Boys school shoes

[readingmakesmehappy]

I bought DS's school shoes from Clark's because that's where my mum bought my school shoes and I thought they'd be hard wearing. But he is now on his third pair since starting Reception in September!

Where else should I look for boys school shoes that won't break the bank given he is growing like a weed and seems to need new ones every half term?

He is an active kid who never stops moving in the playground so they need to withstand a lot of climbing/jumping.

Thank you!

I find the TU ones quite good - about £18, and last time bought from next. M & S can also be good.

We always use Geox - more expensive, but last longer and needed less polishing. Ebay sometimes has good deals on new geox along with Amazon.

Watching with interest! I literally just bought my son (in reception as well) his second pair.
First pair was from Adidas and they are actually still ok, but they smell SO bad I had to replace them. I tried several type of special shoe sprays, Febreeze, baking soda, essential oils, letting them in the sun.....nothing worked!
I decided to try a pair of Clark shoes with mesh on top, so the moisture hopefully will escape and not cause that bad smell. If no good, I will try Geox.
I just wish he could go in black trainers (that I can easily put in the wash and they come back like new!).

Clarks are shit. Startrite are v good. And invest in their measuring gauge and no need to do the back to school shoe shop ever again!

Are they falling apart that quickly? I have second hand chelsea boots on a reception boy and they are scuffed but still good. My teen had startrite in secondary and they lasted a couple of years when not outgrown, though of course he wasn't running about in them the same.

Have you tried Clarks Outlet - you can get last season's shoes much cheaper than the current ones, I often get DS two pairs for cheaper than one pair in the shop.

I also get DS shoes from Next and they last until he goes up a size.

My boys aren't particularly hard on their shoes, no football or anything, but I've been really impressed with the Treadz ones they had last year. They come with a removable insole that you can take out when they're getting small, and get some extra time on them. Lasted all year. This year's Hush Puppies (from Deichmann) are still going but don't look as good as the Treadz did.

ToeZone from Next or Sainsbury's are the best shoes for kids. So hard-wearing, I didn't need to replace my daughters for the whole school year last year, and my 4 year old are in perfect condition still this year.

Clarks shoes are overpriced and terrible quality.

Start Rite or Geox are much more hard wearing. We used to get a year out of a pair.

fhwt.app.link/2yPVfczIvHb

Next have a huge range. I try to avoid anything that has a seam or stitching around the toes as we've had a few unthread! So we try to buy something like the attached. Not the prettiest but a bit more robust we still wear a hole in the toes by the end of each term though!

We’ve always used adidas tensaur when younger , now Nike… they last year- even with tons of football!
https://www.next.co.uk/style/ST019691/M89336?dp=a&dndl=1&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADm_5UWHSnMu8pjUgVSza024c25Uz&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_uvJ-dHJhAMVHJRQBh1wBwklEAQYAiABEgLLE_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#M89336

the smell I would suspect is that they got wet?

Sorry that link doesn't work!

YES! Adidas Tensaur are also really good if they’re allowed! And super reasonable. Sadly at our school they can only get away with them in the nursery then they need more formal black shoes hence moving on to Startrite but I still get them in white for Sports as they really last, and whatever their made of (plastic??) is basically waterproof. Never had them go smelly.

I can recommend Adidas Tensaur black school shoes, around £23 and last ages! Both my boy outgrow them and they are still in good nick!

We've had m&s ones that were good last year. This year we have bgreater shoes which are barefoot friendly. They are great, my kids love them, still look good as new after a clean (bought in September) and ds2 will pick to wear them at the weekend because he finds them so comfy! Got their measure too so they are easy to check fit.

m&s and you have to learn to just cope with then looking shit all the time.

Do people care after the first week? They are just for school.

I like the Toezone ones from sainsburys too. Currently got some from M&S which are good. I will only buy Clarks if they are heavily reduced. My daughter has some raheem sterling patent boots which were about £17 and are lasting well!

Ricosta John are bomb proof, they are expensive but last a while year unless they grow out of them. I've kept my older sons pairs (worn for a year each) for emergencies for my younger son.

Every time I've bought something else I've ended up buying 3-4 pairs over the school year and spending loads more money overall.

It's not the shoes but the speed he's growing at!

How strict are the school? My big win has been the black leather Nike trainers from Sports Direct. Not super cheap but on a par with Clark’s. They pretty much look like school shoes unless you lol v carefully. Amazing for kids who run around all break and lunchtime. Football proof!!

The hard-wearing bit made me think they were worn out, judging by other responses on this thread it seems others thought that's what you were after too.

Is he going up a whole size or only a half size? If it's a half then just buy half a size bigger than you need, there's not much in it and you can use an insole if they slip a bit. If it's a whole size, such as 10 to 11 to 12 then it's likely just a growth spurt and he should slow down for a while now.