Stride Rite shoes worth it? Really?

teacherjess · August 2009

My mom is in town and was determined to get DD her first pair of walking shoes, so we went to Stride Rite. I can't believe how expensive the shoes were. We bought a pair that were originally $45 but on sale for $30. The saleswoman told us they'd probably fit for about three months. This seems kind of ridiculously expensive to me. I would never have bought them except my mom was paying and loved them. Do people pay that much to buy new shoes every three months for babies? Do they maybe fit longer than three months? I feel like I'm missing something. They're nice and all, but I feel like I could get a similar shoe at Target for like...$12.

Temp778367875008010 · August 2009

DS is on his 2nd pair of Stride Rite sandals, the 1st were on sale for $30 and my mom paid, the 2nd I got on sale for $18. I don't think I would pay full price, but I definitely think they're worth it if they're on sale. The 1st pair lasted about 2 1/2 months. The 1st pair was the only pair of shoes he had during that time, so spending a little more was worth it.

bim38106 · August 2009

Honestly, yes and no... We got DD a pair of sneakers there when she was a full-on walker, so about 7 months ago. They told us to go up 1/2 a size and she just barely grew out of them after about 6 months! With every other sneaker-type shoe we got her, she would trip or walk funny w/ her foot turned in or something. The sneakers were definitely worth it.

I've found that all the Target shoes we buy her she doesn't do well with. Usually it has to do with her foot turning in with those shoes but not Stride Right ones. Or she trips a lot more, or they don't fit right or whatever.. I'm sure that depends on the child.

However, I did find some Roobeez Tredz for $15 at the Stride Right Outlet. Those fit her really well and she has no problems with them. Now that is worth it to me! I also really like PediPeds for her.

Now I've decided to check the outlets, Marshall's, sales, etc.. and only buy her the nicer shoes, just for less. If I can't find anything, I will still spend the $ over getting her cheap ill-fitting shoes.

Tess12 · August 2009

I got M's shoes at the Stride Rite outlet for $20. They are really nice shoes. Every time I put them on, they just seem very sturdy yet comfortable. I wouldn't pay full price, though. We just couldn't afford it.

ToBeMrsT · August 2009

we buy ds his shoes there b/c he needs wides and I've had a really hard time finding any other shoes that fit him. The sandals he's wearing now are stride rite that I ordered from Zappos for $40, but they are the only ones that don't squeeze his foot. We have a stride rite outlet here, but they never had the 5 1/2W that we needed so I just ordered online.

AlwaysMovinMama · August 2009

Or you can try Ebay! My daughter barely wore her shoes when she started walking and outgrew them fast. I'm sure it's the same for some other parents' around and so when people, like myself, put them up on eBay, they're in pretty good, if not excellent condition!

BabyS2008 · August 2009

We like Stride Rite shoes. He's had about 3 pairs already. My mom always said that a baby should always have good shoes because since their feet are growing they need to have sturdy shoes so this way they grow the right way. I don't know...might be just a myth (I'm pretty sure it is), but this is why we always get DS good brand shoes. Stinks though because he does grow out of them extremely quick.

Paigeo · August 2009

I agree yes and no. We bought a pair of sneakers there. They are really nice and fit her well. DD has been wearing them for about 2-3 months and I think will last at least another 2.

ilovemygirls · August 2009

I always made sure my kids' first shoes were a good, supportive brand. Did so actually until they are about 2ish. Then I usually buy one really good pair of shoes & buy other cheaper (Target) as well. I think some of this comes from my mom, who always insisted we have a good brand of shoes even though we didn't have a lot of $$.

akayf · August 2009

DS has 3 pairs of stride rites. One pair of sneakers which we got Memorial Day weekend. He still has tons of room in them. Got them at the regular store on sale for 30. Got a pair of sandals at the outlet the 1st week of July. Paid 20 for them. Then he has brown dress shoes that were handme downs from my cousin and were barely worn.

My theory is if it's a shoe they are going to wearing a lot...spend the $$$...at the outlet if at all possible!!!! I plan on getting him SR for his everyday shoes. If I find dress shoes for under 20 at the outlet, Marshells etc, then I'll get SR. Otherwise, he's getting Target dress shoes.

MattsWifey<3 · August 2009

YES YES YES!

DD wears stride rite shoes everyday. We get them at the outlet store where they are bit more reasonable.

I have bought her Target and Payless shoes which seem similar but they are never the same. They aren't soft like the SR ones. They cut her up and give blisters after time =(

yoko589 · August 2009

Yes, as long as you can get a good deal. My mom bought DD the sandals she is wearing now on sale and we even bought some sneakers for the fall at the outlet. If you have one close to you, definitely check it out. I don't know about how long they last. DD has been wearing her sandals for almost a month now and she is outgrowing them quick. She much have had a growth spurt because they were big when we got them!! Definitely check it out!

avonbride · August 2009

DS wears only Stride Rites because he was a really wide foot and a "high" foot as well, so he needs "tall" shoes (on top) if that makes sense. After trying to squeeze his foot in cheaper shoes from everywhere else, I gave up.

I just bought him 5 pairs for $150 total. DH about had a heart attack. But I bought for the next 3 sizes up so he'll be set for hopefully 6+ months!

The more I think about it, I'm glad I did it. At least the shoes are made well and are supporting his feet. Honestly the shoes should be more important than the clothes because they're not just for looks. I'd much rather have him in good shoes (meaning structure wise) and used/cheap/hand me down clothes.

I know my parents use to have me in keds and jellies and anything they could afford, and I wonder if that's the cause of my foot problems today.

Definitely check out Ebay and the sales.

lite-bright · August 2009

Would I pay full price for them? No. Not in the budget.

But I paid $20 for a pair of sneakers at a local Stride Rite outlet just before DD started walking, around 14 months. They were a little big at the time, and they're just now starting to get snug. So I've been very happy with the amount of wear we've gotten out of them.

She has the one pair of sneakers, and then a couple of pairs of cheaper sandals that she wears a lot. I'll probably pick up a new pair of Stride Rite sneakers for her soon.

teacherjess · August 2009

Okay, I think I need to find an outlet. Because there is no way we'll be able to afford to keep her in Stride Rite every three months, but it sounds like they are good shoes. She's walking great in them right now.

KristenBtobe · August 2009

Unfortunately we need them too. Maggie's got a wide (fat) and small foot, right now she's in a 3.5W. There aren't a lot of walker options in that size!

There's an outlet at Jeffersonville and one at the new outlet mall in Monroe! See you there. Smile

megan&jay · August 2009

We just splurged and bought DD her 1st pair today because she also has litle fat feet.

They are very pricey but want her to have the support early on and then will buy cheaper later. They have a fall sale now so buy 1 get 1 50% off so we bought her size now and then what they were recommending for 2-3 months. Said just to bring her and the shoes in to be sure they fit and if we need to change the size there will be no issue

She loved them and had no issues and seemed to walk even better

RobynandJason050706 · August 2009

We are all about stride rite. I totally beleive they need to good shoes in the beginning. When they are older you can skimp and get not so good shoes. First my son has got feet the size of a 3 - 4 year old hes only 17m. Hes wearing as of yesterday 8 1/2 xtra wide. Good luck finding those kind of shoes anywhere other than SR.

I never knew of outlets for them. We spent 125 bucks yesterday on a new pair of sandals and sneakers for him. No choice for us regardless if they are in the budget or not the kid needed shoes. We were told hes gonna grow alot quicker out of them then the average sized baby.

funchicken · August 2009

They're great. I try to shop sales or the outlet. She wears her sneakers every single day and always seems comfortable, so even if I paid full price I think it would be worth it for how much use she gets out of them.

purplepuggles · August 2009

i work at the daycare center at stride rite corporate headquarters and they do SO much research on kids feet...they take video, do wear tests, have tested different insoles, video of kids standing from sitting and vice versa, as well as walking, running and even climbing on the playground. they are really thorough. for that reason alone i will be getting stride rite shoes when jack is walking. i know how much research went into them and that they actually care about children's feet. plus they let my toddlers play with their tools - SUCH nice people :-)

they own robeez and saucony too, just as an FYI. oh, and payless!

momtoRaegan041008 · August 2009

I only buy them on sale and I think they are worth it. They were the first pair of shoes we bought DD when she started walking, mainly for outside. She will wear them all day and hates to take them off. They seem so comfortable. I guess I have nothing to compare them too. They have lasted us 4 months and I noticed the other day they are starting to get snug. I guess it just depends on how fast your child's feet grow. They also have a clearance sale online right now and there is a coupon out there for an extra 20% off. I was able to get shoes for $23 a pair.

Erin&Rod · August 2009

Yes!!! It's funny because I'm so cheap when it comes to buying my own shoes, but I will spend 40-50 dollars on good shoes for DS that he will grow out of in a few months. They are very sturdy and seem to be comfortable. We have the target shoes too, but they are not sturdy and DS would stop in the middle of walking and point down to his feet, like he was uncomfortable.

autumn423 · August 2009

I barely like the design but I figured let her first pair of real walking shoes be good shoes and then once she can walk we can put her in other brands. But at the price I paid I should have her wearing them 24/7

Want a personalized experience?

Stride Rite shoes worth it? Really?

Re: Stride Rite shoes worth it? Really?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards