I would all depend on the shoe that he wants in a shoe. I personal got a job at shoe store so my parents didnt have to deal with the ordeal of buying me shoes. I will confess that i do own around 20 pairs of shoes at the age of 18 but i have had the same size shoe for 5 years. Ive also spent near a grand worth in my collection. Most kids stop growing shoes sizes around 13 or 14. Shoes will only go up in price because of the cost of oil, labor, and the greedy people at the companies head quarters. Be thankful you child isnt making the shoes them self and that will live in this great country of opportunity where they can go get their own job. If you kid wants the shoe compromise with them and have them look at all of the shoes online or in store. Let them see all of their options and hopefully they'll change their mind. If you go to the local finishline, the sales people will be more than willing to help you out and make sure they find something in your price range. As a formal employee there we tried everything to help you as a customer. Most high school kids dont care about the brand of shoe that your wearing and more than likely their friends wont either. Since your child does have a wide foot, there are many other options besides NB that will taint his style. Look around online at NIKE, ADIDAS, Under Armour, and Reebok. Reebok and Adidas do run a little wide and so to the Nike AirMax and majority of Jordans/Basketball shoes. I know for a fact that finishline's website does sort the shoes by width and size. If you take your time in finding him some shoes that he likes he will be much happier on the long run. I see this on a daily basis at work and we as sales associates much rather see this than a quick sale.

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to go against the grain here... if your son really wants these shoes, and he has agreed that they could be his only Christmas present, I would get them. My DS is a "sneakerhead" (now 17) and for years, I have been negotiating with him over sneakers. I have agreed that if he needs a new size, I'll spend $100, and he pays the rest. If he just wants new ones, I'll put up $50, twice a school year. He usually gets Jordans, that are $150-175 in adult sizes. You have to let them buy unreasonable things sometimes. It's important to him, even if you don't necessarily see its value.

I'm also going to say... your son is wearing wide width New Balance, and those are NOT cool. NB makes some cool sneakers, yes, but the ones that come in wide are not them. Let the poor kid get a pair of cool kicks for once--maybe they will pinch his feet and he will decide he'd rather be comfortable than cool. But one pair... for Christmas... come on, he deserves at least that.

Thanks PP, I've come around to thinking this. I talked to him about our gift budget and that if he puts this on the list, this will be his big gift so he has to be prepared for that. He does deserve it; he's a great kid.

My nephew is 11 years old and wears a men size 15. My sister stated that all his shoes cost $100.00 or more.

I won't buy my teen overpriced shoes as his everyday pair, but I'll let him pay the difference or give them as a gift. I just don't see the problem with that.

My DS's shoes usually cost around $80, if I can't find a good sale on them. Neither of mine talk about shoes that "everyone is wearing"; it is more a matter of shoes that are comfortable that they like. One time some years ago, one of them wanted a pair of skateboarding-type sneakers which were closer to $100, and I had him make up the difference in cost above what I would have had to pay for a pair of regular running shoes.

Anonymous wrote:Mom of a 6 yr old. I spent $50 on his sneakers and I thought that was a lot. I guess I should start saving now!

Teens are typically wearing men's sizes and shoes - that's why the price is quite different.

As a parent of a boy and girl teen I have to say I don't worry that much about the cost of DS's shoes as there are so many fewer pairs of them than DD.

Under $75, often at Kohl's or Lands' End. No status shoes here.

I've never spent over $150 for a pair of shoes for myself. I'm a 52yo professional.