School shoes! Choosing them can be so confusing and challenging, in particular, when your child becomes old enough to have a say in what gets put on their feet. We are advocates for making sure that the shoe you are buying matches the foot of the child and sometimes spending a little more on your shoes will save you a lot more in the long run, both in money and foot health.
On average your child will spend 1500hrs in their school shoes so it is more important than ever that we get this right. Combined with the fact that their feet are still growing and developing and you start to get the picture of why it is a good idea to invest some money in your child’s footwear.
So, what are the benefits of spending more money on their school shoes. Well the number one benefit is comfort. Generally, when you spend a little more money you get a better fit as you have better options for length, width and depth and as these tiny feet are still so open to influence, getting the right fit for your child can make all the difference in how their feet develop and how they develop as walkers and runners.
Better materials tend to be used in the better quality shoes such as real leathers. Often in cheaper shoes there will be a higher proportion of synthetic materials therefore, not allowing your child’s foot the opportunity to breathe. Synthetic materials can contribute to problems such as athlete’s foot, ingrown toenails and foot odour.
With higher quality materials you also get more volume of material, for example, the heel will be made of a solid block not a waffle cut. Waffle cuts are where the material is hollow inside the heel so as to save on material costs. Waffle cuts decrease stability and durability risking knee and ankle injuries. Additionally, the more durable a shoe the less often it needs to be replaced meaning less money in the long run!
Shoe companies that charge more also tend to invest more in the research and development of their product and educate the retailers who sell their product. Obtaining input from medical professionals and specialist footwear designers for research and development of products leads to better design therefore reducing the risk of injury and subsequent medical expenses. Additionally you will find these companies often provide in-depth training to the retailers and this can only benefit your child by making sure they end up with the right shoe on their foot.
Finally when you pay more money for a better designed and higher quality shoe the shoes company often offer a guarantee for the workmanship on different parts of the shoe. This gives you the option to return them if they don not meet your expectations.
So there you have it! Five good reasons why spending more on your school shoes this coming back to school season can save you more money in the long run.