Best School shoe’s for 2014

Best School shoe’s for 2014

Dr Brenden’s top school shoe picks for 2014.

Back to school has hit us again, it’s time for kids to head back into the class rooms and not only hit the books but also hit the school yard in their new school shoes!

Kids spend over 30 hours a week in their school shoes and while most of us think of them simply as a school shoe they also, at school, may become a netball shoe, a handball shoe, a soccer boot, a cricket shoe or even a get chased by a bully shoe!! Needless to say it’s essential that these shoes are tough and sturdy to undertake all this work.

As a parent of two kids myself I understand while we all like to make sure we get the best for our kids we also have to think about the money that its cost to send our kids to school and it all adds up. Many parents hope to get a full year out of a pair of shoes for their child so that’s approximately 40+ weeks of school for most kids. Considering a 40 week year for most shoes we have split up the cost to consider how much that school shoe is costing us each week for our kids. So you can get shoes from as little as 75 cents a week up to worth 3.20 a week more expensive but I believe still a reasonable price to pay for keeping your kids healthy and active!

I have reviewed what I think are some of the school shoe picks of 2014. Some are more expensive and others I have looked at with those on a budget in mind. In essence you get what you pay for but we were pleasantly surprised with one or two of the cheaper models.

I have reviews both traditional school shoes and my favourite runner or sneaker style shoe in all black leather so people get an option as I know a lot of kids love these as well.

I have listed these from my favourite down however the bottom shoes are by no means terrible and in fact are in many respects good shoes.

BEST NEWCOMER!

Start-Rite YorkStart right

  • ·         School-style shoe
  • ·         Unisex
  • ·         Firm heel counter
  • ·         Bends at the toe
  • ·         Doesn’t twist
  • ·         Doesn’t flex at the middle
  • ·         All leather
  • ·         Black lace-up

·         Priced at $129.00 about $3.20 a week

Brenden Says: This is a relative new comer to my list I have not reviewed this shoe before and I have been really impressed with its appearance on the market! All the qualities I look for in a shoe and to me looks like a tough all-round school shoe!

BEST OF THE BEST – Brenden’s top 4!

ASCENT – SCHOLAR and APEX  Ascentscholar

  • ·         Firm heel counter
  • ·         Runner style sole
  • ·         All leather shoe
  • ·         Removable insole for orthotics
  • ·         Bends at toe
  • ·         Doesn’t twist
  • ·         Female / youth
  • ·         Available in 4 widths

From $109.95 (junior size) to $129.95 (adult size) Kids sizes about $2.75 a week

Brenden Says: I have been watching these shoe’s develop and I really feel they are great shoe’s I think Ascent as a brand are developing some excellent quality shoes. Yes I know I am cheating here that this is in fact two shoes but I like these equally and believe they both deserve a mention. I like the School shoe look but the almost sneaker style shoe base. Bends at the toes in all the right places but is strong in the middle and heel where it is needed.

 

Start-Rite YorkStart right

  • ·         School-style shoe
  • ·         Unisex
  • ·         Firm heel counter
  • ·         Bends at the toe
  • ·         Doesn’t twist
  • ·         Doesn’t flex at the middle
  • ·         All leather
  • ·         Black lace-up

·         Priced at $129.00 about $3.20 a week

Brenden Says: Yes the newcomer makes the top 4! As I said above I think this is a relative new comer has all the qualities I look for in a shoe and to me looks like a tough all-round school shoe! Firm heel counter and solid shank to support kids feet!

CLARKS – 24 SE7ENClarks 24se7en

  • Firm heel counter
  • Runner style sole
  • All leather shoe
  • Removable insole for orthotics
  • Bends at toe
  • Doesn’t twist

Priced at $124.95 about $3 a week

Brenden Says:  A good shoe that has been doing a good job for kids for a number of years. I think kids will like this shoe it has a chunky see through sole that kids seem to love. It has a firm heel counter that is essential to good footwear. Bends and flex’s in the right spots!

 

Asics Gel-510TR GAsics 510

  • Firm heel counter
  • Bends at the toe
  •  Doesn’t twist
  • Doesn’t flex at the middle
  • Running style
  • All leather
  • Black lace-up

·         Price point is RRP of $100 about $2.50 a week

Brenden Says:  As a sneaker based shoe this is by far my favourite. I recommend it to any parent looking for a sneaker style school shoe. Its leather based with all the properties of a good quality running shoe. In my experience it seems to last a school year really well which I have noted not all sneaker style running shoes do. A winner for me.

 

ON A BUDGET.

GRO-SHU – LEARNGro- shu

  • Firm heel counter
  • Removable insole for orthotics
  • Bends at toe
  • Doesn’t twist
  • Leather lined

$39.99  @ Payless Shoes about $1.00 a week!  

Brenden Says:  This is a good shoe for its price point. While it doesn’t have all the stability I like to see in a school shoe for those on a tight budget at 39.99 I think it out weights others in its class. No you are not getting all the features of the top 4

 

GROSBY DURABLES – SCHOOLGrosby -Durable

  • Firm heel counter
  • Removable insole for orthotics
  • Bends at toe
  • Doesn’t twist
  • Leather upper

$30.00 Big W about 75 cents a week!!!!

Brenden Says:  At this tiny price you can afford a few of these a year compared to some of its more heavily priced competitors. In kids small sizes this is a good shoe. It’s not the strongest and it may not last as long as some of the others but at that price you wouldn’t expect it to. As this shoe get bigger in size it loses some of the stability I prefer in the more expensive models but as a Jnr shoe on a budget it’s a good alternative.

Tips when choosing shoes:

  1. Thumb width’s room between the end of the shoe and the end of the longest to
  2. The fastening mechanism (lace-up, Velcro or buckle are best!) should hold the heel firmly in the back of the shoe
  3. The back part of the shoe ‘heel counter’ should be strong and stable
  4. The shoe should flex across the ball of the foot (not in the middle!)
  5. The sole should not twist!