Alternatives to Clarks for boys

[mummarichardson]

So my MIL was horrified the other day when I bought my DS round in Next trainers as they weren't Clarks which are apparently really bad for their feet. I had no idea and upon googling found she maybe right.

My issue is that not only are Clarks expensive but I just don't think they are very nice either. I know lots of people think they are the best thing ever but I don't understand why they don't just do some more plain designs. I like the converse look really but guessing they don't offer the same support.

Can anyone tell me whether the Nikes or other trainer brands offer the same 'arch support'. I should add that DS is 2 years old and a size 7.

Bobux are fab. Not cheap but worth it!

How about Geox? They have some nice boot/hi top/trainer styles. You can get them in JL or Charles Clinkard (sp?)

What's wrong with Next trainers? my dc have had Next shoes in the past. Don't fall for the marketing hype that children absolutely MUST wear Clarks or you will ruin their feet for all eternity. It's rubbish. Next trainers will be absolutely fine as long as they are the right size and fit for him.

I think the issue is with the fitting. In Clarks you have the shoes properly fitted and they come in different widths. You could try John Lewis or a small independent shoe shop for different styles.

My son is just growing out of some Vans that have been useless for his dropped arches & caused heel pain. We are going back to some very supportive (men's) Clarkes shoes this autumn.

I prefer start rite. Usually I go to John Lewis and if they don't have any styles I like I then buy online from start rite themselves or sometimes ebay.

Geox.

DS loves his, and they seem to last for ages. Same as their school shoes actually!

Clarks have managed to persuade an entire generation of parents that their children's feet will fall to pieces if they dare to buy shoes anywhere else. Also it is true that plimsolls (not trainers) aren't for full day wear. IMO modern trainers are fine (though I'm not a paediatric orthopod).

At that age my son and i both liked Geox which we bought at Russell and Bromley. If the fitting is done with reasonable care, including by you, it doesn't matter where you buy. Imo look to see that the feet aren't slipping out of the shoes when walking, aim for a finger's width of space at the toe and look to see that you can smooth across the base of the toe joints with some give but not loose.

M&S are a good alternative and cheaper than Clarks

I love Bobux and think they are much nicer looking and better quality than Clarks.

Is there a way to measure your child yourself?

Pediped do great kids shoes, machine washable leather, lady for ages, good measuring scale on their website, often reduced on Amazon. Recommended by a podiatrist!

Clarks are rubbish and fit my sons feet poorly and that's without the poor fitting experiences I have encountered.

I like bobux but pricey but I do buy for younger child. Eldest does well with M&S

I tend to buy both my DSs trainers from sports direct. I look for lightweight, flexible ones then make sure there's a thumb width of room at the toes, they fit widthways and they don't slip at the heel.
I like m&s for school shoes.
Happylittlesoles is a great website with lots of lovely (pricier) shoes with good fitting advice.
I'm no expert but the jist I got from various children's feet sites is that barefoot is best, so barefoot type shoes are best. These tend to be quite flat so I'm not convinced the support that clarks push is actually all that good. Though as I say, I'm not an expert, and obviously there are more problematic feet out there that do need support!

Are Bobux only available online?

No, my local independent shoe shop sells them.

I personally don't think anything wrong with Next shoes but she made a point that 'cheap' shoes don't give proper support like Clarks. I researched online and basically in order to prevent problems with feet such as being flat footed in later life then good supported shoes are what's needed and in my MILs case she believes Clarks are the only brand 'good enough for her grandson '. I personally think well I have good feet and I know my parents could never afford Clarks but my DH seems to think if she is offering to pay, other than vanity reasons why wouldn't you put him in good supportive shoes.
Which is a hard point to argue as you end up sounding a bit shallow saying 'but there so ugly'.

A lot of Clarks shoes are ugly to be fair, and not very interesting in terms of design.

I think these days there are many more options for a supportive shoe than there were in previous generations when Clarks had the monopoly and could use that to trick parents into thinking their shoes are superior. Nowadays it's different, there are more brands available. Even Asda now do their own version of first walker shoes with support for little feet.

My faves for this size are Pepino by ricosta Timmy style shoes. They're the right style to wear with most outfits. Or some of the camper toddler shoes are very cute and comfy.

My DS does have a pair of Nike trainers for sporty occasions though but they were hand me downs.

I think Clarks are crap, I stopped buying them about 10 years ago, when DD was 6.

I also have two younger DSs, they don't need "school shoes" yet but I buy them Ricosta or Superfit shoes. They are stocked by independent shoe shops and also online.

DS1 also has a pair of Adidas trainers which are absolutely fine.

Clarks were never able to cope very well with DSs or DDs wide, high instepped feet so I ended up measuring them myself and ordering online from a variety of brands.
The only indestructible leather footwear DS ever had at primary school (i.e. he actually grew out of them well before they fell apart) were either Cat boots or Timberland boots. He used to wear trainers and Crocs in the summer.
DS and DD are teenagers now and neither has deformed feet or any other physical problem related to non wearing of Clarks during their early years .

I get the whole clarks shoes thing when kids generally had one pair of shoes that had to last a year but now shoes are so much cheaper children often have a few pairs.
I find clarks boys shoes just so dweeby and frumpy that I can't bring myself to pay nearly £40 for something he may only wear for 9 months before going up a size. I buy converse for ds, same price if not cheaper, and look good.