Clarks First Shoes Product Review

Motherhood Diaries recently received a £30 voucher, which couldn’t have come at a better time as my youngest, Aidan, goes through shoes like his dinners, quickly and with no remorse. So, I decided to use them to buy some Clarks my first shoes for Aidan and this is how we got on:

Clarks’ Website and Social Media Networks:

Website:    http://www.clarks.co.uk*

Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/clarks.shoes

Twitter:    https://twitter.com/clarksshoes

YouTube:    http://www.youtube.com/user/clarksshoes

What is Clarks all about?

In the Somerset village of Street in 1825, James Clark was busy working at the tannery owned by his brother, Cyrus. Among the sheepskin rugs, the off-cuts and cast-offs were piling up when James had a brainwave: “Slippers!”

And the rest, as they say, is history. A few stitches here and a few years later, the sheepskin slipper was born.

The sheepskin slipper was the very first Clarks shoe and Clarks have been going strong ever since. Clarks stock all kind of shoes, from court shoes and winklepickers to wedge heels, sandals and sneakers.

Clarks rebranded in the noughties to keep up with competition and moved their manufacturing to overseas to maintain their stance in today’s high street.

New technology, state-of-the-art facilities and love of shoes means they’re not only the number one shoe brand in the UK, but they’re also the world’s largest casual and smart shoe company, and the fourth largest footwear company on the planet!

The shoes you can get from Clarks are:

• Women’s shoes
• Men’s shoes
• Kid’s shoes
• School shoes
• Baby walking shoes and boots
• Babies pre-walking shoes and cruising shoes

Reviewer:

Aidan (2 years old)

Which shoes did we pick from the Clarks range and how much did it cost?

Minnow FST Clarks Boys Shoes in Brown Leather. I couldn’t find the shoes on Clarks’ website, most likely because they have been discontinued, but we got the pair for half price and on sale at £17.99! We really liked the Clarks Roamer Craft* and Clarks Converse Crocs shoes, but we ended up going for the Minnow FST Clarks Baby Shoes.

Where can you buy Clarks baby shoes?

In all Clarks* and participating shoe stores in the UK.

Click here for a range of Clarks First Shoes*

How do Clarks ‘First Shoes’ work?

The Clarks ‘First Shoes’ range offers different shoes to fit the rapidly growing feet of a baby/toddler.

The ‘Pre-walking’ Range

Clarks’ Pre-walking range* offer shoes for non-walkers, with a firm but gentle heel stiffener to cradle unstable feet. The shoes offer ultra-soft lining, which is easy on a baby’s feet and skin, and fully adjustable rip-tape fastenings to provide a secure fit to allow parents to remove and put on shoes – even with constant motion!

The pre-walker shoes are made of breathable premium leather to ensure the baby’s feet never get too hot or cold. A built-in toe protector combines with soft and squidgy leather for comfort, flexibility, and allowing the baby’s feet room to wriggle and grow.

The sole has strong gripping rubber which helps give confidence with every movement and a strong yet super-flexible sole provides all the support baby will need. Whole and half sizes are available with a range of widths to ensure the perfect fit.

The First Shoes Walking Collection

The First Walkers Collection* offers shoes for the baby who is taking their first wobbly steps. The heel is specially designed for babies learning to walk and features a firm, but gentle heel stiffener to cradle unstable feet. The shoes offer an ultra-soft leather lining, which is easy on baby’s feet and gentle on baby’s skin.

Fully adjustable fastenings provide great security and ensure the best fit and the design that enables parents to open up the shoes easily, putting them on and taking them off with no problems. These first shoes offer contrasting materials, stitched details, on-trend colour and colour combinations to mix and match with the baby’s wardrobe.

The shoes offer breathable, premium leather uppers which mean little feet are never too hot or cold. The toe is soft and squidgy for comfort and flexibility, yet with growing room built-in, allowing baby’s feet to wriggle, wiggle and grow naturally.

The sole is developed to be super flexible while giving all the support wobbly walkers need. Soles also feature strong gripping rubber, giving confidence with every step. Shoes are available in whole and half sizes and a range of widths to ensure the best fit for growing feet.

Click here for a range of Clarks First Shoes*

Review

Both of my boys go through shoes so quickly because they are very active and play outside on multiple terrains every day. So, when I was offered the chance to review Clarks shoes for Aidan, 2 years old, it was very important to find a pair that not only withstood the test of time, but as spring/summer was coming up and there would be days when it could still get cold, I wanted to find a pair that was versatile enough to withstand the test of UK weather too.

It was coming up to that time to measure Aidan’s feet* again, so we ventured to Elephant & Castle’s Clarks outlet store, hoping there would be more variety of shoes on offer than our local store in Stanmore, which is tiny.

It was a bit of a trek to get there, but we had to be at London Bridge for Aidan’s dental appointment anyway, so it was only a 25-minute walk to Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, where we found the surprisingly big Clarks outlet store quickly.

A very helpful staff member ushered us to sit down by the kids’ shoes and, as Aidan was fast asleep and snoring away after our long journey, the lady quickly measured his feet before he woke up. I was surprised at how much his feet had grown! His left foot was 6 ½F and his right foot was a 6G, so the lady advised us to find a 6 ½F to accommodate both of his feet.

Having a look at the variety of shoes on display, we only found one pair of shoes in a 6 ½ F and I actually really liked them. They were half price at £17.99, so I tried them on Aidan’s feet, they seemed to fit, and I bought them with the vouchers.

So, what are the Minnow FST Clarks Boys Shoes in Brown Leatherlike?

The brown leather Minnow summer shoes have adjustable Velcro fastenings, complete with a full heel cup to easily place the shoes on Aidan’s feet. The shoes’ leather material upper felt strong and sturdy, with attractive stitching detail to add to the quality. The casual summer shoes have open panels and padding to the collar and insole.

These Clarks shoes are very versatile with a lovely brown colour to suit most outfits. Aidan could run about quite easily in these shoes and didn’t seem at all uncomfortable when wearing them.

Sadly Clarks don’t make the Clarks Brown Leather Minnow First Shoes.

Click here for a range of Clarks First Shoes*

What did I like most about Clarks Brown Leather Minnow First Shoes?

The great quality of the leather material on these baby walkers shoes and the open panels ensure the feet breathe inside the shoes. The Velcro fastening made it really easy to slip the shoes on and off my busy boy.

What to watch out for:

I haven’t noticed anything negative about these shoes yet, as they are still quite new. Aidan has been out to the playground, the shops, and in the garden with these shoes and they still look remarkable. There is definitely a great range of quality Clarks shoes for toddlers at a great price, and if you can catch them at half price like we did, you’re onto a winner!

Click here for a range of Clarks First Shoes*

Other points to note:

Clarks’ website offers a bank of information* on how baby’s feet grow and the different styles of shoes available, so it’s worth looking and educating yourself on the shoes that are ideal for your baby’s feet.

Rating:

5 out of 5

Great quality shoes from Clarks who seem to be very knowledgeable on how to look after babies’/toddlers’ feet, so I would feel reassured to go back to them and buy the next stage shoes for both of my boys. I am now on the lookout for baby girl Clarks shoes for my daughter!

Click here for a range of Clarks First Shoes*

FAQs

What are the most comfortable shoes for new walkers?

There are quite a few great types of toddler shoes from top brands you can choose from. Here are some options:

• Mary Jane Toddler Shoes* (Girls shoes)
• Clarks Pre Walkers*
• Infant Clarks Wallabees*
• Infant Clarks Shoes*
• Baby Clarks Desert Boots*
• Clarks Baby First Walkers*
• Clarks Baby Sandals*
• Clarks Cruisers*
• Clarks shoes for babies*
• Clarks toddler shoes*

Is it true that half size shoes are the same length as whole size shoes but just a bit wider?

Not necessarily.

Make sure you check Clarks’ measure-at-home size guide* and use their measuring gauge* to ensure you get the right size for your growing toddler’s feet.

If you are still struggling with measuring your toddler’s feet, you can contact Clarks’ customer service*. I couldn’t find an email address but they have a live chat service you could use. Prewalker shoes should be correctly fitted and the right size for baby’s feet to grow.

You could go into the store too and have a proper fitting done for free.

*We were gifted the Clarks shoes as part of a 100% honest review – all thoughts and opinions are our own

*Links marked with a ‘*’ are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases