To think Clarks really are the best school shoes?

[Boxofbics]

Have always used Clarks shoes for school but with all the prices of everything creeping up I am wondering if other school shoes are just as good?

Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco have decent shoes for less than £20 while Clarks are close to £50.

Thoughts?
Thanks.

I don’t think Clark’s are any better than supermarkets really, but I do think the lot of them are worse than the expensive brands. Stiffer, narrower toed, less well-made. I don’t know what I’ll do, can’t afford £50 a pair but I hate putting my kids in shoes that look so uncomfortable.

I know people on here can be scathing about clarks but my reception boy's pair have lasted in good nick all year, typical 5 year old boy who is not at all careful with them and they have plenty of life left in them.

We'll get another pair for next year.

My daughter’s Clarks shoes have just about lasted a term. I’ve been quite disappointed. We’ve had M&S ones that have done pretty well.

My dds school allows plain black trainers. I bought her a pair of slazenger trainers. I was amazed they lasted the whole school year. I've never had that before!

My Ds is a teen and wears kangol Harrow black lace up shoes. They cost me about £40 and are pretty good.

Everyone on Mumsnet hates Clark’s but we find them really good. I also like to get feet properly measured. We do buy M&S school shoes as well but need to be certain of the size

I get Clark's outlet which are around £25. I like the fact they do a proper measurement and they are good quality. I remember when dd got older and wanted new look shoes they would only last a few weeks

DS had startrite and they were so much better than Clark’s. Usually lasted the whole school yr unless he grew out of them. Also went to very outdoors school where playground football was the norm.

Sainsbury's toezone shoes were pretty good too

My kids haven't worn them for 2 years now, but the 13 year period they wore them they lasted well.

Clarke’s outlet over here. I like having him
measured and knowing they fit. I wouldn’t pay more than £30 a pair though.
Anything that’s not worn for a long time like PE trainers etc, are supermarket

Startrite for two skinny feet sons. Wide foot son ended up in Doc Martin's at secondary level he trashed every else

They’re the only school shoes I can get a whole school year out of. Same for the trainers. I got my dc trainers from Sainsbury and within a month they were absolutely battered. I then got some trainers from the Clarks outlet store and they’ve lasted brilliantly.

My son has super wide feet and you just dont get the range of widths with supermarket shoes. Clarks last really well too.

The quality has gone really downhill in the last few years. When my DS first started school his Clarks shoes would last him a year. We had no money but I prioritised buying them as I thought they were good quality and better for his feet.

Nowadays though, I've stopped buying Clarks shoes for both DS and DD, as they started going through them in just a few weeks. I find M&S ones to be just as good yet half the price. Also, plain black Sketchers have been good.

My son has an in step and the physio told us to buy Clarks

Clarks are not worth the price tag imo, but startrite are.

YABU. Clarks are poor quality for the price. If spending that much I'd prefer to get a brand like Geox, Start-Rite etc. Also there is a website called Happy Little Soles with an early discount on school shoes atm, they are not cheap but quality brands.

Ive never bought anything else due to their durability but lost one and in emergency bought a pair from asda for i think £12 and theyre bulletproof
Definitely reconsidering for next years shoes

Yanbu, I've always used Clarks, their shoes last a year until outgrown ime.

We go to an independent children's shoe shop where they stock e.g. Lurchi, Froddo, Ricosta, Geox, Superfit etc. The shoes are indestructible and we've never had any issues with them. I'm not convinced about the quality of Clarks and our local store never has anything in stock.

My dc have just finished Y8 and Y5 - I've bought a lot of school shoes in my time! Gave up on Clark's 6 or 7 years ago, they never lasted more than a term or so; just not quality enough to justify the price.

M&S shoes on the other hand last really well and are 2/3 the price. Sadly DS is now an adult size 13, and we get him whatever fits.

I bought Clark's the first year, then never again. If I was spending that much money I wanted something more decent. I've bought doc marten shoes for my DD ever since, she's in year 9!

My DD has mostly had Clarks shoes over the years and historically needed a new pair after Easter due to growth, the shoes were still in good condition at that stage.

One year she desperately wanted lace up brogues and the only place that had her size was M&S. They were fine, but didn't last as well as Clarks.

She's back in Clarks and this pair have lasted her two full academic years. I am astounded they still fit but she tells me they are comfortable and she definitely would complain if they weren't!

We will get her measured again this summer and almost certainly get a new pair. In our experience they are very good quality and suit her feet so I'm happy.

Never got on with Clarkes shoes. For the price I expect them to last a year. They don’t.

I prefer Matalan. They do some very nice formal shoes and they last.

This
My 8 year olds ones from Asda are still in great condition.