Shoes for a massive pre-teen??

[McGreezy]

Here is an issue! We are planning a surprise trip for our kids for October. My son has one pair of shoes he wears daily --- he's almost 15 -- and they're Converse high tops. I seriously doubt he will be able to wear those full days in parks all weeks. I have BEGGED him to let me buy him at least another pair of running shoes, claiming it's because of the new school year, but he says no unless it's another pair of Converse. He doesn't know about the trip obviously so I can't explain my reasoning, and he needs to try them on! He does wear Crocs on occasion (the originals). What to do?? He's 6'4" with huge feet so I can't just wing it!

Does anyone have any teen boys this age and can recommend a "cool" pair of WDW shoes I can just buy him to have or try to talk him into!?

 

[bc7ate9]

My husband often wears his Converse All Stars at the parks and he is fine in them all day so your son might be fine too.

 

[oylerfam1]

You may be surprised. If he is used to them. He will probably be fine. My 14yo will only wear high top basketball shoes. He did fine when we went in April.

 

[mom2rtk]

Good luck! I have had the shoe arguments with my 14 YO DD. I usually just cave and let her live with the consequences. She has worn Converse (although not high tops) and done just fine. It's funny, but I'm usually the one complaining about my feet instead.

Will there be any time to talk about it between revealing the surprise and taking the trip?

 

[Fizban]

My daughters both wore Chuck Taylor's for an entire trip in July a few years back. They are quite comfortable.

 

[Alesia]

I seriously doubt he will be able to wear those full days in parks all weeks.

Why?

He'll be most comfortable in shoes he's used to.

 

[McGreezy]

Oh!! Well, I have them too (not the high tops) and couldn't FATHOM wearing them a full park day. But you're right. Kids are much more resilient. Thanks everyone!

 

[angierae]

My daughter has been in the parks in all kinds of horrible shoes as a teenager and never has any problems. Kids have better feet than adults.

 

[LaurenT]

I just bought my 12 yr a pair of keens.
I don't want to freak you out, I know he'll always be your baby, but your 15 year old isn't a pre-teen anymore.

 

[alvernon90]

he's almost 15

I have no shoe recommendation but I do recommend that you not let your son know that you are referring to him as a "pre-teen" when he has been a teenager for almost two full years. Even worse would be calling him a "tween" so don't do that either!

 

[GaryDis]

Following on to the "not a pre-teen anymore" line, he may also be at the age where surprises aren't as valuable as they were. You didn't mention the other kids, but assuming you can trust him to keep a secret, it wouldn't be the end of the world to just tell him about the trip.

 

[McGreezy]

I just bought my 12 yr a pair of keens.
I don't want to freak you out, I know he'll always be your baby, but your 15 year old isn't a pre-teen anymore.

Haha well hes 14 for another 3 months. And even though thats still not technically a preteen either, Im hanging on to what I can!! Haha

 

[McGreezy]

Following on to the "not a pre-teen anymore" line, he may also be at the age where surprises aren't as valuable as they were. You didn't mention the other kids, but assuming you can trust him to keep a secret, it wouldn't be the end of the world to just tell him about the trip.

No way. He loves surprises, always has. Its a once in a lifetime trip. I know him pretty well ;-) as far as the pre teen reference goes, I guess amongst my circle we have always refered to that jr high age group as pre-teen and 15-17 as teenagers and it has never seemed to strike my son or anyone else as odd...til now. Haha so now that we are all on the same page, my "teenage" son will be packing a couple pairs of Converse I guess! Thanks again everybody!

 

[SureAsLiz]

I wear my low-tops to the parks all the time and they have been my exclusive shoe of choice since I was 14 (now 22) so my body is definitely used to them. If he's active, then it really shouldn't be a problem (if he isn't then a good pair of shoes won't help much with the miles of park)

I will say that I went and bought a pair of Nikes when I first moved to FL and I did feel better while wearing them since the support seemed to help with lower-back pain and I could probably benefit to wear them more, but I like my converse.

If you really want to get him some shoes, look into a good pair of athletic shoes. Go with a simple black, and offer them as an alternative while you are there

 

[Magpie]

No way. He loves surprises, always has. Its a once in a lifetime trip. I know him pretty well ;-) as far as the pre teen reference goes, I guess amongst my circle we have always refered to that jr high age group as pre-teen and 15-17 as teenagers and it has never seemed to strike my son or anyone else as odd...til now. Haha so now that we are all on the same page, my "teenage" son will be packing a couple pairs of Converse I guess! Thanks again everybody!

That's a new one to me!

In my experience, and backed up by every dictionary I can Google, "Preteen" refers to a child under the age of 13. Usually, it covers the ages of 9-12. The moment you turn thirTEEN, you're a TEENager. It's the "teen" part of the word that makes it so. My kids were super excited about it on each of their thirteenth birthdays.

As far as shoes goes... I just let my kids wear what they want. The one time I interfered and talked my daughter into wearing sandals and shorts (I mean, it's Florida, right?) was the week we discovered she has a sun allergy. The tops of her feet absolutely cannot be exposed to sun, even with sunblock.

So it's back to socks and sneakers and jeans for her, and she's perfectly happy.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I know that you have already decided, and I wanted to add that neither of my boys has ever worn shoes that they did not pick out themselves. They are great kids, but very picky about shoes. They would literally go barefoot or stay indoors before wearing shoes that they didn't pick out. And they would never admit that they liked them if we picked them our for them.

 

[Order66]

I have two 15 year old boys....one who loves shoes! I have found, around here at least, that about 8-9th grade, boys who previously would have worn anything you bought, picked out, laid out....suddenly really care about what things they are wearing. And shoes are the one accessory they seem to value most. Shoes are their "cool status". All the teen boys around here wear hi-top basketball shoes....the more they cost the better they love them. I've given into it to a degree......they will not be getting $200 sneakers ( I don't have $200 shoes!) but I've accepted that they like and want shoes that are over $100 and since they don't ask for expensive clothing in other areas, I do let them pick out shoes twice yearly.....new school year and birthday. Getting a Footlocker discount sure helps.

What's cool here are anything designed by NBA players. LeBron's, Kyrie I, KD, Jordans of any type....most Nikes as long as they are current. My sons never ever complain about wearing those shoes no matter the circumstances. I suppose they are comfortable being as they are actually designed for competitive sports. So in your son's case Converse might be what's cool in his group of friends, but perhaps, if you aren't apposed to spending a little higher, you can interest him in some of the more expensive and presumably more comfortable shoes teen boys love.

Three things in life I have found are worth paying for better.....trash bags, toilet paper and shoes!

regards

 

[DisneyDoc5]

Hi! I have huge boys with big feet....I recommend some athletic slides, like addidas or underarmour slides, usually big sporting box stores have them on sale frequently, they run $20-30 ish, sometimes they are buy one get one free or 50% off. They can be worn with or without socks and are a nice alternative to sneakers. click here

 

[Julylady]

When packing I told my 10 year old to pack both her Converse and her gym shoes. She "forgot" the gym shoes but did remember her zebra Rainforest Cafe flip flops. I said "oh well" if your shoes hurt its your own fault. She alternated between the two for the trip and did just fine.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh!! Well, I have them too (not the high tops) and couldn't FATHOM wearing them a full park day. But you're right. Kids are much more resilient. Thanks everyone!

My son is only 11 and when he was 10 had low top Converse, and they KILLED his feet. So I'm with you. Don't get me wrong; he loved them. But when he outgrew them he admitted he didn't want anymore.