kids shoes?

[Disneylush]

Where do you buy good (nike, stride rite, etc.) shoes from for your kids? How much do you pay? I took my son to Stride Rite and learned he ws a 13.5 and the show I bought is a new balance and cost me 56.00. I know there has to be a better (cheaper) way... teach me your ways 'ol money wise budget ones?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It depends on what you define as "good".

We found out that my dd has very wide feed and squeezing her into normal shoes is no longer an option. I bought her 3 new pairs from stride rite.

For my other daughter with normal feet--sometimes I can find a good sale at Beall's and they have some label stuff. I was able to get some clearanced out nike's for maybe $20 or so.

Sometimes good luck can be found at a Marshall's type place as well.

But depending on your needs--it will vary on what you can find where.

I have been lucky with one child whose feet grow pretty slow and she has medium width. So she gets good use out of shoes. Since we have just switched my other dd to the wides, I am not sure if we did well or not.

I know that Stride Rite often has sales and I do my best to buy a clearanced shoe if I can.

 

[dawson5]

I've gotten lucky on the clearance rack at kohl's. Another place you wouldn't think of is Finish Line at the mall. They have (ours does at least) a clearance rack on the wall, last year I could have picked up $90 basketball shoes for $35-40.

 

[minnie1928]

I always get sneakers at Kohls. I usually wait until I have a coupon (last one was for 30%). I can usually get my DS(11) his sneakers (I prefer Nike) for less than $35.

 

[UCFALUM]

Stride Rite Outlet, Marshall's, Clearance at Stride Rite- my main haunts for shoes and my trigger is $15 but I'll pay $20 if we "need" them. I also buy ahead at Target but ONLY 75% off beacause their normal prices are my Stride Rite trigger price. Always be on the lookout since it always costs more to buy when you are desperate.

 

[dakuhn]

We always buy the extra wides that both of my kids need at Stride Rite outlet, Crocs outlet because these actually fit both of my kids, using online coupons. Be sure to sign up at Stride Rite.com and you can get coupons pretty regularly.

 

[dzneelvr]

I was (and continue to be)a firm believer on GREAT shoes for the kids. However, I agree with the other posters and would include ShopKo as they have the name brands and sales are wonderful We have a fantastic shoe outlet about 2 hours north in Black Earth, Wisconsin called "The Shoebox" and it's a dream. They supply the U of W college teams and have a fantastic clearance section, so ask athletes you know where they pick up their shoes. My advice: buy ahead when you find a deal. I used to have 3-4 pairs of shoes in increasing sizes available at all times because of how they grow and how active they are. We are definite NIKE fans. and don't forget the .com route. when you know their sizes, it's a few clicks of the mouse

 

[DisneyFanTN]

Shoebuy online .... they carry Stride Rite and there are always coupons for their website. We have bought lots of shoes through them for our kids and ourselves. Many times I will see a shoe I like in the store and then check Shoebuy and can usually get it anywhere from $10 - $20 less than in the store once coupons are applied -- free shipping/returns also. We also have a Stride Rite and Nike Outlet that we can find deals at. Rack Room Shoes will have a buy one get one half off sale. Also check out Nike online, found some great clearance deals there also.

 

[MinnieForMe]

I almost exclusively buy Stride Rites. I purchased 4 pairs for $120.00 this weekend at the Stride Rite Outlet in Tilton, NH.

The outlets I have shopped in the past for Stride Rite are Jackson, NJ, Kittery, Maine and Orlando.

 

[zoemurr]

do a search for a coupon first, as they are almost always out there. Stride Rite outlet, and Marshalls. My kids are 10/8 and have only worn SR shoes. I don't think I have ever paid more than $25 for a pair. They both wear wide, so it has always been a challege. If I see a pair of sneakers that are W on sale I buy them and put them away as they both wear sneaks year round.

Good luck!

 

[SA53]

Another Stride Rite Outlet girl here. During their Labor Day sale, most of the Stride Rite sneakers were $19.99 so I got a couple of different pairs to get my daughter through the year.

My ds (12) now only really likes Nike, but hurray, there is a Nike outlet as well. I do find Nike sneakers at Marshall's as well so they are easier to get a deal on.

Good luck!!!

K in SA

 

[santa's surpriz]

I am a Stride Rite believer too, but I hit their clearance shoees and buy 1 get 1 50% off deals.

 

[skw444]

Another Stride Rite Outlet shopper. We also have a Nike Outlet and I've been able to find sneakers for $20-$25 there. Occasionally, I'll see some at Marshalls or TJ Maxx too.

 

[mombare]

Hello Fellow MN'er!

I used to buy shoes for my kids at Target, until my son was born. He is just rough-and-tough on his shoes. Now I primarily buy shoes at Kohls...Nike, Skechers and recently we bought a pair of Tony Hawk's. Typically I won't pay more than $25, but I did pay $29 for the Tony Hawk's because he was in a wedding and wearing them with his tux (SO adorable). I did just buy a pair of Nike's on clearance for my daughter (size 1) at Shopko for that same price, but we were returning a pair of "cheaper" shoes that were only $10 less. The biggest lesson I have learned is the more expensive shoes are well worth it because they hold up longer!

There is a Nike outlet store in Medford (near Owatonna). I have not been there in a couple of years, but you may find some bargains there. Typically I have found Kohl's with a sale/coupon to be less expensive.

Oh, and make sure your son tries them on. My dd wore 2 sizes larger in the Nikes than the shoes we tried on at Payless. They all fit so differently! Good Luck!

 

[mward73]

TJ Maxx, Kohls and Marshalls all have good prices on shoes like Nike. For Stride Rite, I was going to the outlet and paying $20 - 25 for shoes for DS, but I went to the PX on base with my mom and they had some on clearance for $7.48 so I bought the next 4 sizes. Now when my mom sees them, she calls to check his sizes and grabs what's available.

My neighbor was paying $50 for Stride Rite at the regular store, so I told her to let me know the sizes she needs and my mom will get them if available (her DS is 11 mo older than mine)

 

[Disney Ron]

My DS has XW feet and I love Stride Rite for him, but hate the prices. Yesterday I ordered these for him from Shoebuy. http://www.striderite.com/shopping/...ID=2146&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=brayden

Shoebuy's price was $43.95 but I found a $10 off promo code and there was no shipping. They ended up being $12 cheaper than Stride Rite.

I also like NBwebexpress for my New Balance purchases.

I use Retailmenot for all my promo codes, it saves me tons.
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/shoebuy.com

 

[PixiePlanner]

Do you have a "Shoe Carnival" near you? They often have a BOGO sale.

I always buy my kids tennis shoes at the same shoe store here in town. It is the only one in town that measures the kids' feet. When I was pregnant w/ DS I read an article that 95% of children are born with perfect feet. Most foot problems usually result from shoes that do not fit right. I buy things on sale and twice a year they mail out a coupon for $5 off every pair you buy.

Now the kids dress shoes are completely different. Those I buy cheap. My kids only wear those a couple of hours a week. That's not going to hurt them.

 

[sksjasams]

My DS10 prefers Nike. We always look for a sale at JC Penney, Kohls or Shopko. We usually pay around $30-35, but this last time they were $40.

 

[Dancemom03]

Haven't seen anyone mention Nordstrom's Rack yet so I'll add that suggestion. Not all stores have a Rack store in them but the ones that do can offer terrific deals on shoes and dress clothes, among other things. Upstairs in the shoe dept we can expect to pay $65-85 for Lelli Kelli for DD9 but downstairs in the rack I've discovered different Lelli Kelli styles for as low as $19.99. DSIL always bought boys' shoes there for her DS too and quality shoes are very important to her so he always wore the better brands while his feet were growing.

We also like the StrideRite Outlet store and Marshalls for occassional good buys but have better/more consistent luck at The Rack.

 

[SalandJeff]

I am having such a problem getting shoes for my dd. Her foot is narrow in the back. Last year she had 2 pairs of stride rite that fit her all of the school year that I got at the outlet. I also have been lucky at Once Upon a Child in the past, finding brands like stride rite in excellent condition for $4-$8.

But she is in a growing spurt and I hate to spend a lot right now. She also is finding that everything "bothers her" (too tight here, they slip, etc.). It is driving me nuts. I just brought home, and then returned, 4 pairs of shoes from Once Upon a Child. All the same size, (stride rite, land's end, sketchers and tks)...some were too tight and some slipped in the back...

Maybe I will go back and try the stride rite outlet again.

(thanks for letting me vent)