DC school shoes other than Clarks

[FriendofBill]

DC has managed to lose one shoe and I have to replace them.

Can anyone recommend a good school shoe preferably cheaper than Clarks? Really don't want to shell out £40+ again.

We went in earlier this year and it was over £100 for shoes trainers and wellingtons.
That was with a shoe and trainer offer!

They have us over a barrel don't they? If not Clarks, where?

M&S school shoes only lasted half a term in DS!
Shoes for Kids discounted branded shoes

Having had a rubbish experience with a Clarks fitter yesterday who sold me over €100 of shoes in the wrong width fitting I'm no longer willing to pay the extra to have Clarks shoes. When I went back to complain that dd's new shoes had given her two blisters in the time it had taken to walk across the shopping mall I was told it was probably a fitting error and that the original fitter had been a beginner. She'd said that dd's slightly wide feet (G) were actually now narrow (E) when in fact they'd got ever so slightly wider. She'd also said ds was an E when in fact he is an F but then the pair of shoes she fitted were a G . The manager remeasured both of them but surprise, surprise didn't have any stock in their actual sizes.

Clarks are utter crap. We get Startrite or Hush Puppies. Both last really well.

I refuse to buy Clarks any more as ds trashes them and the fitting service is so dire.

Usually get Start Rite for school shoes now - much better quality but similar price. John Lewis and independent shops have much better fitters.

I think if I was in your situation now though I'd probably try a Clarks outlet? Or perhaps M&S if feet are a fairly standard width? Chances are fairly high that they'll be outgrown by September.

I asked my sister for advise on fitting DS's shoes, I got a blank look, I reminded her she'd had a Saturday job in Clarks children's department for a few years. Oh yes, she said, I never got any training though! Twenty years after the Saturday job we're in Clarks flagship factory shop beside their HQ. Family in front of us in the fitting queue ask if that is 'Clarks shoe size' or their actual shoe size Then they measure DS's feet, followed by we don't make boys shoes that width. We look anyway he has the choice of 3 styles, all almost identical, wonky stitching, raw edges, look very cheap and nasty, all far to wide for DS and all over £30. We left, went to Sports direct bought a pair of dark grey Karrimor walking shoes for under £15, lasted ages and far more practical for primary school age to run around in. School have never said anything.

A couple of years ago DD was measured in 3 shops in the space of 10 days and they recommended 3 different lengths and 2 different widths. I now use the instructions on Startrite site and buy shoes ahead in the sale. Italian ranges like Priming seem to be for narrower feet and a bit smaller too (but nice shoes).

Heaven only knows what DD does to her shoes. The tops are usually scuffed within the first couple days and then the soles and heels rarely last more than about 10 weeks (I guess we walk a couple of miles/day maximum and she has to wear trainers for most of the playtimes). This is rotating 2 pairs of shoes.

About a year ago somebody on Mumsnet recommended a brand called Toughees (South Africa). A revelation! They are ALMOST bombproof (it took several weeks before they looked a bit scuffed on top). They are quite stiff to start with (so I make DD wear them in a bit on shorter walks), but I've been careful to check that they fit properly (some styles are wider than others).

Annoyingly they are only stocked online (and through Amazon). Regular price is around £30 plus postage (though there are often bargains to be had in the sales).

It is possibly a waste of time (certainly has been with water bottles etc), but it might be worth getting shoe labels made up with your mobile number on them.

I go into John Lewis, they size the kids feet and I ask to see all of the for sale shoes in those sizes. I've done this twice now, first time the kids both got the same pair of Clark's shoes for 1/3 price. The last time John Lewis only had a pair left in each size, so DD got a pair of boys Clarks Jack Nanos for £20 and DS got a pair of Kickers that should have been £48 for £15 - these were the leftovers of the boxing day sale that I asked about in the Easter holidays. Always worth a try.

Geox all the way

Or ricosta

We used to buy clarks but have just discovered ricosta. The quality is so much better. Mud just slides off the leather, the leather is so soft there's no worries about blisters and the sole is flexible allowing her foot freedom of movement. The patent leather still looks like new after a good few months of wear. I'll be reluctant to go back to clarks again. I'll be passing them on to dd2 so while they were a bit of an investment we'll get our money's worth. The shoe shop said they had a few converts who never buy clarks now and you could tell they really felt although more expensive they're better value for money as they last and fit so well.

Dd 10 now plays football most breaks so rubbed the soles out of two pair of brogues pretty quick. She is has all black, lace up Vans, I think it's safe to say she loves them!

Shoesforkids - is good

Have tried marks and Spencer's Clarkes start rite sports direct vans etc

DS wrecks shoes due to deciding they are better used as brakes on his bike -

Haven't found any to be DS proof - all look knackered after a few months - so I just buy cheap!

Just brought a pair of Petasil shoes on eBay - see how we get on with those!

I really rate Superfit/Geox and Froddo, more expensive but lovely.

I usually always buy clarks for my 7 year old ds. This year I bought a pair of clarks shoes and also a pair from Sainsburys. Ds prefers the Sainsburys shoes and so do I. They are easier to clean the mud off and still look new.

My daughter was a trained fitter for Clarkes and despaired over some of the fitters. She took the job very seriously and wouldn't let me go near another fitter without her. I never go shopping for shoes without her because it is the only way to get a comfortable pair of shoes. We liked Hush Puppies because they seemed to fit so much better and last longer. Clarkes just aren't the same these days.

I find Next really good for school shoes as can normally get a decent pair for £25ish rather than £40 in Clarks and my two would destroy them if they were coated in Kryptonite!

Clarkes used to be good, but they are no longer made in the UK, they are made abroad using cheap labour. They have gone downhill.

I will never buy them again.

Just about anywhere would be better and probably cheaper.

I would try Marks and Spencers or a Brantano store.

Jones the Bootmaker are pretty crap in my experience.

Oh Christ, don't go to Clarks they are AWFUL for kids' shoes. I've no idea where they got this reputation as being the best! Shoes are not good quality and fall apart quite easily and they are sold with very little growing room - not to mention that the fitters are often very poorly trained.

Go to a good independent store - Geox, Ricosta, Petasil are all great brands. They are more expensive than Clarks but they last a whole year - I've never bought more than one pair of school shoe per year since I switched from Clarks...

Started off buying Clarkes for DD but the quality was rubbish, quite often badly scuffed in a day or so. Startrite have lasted much better.