best tennis shoes for kids on a budget

[Sativarain1]

I'm so tired of buying tennis shoes for my boys every couple of months because of the wear/tear. I've bough Nike, Sketchers, Old Navy tennis shoes, cheap Payless shoes.....
They just wear them out so fast, holes, ripping apart from the edges etc... and I can barely afford to keep buying them shoes.
What is reasonably priced and hold up better?

[BetsyS]

We've had good luck with Merrells. Also, in summer, mine live in Keens.

[BathrobeGoddess]

Originally Posted by BetsyS

We've had good luck with Merrells. Also, in summer, mine live in Keens.

I second Keens!!! For tennies, my kids wear converse chuck taylors...

[cschick]

Originally Posted by Sativarain1

I'm so tired of buying tennis shoes for my boys every couple of months because of the wear/tear. I've bough Nike, Sketchers, Old Navy tennis shoes, cheap Payless shoes.....
They just wear them out so fast, holes, ripping apart from the edges etc... and I can barely afford to keep buying them shoes.
What is reasonably priced and hold up better?

My boy lives in Lands End all weather mocs, and he's outgrown them before doing any damage to them. They are not tennis shoes, but combination shoes--tough bottoms and comfy insides like tennis shoes but a slightly nicer suede-like surface. If you watch their overstocks and sales pages, you can generally find them a few times a year for $10 or less.

[doubledutch]

my boys each get one new pair of shoes every six months, and they wear those shoes every day. they've lasted pretty well. some of the brands i can think of are new balance, stride rite, sperry . . . we have wide feet. my boys are young (preschoolers), so i don't know if stride rite sizes would work for your kids, but new balance come in every size, and i think you can find them around $30 on sale.

their last new shoes were in november (which still look great but ds1's are getting tight), so they just got crocs for the summer and will probably get new tennies at the beginning of the school year. not sure how well the crocs will hold up, but i figured they're more widely useful than sandals (will stay on better, better for the playground).

[KayleeZoo]

My DS wears only Stride Rite (he needs XW) and they hold up really well. Sometimes you can get them very reasonably priced online- especially on Amazon.

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by cschick

My boy lives in Lands End all weather mocs, and he's outgrown them before doing any damage to them. They are not tennis shoes, but combination shoes--tough bottoms and comfy insides like tennis shoes but a slightly nicer suede-like surface. If you watch their overstocks and sales pages, you can generally find them a few times a year for $10 or less.

DS is 8. He also wears a lot of crocs.

[lilyka]

sketchers suck. avoid those.

we got champion Tennies from payless I think and those things wore really well. they lasted about 9 months. not bad for $20.

we have had good luck with shoes from gap.

the best quality shoes I have seen are keen and merril.

[ashleyhaugh]

i love converse chuck taylors too, especially since they hold up in the washer theyre $25 at journeys kidz, and target has the one stars for like $18.

[mbhf]

Keens. they're more expensive than i would usually want to spend, but they fit 2 of my boys so well it's worth it. My 7yo got a new pair in August, wore them every day until June when he got new crocs and started wearing them every day. They're still in great condition after hard daily wear and have been washed 2-3 times in the washing machine. He will surely outgrow them before they wear out.

[HipGal]

I agree with the Lands End suggestion. We have purchased the all-weather shoes mentioned earlier as well as athletic shoes from Lands End. Prices are great and they hold up really well. I recommend getting on their email list to hear about sales and free shipping offers, etc. I ordered shoes for myself from Lands End as well and they are comfy, look good, and don't cost too much.

[Lineymom]

My kids only wear crocs in the summer. Last year they had some knock-offs that were just as good. Couldn't find any this year.
I agree lands end mocs last forever. We have 2 pair that have been thru 2 boys and still look great! They are the ones w/ the zipper.

[Defenestrator]

We've had good luck with new balance shoes for my older son who won't wear anything but tennies. Sketchers have been terrible. The cheap tennies from target last just a few weeks. My 6 year old has worn nothing but a pair of keens (which were bought a little big last year) since May. They seem still in pretty good shape.

The way that the keen sandals are now, with an adjustable top and back means that you can buy them a wee bit big, which makes them last longer.

[Hey Mama!]

Another vote for New Balance. My oldest dd has literally destroyed every other type of tennis shoe, and those have been the only brand that has held up to her abuse.

[zebra15]

New Balance, Keens, Merrill and Stride Rite are all brands that my now 9yr old Ds is unable to demolish. he loves Crocs too and those hold up well. All those brands also fit his WIDE THICK foot.

[cedoreilly]

Stride Rite hold up best for my boys. I get a pretty good deal on them (less than $20 or so) at the Outlets. My older boys like Sauconys now. They don't hold up as well as the Stride Rites but they wear them everyday and they will usually get about 6 months (or when they out grow them) out of them. I get them again at the Stride Rite Outlet and usually score them for around $25-30.

[sanguine_speed]

[lilyka]

casual athletic-style footwear. thats pretty much my definition. well and that lace up. They really aren't tennis shoes unless they lace up or velcro I guess would also count.

[mbhf]

Originally Posted by sanguine_speed

What are tennis shoes?
People seem to be referring to any kind of everyday shoe for kids? I've never heard of casual athletic-style footwear being called tennis shoes.

where are you from? honestly I've always heard casual athletic style footwear called tennis shoes.

[AAK]

Originally Posted by sanguine_speed

What are tennis shoes?
People seem to be referring to any kind of everyday shoe for kids? I've never heard of casual athletic-style footwear being called tennis shoes.

Tennis shoes AKA sneakers.

Where are you buying the shoes? Sports Authority will take them back if they have holes within 2 months. They also now offer "shoe insurance" which I thought was funny--but if I was buying shoes as often as you without changing sizes. . . I might think about it. It gives 12 months protection.

But, when buying the shoes, make sure the rubber from the sole extends over the toe area--gives them extra life. Sketchers do totally suck, so skip them. We like asics (sp?), new balance, and avias. We can't do Lands End cause of narrow feet. I love my keens--I don't think they will EVER where out. And they never stink either.

Amy