Where to buy kids shoes - Not Stride Rite

[Anonymous]

My girls, ages 2.5 and 5.5, both have wide feet and I have been buying their shoes at Stride Rite, where they sell wide sizes. I have noticed lately that I have had to buy several pairs in the same size because they are wearing out. I don't think my kids are rougher on shoes than the average kid and it seems like they go up a size at least every six moths. I figured that the shoes I am buying them should last at least six months, right? Am I asking too much? Their current shoes have stitching coming out so that the velcro separates from the strap of the shoe, the insoles are completely worn with holes, and the toes are completely worn out.

Where can I get good quality shoes for my kids that will last? I am willing to pay a little more, but seriously, I expect them to last at least six months.

[Anonymous]

Shoe Train in Potomac. They can fit wide feet (both my kids wear wides--they are 8 and 11 and have always been fit there).

[Anonymous]

OP - Any brand recommendations? Shoe Train sells a lot of brands including Stride Rite.

[Anonymous]

Nordstrom Rack.

[Anonymous]

My toddler just loves her Tsukihoshi sneakers. I've never had a problem with them wearing out before she outgrows them.

[Anonymous]

Nordstrom

[Anonymous]

Have you taken the shoes back to the store? You're right, that does sound like poor workmanship and I would try to get Stride Rite to stand behind their shoes. There should be at least a general warranty. Six months is not too long to ask them to last.

[Anonymous]

Nordstrom- they do a good job fitting the children and they sell nice shoes. They will also take any shoes back if they fall apart.

[Anonymous]

I have a pair of 9 W girls' sandals I can send you--worn only once or twice.

[Anonymous]

Get measured somewhere and then buy from zappos with free shipping and returns. Zappos even has a printable foot measure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get measured somewhere and then buy from zappos with free shipping and returns. Zappos even has a printable foot measure.

This. I usually order a couple sizes based on the most recent pair of shoes, and return whatever doesn't fit.

[Anonymous]

Tsukokoshi or Keens

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nordstrom- they do a good job fitting the children and they sell nice shoes. They will also take any shoes back if they fall apart.

Typically you don't even need the recruit to bring them back as they write a number on the shoes domewhere and they can use that number for a return

[Anonymous]

Shoe Train will also take back shoes that did not hold up. One time they not only gave me a new pair but used a hot glue gun to try to make the old ones usable for a bit longer as well..and I did not even ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My girls, ages 2.5 and 5.5, both have wide feet and I have been buying their shoes at Stride Rite, where they sell wide sizes. I have noticed lately that I have had to buy several pairs in the same size because they are wearing out. I don't think my kids are rougher on shoes than the average kid and it seems like they go up a size at least every six moths. I figured that the shoes I am buying them should last at least six months, right? Am I asking too much? Their current shoes have stitching coming out so that the velcro separates from the strap of the shoe, the insoles are completely worn with holes, and the toes are completely worn out.

Where can I get good quality shoes for my kids that will last? I am willing to pay a little more, but seriously, I expect them to last at least six months.

Your 2.5-year-old needs new shoes more often than every 6 months. Older kid is probably good for 6 months, barring a spurt, but the younger one, especially with wide feet, is smushed in those shoes.

Also, take the shoes back to Stride Rite. They will replace them with the same size. But again, 2.5-year-old probably needs a bigger size, so you'd need to replace them anyway. No snark, just the facts. I have 5- and 3-year-old girls, and they get a new pair of sneakers (their everyday shoes) every 4 months or so.