Why some school shoes cost $100-plus and some don’t?

They say if its too good to be true it probably is…

For parents thinking about buying cheap school shoes, you may need to think again.

Finding the right pair of school shoes can be tough! Ranging from Aldi’s $15 shoes, to Ascent and Clarks around the $100 mark. From a Podiatrists point of view, choosing the right shoe can really make or break young feet. Parents – read on!

Do the math – to sell a shoe for $15, a lot of shortcuts must be made in the materials, manufacturing & fitting service in store!

Why are shoes so important?

• Children are little pocket rockets, full of energy and constantly running around
• Kids feet develop until the age of 7, so bones are soft and developing until this age
• Kids are at school for 6+ hours each day, that really adds up! They need to have comfortable feet for the most part of their day
• The wrong shoes can cause misshapen toes

Cost vs quality

More higher-end brands are worth investing in as they have been put to the test and guarantee that the shoes will last longer and won’t need to be replaced after the first term. Some models even coming with a “sole-guarantee”. More expensive shoes also come with more attributes such as toe-box protection, shank, stitching and glue and are generally better quality.

There are plenty of cheaper brands and models out there provided you know what you’re looking for (check out our features list below). If you buy them, make sure they are comfortable, have rubber soles and room for the toes to move. Parents – double check the fit is right too.

Shoes need these features

1. Rubber soles with a deep tread, to prevent slipping
2. Shank & heel counter to make the shoe more supportive
3. Lace-ups or velcro to help keep the foot securely in the shoe
4. Comfort is key, shoes don’t require a “break in period”
5. Correct size and width fitting, a thumbs width space at the end of the shoe (longest toe)

Our 3 favourites for 2020

DID YOU KNOW?

Kids under 18 years old get SPECIAL OFFERS OF:

GAP-FREE Podiatry Initial Appointments*

That’s right. We know that kids feet are so important that we want to help Mum’s & Dad’s out!
Don’t worry if you don’t have private cover, you’ll get 50% off the cost of your initial appointment.BUT WAIT…there’s MORE!

GAP-FREE Custom Foot Orthotics *

Saving you 100’s of $$$.
Again, you need not worry without private cover we will give a reduced fee.

*T/c’s: gap-free offer applies to children covered by Podiatry Extra’s on health insurance policy. With gap-free offer for initial consult visit is bulk billed on fund, with custom orthotics the orthotic component is bulk billed, and the appointment fee gap must be covered at time of visit ($79 minus fund payout). For those without private cover, initial consult is reduced by 50% from $99 down to $49.50, for custom orthotics it is $250 plus consult cost. For any queries please contact our friendly admin team on (08) 7226 9901 or email through to admin@podfitadelaide.com.au.