Should I be panicking about school shoes?

[Poocatcherchampion]

Our requirements are slightly non standard as she has wide deep feet that don't work with a lot of Mary Jane styles and I am very reluctant to get super structured rigid styles like Clark's and startrite offer.

Lots of my favoured barefoot brands are sold out in her size -eu26.

I'm going to the supermarkets tomorrow.

If you had this sort of footshape to dress and don't believe in the Clark's/startrite marketing what did you get?

Obviously heels and other totally insubstantial shoes are out of the question.
She is 4.

[Rattusn]

I could never pass on shoes either as my oldest wears her shoes down incredibly quickly. Something to do with the fact that she scoots over 10 miles per week, and uses her foot as the break..

[MirrorMirrorOnTheFloor]

I can't pass them down either - one has wide feet and the other has narrow with a high instep. My local charity shop does very well out of my grown out of kids shoes.

[OSETmum]

The 'crunchy' (see, I learned a new word from that thread!) at our school all wear those Vivo barefoot shoes. I didn't know what they were called but I recognise the sole. They do more 'girly' styles too.

They do look very comfy and long lasting, they seem to be able to pass them down through siblings.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

Rattusn If you buy barefoot shoes, there's no moulding to happen, it's just the structured shoe which that happens with.

[Rattusn]

You pass school shoes onto siblings?

It's generally not a good idea as the shoes will be moulded around the first child's foot.

[MirrorMirrorOnTheFloor]

Happy Little Soles is working again (ordered from them on Wednesday and got the shoes today).

[avocadosweet]

There's a pair of black Mary Jane Vivos size 26 on Barefoot shoes UK Facebook selling group for £18 (Not my shoes!).

[catkind]

It was rooty DS had, problem was the Velcro straps got worn away/broken with all the crawling around. But he had the same problem with startrite too, so I think just a combination of DS and reception, he's been fine from year 1. Most shoes aren't designed with heavy wear on top in mind!

[sirfredfredgeorge]

catkind the Neo's survived a year of reception, worn all day in class room and playtimes and after school in playground often. Active kid climbing lots, sandpit in the school, no problems. Were you with the more feminine versions? DD was very happy with the neos, also think the light weight and running form helped at playtime as she was faster than she would've been for any chase game ;) More playground Kudos!

[catkind]

Vivos do some school styles if those generally fit her; there are currently some in stock on their own website. When DS started school he rejected everything clarks had to offer as uncomfortable but he liked vivos.

They didn't last well in reception, but nor did the start rite we replaced them with, DS apparently spent all of reception crawling around the classroom floor so tough soles was no help at all, his shoes went on top.

I did get put off happy little soles a little when they were snooty about crocs - I tried bending crocs and the shoes we had at the time from HLS and found the crocs more flexible! But they are always very helpful so hopefully will sort you if their website is back up again.

[GreenGoth89]

Went to a local independent shop and got pestil shoes which were expensive but fit like a dream.

[microscope]

Where do you live? Anywhere near NW London? Brians in NW11 and Stanmore is a great independent kids shoe shop

[MirrorMirrorOnTheFloor]

I find they last as long as they fit - certainly I've had a year out of Pediped and Vivobarefoot school shoes.

[Propertyquandry]

Jasper, that sounds just like the boys school shoes I normally buy. They don't have that heavy clunky rubber on the soles. They are super light and can be bent right back on themselves. Startrite tend to do both styles although the light bendy ones are about £50. I actually find they wear better than the heavy rubber soles.

[Poocatcherchampion]

They currently wear this style of shoe 24/7 and I pass them down to siblings, normally bought second hand in the first place.

Protection and durability are covered.

Neos look good thanks.

[JasperDamerel]

Unstructured basically means ultra flexible, so the shoe will flex with the foot. They are generally at least as sturdy and grippy as hard shoes. The soles tend to be made of bendy rubber rather than rigid rubber, and the uppers are bendy leather rather than rigid leather. When my DC had them, I found they tended to last at least as long as Clarks shoes.

[leccybill]

You do need some durability though. They will be worn in all weathers, for walking, running, climbing, kicking, digging and more.
I think structure is no bad thing here.

[Propertyquandry]

Thanks. If the child's foot moves around rather than being held in place, does it not risk blisters? So the Ecco shoes that my Ds loved that were exceptionally soft and comfy were actually bad for his feet? I'll need to rethink maybe.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

structured - where the shoe is designed to control the foot.
unstructured - where the shoe is designed to cover the foot.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

www.vivobarefoot.com/uk/kids/neo-leather-black-kids?colour=Black

26, in stock, awesome shoes. not cheap.

[Propertyquandry]

I googled livie and luca and I can't see how they are more unstructured that startrite, Ecco or geox?

[Propertyquandry]

Both Ecco and geox do very soft leather school schools. But then my son also had a pair last year from startrite which weighed about as much as a 10p coin. Incredibly light, very bendy and again, one very soft piece of leather across the front.

But I'm still confused because I would describe any of those shoes as unstructured. Unstructured in my head is materials such as latex or spandex or Lycra. (I know they're not technically materials) leather to me is a structured material so I'm still a bit confused as to what is is you are looking for.

• The above sounds harsh when I mean it genuinely. I'm curious as to what defines structured/unstructured.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

well personally I don't like Clarks because they don't last, I do however like Start rite - I expect you won't get people on here saying you should get them because you said right at the start that wasn't what you were looking for.

I have just googled the makes you do like as they aren't ones I am familiar with. For really soft leather shoes I would agree with the suggestions of Ecco or Geox, they are soft and often quite padded round the heel.

We always go to an independent shoe shop near us, much better service, more knowledgeable and a better mixed range of shoes available.

[Poocatcherchampion]

That is what I am looking for pants - any idea what they were? Amazon is proving a black hole

Mirror - happy little soles is my retailer of choice but their website has been down all day hence my panic. i thought it was a rush on shoes! But it was a glitch apparently