Children's school shoes are not things of style and beauty

[winkywinkola]

but I would like to know the best place to get them.

I don't like Clark's shoes after years of buying them.

Are there any other good brands?

Do you have a Clinkards near you? They don't just stock Clarks. Although DD often ends up in Clarks simply because they are a good fit for her narrow feet.

Other options are Brantanos or any independent shoe shop.

John Lewis do start rite

Start rite or geox. Fed up of clarks falling apart. Last year star rite lasted two and a half terms as opposed to clarks one term. They polished up much nicer too.

Hush puppies. School shoes that last the whole school year. Legend.

A bisgaard t-bar Mary Jane is a thing of beauty, but I'm buggered if I can see anything on line.

Fed up with Clarks and start rite only lasting a term, I brought the start rite nancy in navy suede last year - may - they are still going! I can't see any online again, but I recommend them. Same 'build' as the bisgaard shoe and I think the key to longevity. The seam is on the outside, rather than Internet here

Clarks shoes have never fallen part on DD, but she doesn't trash her shoes. If you have a child who trashes shoes, just buy cheap ones.

Agree with Bunbaker. Clarks last Ds1 & 2 the whole school year, and I never buy full price - always get them on ebay for around £25 a pair.

I can't buy shoes for DD online. She has to wear insoles and absolutely has to try shoes on and be properly fitted in a shop before I part with my money. She is 14 so her feet have almost stopped growing, or they might have by now.

I always get start rite for dd (high instep, wide foot, pronates)

Thing is, my DDs don't trash their shoes! I have 4 dds and all shoes are handed down, some are on their third wear having been in constant use for about 4 years.

I tend to spend a lot on shoes and expensive brands, I get them in sales and save for the year ahead (4 dds, guess I can't really screw up much on size .

Yet both start rite and Clarke shoes get destroyed!

You must be unlucky. The only footwear that hasn't lasted on DD is stuff from Next. She loves their zip up boots, but the zips never last for long.

My dc don't trash their shoes either, but Clark's school shoes just don't last. I think dd1's record was 6 weeks [shoes]. She does walk a lot, but then, that's walking a lot for an 8 year old (as she was), and erm, aren't shoes made for walking?! Not talking back-to-back marathons or anything, more perpetual motion.

Ricosta lasted dd2 well recently - she grew out of them before they were trashed, and she's a slow grower, so got best part of a year out of them.

Otherwise geox are good. Have lasted both of mine well, and would be in good condition to hand on down if wanted.

We used to use a smaller independent children's shoe shop: they did a lot more different brands. They often fitted better and seemed better quality than Clarks, but they were dearer.

Luckily DD seems to do well with shoes. Her feet didn't really grow very quickly and tended to suddenly up a hole size after 9-12 months. I don't think she has ever worn a pair out properly though.

Clarks never really fitted her feet very well.

Start Rite felt sturdier and better made, but slightly dearer and fit better.

The best fitting ones seemed to be the European brands.

DD's Clarks shoes have lasted a year. What are other children doing to trash them?

Like I said, Bunbaker - just walking! We gave up on Clark's after having to take back 2 pairs within 4 months (second pair being the ones which lasted 6 weeks - obv the first lot didn't do much better!). Both pairs looked like they had been worn for well over a year, but had no scuff marks or anything else on them.

We got plenty of looks from the shop too! but honestly all dd1 does is walk, a lot. She is barely still, and does pace a lot. But it's just walking, and 6 weeks is ridiculous!

Clarks last most of a year here (Well, until she grows out of them which is often less than a year as she is young) I'm always amazed by these threads! She has several pairs (school shoes, doodles, sandals/boots) and they all have lasted well. She's v. outdoorsy, walks a lot.

I must admit I'd rather buy properly fitted shoes for each child than spend even more but hand down already worn shoes as the inside moulds to the feet. We do hand down wellies though!

My dc destroy Clark's, but DS's "Superfit" school shoes look new 2 terms later. Fingers crossed his feet don't grow again just yet....

Kickers or vivo barefoot.

My boys walk a lot too, miles and miles and miles every week. They also play football on the school yard every day and climb trees at weekends and so on. Clarks have never fallen apart for us despite the rough treatment they get.

We love Clarks shoes!

Ricosta boys shoes are incredible. Almost no sign of wear at all. Ricosta girls shoes seem to suffer the same fate as all girls school shoes do (in our family at least) in that very quickly the toes scuff and only look half decent if buffed and polished every other day which in our house almost never happens

I can't for the life of me find girls shoes with the same 'toe cap'/raised sole type design as boys shoes mostly seem to have which would avoid this problem, and DD can't be talked into wearing boys shoes instead.

All that said, the Ricosta girls shoes do last, they just don't look very smart.

(Excuse the missing apostrophes )

I would look up your nearest Start Rite stockist, most likely they will be an independent shop and do the other brands mentioned too. It depends a lot on the child and how much walking/football/cycling etc their day involves. Our school has children put trainers on at breaktime which normally stay on most of the day, consequently DS's shoes from last September are still presentable and amazingly, they still fit.

I was talked into patent for my daughter - rare polishing required and no scuffing.