Boys black school shoes that can take a beating - suggestions please

[lynniep]

Right - I know this topic has been done to death and theres been plenty of Clarks bashing (which I have been involved in) but has anyone actually found a pair of indestructable school shoes?

I am thinking I need to switch now to trying 'hard' leather, because anything less doesnt work. It has to be real leather, not the coated sh*t. I prefer to have velcro because I cannot face doing up laces with a stroppy 5 year old. It has to be a shoe not a boot.

He has been through at least 5 pairs since he started reception. I have complained to Amazon about the last pair I bought (Herbies by Toughees) because they are falling to bits, having being bought mid-May (and not worn over the summer) and they have agreed to refund since Toughees wont reply to my complaint.

He destroyed the cheapo pair from Mothercare in 3 days. The Clarks (the ones with the toy in the sole) lasted a few months. The first Clarks pair I had to return and complain because they lasted two weeks. The Next ones - again rubbish.

I am prepared to pay more (and by that I still don't mean more than 45 quid), but not if they are going to fall apart. So thinking - Startrite - how are they? And Kickers - any recommendations there? Maybe Geox?

Oh, I forgot to say - he has been measured (in Clarks!) as a 13H, so wide fitting.

Many boys at DS's school wear Kickers and they seem to hold out very well.

What's he doing to them??!

My ds has been wearing a pair of Next velcro leather trainer/shoes since the beginning of the summer term (and a fair bit during the summer hols) and they're holding up fine.

But otherwise we had really good wear from a 'posh' hard leather pair (spanish brand, I think) that we got from a proper independant childrens' shoe shop. Can you get to one of those?

DD had a pair of Geox trainers last year that lasted well, but I don't know if they'll stand up to whatever your dh is putting them through!

We are trying Clarks this yr as the boys wanted flashing lights!!!

But last years kickers lasted all year & my boys are not exactly delicate at playtime!!!!

these look like they might be quite soft, but they are rock solid and totally indestructable.

Ds (8) has some Kickers this year that I found in TK Maxx they have a big rubber bumper on the front and seem to be very solid, still look brand new bar the odd scuff.

thanks for responses. I won't buy him anything with prominent 'stitching' any more, as that is where most of the problem lies - holes appear - I don't know what he does - I can't get a straight answer from him - but I suspect he 'drags' them when he's sitting at a desk. He manages to dislodge the rubber protectors from the toes too.
I'm going to try three pairs from javari (primigi, petasil and green cross). Also some kickers from sarenza. They are all free delivery and returns and I have a friend who is a trained fitter so I shall get her round!

oh - ignore what I just said - kickers discount available! so I bought them from the kickers site using septsavevc and also vcseptsave and got free delivery and 12% off plus its free returns!

My boys are in startrite - ds's from last year and still in really good condition and other parent's (and the guy in the shop) agreed they will be good enough to hand down with ds2 grows into them. They were £40 though, and I needed 2 pairs .

My boys must be angels (doubt that!) Now age 9 &11 they have always had Clarks and I can honestly say I have never had to replace a pair before they outgrew them. They have one pair of shoes (each) and when they were young they were the only ones they had. Now they have shoes, plus trainers so they get plenty of abuse wear, really never had any issues at all

My DC wear Kickers. They are pretty sturdy, though DS seems to have started walking strangely and wearing the heel down in a strange way. I am hoping the cobbler might be able to do something about it!

Geox are incredibly hard wearing and do an all black school shoe. I think the key is a style that has a rubber toe that covers the scuff zone. Also on the fitflop website their are some boys black school shoes with good toe coverage reduced to about £20.

DS goes to an indipendant shoe shop to be fitted...last year his school shoes lasted him all year so well worth the £50. He would have ripped through cheaper ones so they would have been false economy. This year we got him these
uk.geox.com/product/Atlante-sneakers_177074.uts from the same shop. He get sweaty feet and these so far, are working and don't smell. Also the extra bit protecting the toe is brilliant as he runs around like a ....well a kid!these are not even scuffed yet.

I think the key is a style that has a rubber toe that covers the scuff zone

^^ this. We have some Startrite trainer-shoe hybrids with the requisite scuff bumper, and they're pretty tough.

ooh I really love those fitflops. I may have to just try those as well...(boy my credit card is taking a hammering - but I've put the javari order on hold until I get the kickers and see what they're like)

I am wary of scuff bumpers, because he's managed to peel one off before...but for the fitflops I may make an allowance (because I want a pair of sandals for next year and I'll get free delivery if I buy a pair for both of us - you say?? Noooo....)

My ds destroys shoes, always worn out before grown out.

But last years clarks shoes lasted and lasted until he outgrew them. They are bigger sizes though, so may be more indestructable than smaller sizes (he is now adult size 7, aged 9)

They were clarks bootleg, laces. They have a rubber covering on the toe. I never buy anything with stiching, the moccasin type tops aren't designed to play football

For the first time he actually also ahs a pair of trainers that haven't fallen to pieces within 2 months (have taken numerous pairs back as not fit for purpose - lasted less than a month, he only wears them out of school) I think we might be having more success because he has grown out of children's shoes.

Kickers are fab if they are hard on their shoes, that sticky out sole stops them wrecking them.

DS has some black Timberland school shoes from John Lewis, they are doing well so far and are wide so are good for DS and his boat feet. He actually likes them too which is a first and a bonus!

Garvalin have been mentioned as a very tough brand. Do doc martins come in his size?

I have ordered him these and these to try. Should arrive some time this week...I will report back on which I decide to keep and how they hold up against whatever it is he does to wreck them!

I'd be very wary of velcro kickers. We had some and the velcro jsut was awful, within a fortnight they wouldn't stay done up. We ended up having to replace them very soon after as the boys had to do them up every two minutes. DS1 had laced kickers, and the leather and the soles was thin and flimsy and he wore them out playing football.

We've had clarks, with the rubber toes and they did last a year, though got very scruffy and we had to superglue the rubber on dt1's where it came apart and made a hole.

This year we are on start rite and the quality is just so much better than clarks! The leather is really thick and strong and the soles are thick and well made. The boys found them a bit odd to wear at first, and dt1 did get blisters the first time, because it is proper thick leather and it rubbed a bit, but it soon softened and they are absolutely fine now. Dt2 has been playing football and lightly scuffing them, but there is no way on earth he is going to go through it, it must be about 6mm thick at least.

I have always bought Clarks for my ds. I go to an outlet and they are approx £24 a pair. They have a certain style with a thick rim round the toe and they last the entire school year. He also has really slow growing feet!

This year he wanted to go elsewhere so I got some from next. They lasted 8 school days. The toe became unglued. I took them back. We went to Clarks and got the same pair as last year.

DS1's GEOX shoes seem to take a battering and live to tell the tale...

Just as a followup (as I'm on a shoe hunt again) we kept the kickers. He has now killed them. There are holes on the where the ball of his foot is on the shoes right through to the soles. They look atrocious and are beyond saving. The velcro still works though. I am trying to get through the next 6 weeks - if it doesn't rain too much (?!) he'll cope. They have lasted longer than any of the other shoes he has tried. I think

The fitflops didn't look like they would cope at all with his battering, however although I sent his back, I later bought some for DS2 to stash for school as he doesn't destroy his footwear so much.

Geox ones last the year for us - but they don't come in width fittings and are standard width so may be a non starter for you I'm afraid.