Not exactly style OR beauty: boys school shoes that LAST?

[NumptyMum]

I'm in Scotland so we're gearing up to the new school term again (!) and I've got to get new shoes for DS. Being only 6, and being DS, his shoes get a LOT of use/wear & tear... Please could people recommend good, sturdy brands of shoes? Or am I better to get cheaper and replace them quicker? We got his shoes at M&S last year but I've just been onto their site and the reviews weren't great. Must be velcro/easy fastening, he can't do laces.

Thanks in advance!

[itsnothingoriginal]

More expensive Clarks styles are fine - like the 'Air' range they do. The bog standard ones and the ones with toys in etc don't last for active boys!! Clarks can be difficult about returns too..

Startrite are the best I've bought. Expensive but worth the money although I've never tried Geox so this has been useful thread as I'll look for those when I next need school shoes for DS!

[cressetmama]

Would add my vote for Timberland shoes. DS has had the most recent pair for almost a full school year (having destroyed and outgrown a pair of something cheaper in six weeks!) They are expensive especially in adult sizes, but comfortable and I have just recovered the pair he outgrew two years ago, and passed on.... And they are still wearable, still waterproof. Three years, two boys, one pair of shoes is not bad going!

[Rolandrova]

Also if it is any help, we bought Start rite last autumn and they have lasted almost a full year. Ds is the original dog/boy combo so that's saying something.

[Rolandrova]

Ha! The Geox ones on the swears by email are the ones I posted about a couple of years ago when ds got banned from wearing them to school, as the school said they were 'trainers'

Everyone on here, without exception, told me I was stupid because they WERE trainers.

Hmph! They are still brilliant shoes though but please do check with your school...

[anklebitersmum]

We always buy Clarks. Not least because if the biters murder them I can go back and they'll give me brand spanking new pair for free.

Always keen to take advantage of a saving on quality though..do the geox come in 'proper' shoes rather than 'pretend trainers'?

[CointreauVersial]

I find Clarks the best for durability.

Any time I have bought cheaper (Next, Shoezone etc) they haven't lasted five minutes.

[Crutchlow35]

DS starts school in 10 days time and we bought him ricosta shoes. They came highly recommended so hopefully they will last.

[fossil971]

Last August I bought a pair of Start rite and a pair of Hush Puppies for DS2 and DS1. Despite being worn every day by bike riding, football playing boys both were still going strong. They were bashed at the toes but not falling apart and had not "collapsed" and lost their support IYSWIM. We once had a pair from Next that didn't last a term - nothing like the same quality.

We have always found Start Rite (and Clarks TBH) to be pretty durable. Agree re the rubber toe - we've just bought a pair of Start Rite Arachnid for this year.

[NumptyMum]

Great - just checked location of One Step Ahead and it's just by the ASDA, I know how to get there! Sorted. Plus they stock Ricosta so I get to check those out, AND avoid the pester power of going to John Lewis/anywhere near the lego store in town .

[NumptyMum]

Thanks again, all you knowledgeable peeps!

I'll maybe check One Step Ahead (not too far to drive although I don't know Bearsden v well so may get lost...) and otherwise John Lewis to get an idea of the other options. I always take a long time deciding when buying shoes but new term is less than 2 weeks now! Ulp.

Thanks again .

[Graceparkhill]

One Step Ahead in Bearsden has a good selection. If you can get to the South Side Bellini is lovely with great staff and you can go across to the fabulous Derby cafe afterwards

[kikidee]

Russell and Bromley and John Lewis in Glasgow both stock Geox. Always last the full year IME.

[snowlie]

Ricosta are bullet proof and the leather is thick and soft, they last and look good till my ds grows out of them. No idea about sizing as I don't buy Start rite or Clarks.

[NumptyMum]

Thanks again for all the replies. I've done the cheeky bit about being measured and not buying before; guess we could always nip to John Lewis for starters as they do Clarks and Startrite there (and we could check out the Timberland).

However Clarks measure differently to Startrite don't they; if that's the case, if I'm looking at other brands (Geox/Ricosta) would we go with the Startrite measurement, or the Clarks?

Graceparkhill we're just north of Glasgow, easy enough to get to city centre/west end.

[Madamecastafiore]

Timberland Earthkeepers are fab - we have tried all different makes for heavy footed DS and he likes these best and they have lasted longest.

They are very soft leather and DS said feel more like trainres - but look more like shoes so he is very happy with them.

I know they sell them on line and in John Lewis.

Haven't ever thought much of Startrite of Clarks - other than looking awful they seem to not last.

[cloutiedumpling]

If you are in Edinburgh you could try Maddie and Marks. I think they do Geox. They have a variety of brands and always seem to have quite a good variety (I don't have any ties with their shops, just pass by the window of one quite frequently).

[herecomesthsun]

Geox Savage here too

[notapizzaeater]

I get ds geox from amazon, I tend to go to clarks and get his feet measured or nip into Brantano (u can measure them yourself there) then order from amazon (have sent one pair back on a free returns label)

Disclaimer : clarks do not do shoes that fit my son !! He has a narrow foot with high instep and very high top - they kept forcing his feet into their bloody shoes and last time when they ripped his feet to pieces so I went back and got a refund

[Graceparkhill]

Whereabouts are you? Small independent shops are usually the best bet. If you are in/ near Edinburgh or Glasgow I can recommend several

[NumptyMum]

Hmm, next question will be - where do I get Ricosta and Geox? If it's online, how do I measure DS's feet so that they fit? I've only bought online once or twice, when I've guessed the next size up - but I did this last year with the M&S ones and overestimated how much his feet had grown. It did mean they lasted a long time though, he eventually grew into them .

[NumptyMum]

Thanks everyone - so many replies! His current shoes are Clarks but my issue is that the velcro straps are not long enough, to cover the velcro you'd have to really haul them across and of course DS doesn't bother with this, so we have all manner of fluff/grass/eugh getting caught in the velcro that's left uncovered.

I'll have a look at Ricosta, Geox and Startrite later, thanks all :-)

[SoMuchToBits]

Ricosta, Geox or Start Rite are all good. We have often had these from Start Rite which last very well.

[Goldendandelion]

^^

This. Got to be the rubber toes though.

[ShoeWhore]

We always get the Clarks ones with rubber toes. Last all year unless they grow out of them first.