Back to school 2021: Best kids school shoes for every family budget

Are $15 school shoes worth buying? A podiatrist weighs in on the best and cheapest school shoes to buy in 2021 and what parents should look for.

Adella Beaini

@adellabeaini

2 min read

January 27, 2021 - 8:15AM

Lifestyle

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They say you get what you pay for, especially when it comes to kids’ school shoes.

From Aldi’s $15 range to Ascent and Clarks’ $100-plus shoes, podiatrists say choosing the right shoe is more about protecting your child’s feet than trying to save money.

With children’s feet developing until the age of seven and the bones in the foot having not yet fully formed, Dr Steve Parkinson, a podiatrist from the Foot Hub, says it’s important to not settle for cheaper options as they may hinder development.

You get what you pay for, especially when it comes to children’s school shoes.

Dr Parkinson said higher-end brand were worth the investment to avoid future problems that can arise from ill-fitted or poor quality footwear.

“The established brands that sell footwear at the top end of the price spectrum dedicate a lot of time and resources into perfecting their product,” Dr Parkinson said.

“These higher end brands tend to have far better durability and on the whole, offer products that provide greater comfort and support.

“It’s obvious when a brand can price a shoe at $10 that the midsole construction and footbed quality will be questionable.”

As students begin returning to school this week, parents should consider replacing older shoes.

“Your child’s feet do not grow in alignment with the school calendar — growth spurts are sporadic,” Dr Parkinson said.

“The decision to replace footwear should be based on sizing- correct length and width- and signs of excessive wear and tear.”

Get your child’s shoes correctly fitted at a retailer rather than buying online. Picture: David Caird

He said never buy shoes too big in anticipation of growth, and avoid buying online so shoes are correctly fitted and suitable for their intended use.

“Often primary school children can make do with a solid pair of cross trainers while teenagers will need a few different footwear options based on their chosen activity or sport.

“Don't give in to the pressure of letting your child wear skate shoes or Chuck Taylors – these shoes are fine for every now and then but shouldn’t be worn daily.”

Shoes from $30 – $120 are a “better price range” but experts caution against shoes priced around $15 as the soles aren't as good.

Cheaper brands should be comfortable, have rubber soles and room for toes to move.

Expensive shoes come with more attributes, such as toe box protection, shank, stitching and glue and are generally better quality.

For a higher price point, Clarks are recommended over Kmart $30 school shoes. But you may need to buy a few pairs as they're less durable.

GUIDE TO WHAT PARENTS SHOULD LOOK FOR:

Rubber soles, with a deep tread, to prevent slipping.
Shank in shoe to make the shoe more rigid.
Lace-ups, to help with tension on the foot – and to make tighter or looser.
Higher heel counter to hold foot in better.
Comfort, shoes shouldn’t require a “break-in period”. Discomfort or irritation in store is unlikely to improve with use.
Correct size and width fitting. A good guide is a thumb width between the end of the longest toe (not always the big toe) and the end of the shoe.