The great hunt for school shoes

[mamatomany]

Do you buy Clarks or Startrite and have them fitted.
Get them measured and then buy from M&S, Mothercare, etc
Buy from an independent shoe ?
Last year I bought all three of the tiddlypeeps European designer shoes with varying success, the 9 year olds are still looking good and may fit too, the younger ones shoes were in the bin by Christmas.

Both of mine wear kickers - they are sturdy, hard wearing and can be poliched time and time again - Clarks and Startrite are complete rubbish IMO and no cheaper or more expensive than Kickers which stay looking smart for much longer and do not fall apart or look dull and old so quickly as c & S'Rite shoes.

I but one the web or get ILs to go to shop in Blackheathand grab the next size up when they are about and when the kids grow out of the size that fits them they have the next size ready!

DD has these, DS has these www.kickers.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_3_302_92092_-1_38904_38351, they both go up to quite biug sizes in the junior range I think.

I have 2 boys, 12 & 10 and I've tried all the options over the years, we now stick with Ricosta, measured/fitted from an independent shop, they are £55 but last a whole year or more and that's with playing football every lunchtime and walking to and from school. They are beautifully made with soft leather linings. I think you get what you pay for in general.

We seem to be onto a winner with hush puppies for DD, they've lasted a whole school year (with clarks and start-rite only generally lasting a couple of terms). Kicker may be an option but not sure how wide they are as DD and DS (who will be going to school next year) are a G width, anyone know whether they are wider or narrower than average?

Ricosta and Hush Puppies will both last longer because of their leather linings. They have a better quality upper too as well as more internal cushioning and support.

The odd style of HP's will have textile linings but even so they are superior quality to both Clarks and Startrite.

If you get two terms out of a pair of school shoes that is average wear that you should expect.

Ricosta are definitely the best on the market for surviving wear and tear and the general punishment that children give their school shoes. That is why you will pay £50+ for them though but they are exceptionally well made.