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Original poster

i want to talk about childrens shoes and whether you get what you pay for etc etc

113 replies

nailpolish · 08/12/2006 12:38

i have bought my children shoes of varying prices

dd2 at the moment is wearing shoes bought by mum that cost £45 (she is 2 yrs old) and she also bought dd1 shoes from the same independent posh-and-v-nice-shop that cost £40

dd1 today got a new pair of trainers from Asda. i spent a while trying to see if they fitted correctily, nice leather ones, etc etc, obv. i am not a trained fitter what ever that is

i just cant afford the trainers in the independent or clarks

will my dd's feet be scarred for life

somehow i dotn think so

i wore hand-me-down shoes at times

DISCUSS

OP posts:
Smithagain · 09/12/2006 18:15

I thought F was average, E was narrow and G was wide. DD1 is certainly an E fitting and she has got very narrow feet.

I'd probably go for cheap trainers if they fitted. But as far as I can make out, cheap shoes are invariably F-ish fitting and her feet slide about in them. I've never yet found any that I'd be happy for her to wear for all the running/jumping/playing that the average 4yr old gets up to.

As it is, she lives in her school shoes most of the time and I get used to the idea that they will get trashed.

littlerach · 09/12/2006 18:33

I always boght Carks for dd1 until September when she needed a new pair for school.
She was measured at an 11G, fine, she's usually a G fitting. So the sales assistant brought out 4 pairs that they had. 2 were uncomfortable, 1 was patent leather, and the other slipped when she walked.
So I suggested we try a size smaller, as they seemd too large. No, i wast old, we only fit them to the size that the machine says.
So dd1 walked aroung again, no, they're obviously still too big. But that's what the machine says.
We tried another Clarks store, had the same problem. So I asked the assistant what we should do, given that their shoes do not fir dd1. She winked and suggested the cheap shoe shop 2 doors down. Shoes fit perfgectly, they were half the price, still leather.
I htink that Clarkes to fit them for the money, but if they fir else where, buy 'em!!

foxtrottothefestivegrotto · 09/12/2006 19:00

I get mine from an independent shoe shop that does clarks, startrite, geox, Umi, ecco, kickers etc. Have always gone for clarks because i find the startrite are a bit stiff. But DCs had ecco sandals because when you put them side by side with clarks, they were worth the extra fiver or so for the soft leather lining. And DD has Umi boots for the winter, again they seemed soo much nicer than the clarks for the extra money. DSs have clarks winter shoes because they had good fit and seem to be lasting OK. Agree that the measuring/sizing seems to be a bit hit and miss and a lot depends on the style of shoe.

kateyp · 09/12/2006 19:31

Glad to read all this - I suspect (although have no evidence to back it up) that it is all rubbish.

Last time we went to a Clarks specialist fitter they measured DS's feet and said "yes he has gone up a size" (which I thought he had as although only 2 was telling me his shoes hurt!) but then couldn't bring me ANY shoes that fitted despite bringing me the size she measured him at (and a variety of others!!)

So I went away rather confused and unconvinced about it all.

He is now wearing hand me downs from our next door neighbour which he loves and will actually wear in preference to his wellies. Which is a miracle in itself!

tigermoth · 09/12/2006 19:40

Haven't read the other replies, but I think both clarkes type £40.00 shoes and cheaper off the peg shoes have their place and it's fine for children to wear both sorts if you are happy that they fit.

As children's feet are growing quickly however well they are measured in a shoe shop is just a snapshot of their foot size on that day - a month or two later their feet could be a slightly different width or length. And they will still be wearing the same shoes they had a few weeks ago, until you see or your children tell you that the shoes do not fit any more. So although I am sure correct fitting is important, children's feet will be of varing sizes during the life of the shoe they wear. Unless you buy a new pair every week.

My 7 year son is awful with shoes - he runs around and scuffs them terribly. School uniform rules mean he has to wear black shoes to school. For a couple of years I bought him cheaper off the peg type shoes. They usually lasted just one term or less. This summer I bought him a pair of 'proper' and more expensive clarkes shoes. He has worn them one term and they are still going strong - I expect them to last another term or possibly more. So for school, cheaper shoes have been a false economy.

However, he wears off the peg trainers which seem to last ok and his feet do not look deformed to me.

tigermoth · 09/12/2006 19:44

If you find Clarkes do not have the correct size thats becuase AFAIK they only make limited amounts of shoes (and in a limited style range) for feet that are much narrower or wider than average. I started a thread on this some years ago and if I remember correctly someone who worked at clarkes shoes said that shoes in very wide sizes(my oldest son had wide feet) get sold out almost immediately every season as parents in the know pre-order them.

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 09/12/2006 20:02

dd1 has F width, dd2 is a G fitting, dd3 is a D fitting. i cannot get off the peg shoes to fit dd2+3, so instead of trailing about different shoe shops we tend to stick with clarkes, or john lewis shoes deptpartment.

Troutpout · 09/12/2006 20:32

dd (3) is a slim c fitting with very skinny ankles. Nothing fits in Clarks...in the summer they fitted (and try to sell me) doodles that was nearly falling off her feet and said they were ok as long as i cut off the excess strap because they had to pull it over so much it trailed on the ground!

aving a larf!

Just bought her new boots from independent shoe shop...which cost a bloody fortune (also aving a larf)

ds is bog standard f or g fitting with very average shaped feet so Clarks are ok for him. Also buy Next shoes/sandals and cheap trainers from jjb for him

lackofgravitas · 09/12/2006 21:36

Clarks, and to a lesser extent Startrite, wind me up because they impose such a huge guilt-trip on parents about how we absolutely must have properly fitted shoes for our children - look there are half sizes and width fittings and the rest of it, very important. Then you look at their website, and realise that even if your local store has every single size in stock, you're still down to a very poor choice if your child has anything other than F or G width feet, and completely out of luck if they have C width. Fortunately my daughter seems to alternate between an F and a G, so I do try to make sure she has one pair of 'proper' shoes at a time, but she'll always have a couple of cheaper pairs. Cos these manufacturers will also tell you it's bad to wear the same shoes every day, so obviously we should be buying the kids TWO pairs of £30 or £40 or more shoes at a go! What kind of profit is that, d'you reckon, when they're made in Vietnam and the like?!

yulelog · 09/12/2006 21:38

my ds1 who is 3 has size 29. i pay anyting up to £45 for a pair of shoes. the problem with him is that because of the size of feet i cant get age appropriate shoes very easily and often the german shoes are fine but expensive

AnnieIdeasForAnXmasName · 09/12/2006 21:43

I cheat, I go to Clarks whenever I'm at Mothercare and get DS measured, then say oh I don't like those shoes much, then go on eBay and get a pair or two in the right size secondhand. Cheap and just as good, as I find the kids serving in Clarks know very little anyway. Secondhand shoes are fine, as you know they grow so quickly they hardly get worn much. DS is only 20 months though, I don't know how it will work when he's older.

Mummypumpkin · 09/12/2006 21:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

yulelog · 09/12/2006 21:47

hey might try that annie, ds1 shoes often last just a month both for buying and selling

Mummypumpkin · 09/12/2006 21:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cat64 · 09/12/2006 22:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

wrappingpaperBOwZZAndribbons · 09/12/2006 22:45

I go to kids at clinks because they stock a variety of brands. I used to take DS to Clarks and because he was a H fitting with a high instep they wouldn't have anything to fit. Sometimes he can get a Clarks which is slightly cheaper but often it has to be Startrite - I really think they must do a wider range. He also ends up with Clarks Cica trainers because I can't get the Adidas/Nike/Reebok ones to fit him.

ATM he has:
Blubottle boots (purchased last Jan but checked recently)
Startrite school shoes
Cica trainers
Asda wellies
Clarks slippers
Startrite pumps for PE

DD also has a high foot but fortunately verges between F and G. She currently has:
kickers (but these are getting a bit small)
Umi black patent shoes
Reebok trainers (handmedown but like new)
Cica trainers (ditto and that is why she has two pairs)
Clarks wellies (handmedown from DS)
Clarks slippers (but she also wears these as indoor shoes at nursery so is in them from 8 until 5.30 3 days a week)
Clarks slippers (she also wears

worleywinterwonderland · 10/12/2006 10:10

when my ds1 was 3.5yrs i had gone to a different clarkes in another shopping area, a trainee measured his feets, said he had gone up a size etc and then fitted the new shoes, they were then checked by another qualified kids fitter and agreed the new shoes were fine and fitted well. So i brought them and he wore them straight away, after a few days he kept telling me his feet hurt and couldnt walk properly innhis shoes. i thought he was being a toddler and refusing to walk, after a week or so of this i took him to our local clarkes and they measured his feet and agreed with what size his feet were, however when the lady looked inside the shoes, they were the wrong size and NOT the size he had been measured. i admit it hadnt occured to me that they may have given me the wrong size when 2 people fitted him and agreed they were the right size, you tend to trust them at clarkes when they claim they will only sell you shoes if you need them etc etc blah blah blah!!
i was so angry considering how much they are and my son was born with a club foot , which although has straightened itself out and he didnt need calipers i was fuming that they may have damaged his foot.
on the advise of our local clarkes lady i wrote to the manager of the norwich store and they didnt reply so i wrote to head office who said she would investigate and apologised. i never heard anything else.
i still buy shoes from our local store as he has such wide feet but i check the shoes before we leave now.

worleywinterwonderland · 10/12/2006 10:13

sorry that was long,
but i have to admit the clarkes do last a long time, he only has one pair each term as his feet dont grow to fast (famous last words). he has sandals in the summer and just buy them from any other shop as you can his toes etc then and i can see they arent squashed or anything.

nutcracker · 10/12/2006 10:19

I didn't buy Clarkes for the girls last time as they measured Dd2's feet incorrectly twice and there was nothing in there that Dd1 or I liked.

In the end I got Dd1's from Brantanos and they were crap, started to fall apart after 2 weeks.
Dd2's however were from Mothercare and have been fantastic. They are patent (sp?) ones and she has had them since sept and still no scuff marks or anything.

Dd1 now has a pair from BHS, but i'm not overly keen on those either.

I like Startright shoes but they are just too pricey for me.

binkacat · 10/12/2006 11:13

A paediatrician I know oce told me that having properly fitted kids shoes is important for foot development. Something to do with the underneath of the shoe been properly shaped to support the foot - its more complicated than just getting the right width/length. Oh and he said Startrite were betetr than Clarks, but Clarks were still miles better than supermarket/adams/m&s.

DD gets school shoes from Clarks or Startrites, depending on where I can find some shoes that fit her G width feet. But trainers I get from Brantano. I seem to be able to find wider traienrs on the high st to fit her feet ok.

Bamzooki · 10/12/2006 14:03

Can't really help re proper shoes here, but trainers i do know about. The Cica trainers that Clarks seem to sell are imho heavy inflexible and overpriced. Esp in comparison with the sport brand trainers that the shop i work in sells. New Balance do wider width fit kids trainers that have much more cushioning and support in the soles. Adidas generally are a narrower fit (dd is c/d fit and she manages well with them.) Nike are fairly standard fit, and Reebok are usually more roomy - ie deeper and sl wider. Asics do some very nice and cushioned/supportive childrens trainers too, tho only in one width i think, but all of the above are cheaper than ones i am shown at the clarks shop.
My qu is tho - why am i expected to empty my wallet to get such exp 'school' shoes, then am told the kids need plimsolls to wear indoors - so they spend most of their time in the £3.99 plimies, and a fraction of that in the 'fitted and supportive' Clarks (et al) shoes. Doesn't realy add up to me. Sorry - just my rant....

Boysboysboys · 10/12/2006 19:32

My mum used to wear hand me down shoes as a child and her feet are awful, she had to have her toes broken and reset recently as they are so bad! Therefore, my DS always has his feet measured, and only gets Start Rite or Clarks shoes!

sizzixqueen · 10/12/2006 19:33

DD1 and DD2 both always have either Clarks or Startrite shoes and then any additional (wellies, ballet, trainers) that they don't wear very often are cheapos.

Sorry to throw this in, but one of my friends is a trained Clarks fitter, although now SAHM (which saves dragging the kids to the shop for checking!) and she says it is v important to make sure they fit correctly. As Clarks etc. do half sizes and a choice of widths you can achieve this, but where there is no choice you can't always get a good fitting. DD1 has a high instep and it usually takes a good 7 or 8 pairs before we have found a good fit. The same friend wasn't bought Clarks shoes as a child and says her feet are a bit odd, not sure if that's the shoes or just her .

mamijacacalys · 10/12/2006 20:11

Agree with most others.

DS has had Clarks as his main shoes since he started walking as he has generally G width feet, but soemtimes an F fits if the style of the shoe is 'wide'. He is really hard on his shoes but usually would grow out of them before they got too trashed. However, he is now 4 and just started full-time school (we are in Wales) and he has managed to get a 1cm hole in his right shoe in just 10 weeks, so will have to have new shoes in January (will have to wear trainers til then!). Gah! Was hoping they would last another term as doubt that he has grown much.

We tried a pair of 'cheapy' shoes at the beginning of term in September but they only lasted a fortnight until the stitching came loose so we returned them and bought the aforementioned Clarks pair.

Agree with others that trainers and wellies are fine from Woolies/Mothercare etc, but we normally have to go up a size to allow for the width. He doesn't really wear slippers in the house - just socks or barefoot.

When he was younger, he had a few pairs of lightly worn hand-me down Nike or Adidas trainers from a neighbour's grandson but they were quite narrow imo and only fitted him for a short time if they were a size above what he normally wore. So agree with other comments re sports trainer sizing.

Will look into Startrite and other brands mentioned here as hadn't considered them before.

Agree that whole cost of children's shoes is a huge marketing ply and basically a joke...but wil have to startforking out for 2 when DD starts walking next year .

mamijacacalys · 10/12/2006 20:12

Sorry for long post BTW