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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Kickers are rubbish?

17 replies

ZippyLimeSnake · 03/09/2024 21:32

So usually I buy new shoes at the start of every school year unless they’ve been grown out of or desperately need replacing.

Kickers have always been popular even when I was at school 15 years ago. Last year I noticed the quality had really gone downhill, my DS who is 8 couldn’t wear his after a week as the insole kept coming unstuck & kept creasing & due to his sensory needs was just refused to wear them which is fine. I ended up taking them back to Schuh & getting a refund & just ended up wearing trainers, this year I’ve opted for a different shoe for him. DS who is 14 will only wear Kickers now he’s in secondary school. Last year after only 8 months of wear both the front of the soles were coming away, I emailed Kickers who asked me to return them & sent me a new pair & apologised. As this second pair are basically new I haven’t bothered to buy him a new pair, but as I’ve just been cleaning them up I’ve noticed again the sole on one of them coming away, won’t be noticeable as it’s only slight but they’ll probably need to be replaced before xmas & I’m really annoyed. He isn’t into football ect so it’s not like he’s kicking a ball around. They’re £90 a pop. Has anyone else found the quality of Kickers to not be that of how they use to be? All 3 of my children have always had kickers whether it be for school or not & until last year quality was fine.

OP posts:
carrotcard · 03/09/2024 21:33

Stop spending £90 on your kids school shoes that is beyond ridiculous

WhereIsMyLight · 03/09/2024 21:35

I first read it as knickers so was quite interested to see why you disliked underwear so much.

However, kickers have always been crap. I remember having a pair at school and them not lasting, my mum then refusing to buy any more.

Merryoldgoat · 03/09/2024 21:41

My son has Kickers - they cost £45 and he’s 11. This is the 4th year I’ve bought them and each pair has lasted the full school year.

He loves them.

Original poster
ZippyLimeSnake · 03/09/2024 21:43

carrotcard · 03/09/2024 21:33

Stop spending £90 on your kids school shoes that is beyond ridiculous

Thank you for your input but that wasn’t an answer to my question :)

OP posts:
Original poster
ZippyLimeSnake · 03/09/2024 21:44

WhereIsMyLight · 03/09/2024 21:35

I first read it as knickers so was quite interested to see why you disliked underwear so much.

However, kickers have always been crap. I remember having a pair at school and them not lasting, my mum then refusing to buy any more.

You had me double checking I didn’t write knickers 🤣

See I did have them at school & can never remember them falling apart! I am think that perhaps the adults sizes are not made as well as the children’s sizes.

OP posts:
Original poster
ZippyLimeSnake · 03/09/2024 21:47

Merryoldgoat · 03/09/2024 21:41

My son has Kickers - they cost £45 and he’s 11. This is the 4th year I’ve bought them and each pair has lasted the full school year.

He loves them.

It’s made me think that the children’s sizes are made of better quality than the adults. As my other 2 younger children have never had the soles come away & they are feet draggers especially my 3 year old. But both of the pairs my eldest has had have been adult sizes as he is a size 9/10.

OP posts:
Smurf1993 · 03/09/2024 21:48

I also read it as knickers initially and came here to agree. It's so hard to find comfy knickers 😂

grlpwer · 04/09/2024 00:03

You could be right about the child vs adult. My younger children are still in the infant sizes and I find them to be really hard wearing.

thescentoflillies · 04/09/2024 00:33

My son loved them and had several pairs for school, but they were very different from the ones I used to wear. The leather is horrible and hard, and not at all watertight, so would get soaked if it rained. And we found that the soles always came away from the uppers! But I found Shoe Goo (about £15 from Amazon) worked brilliantly, and fixed the problem permanently (unlike the repair at the cobblers that cost a tenner and only lasted a fortnight).

Original poster
ZippyLimeSnake · 04/09/2024 10:21

thescentoflillies · 04/09/2024 00:33

My son loved them and had several pairs for school, but they were very different from the ones I used to wear. The leather is horrible and hard, and not at all watertight, so would get soaked if it rained. And we found that the soles always came away from the uppers! But I found Shoe Goo (about £15 from Amazon) worked brilliantly, and fixed the problem permanently (unlike the repair at the cobblers that cost a tenner and only lasted a fortnight).

I actually have ordered some of this! So I’m glad to hear it’s long lasting. I do agree that the leather seems to be totally different to what it use to be. The last pair I bought I thought I had accidentally bought the vegan pair. Always having to replace the laces as well 🫠

OP posts:
Original poster
ZippyLimeSnake · 04/09/2024 10:22

Smurf1993 · 03/09/2024 21:48

I also read it as knickers initially and came here to agree. It's so hard to find comfy knickers 😂

🤣🤣🤣

OP posts:
Mum2GirlSs · 04/09/2024 10:27

My daughters did the same!

The insoles came out & then the bottom part came away from the shoe - they replaced them (she'd only worn them for 3 weeks)

And again the same thing has happened with the replacement pair - I've emailed them again and they're currently going through the "investigation team" but it's looking like either a replacement or a new pair from them.

This year we've gone for Doc Martins instead

Clutterbugsmum · 04/09/2024 10:39

I always bought my son Kickers for my son he's now in Yr 11. Last year I bought him a pair of Next shoes which lasted from September to after May half term when I bought a pair of Kickers for him within 2 weeks the sole started to peel of in layers.
I've bought another pair of Next shoes for this year, as even if we have to buy 2 pairs it will still be cheaper then buying a pair of Kickers.

DebateWithMoi · 04/09/2024 10:49

I voted yabu because I live in Kickers and they never do this for me, is it a particular style that's gone this way? Might be that rather than Kickers themselves.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 04/09/2024 10:52

I always buy my son Kickers and they always last the full year.

One year I bought a pair from Next instead and they didn't even last a term.

My son is only 8 and a size 11, so maybe smaller sizes are better.

Original poster
ZippyLimeSnake · 04/09/2024 11:03

DebateWithMoi · 04/09/2024 10:49

I voted yabu because I live in Kickers and they never do this for me, is it a particular style that's gone this way? Might be that rather than Kickers themselves.

It’s just the plain black lace up boots. His primary school allowed trainers so he’s only been wearing them since year 7, but that first pair lasted the whole school year but can’t for the life of me remember what size he had. He’s now a size 9/10 & the pair I bought & the pair they sent as a replace haven’t had half as much life in them.

OP posts:
Clutterbugsmum · 04/09/2024 11:35

DebateWithMoi · 04/09/2024 10:49

I voted yabu because I live in Kickers and they never do this for me, is it a particular style that's gone this way? Might be that rather than Kickers themselves.

Last year we bought slip on shoes which the sole peeled off in layers within 2/3 weeks.

Previously we also bought the lace up boot, due to hyper mobility and these lasted the year (if feet didn't grow).

We also bought the lace up shoes for my daughter and these were okay.

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