School shoe shopping guide: Expert advice on finding shoes that fit perfectly and will last the year
Your step-by-step buying guide.
It’s that time of year again, time to buy new school shoes. When it comes to finding the perfect fitting shoe for your child, you don’t want to put a foot wrong.
The average school child walks the equivalent of 4000km every year – that’s further than from Sydney to Perth!
It’s for this very reason, you want to find a school shoe that fits well, is supportive and will last the distance, even with the most rough and tumble of kids.
To help you on your quest for the perfect school shoe, we’ve created this handy step-by-step buying guide.
How to buy school shoes online
When it comes to buying school shoes, you’ll want to ensure they fit properly and that they will last as long as possible.
Clarks stores have professionally trained fitters who will measure the length and width of your child’s foot and you can book a fitting appointment in store, too.
Size guides and measuring tips are readily available online from brands like Clarks or retailers like Shoes and Socks to help you find the best size for your kids feet.
Laura Pennell, Clarks Australian Designer and Product Manager says, “We do always recommend visiting your local store or retailer to triple check the fit is perfect ahead of that all important first day of school, however, a good way to ascertain a correct fit is to follow the steps below.”
STEP 1
Stand up straight on a hard surface with your heel against the wall and a piece of blank paper flush against the wall beneath your foot.
STEP 2
Mark the longest part of your foot on the paper with a pen. Repeat with the other foot, as right and left sizes may be different.
STEP 3
Use a ruler to measure the heel-to-toe length you marked for each foot in CM. You can then match your size using our size guide!
Brett Cale, National Sales Manager for Clarks says when fitting a shoe it’s key to check your child’s heel is secure.
“This is the shoe that they will be wearing for most of the year so it’s important it’s secure on the heel and not sliding up and down,” he advises.
“In store we always ask the child to go for a walk around the shop in the shoe as it’s a gives a visual opportunity to see if the foot is slipping at the back of the heel, whether it’s creasing in the right places and whether they tripping over the front of the shoe.”
Some parents may wish to avoid heading into a physical store altogether, but there’s help at hand (well, at foot), to help measure you child’s feet.
“We now have a fitting gauge available to purchase online,” says Brett. “They are reasonably cheap to buy and they allows parents to get an accurate fit at home. Instructions come with the fitting gauge, too.”
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How to find the perfect fitting shoes
When fitting school shoes, make sure the shoe is the perfect fit by following these handy tips.
HEEL – Make sure the heel is fully supported with limited movement. The heel will supported by a padded collar.
LACES PARALLEL – When laced up firmly the laces should create a parallel line and should not be spread apart or drawn together.
NO BULGING FEET – Make sure in a Mary Jane style is not too tight on the top of the foot causing a bulge in the skin.
ANKLE CLEARANCE – Shoes should have room around the ankle and should not rub against the ankle bone.
WATCH THEM WALK – A lot can be picked up in watching people walk in new shoes. Look for:
• No slip at heel
• Not too much creasing at toe leather
• No tripping on toe (indicating they are too big)
INNERSOLE LENGTH – Often you cannot feel the toe through thick School shoe leather. Remove the insole and stand the child on the innersole with the heel in the back cup. This should have 1cm at the front for growing room.
Lace up vs self-fastening – which works best?
When deciding on a shoe style take into account your child’s age. For younger kids it might be best to go for a self-fastening shoe with Velcro straps so they can easily pop their shoes on and take them off themselves.
“Most of our junior shoes are self-fastening with the double Velcro strip and you know children can confidently secure their own shoes. Then, you can move on to lace up shoes later,” says Brett.
Brett also suggest buying a shoe that’s hard wearing, especially if your child is going to put their shoes through their paces.
“Our Daytona shoe equals half of all our back to school sales each year. It’s a huge shoe for us. It comes in a range of sizes from a baby size 8 right up to an adult size 14 to cater for everybody. It’s a robust shoe and the leather is really firm so it can last the test of time,” says Brett.
What socks are best for growing feet in school shoes?
Laura says there’s plenty of options available but she always recommend selecting a sock that’s big on comfort.
“Natural materials and moisture management technologies are always helpful. Do bear in mind though, that Clarks school shoes also feature Micro-Fresh technology to help fight bacteria and combat foot odour. It’s something you should always look for in a shoe, no matter what brand or style you buy.”
How do I know when it’s time to go a size up?
Kids are always growing so it’s important to regularly check their footwear is keeping up with their growth spurts.
“Our recommendation is to remove the sock liner and have your child step into the shoe,” says Laura.
“From here gently press down on the front of the shoe to determine how close the longest toe is to the end of the shoe. If their toes are, at or very close to, the end (less than 2cm) it’s time to head in-store for a fitting.
“This is a guide only and for total peace of mind, we always recommend getting expertly fitted by a trained expert.”
Is it safe to reuse the same pair of shoes on my younger child?
“This always depends on how many times the shoes have been worn before being handed down,” says Laura.
“Every child’s foot is different so while getting some extra wear sounds like a great idea, to be absolutely safe and avoid any pain or discomfort, we always recommend a new pair that’s fitted to suit your little one’s feet.”
How to pick the right sports shoe
“The right options will come down to the sport your child is going to be playing the most,” advises Laura.
“However, if you want a pair that can accommodate a mixture of activities, look for reinforced uppers and outsoles that provide multi-directional grip, supported by materials that offer greater underfoot stability. We understand that a lot of older kids will gravitate to the big name brands with sporting icons attached to them, but it’s really what’s on the inside that counts. Clarks makes and recommends sport styles that provide breathability and underfoot comfort plus stability.
And for parents now ready to set out on the school shoe shopping journey, Brett has this final tip.
“We put an antibacterial spray into all of Clarks school shoes, it lasts the life of the shoes and it helps combat sweat. A child can sweat up to a soft drink can amount of sweat into their shoe per day so it’s important to have a shoe with leather linings and uppers with which can breathe.”
Alrighty then… and on that note, happy shoe shopping!
