Doodles

[littlemummyfoofoo]

OK so I have always thought Clarks shoes were great - my LO has had only Clarks since he could walk at 9 months - nice leather shoes.

I have just been to Clarks with my 2 year old and he tried on Doodles.
OMG they seem to have no support. I compared the back of the shoe to other shoes and they aren't very high. When he walks in them his whole foot slaps the floor.
Previously, I bought a cheap pair of Tesco canvas (£5) shoes for our holiday and honestly when I compared them I could see no physical difference in the design. (we used them for short spells on the beach but yes they made him walk the same way as the doodles but as it was sandy he ended up in mostly bare feet or normal shoes)

Even the inner soles are made of what seems to be the same material - the shape and thickness is the same and both soles are flat with a simple design on the bottom. Inside there is no pronounced inner sole - to give support to the arch - well no more than tesco ..

I've looked at reviews online and people say they buy them for the wide fitting and they are 'amazing' but I can't see it - now this maybe controversial but I also read that Clarks are sized bigger than say Startrite -which means their actual shoe sounds bigger but is the same size as a half size smaller at SR ?? So to buy for the width then becomes a nonsense as then a 'g' fitting in Clarks would just be a different fitting elsewhere.. if you have access to another store..

I also understand the shoes are tested...but how and are the tests relevant.. support etc. My lad has a high instep like soooo many toddlers which will probably change as he gets older.

Am I crazy? Really, someone please tell me
what I am missing that's £18 different (besides branding) and specifically why I should buy Clarks - for canvas shoes?
I can see the difference in normal shoes!

thanks!!

I hate doodles, always have. They just don't look nice.

Don't rate Clark's generally tbh.

Get the cheaper ones, there's honestly no difference.

The whole thing about fitting children's shoes and buying certain expensive brands because of the fit is a bit of a con. Obviously children shouldn't be in shoes which are too small and squash their feet, or shoes so big they're using their toe grip to keep them on, but it doesn't take more than a bit of common sense to work out what fits and what doesn't.

Plenty of other countries don't have the whole shoe fitting/Clarks thing going on, and they're not full of adults limping around due to foot deformities caused by wearing the wrong kind of shoe.

a very good point... BFB..

I've always fired my children's shoes myself. I get them measured so I've got an idea and then I do all the pressing and looking etc. It's certainly not rocket science