ISO Hard-wearing school shoes - Updated :o)

Which need to be:
- Black leather (even better if patent)
- Suitable for wide feet (G/H)
- Suitable for a high instep (usually needs t-bar styles)

For my 6 year-old DD who walks on her toes and has worn the sole through on her Start-rite school shoes after less than 8 weeks wear

(I am going to attempt to return them to the shop, but not sure how it'll go!)

Good Luck, I'm going back to Clarks with Georgias shoes, she has worn through the leather on her toes in 7 weeks.

I've heard good things about Hush Puppies but they were too wide for George

wowee, I was going to suggest startrite as Anna gets a full year out of hers, what size is she?

Oh no, hope you can get a refund , thats not on , 8 weeks
This year i have bought Tadhg shoes from Ricosta, they seem really well made with a thicker sole, they cost £50 which was about £15 more than the startrite/clarks shoes in the shop, but they were a better fit on him and he is quite heavy with his shoes, i think the boys tend to play football in them even though they all have trainers for this.

Katie is the same and had worn through Clarks and Start-rite within a few weeks. It's tjhe first time i've ever had to replace worn out rather than outgroown shoes.

I bought Geox this time and have been very impressed with them - they have scuffed but nowhere near as badly as the other branfs have before. I'll definitely be buying again (esp now i';ve found them much cheaper on amazon)

wowee, I was going to suggest startrite as Anna gets a full year out of hers, what size is she?

At the moment she is 13G

This year i have bought Tadhg shoes from Ricosta

I think I've seen Ricosta mentioned elsewhere online as being a bit more hard-wearing - I'll have a look at these, ta x

Katie is the same and had worn through Clarks and Start-rite within a few weeks. It's tjhe first time i've ever had to replace worn out rather than outgroown shoes.

That's the annoying thing, isn't it - she's needed a new pair nearly every term since she started school, but her growth has recently slowed down so thought these would last until Spring size-wise

I'm not bothered about them getting scuffed etc, in fact the patent leather actually still looks quite good apart from on the tips of the toes, but the soles are completely worn on the ball part of the shoe. And there's a blummin great hole where her big right toe is

We're going back to the shop tomorrow after school to try a refund, then I'm going to try a different independent shoe shop nearby to look at some of the other brands that have been recommended here.

I've heard good things about Hush Puppies but they were too wide for George

This should be a good thing in Leila's case

i got my Dd norvic shoes from clinkards and so far they are great. She's really tough on shoes as well.

(I am going to attempt to return them to the shop, but not sure how it'll go!)

I took them back this evening and the shop gave me a full refund

So I'm trying another independent shoe shop at the weekend that stocks Hush Puppies, Geox etc to (hopefully) find the perfect, hard-wearing solution to DD's school shoe problem.

Oh and while I was trawling, I found this website http://www.widefitshoes4u.co.uk/childrens-shoes.html, which seems to stock reasonably priced wide-fitting kids shoes a little cheaper than the high street for when we find a good brand/style.