Girls school shoes that will last!

[beigetea]

I am on the hunt for a pair of hard wearing school shoes for a 6 year old who likes to scuff shoes..

We have tried:
Clarks
Matalan
Next
Asda
Sainsbury's
Lidl

The best so far have been Lidl! They have lasted since September but are now scuffing at the front and you can only get these at certain times.

So please let me know where to get hard wearing school shoes!

Should add she is a size 1.5/ 2 so fairly large feet!

Kickers

Just buy unisex styles? Startrite were good. Do you mean they are getting holes from scuffing?

Startrite. I find the patent styles last the best.

We had good experiences with Startrite too.

Start rite shoes have never had a problem.

She is quite particular about what she will / won't wear.

Will check out startrite

Startrite was the best for my oldest who always seemed to do toes of shoes in quickly, but not with startrite. They don't seem to have the exact shoe I bought several times anymore but it was something like this: https://www.startriteshoes.com/products/origin-black-leather-boys-riptape-school-shoes?_gl=157aewq_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8pKxBhD_ARIsAPrG45lehLU-8pZCJFwRxcZgZnKBIOKN_lodGVVxoQiggrjhhyve_n9r6REaAm2VEALw_wcB

I think what we bought was slightly 'girlier', I was so sick of most shoe options being wide open and not suitable for walking to school in winter/rain, seems a shame they don't do that anymore.

I feel your pain!! 6 year old daughter here too. Went through 4 pairs in 6 months!! 🤯

I spent a little extra and got Hush Puppies in September, they are still going!! A little scuffed but nothing compared to before.

What do you polish them with?

I bought Doc Martens for my daughter when she was about that size as she was going through lots of shoes which just weren’t lasting. They lasted right through from Autumn term and were comfortable and sturdy. At the time they weren’t much more than Clarks and were worth it in my opinion. The only problem is that they only go up to 3 or 4 in kids shoes and then it jumps to adult range and more or less triple in price.

Strat Rite Angry Angels range for older girls also have good sturdy shoes which seem to last.

Treads (online only but have a measuring guide) or marks and spencer

Clarks were rubbish in my experience. No idea what the big fuss is about them.

So many girls school shoes are silly dainty little mary-jane things, not really designed for them to tear around being active or keep their feet dry in the rain.

I've always gone for the sturdier sole styles - Doc Marten, Kickers, Lelli Kelly (they have some dainty ones as well as proper shoes). They've lasted well for my DD.

M&S, especially "boys" shoes.

DMs lasted a term !

If you avoid strappy girlie shoes and buy sensible ones they will last find. Girls shoes are totally rubbish.

My dad wears shoes like this and they are indestructible

www.clarks.com/en-gb/lorcam-edge-youth/26178303-p

DD not dad.

Geox do some hard wearing unisex black school trainers if allowed. I’ve had multiple pairs and they are grown out of every time rather than falling apart. The ones where the sole covers the toes stops scuffing.

Whilst the "boy" shoes last longer the fit can be a challenge. They tend to run broad which can lead to friction burns in the side of a child's foot. Make sure you get them fitted.

When I say scuffed I mean to the point of breaking through the leather!

She won't wear shoes that aren't "girly".

I'm leaning towards kickers so will have a look.

If I could get the ones from Lidl again I would as they have lasted so well considering they were £9.99 for real leather!

Boys can have narrow feet, is there really a difference in primary aged children? DS measured a D, ignored that and bought an E as there was more choice!

She won't wear shoes that aren't "girly".

Can she describe 'girly'? Girls and women wear trainers and lace up shoes all the time.

I always recommend M&S. my children have yet to wear a pair out yet.

Always patent as they scuff less than leather. This year DD2 wanted 'chunky' shoes, and the ones that met her very stringent requirements were cheapos from Tesco. They haven't a mark on them! She normally destroys her shoes in days, but these have lasted amazingly well, all year. The velcro is now starting to fluff, but there's no real scuffs

Ones that lasted longest here were Aldi, beat Clarkes/Next/Asda