Start-Rite Vegan School Shoes Review
School shoes! Having 4 kids I’ve done my fair share of shopping for kid’s school shoes and it’s not easy, is it?! There’s the stress of finding the right size, in a comfortable fit, in a style the kids like AND one that won’t fall apart in the first few days! I’ve been checking out Start-Rite’s new brand of Vegan school shoes for kids – yes Vegan! It’s brilliant to see a trusted brand giving more choice and alternatives to families. Everything about the shoes are vegan, even down to the glue they use and they don’t cost anymore than regular leather shoes so you don’t have to pay a higher price for being ethical. Check out our review of the Start Rite’s Vegan school shoe range below and shop the collection here.
Vegan School Shoes for Kids
If you don’t want to compromise your ethical values but also want to have school shoes for your kids that are reliable and last the school year, we’ve been testing these vegan school shoes and have been impressed with their durability.
Our eleven-year-old gets through shoes a lot quicker than the girls – mainly due to the constant football playing and so we are always on the lookout for strong indestructible school shoes that won’t fall apart! All parents want to buy shoes that last without spending a fortune and without sacrificing comfort. As kids wear school shoes everyday, you want to be sure they’re comfortable whilst also ensuring they can withstand the tough test of playing football, climbing trees and daily playground races! I love the idea of strong, comfortable school shoes that are also flexible as you want your kids to enjoy school and be kids without worrying that they’ll ruin their shoes.
Start Rite School Shoe Sizing
Like many people nowadays, we shopped for our shoes online. We use the sizing guide which was helpful on the website and as Start-Rite school shoes come in with half a size growing room – they fitted the kids perfectly! However, as with most new shoes, they were a bit tight for the first few days so our kids took out the removable insole until they had stretched a little and then popped the insole back in. I’d say these shoes took a little longer to break in then leather shoes but I also think this means they will last longer too!
How strong are Start Rite’s vegan school shoes?
We’ve been testing out Start-Rite’s Vegan collection of eco-friendly school shoes and have found the front of the shoes to be scuff proof and so far the shoes have stood up to the test of playground scuffs and scrapes. The shoes feel really well put together and they look like they’ll offer great durability but they’re also water-resistant, soft and lightweight. I would not have been able to tell the difference between the leather and the vegan kid’s shoes.
Shoes come in lace up designs for older kids and Velcro fixings for younger kids. Orla tried out a Mary Jane style called Bliss which she loved – they’re pretty but comfy. Finlay and Archie tried out the Engineer classic design which benefits from padded ankle support and an enhanced toe and heel protection – perfect for all that football playing!
It was also a bonus to find that they are easily wipe clean – perfect for those rushed school mornings! You can shop for the collection of Start Rite Vegan friendly school shoes here.
The kids have loved the designs, they’re smart enough for any school policy but kids also love them. Finlay had a certain swag to his step when he them on and they certainly look strong – fingers crossed they’ll stand the test of time! It’s important for me that they’ll be comfortable and ready for whatever school has in store for them!
More Ideas for Ethical Family Living
If you’d like to make more ethical family swaps – try our ideas for Plastic Free Family Living.
**Disclosure: We were gifted these shoes by Start-Rite for the purpose of this review. However, these are all my own photos, honest words and opinions.**
