School shoes for big feet!

[autumngirl714]

I’m after some recommendations for really good quality school shoes for a boy who has big feet 🙈
Hes going into yr4 but he’s also a size 4/4.5 shoe! Although he’s not diagnosed I suspect he has autistic traits. He struggles with new textures and shoes are a big issue. He wants Velcro but sadly in this size it’s normally laces/the formal high school style. He still runs about and plays and needs something comfy!
I also need them to last because the thought of having to replace them and him have new shoes in a few months stresses me out so much (iykyk!!!).
can anyone recommend a good quality brand that does leather Velcro shoes in size 4 upwards?

Our autistic son is sooooo picky over shoes! He has adidas tensaurs and loves them, they’re so hard wearing too!

I get them off Amazon but sports direct, any sports shop should have them

Startrite was the go to for us (I feel your pain…DS1 is 12 and can still only do bunny ears for laces).

My ASD son has size 10 adult feet and last year Clarks had a pair with velcro, we may have had to order online but they do exist.

An independent shoe shop that sells brands like Petasil or Ricosta will definitely have something.

would replacing laces with elastics work?

would replacing laces with elastics work?

Interesting how things have changed, virtually all the had Velcro fastenings on school shoes up to Yr9 when DS was in school. Sports shoes were a different matter though. Our friends DD who has autism had some special rubber clips that looked like the flat bit of the lace, another friend's son just never undid them. Regarding bunny ears, I've always done mine that way literally just because I prefer it. I can't see it's a problem

I like the idea of the elastic laces, although I don’t think he would feel comfortable with them. I may need to wean them in!

Charles do have one pair with Velcro! He’s not very happy with them though so I was just wanting to see if there are any other reputable places!

https://www.clarks.com/en-gb/daze-step-2-y/26178649-p

goes up to adult size 10 and all widths x

DS has big feet, sensory issues and needed Velcro. We didn't have any problem finding shoes to fit or that fastened with Velcro. All supermarkets and shoe shops did them. We found the biggest challenge to be how hard wearing they were and the best find we made was Rhino shoes. They seemed indestructible.

Yes I agree, they’re in all the supermarkets but I need good quality ones as I know it’ll be a nightmare having to change them every few months !
Thanks for the recommendation about rhino, I’ve just seen some with two straps of Velcro which I might try! 🙂

Geox theleven, riddock (1 strap or 2 strap options), shaylax and winter snake all rip tape all go to adult size 7. They're really hard wearing.
DS is a 1.5 and going into y2 I fully expect him to be a size 4 by year 4!

https://www.shuperb.co.uk/products/riddock-boys-single-strap-school-shoes-black

https://www.shuperb.co.uk/products/j-riddock-boys-leather-touch-fasten-school-shoes-black

They're available in loads of places I got DS' in m&s but superb have 20% off at the moment

Hush puppies Jezza go up to size 6 or possibly a bit bigger. Velcro and very robust. My youngest is a champion shoe destroyer but these survive. He's going in to year 9 in Sept and still wears term.