What to consider when buying sneakers or cross trainers for your child for school

With summer holidays entering their final stretch, familiar cries of "I'm bored" are being replaced with the equally unnerving "I need new shoes".

Many state and alternative schools have less stringent uniform policies than in the past, meaning students are often permitted to wear sneakers or cross trainers rather traditional black leather shoes.

But there is a huge range of styles and prices, so what are some of the things parents need to consider when buying?

Comfort over conformity

Sydney-based paediatric podiatrist Rudo Makuyana has been working in the industry for more than 12 years and co-runs two clinics.

Over the past five years in particular, Dr Makuyana has observed a general trend towards people seeking comfort above all else when it comes to footwear — and she says school students are no exception.

"Traditional school shoes have historically been quite uncomfortable," she says.

"There has been a shift in schools, and I think it's come from the general public shifting and going more for comfort than having that really strong, corporate aesthetic cloak, which we used to favour in the past."

Dr Makuyana is quick to point out that fashion shouldn't be the main driving factor when shopping for a non-leather school shoe — and sneakers and cross trainers are not necessarily interchangeable terms.

Cross trainers versus sneakers

"They call them cross trainers because what that means is it's something which is more versatile — it can transition from standing, to walking to running, which is really good for schoolkids, because they do all kinds of things throughout the day."

Conversely, some well-known brands of street and skate shoes "are quite popular, but sometimes they're not the most comfortable and I wouldn't recommend them for a school shoe for kids".

She says many styles of sneakers, as opposed to cross trainers, have hard, flat soles, which mean they don't offer much support. At the opposite end of the spectrum, she says some sneakers have excessively soft soles, which means they can wear down quickly.

"The outsole has to be nice, firm and supportive but it has to be grippy as well … that's how you tell the difference between a dress sneaker or a cross trainer — it's the grip underneath the shoe.

"Dress shoes don't tend to have a lot of grip, they're just smooth."

If the shoe fits…

According to consumer group CHOICE's guide on how to buy the best school shoes, you should have the size of your child's feet measured every four months up to the age of five, and roughly every six months thereafter until their feet have fully grown.

But with stationery, books, bags, lunch boxes and a host of other back-to-school items to budget for, that doesn't mean you shouldn't feel compelled to buy new shoes at the start of term one — especially if your child's current school footwear was purchased late in the year and is still fit for purpose.

As Dr Makuyana puts it, "it's absurd to think that children's feet — all of them — grow in January".

"I do think people have to first have a look at the shoes to see, 'Does my kid really need a new pair of shoes?'"

Similarly, she says it's a misconception to think buying shoes in January means you'll be off the hook for the rest of the school year.

"If they're growing, you might have one shoe-size change in a 12-month period — some boys can even go through two shoe size changes in a year."

Tips for keeping costs down

If you're looking for cost-effective options — or in a position to help those struggling with cost-of-living pressures — some areas have "Pay it Forward" groups on Facebook, where shoes children have outgrown can be picked up free. School parent groups are a possible place to ask, too.

Some variety supermarket chains offer decent-quality children's shoes as part of their weekly specials.

When it comes to buying cross trainers, Dr Makuyana recommends shopping around for specials and visiting factory outlets, if you have any nearby.

"Big brands will have outlet stores, so I would go there first because you can often get 50 per cent [off the full cost] and have a really good shoe for a very low price."

And if you notice a particularly good deal, and your budget allows, she recommends also picking up a pair a size bigger.

"If you see a shoe on sale, like 50 per cent off, and you have a child between the ages of five and 14, I would buy the next size up and just keep it in the wardrobe.

"Their foot size is going to grow — it's just a fact."