Waterproof school shoes

[PenguinFlipper]

Another autumn, another stressy inability to find waterproof school shoes for my daughter.

She cycles to school and otherwise, you know, walks about, so I'm again struggling with the total lack of waterproof kids shoes. Previously we've gone with Startrite Rhinos which worked waterproof wise but DD is at the age where she'd really rather not have velcro closed clompers. Clarks yesterday - no waterproof kids shoes at all! DD tried some brogue type shoes which she liked the look of but (a) not waterproof and (b) the unforgiving back looked like it would shred her heels in seconds :(. Size 6.5.

School rules are black leather or imitation leather, no trainers. But I'm at the point of wondering if I just need to suck it up and buy her Geoxx https://gb.ecco.com/en-GB/product/5642647614/ECCO-SOFT-7-W I've got the boot version for work, they're ok (not clompy enough for me!) but it's still £150 and a bit trainery!!

Also looked at Kickers, DMs. Nothing waterproof.

Any recommendations for non clompy ideally non trainery waterproof schools v gratefully received. Gargh.

Thanks @Lucyboat but she needs properly waterproof shoes. Anyone had success in waterproofing leather? I have never managed it and it's awful to have wet feet all day.

I have 3 children all at secondary school that walk or cycle and none have trench foot but would it be easier to have separate shoes to walk to school in and then change when there?

@Tulipvase yeah we've discussed that, maybe that's the way to go, thanks, just get there a bit earlier. How do yours deal with wet feet?

I'd have thought her feet would have been dryer than a child who was walking.

My dc have always just had leather school shoes and have walked to school and back their whole lives.

We use Superfit goretex shoes

I think they just put up with it! The 2 that cycle don’t tend to get as wet obviously. My eldest is in sixth form and has always walked, she’s
never complained about wet feet actually?!

I do understand as I walk to work, further than my children do, so I do get it. I leave spare shoes/boots at work and change if I get soaked.

It doesn’t happen as often as you might think.

@PenguinFlipper sorry, that was to you, managed to quote myself…..

Seconded. Also Ricosta, Richter have Goretex shoes (sometimes called Richtex).

@Lucyboat she's 14. Cycles 2 miles each way. I'm not quite sure why you're being so abrasive, I don't think this is different to everyone else, having wet feet is universally shit for everyone, which is why I'm baffled that it seems hard to buy waterproof shoes.

It would be much better if kids could happily splash through puddles on the way to school and not have to think about it, no?

If I lived in, say, Copenhagen, it would be trivial to buy waterproof everything that actually worked for the whole family, both for walking and cycling, freeing people to be outside more on rainy days. It took me months to find waterproof smartish work shoes. Given it rains quite a lot in the UK, I find it annoying!

Thanks @Alphabeta123 will have a look!

@PenguinFlipper i find it very odd that people in the uk just put up with having wet feet/getting wet (and expect kids, especially girls, to do so as well). There is no need to get wet, properly waterproof shoes and coats exist… baffling really :)

Thanks @Alphabeta123 , very much agree. It irks me that most girl's school shoes are Mary Jane types with massive bloody holes in the top! How does that help you run around a soggy playground?

Luckily our school banned mary jane style - its trainer style only. plus kids have wellies and trainers in school. But girls in other schools wear what is basically a light summer shoe in winter which I find odd.

DMs that you polish using proper shoe polish (not a spray, and not that coloured dab-on stuff) will be waterproof. My DS wore them (Yorkshire, long walk to school) without problem. Not gore tex so they can’t claim waterproof, but the good thick sole is, and is durable.
I totally agree with you about inadequate waterproofing of outdoor clothes for children in the UK.

I've been wearing dms for 30 years. As a pp said, if you can polish them up, they tend to be at least water resistant. I wear my dms in the rain because I won't get wet in them.

Dd has loafers. They were, apparently, the onlt shoes that fit properly. Now she WILL be having wet feet on occasion. However, tights tend to dry more quickly than socks.

When my dd was 14 nobody was wearing Mary Janes. They were wearing brogues or DMs.

In case it's helpful, I've also discovered Geox https://www.geox.com/en-GB/lace-up_shoes-black-agata_girl-J8449D00043C9999.html, have ordered to try!

We had a look at DMs in shop but DD reckoned none suitable/acceptable at school. Most shoes in e.g. Schuh, Office looked too trainery, e.g. DD didn't think she'd be allowed Kickers. Hope Goex comfy & waterproof!

overshoes?

This are designed to go over cycling shoes, but I'm sure they'd fit over flat lace up type shoes.

Proper polish & polished properly

Absolutely polish… my DH polishes my DD’s shoes every night. Helps the shoes last longer as well as keeping water out.

Ooh overshoes? @IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads are they easy to get on & off?

@Divebar2021 @sillyuniforms Can polished shoes survive puddles ok? I'm not sure the routine can fit in a daily shoe polish too!