What do your preteen sons wear on their feet ?

[LIZS]

ds(12) needs new out-of-school shoes probably in a 3 1/2-4. Junior ranges seem to stop around size 2 and Men's not start until a 7 so where do you look for in betweens !

Previously he's had Timberland or Merrell outdoorsy style trainers bought in sales. Converse don't seem a very weatherproof option and he's not that keen. Don't really want to splash out £35+ as his feet seems to be growing so quickly . Any ideas please ?

If it is for out of school could he wear trainers? Black ones if you want them to look smartish - he could wear the school shoes if anything needed proper shoes.

well for everyday he can surely wear trainers

I have to say I bought DS a pair of Crocs at an agricultural show, and he has worn them to death over the summer, even worn the tread smooth (scootering).

He's not sporty so doesn't like trainers as such except for in-school use ! Looking for more practical than smart.

Mine isn't sporty either, but IMHO trainers are more practical than anything.
Don't ALL lads wear trainers most of the time ??
If you want weatherproof, then go for wellies.

In the past he's had kind of hybrid trainers, like walking shoes. He does climbing etc so likes a fairly rugged sole henc the issue with Converse etc.

Yes, that's kind of the idea but suspect he'd think it a bit young (and certainly his peers would ). Heigh-ho feel a Bluewater trip coming on ...

You have mentioned Timberland & Converse ... forget the fancy brandnames, and get yourself into John Lewis or clarkes boys dept. There are LOADS of shoes for size 3 - 4.

Personally, for wandering about after school, I do tend to see what the supermarket ranges can offer, but I do lots of toe feeling & so on to get a half decent fit.

"Yes, that's kind of the idea but suspect he'd think it a bit young (and certainly his peers would )"

ERM .... My view is "when you are paying for them, you can choose them"

Do 12 year old boys really go about criticising their mates footwear ??

'Fraid so and ds is marked out as "different" already so needs to fit in in an understated sort of way.

Converse here -DS 12 is on his third pair -but he is a size 10 adult !Not really sure what he could wear -Geoxx ?? I have probably spelt that wrong.

My DS wears GEOX leather trainer type also bought him more substantial boots with gortex from an outdoor/country sports shop.He has big feet- costs a bomb- not yet too hung up on style if left to him would wear crocs 24/7.

My tall, wide footed 8 yr old is already in a size 4.
He is still in his Crocs (he gets a new pair at the start of each summer and he wears the soles flat as well Clumsy) and I have not bought any winter boots yet (shoes no good as they get trashed) and am just facing the fact that I will have to fork out for Timberland or Cat so they will cost around the £50 mark .
The last pair of Cats were his main shoes (mainly wears trainers only on PE day in school) and lasted the whole winter and into spring, until Croc season, so didn't mind the initial outlay so much.
Next and Jones the Bootmakers have the junior sizes in these makes. I may check M&S out as well in the spirit of trying to save money...

HTH

PS Am also with Clumsy on the supermarket idea - DS's current trainers from Tesco - £12 IIRC - and fit his wide feet fine (ended up there having wearily trawled various Sports shops for branded ones). They have lasted well too and he is on course to grow out of them before wearing them out.

next do some nice leather boots/shoes?

wish my ds1 (11y) wasn't so style blooming concious! expensive trainer habit already, nike addidas, fred perry, converse more shoes than me soon.

Have you got a TKMaxx anywhere near you? They often have Vans and other skater type shoes for bearable prices.

My 11 year old (and his friends) mostly wear trainers and he is sporty, but don't think you have to be to wear them. At the mo he has Nike Airforce 1's, he also wears keds.
And yes 11/12 year old boys do notice what shoes their friends wear (at least the ones that I know do)

My 10yo wears Vans or DCs, and he has a pair of Nike trainers for kickabouts etc. He is only a size 3, so gets the odd pair handed down from mates! He wouldn't be seen dead in anything from Clarkes, unless they're for school.

DS1 is 10 and wears either Converse, Geox, Merrell or Kickers for weekends.

Personally, IMO trainers are for sport only. If they want casual shoes to wear with their regular weekend clothes then we buy something from the above list.

Bought DS (12) his new size 9 school shoes today - had the choice of children's range at Clarks (Bootleg go up to size 10 apparently) or men's, which ended up cheaper as we found a pair in the sale. I'm sure most children's ranges go up beyond size 2.

But out of school both he and DD (7) choose to wear Converse or Airwalk skate shoes - those seem to come in all sizes from tiny to giant. Practical and comfortable except for really wet weather. We usually get them at places like Sports Direct. Or the outdoorsy type shops (Millets, Mountain Warehouse and so on) often do more rugged trainer or walking shoe-type things.

My Ds1 has already started being aware of brands. I bought him nice school shoes out of next (size 3)and he told his dad he would wear them but his classmates might laugh because a famous football player doesn't wear them He wears trainers most of the time and is desperate for a pair of converse but like you lizs I think they might be a bit too flimsy.

As someone else said, it's my money,
& I dont have a lot of it at the moment.
(might get flamed for this)
But my boys (almost 12 & 9)wear what I can afford to buy them, simple, if they dont like it in my opinion thats tough.

I am however very lucky that neither of them are into football etc, so we dont really have them wanting the brand name stuff.

Saying that,
both of them wear trainers when out of school.

majafa you are lucky DS1 plays for local team and thats where the pressure comes from. I deliberatly don't buy brands but GP's often take him out for the day and he returns with an few expensive pair.