xx

My DD always had patent when she was small - they just didn't scuff at all, whereas normal leather shoes can be ruined by one go on a swing or scooter, in my experience!

I've always bought my daughter patent shoes for school and they've never scuffed.

As a child I wanted patent but my mum always said no. Being naughty I asked my Grandma who bought me some. My mum said that the reason she never bought me them was because after I broke my leg when I was three it mended wonky and I always bumped my heels together when I walked.

Guess what, I marked them the first time I wore them and the inside at the back was scuffed within a month. As we were a single parent family and money was always tight I wore them until I grew out of them and they were a constant reminder!!!

We only buy patent for school shoes.... proper patent leather, still looks new at the end of the year and is easy to clean with a wet wipe!

Are they the rainbow ones with the little sequins on? They are the ones my daughter has got this year... got to have a bit of bling! :P

Patent clarks are much better in my opinion. They last dd a full school year and still look good. I am lucky that her feet grow slowly.
For reception I got ordinary leather clarks shoes and they were scuffed in a month. The next year they only had patent in her size. I was reluctant and the assistant sold me some restorative polish. Its a bit like clear nail polish.
I never needed to use it and have bought patent shoes ever since.

Patent clarks lasted better than non patent for my very boisterous dd. Lasted better than any other shoes she has had.

My DD has always had Clarks parent shoes and they’ve never scuffed.

The only ones that did were the ones she had when she was 2 and a half and they were fine when handed down to DD2 who promptly used the toes as brakes on her bike. That pair did get scuffed.

Actually she did have one pair that scuffed badly but they were just a cheap pair from Tesco as she outgrew her shoes a couple of weeks before the Summer holidays. They were wrecked within days but the proper patent ones that were more expensive have always lasted well. Her last pair still look new and she had them 2 years she just grew out of them. This years shoes are patent but from a high street store so probably won't last long.

I was never allowed patent as a kid either so I made sure both my girls got them whether they wanted them or not . To be fair I think they are different from when we were little, they seemed much more flexible than I remembered.

I've found patent last as long as any other. Although I now refuse to spend lots on shoes as have a child who must be sneaking miracle gro or something at night, she's growing at a rate my shoe budget can't keep up with. Actually had a pair last term that only lasted 5 weeks before she'd grown out of them!

Patent has always lasted better than plain leather in my experience, and us very easy to clean. You can buy patent restorer which is like shiny black nail polish to paint over any scratches.

We always have patent too!

The trouble we’ve found with patent is that it is stiffer and less forgiving, so the shoes don’t last as long because they get uncomfortably tight much sooner.
My children do have sensory issues with feet though, so that may not be a general problem.

DD is 11, and she's only had one pair of school shoes that were not patent, and they're the ones that scuffed quickly. The patent ones have lasted her a whole year every time and have looked great all year.

Had Clark’s outlet patents the last 3 years and they’ve lasted the whole year each year with no scuffs. Can’t say the same for the non patents I’ve seen.

Definitely go with patent. They don't scuff as easily and usually last the school year (barring any unexpected growing!).

The opposite experience here, the one pair of patent schools I bought for my twins both scuffed badly and they were Dr Martens so not a cheap pair. Every other year of buying leather they lasted right to the end of the school year.

Brilliant thanks everyone! Xx

Agree with everyone else - I was never allowed patent shoes as a kid either as my mum thought they would get ruined quickly. However the opposite is true and they are more hardwearing than regular leather.