Putting Start-rite Rhino Warrior School Shoes to the Test

Start-rite were looking for a boy to thoroughly test out their Rhino Warrior, Black Leather Boys Riptape School Shoes and luckily I have one who was perfect for the job.

When it comes to school shoes, my ten-year-old son has an appetite for destruction.  I don’t know what he does to them but he has had at least double the amount of shoes his brother has had over the years.  He hates putting them on properly, choosing the lazy option of squeezing his feet into the shoe and wearing the backs down. Laces have proven to be somewhat challenging.  He can do them up but they never stay done up and we have even managed to lose a few pairs of actual laces during a school day. The insoles always come out after a few weeks and I then have to glue them back in every few weeks. And in spite of regular polishing, his shoes look new for about a week before he has “worn” them in.  As he is quite active, he is also rather good at wearing down the soles so that there is no grip left at all.

Being tough on shoes is an expensive game for mum and I have also learnt the lesson over time that it is worth investing in quality shoes for him, otherwise, I am throwing pairs of shoes away after a few weeks as they are completely destroyed.

So, as you can see, L the shoe destroyer was the perfect choice to try out the Start-rite Rhino shoes. Start-rite is a brand that I would associate with good quality shoes and I like the style and design of the shoes. They are quite sporty looking with strong riptape fastenings which makes them so much easier to get on and off.

So what do you need to know about the Rhino Warrier Boys School Shoe? It is a very robust looking shoe with excellent grip on the sole (very important if you have active boys). The cost at the time of writing is £55 and this is a shoe designed for older boys (size 2 – 9 with 4 width fittings). It is part of the Rhino range and it has;

• Riptape fastening for adjustability and a comfortable fit
• Mesh linings for breathability
• Lightweight, durable toe bumper sole for comfort and protection
• Padded ankle for comfort and support
• Soft leather upper for comfort
• Removable sock

L was immediately impressed by the shoes.  He liked the double riptape fastening, he said that they were really comfortable and we didn’t have any of the usual moans that accompany new shoes.  He has been wearing them for three weeks (and trust me when I tell you that we have had more than a few pairs that have not lasted that long with him), so how are they looking now?

As you can see, the shoes are worn in.  I would expect that from an active child who has worn the shoes every weekday for three weeks.  But, they are still looking good.  There are scuff marks on the toes but the soles of the shoes are still looking really solid. L loves the shoes and likes the  fact that he doesn’t have to contend with laces but can still have shoes that look quite grown up. The only thing he didn’t like is the fact that the insole is removable, he finds that really annoying but apart from that, the shoes have been a success.  Unless he has a massive growth spurt over the summer holidays, hopefully, he will get a lot more wear out of them in September.

I am impressed with the shoes.  At £55, that is more than what I would consider paying for school shoes normally but I have now accepted that it is worth paying extra for comfort and durability and as they have been such a success with my (very fussy) son, I would definitely consider buying school shoes from Start-rite again.

We were sent this pair of shoes for the purpose of the review.  All opinions are our own. 

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