Stride Rite shoes ... are they worth the $$$?

[migirl]

I think we talked about this somewhere, but I can't find the thread. Sorry if this is redundant...

DS just started walking (finally!), so I'm looking for some hard-sole shoes so he can eventually walk outside. The Stride Rite shoes are nice, but they're so expensive (like ~$50 a pair)! Are they really worth the money? Are they *really* that much better? And won't he grow out of these first pairs of shoes super fast anyway?

[JaneDoe]

I think so. Dd always has at least one pair of Stride Rite shoes, generally tennis shoes. I've purchased dress shoes from Target and the "leather" on the patten leather shoes scuffs right off. I've found that Stride Rite shoes hold up much better than other brands. However, Dd's feet grow so fast that cheaper brands generally hold up until she out grows them- they just don't look as good in end and become garbage.

That is what we do. Too many blisters or sore feet from buying the primary shoes at Target or Mervyns. I also cruise a consignment store on a regular basis for shoes. I have found some brand new or barely worn Nordstrom brand, Kenneth Cole, Stride Rite, etc.

[DCJenn]

Definitely- Nikolai has a wide toe box and a narrow heel so it's rare that a 'off the shelf' brand fits well. I got some fab Stride Rites from eBay and then donated them to his orphanage in Russia.

We just bought two pair of sandles one closed toe and one open toe. The woman sized his feet and then we went up half a size to make sure we'll get some wear out of them.

His first shoes after the Robeez were SR- Size 4 sandles that I've kept.

Jenn

[mommax3]

I never bought any, but I don't think any of my kids had hard to fit feet.....certainly no blisters. We generally went through 3 pairs of tennis shoes a year, usually from Target or PayLess.....we bought the shoes with whatever cartoon character was the current fave. (I have to say I miss those days.)

Especially now that my oldest is in men's sizes.

Sally

[Momo]

Worth it, but I buy mine on line at kidsurplus.com or at Marshalls!

Worth it. As much as it pains me to say it. Both of my kids have wide feet, and I've had food / leg problems my whole life, so I really didn't want to skimp there. I'm going to check out the website Pinkpickles listed (didn't know that one). Also, if you've got an outlet near you look there. We had a stride rite outlet in Ohio, and they were just a year behind, but same quality (not 2nds) and 1/2 the price.

[Malpka]

I buy them, but wait for a coupon or sale. I got some really cute Stride Rite mary janes for DD and tennis shoes for DS last week at Dillards for 10 dollars a pair

I agree they are worht it for the more day in and day out shoes. I also buy dressy shoes that are worn less often at Target or wherever.

Worth it, IMO. Try to bend most of the shoes from Target. . .there is almost no give there. It is even more important when they are first learning how to walk (again, IMO). I remember trying a pair of Wal-Mart shoes on my DD when she was first learning and she looked like she was trying to walk on tin cans or something.
My DD wore Robeez for most of her first 2 years (even outside. . .it's not like I was letting her practice how to walk on a pebbled path, you know? It was always grass, sand, pavement, or indoors and the Robeez hold up suprisingly well under those conditions. Plan to do the same with my current almost-walker.

[Vanquisher]

I do not think they are worth it. There! HA!

Kids feet grow too fast. Find comfy cheap ones. Check outlets, if you have one near you. I got my daughter one pair of Stride Rites, but only because they were on sale at JCPenney. I go for quality and cheap. I have never spent more than $20 on a pair of the kids shoes.

[Flynn]

We buy Stride rite at outlet malls or on Sale at Nordstrom twice a year. I find them for about 20 dollars this way.

[Amiens]

I never bought them for Emma or Brigham- I just couldn't justify the cost especially during residency. We bought shoes mainly at Target and occasionally when they were on sale at the Gap.

Reed is wearing Robeez, but he has been walking since was 10 months old. I am thinking I am going to start switching him to hard sole shoes pretty soon. We'll see... we have 2 more pair of Robeez in the bin to be worn- a consignment store in Seattle was going out of business and they had a deal buy 2 pairs get one free, and then they were marked down to $15.00 each, normally they are $30.

[Sheherezade]

I've only bought them once or twice. I do think they hold up better, but my kids grew out of their shoes too quickly to make that matter. They make a nice donation or resale, though. My kids walked around barefoot mostly -- and we also used the booties. We practiced our outside walking on soft grass, if I remember correctly. Once they were older, I still went with the cheap shoes but had to search harder for a good fit. Occassionally I'd give up and get a pair of Stride Rite because I knew they'd have something. My kids also had wide feet and I had luck with Payless "Comfort Fit" shoes.

Now, my daughter gets a good pair of shoes from Ecco to accomodate that wide toe box. They are about the same cost as Stride Rite and have a cool Euro look. DS's feet now fit in anything but we buy at sporting goods stores or Famous Footwear. I go with more expensive shoes now because we generally get a year out of them. Save your money for all the specialty shoes they'll need later. Riding boots, indoor soccer shoes, baseball cleats, ballet slippers........ It's endless.

[Vanquisher]

I've only bought them once or twice. I do think they hold up better, but my kids grew out of their shoes too quickly to make that matter. They make a nice donation or resale, though. My kids walked around barefoot mostly -- and we also used the booties. We practiced our outside walking on soft grass, if I remember correctly. Once they were older, I still went with the cheap shoes but had to search harder for a good fit. Occassionally I'd give up and get a pair of Stride Rite because I knew they'd have something. My kids also had wide feet and I had luck with Payless "Comfort Fit" shoes.

Now, my daughter gets a good pair of shoes from Ecco to accomodate that wide toe box. They are about the same cost as Stride Rite and have a cool Euro look. DS's feet now fit in anything but we buy at sporting goods stores or Famous Footwear. I go with more expensive shoes now because we generally get a year out of them. Save your money for all the specialty shoes they'll need later. Riding boots, indoor soccer shoes, baseball cleats, ballet slippers........ It's endless.

You are so right. My daughter has hugely wide feet, and I have definitely found some at Payless that work and work well. They have some sandals that have front and back velcro closures - priceless!

We just got some baseball cleats for my son. I still managed to get them for $20. I know, I'm amazing. :fans: They are Addidas, and I found them at an outlet store. They had Nike ones too for $20.

With all the shoes they grow out of and the speed that they do it, it would give me heartburn to spend $40+ on a pair of shoes.

[houseelf]

Heck no.

I don't spend $40 on shoes for myself or DH. My kids wear hand-me-downs or Target.

If they start running long distances, then I'll justify spending some serious dough on their shoes.

Kelly