Narrow school shoes for 12yo boy

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Hi

Does anyone one have any suggestions for narrow school shoes for a 12 yo boy? I am in Australia but interested to hear if there are international options.

 

12 yo, yes but what size foot is he?

there is not a lot out there that are narrow fit as most companies have dropped narrow fit for the box, "everyone will fit in that"

What state are you in?
if you are in SA try Footwear Plus, ask for Jodi or Ben.
Victoria you can try Bilby shoes both are Aussie made products and l know Bilby do still have three width fittings in most size ranges

 

Simple solution.....add an extra layer of 1/8" neoprene insole (i.e. Spenco) inside the shoe and this should help make the shoe fit much better for a narrow foot.

 

KK l agree that may help to tighten up the fore foot, but it wont do anything for heel slip

 

You can always fit the boy to a woman's athletic shoe which always tend to run more narrow in the heel counter and forefoot than do men's shoes.

 

LOL, he will break some hearts in his pink Nike !
...sorry couldnt help myself.

l am not sure KK, but here in Australia if the school has uniform, they will have to wear a leather Black or Brown lace up shoe, no runners allowed except for sports day.

 

Uniform shoes aren't used here much in California, except in Parochial schools, and even those schools are becoming less and less rigid on styles of shoes for children. I'm sure it is different in every country/community.

I was thinking more of a white women's tennis shoe or something along those lines....don't think I would have been wearing any pink on my shoes at age 12.

 

Unfortunately he is required to wear black lace-ups. Most of his life he has been issued prefab orthotics which have take up some of the extra room but I would like to find a better fitting shoe first then see what else is required.

Currently wears Size 8 (mens) and a lot of growing still to go.

I am in Melbourne so I will check out Bilby shoes. Thanks for the info. Maybe even getting them to try the girls school shoes might be an option? Maybe less width and hopefully not obviously 'girly'...odd but I have often recommended narrow footed males try on womens runners but never thought about school shoes!

 

Sorry but to my knowledge there is no difference in the width fitting boy V girls school shoe.

All are made on a standard last until you get into the really feminine looking styles with greater heel pitch, which are now not that common as schools crack down on "The right Shoe".

KK l now you were thinking Black or white

 

Ascent school shoes, particularly the black lace-up Apex Max Narrow comes in standard and narrow widths for men sizes 7.5 US and above.
They conform with the 'traditional' look of a black or brown lace-up school shoe.
Unfortunately however, like most things, I believe they are not made in Australia.
I am aware they are sold at The Athlete's Foot, but beyond that I am unsure.

 

And according to their website it is priced at $139.95, it better fit real good for that price.

http://www.theathletesfoot.com.au/Consumer/Find-Shoes/Search/Products/119741

Whilst the Aussie made Bilby, full leather lining and upper are $85.00; measured and fitted.

 

Absolutely agree Boots n all!

I see on the website www.bilbyshoes.com that you are located in Thomastown, Victoria.
Can you inform me whether Bilby shoes can be purchased in the Sydney area and if so, where?

Thanks,

Lisa

 

LOL, no thanks, been there done that, we use to supply into ACT, NSW, SA, TAS and of course VIC.

But we struggle to keep up with our own demands these days as we expanded our own retail presence, plus we get more in hand at retail prices and get paid ASAP.

This is a much happier life:drinks

 

Glad to hear your business is thriving!

Shame for us Sydney-siders though, a good quality Australian product is hard to come by!

Cheers for the reply.

 

Actually check out J. Robins & son shoes, if your in Syndey, makers of "Sandler" and a few other brands, Sydney based, ask for Phil Butt, (02) 97899888, tell him l sent you.

 

Will do. Thanks for the lead David.

 

A trainer/running shoe in all black, accompanied by a letter stating it is for medical reasons should suffice. Every atheletic shoe worth their salt does an all black for this specific purpose.

New Balance do about 4 width fittings in every size, not sure if they start at normal and go wider, or if they start with a narrow and go up. There is a lacing technique that utlises the very top top hole of the lace run, the one that goes around the ankle - using that locks in the ankle a lot better and stops a lot of slipping around the ankle. Good for skinny ankles and narrow heels.

KK's suggestion is good too. I'd do it all. It isn't an easy problem, but it isn't that hard. I hate skinny feet, wide are much easier to find!

 

What "medical" reason could you state that required a runner/trainer as apposed to a leather shoe?

 

ali8un
PM sent

 

In cases like this, what school is going to go against the word of a medical professional...they are all too afraid of being sued. I don't bother giving them a diagnosis - none of their business and patient confidentiality. I just write a letter saying that they need them based on my professional medical opinion.

Black Reebok Classic trainers - the female version(I think based on my experience of seeing them might be slightly narrower on a female shoe and they look eactly the same as the boys version). Add a 3mm layer of something and pad the tongue with semi compressed felt 6 - 9mm.

Good luck

Robin

 

Sooo, no medical reason then.:wacko:

There will be a line up of children out the front of every Podiatrists over the next few weeks, as all the children that prefer to wear runners as apposed to the school uniform leather school shoe wait for their "what school is going to go against the word of a medical professional"

Thats not going to fly very well, we had a case only last week, the 14 year old girl could not fit into a "Normal" school shoe, had a letter from a GP stating this fact.

They sent the child to us we fitted her into a Extra depth 4E product $270.00, the school subsidized the cost.

We get about 5-6 a year where a child is sent or bought to us by the school to resolve such issues every year, so important is uniform the school will pay for the right product, well l think its the "State school fund", but the school writes the cheque.

Sorry Robin, your word is good enough for me, but your word wont be good enough to get that one past.

 

I get sent kids often who have problems finding footwear who I fit with modular orthopaedic shoes. The consultant refers to me. I make the shoes. No medical reason but it still carries a medical referral

It is no business of the school why I deem a trainers style shoe to be more appropriate whether there is a medical reason or not. THe child has been referred to me for help and I try to help them. Sometimes that is making them some shoes. Sometimes that involves educating them in the vast array of wider fitting shoes now available.

I think you'll agree, however, that narrow feet are a bit different and a bit more tricky than wide feet. I am also more than capable of determining whether or not a foot needs a regular shoe or something bespoke or needs to wear a trainer. I would not advocate doling out letters to school kids who just didn't want to wear school shoes and I have no problems telling the parents as such. I am no stranger to run ins with parents who just want theri kids to be able to wear something they want to wear

It is obviously a bit different in the UK. No one has ever questioned my word when I have requested special dispensation for a child to wear a particular type of footwear.

If schools in Aus are well off enough to dole out for bespoke footwear to be made for school shoes then bully for them. Personally, I can think of many better ways for that money to be spent

But that is just my opinion....

Robin

 

If a child comes to me and for reasons I deem requires a specific type of shoe, whether that be a black trainer or other shoe, I will not hesitate to write to the school requesting their lenience regarding footwear. I never, ever do it on request of patients, at my, the health professional's reasoning. I probably only have to do this a few times a year, and I am f/t paeds.

Robin, I am in the UK and the NHS. Children require pushing to go for a trainer for school here, heaven forbid a British child to do anything outside the norm for their peers. I sometimes need to write a letter specifying they be allowed to wear trainers for PE, as the education system here insits on them being barefoot or worse, plimsolls (shoes-of-the-devil that make a Dunlop Volley seem as supportive as a Brooks Beast)

I guess it depends on the market you are in, and the social culture too.

 

that reason may often be that they need to have a supportive shoe that will accomodate their orthoses, and that the retail market that season may be appalling. I make that a, if not 'medical' (to be pedantic), then certainly a health need. And my letter states that they have a condition that requires they wear an orthosis as part of their treatment and that in their particular case they may require specific shoes with adequate support in order to maximally benefit from them. Again, it's only a few cases per year, so it needs to be kept in perspective.
When a simple retail trainer will do the job, $270 for a pair of shoes seems to be a bit excessive. Esp when they grumble about even the cost of the trainers

 

You must have very poor quality school shoes over there in the UK, that these simple fitting issue's cant be resolved with the product available.

l have not seen anything in a trainer that cant be offered in a quality school shoe for the support, fit of foot and orthosis if required.

In-fact l cant think of a single "Medical reason" why one would need a trainer as apposed to a school shoe??

 

Plenty David:
Sever's short term stint in runners in some kids can be better than their black leather lace-ups.
Try fitting most of the afo's in a standard black leather lace up where as a great number fit in the off the shelf runner.
Our toe walkers we get into a flat soled basket ball boot.

Not all kids have access to those sort of funds in schools. I am glad most of the state schools are moving towards runners with more flexibility and breathability for active kids.

 

Thank you Cylie.

Whilst l agree with the AFO fitting that you have stated l struggle with the "more flexibility and breathability" in runners than a leather shoe, maybe 15 or even 10 years ago yes, but not any longer.

Both PU and Pyhlon soling materials have improve their technology, giving far greater flexibility and light weight.

l would be happy to put the Bata Premium school shoe range up against any runner suitable for school children for flexibility and breathability with its leather upper and lining and PU sole.

 

Goodaye David, I was told the adhesive used between the upper and lining was the main impediment for porosity/permeability rather than the materials themselves and that the 'modern' synthetics were on a par with leather for same. Is this not so then? thanks, mark

 

Good point Mark.

Not a lot use too much adhesive to bond leather upper to leather lining, (cost of material and labor) excluding the heel stiffener and toe puff area, l know we dont, we rely on the adhesive impregnated to those two components and the mold-able properties of the leather lining to hold its shape.

Synthetic linings on the other hand are not as mold-able as leather (as a rule) and need to be bonded to the entire upper to prevent the lining falling inside the shoe or wearing out quickly due to rubbing between upper and lining, see inside a pair of runners when the lining has come loose near the heel.

Tested as an individual raw material most of the modern, quality synthetics materials would test as good as leather, maybe even better, but as you point out, once the adhesive is applied everything changes.

Go with a good quality sock will help.

 

thanks David, makes sense