My son has been a Skechers kid for a while now. (He wears a 5-6 Boys - he is 11).

But the last pair of Skechers - the Airators(sp?) have worn out so quickly! He has only had them for 3 months, and already there are loose threads, and parts falling off of them. I am not so pleased at the quality.

Can anyone recommend a brand of shoe, preferably one that has slip on or a side velcro strap (he loves the Z-straps with Skechers - he can tie his shoes, he just hates to, and I am choosing my battles) that actually lasts?

Thanks, in advance!

__________________
"Yesterday my life was duller, now everything's technicolor!"

My 9 year old son won't wear anything but Merrell's! He loves them. We get the slip on's and he wears them everyday..literally. He doesn't wear tennis shows unless it's an outdoor sport (and even then it's debatable). They are pricey but I get them online and wait for a coupon (most places have free shipping). They have lasted better than any Sketchers (what we used to buy)

__________________
Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I buy LL Bean, they have the hikers with the bungee ties that we love. LL Bean products are guarenteed for life and I did return one pair that my son wore out before he grew out of them and they replaced them, I just had to pay $10 shipping.

__________________
"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I would get in touch with the manufacturer. Shoes are guarenteed.

Thanks! I looked online at their website and it looks like a local specialty shoe store carries them. I think I will take him there to peek at their selection of shoes.

__________________
"Yesterday my life was duller, now everything's technicolor!"

As far as tennis shoes I've always had good success with K-Swiss. My daughter loves Sketchers but they don't last very long at all. The last pair of K-Swiss I bought lasted almost the entire school year.

New Balace usually lasts. I am surprised to see the problems people have with Sketchers. I own a pair, and have had them for almost 2 years with no problems, they are still in decent shape and I wear them alot.

__________________
~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

I didn't know that. DS2 goes through a pair of shoes in about 3 months. The seams fall apart and he wears a hole in the top (his big toe). I stopped buying good shoes because they seem to fall apart just a easily.

__________________
Calling a illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist."

I don't think any of my daughter's shoes have lasted more than 4 or 5 months in the last couple of years. It doesn't seem to matter how much or how little they cost. Now I just take her to Kmart or Target and replace them as needed. I figure with growing feet maybe it's not such a bad thing to get new shoes every few months.

I have to second Merrell's. They are the only shoes my 9 yo ds wears (besides his Crocs).

__________________
Mom to 3 - one with 2 legs and 2with 4!

Well for little ones I have had luck with SunSan, and Keds. Also Bear Feet. I'm going to loook for him some baby boy Sperrys this fall!!

__________________
*** Find A Need , Fill A Need ***

For my kids, I was always happy with anything European (aster, elephanten, dansko, etc) as they got older as far as sneakers, we usually end up w/ addidas as we have an outlet here and get great deals there. Have never liked sketchers and refuse to put my kids in the Walmart cheapos. I won't put my kids in anything I wouldn't wear myself and I those things hurt my feet. If you watch clearances and sales, you can get name brand for the same as walmart and such.

__________________
I dream to escape!

We ended up ordering these shoes :

Merrell Landpro Z Rap - Olive Green - Free Shipping & Return Shipping

After coupons they were only $43.xx, PLUS we could pay with paypal, PLUS we got free shipping, and NO tax.

I am hoping they fit okay, if not there is free return shipping.

__________________
"Yesterday my life was duller, now everything's technicolor!"

good choice! they look nice!

__________________
-Kristi

My kids beat the tar out of their shoes, and Merrells have been awsome for them. The kind with the velcro Z strap might still be on sale at Cabelas.com Bargain Cave. They're doing some promo for back to school now too.

I've seen Merrells at my local Marshalls.

Do Merrells run try to size? Are they equivilent to say Nike? TIA. Also, has any tried Landsend?

I totally agree. When she was a toddler and first wearing shoes I was shelling out big bucks for Stride Rights, etc. which she would outgrow way before they would wear out. I switched over to Target pretty quickly to save money. She's 9 now and still wears Target shoes. We've never had a pair wear out before she outgrew them.

Jenn

We have never had any Nike's but all my son's Merrel's and Sketchers run the same size

__________________
Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Try Nike.com or Lands end, or shop at Sears. All three of these will replace a worn out pair of shoes for free, as long as you are getting the same size. For Sears, you have to be a member of the kidvantage program and that is nothing more than signing up (free) at the register.

My son(also 11) goes through 2 pair of shoes every school year. He is just rough and tough on his shoes. He just hit Jr. High and they are wearing DC's plus he has a pair of Nikes. I am curious to see which one lasts longer. My daughter wears Sketchers all the time BUT she out grows them before she wears them out. Her feet are HUGE!!!! She is 7 years old and wears a 4 1/2 and in flip flops I had to buy her womens small 5/6. I guess my son has big feet also. He is in Mens 8 1/2. I don't know where they get it(I am an 8 and hubby is 11) but if they don't stop growing I picture them joining the circus, LOL. Good luck with the shoes.

If you child is 'hard' on shoes, even New Balanace doesn't last. My oldest DS (he's 8 and has wide feet, so my choices of shoes for him are very limited) goes through shoes like you would not believe. Within a month of wearing them they look all worn out -- it's awful. His current pair are Sketchers (there was one style that must be wider than the others because normally they don't fit him, but these did) and they are actually holding up really well. I was so surprised because he can blow through pairs of New Balance and Stride Rite like they are 'cheap-o' (and of course, they cost me a fortune).

My youngest DS had a pair of Sketchers for over 6 months and they were still in great shape when he grew out of them. He is not nearly as hard on shoes, however.

Sarah........