Camper Girls Right Lace-Up Flats Review: comfy leather ballerinas that actually stay on small feet

I bought these Camper Girls Right Lace-Up Flats in size 13 UK for my daughter because I was tired of cheap ballet flats that either gave her blisters or flew off as soon as she started running. I’ve had good experiences with adult Camper shoes, so I wanted to see if the kids’ version was worth the extra money. She’s been wearing them to school and for a couple of dressy events over a few weeks, so they’ve had a decent real-life test: playground, classroom, walking to and from school, and a wedding where she danced like crazy.

First thing: these are proper leather shoes, not plastic-looking shiny stuff. They’re low-cut like classic ballet flats but with the Camper “Right” style and elastic that helps them stay in place. The model name is Right 80025 / K800268, black colour, made in Vietnam. They’re listed as flats with a rubber sole and EVA insole, and they really are very light in the hand. On paper, they look like typical Camper: simple design, focus on comfort, not too flashy.

In practice, they feel like a mix between a dress shoe and a comfy everyday shoe. My kid can put them on alone, which is important in the morning rush. No buckles, no laces to tie, just slip-on with elastic. The brand says “fit to size” and I agree: her usual 13 UK fits fine with a normal sock, not super tight, not loose. If you’re between sizes, I’d probably go up because kids’ feet grow fast and the leather doesn’t feel ultra-stretchy at first.

They’re not perfect, and there are some small things that annoyed me, especially at this price: the insole is a bit basic for long days standing, and the leather marks a bit quicker than I expected for a black shoe. But overall, they’re clearly a step up from supermarket flats. If you’re looking for dressy black flats that a kid can actually wear all day without complaining every ten minutes, these are a pretty solid option.

On value, let’s be clear: these are not budget flats. Camper is usually mid- to high-range for kids’ shoes, and you can easily find cheaper ballerinas in supermarkets or big clothing chains. The question is whether the extra money is justified. After a few weeks of use, I’d say: it depends what you’re looking for. If you just need a pair for one school show or a single wedding, cheaper shoes will probably do the job. If you want something your kid can wear regularly without moaning about pain, these start to make more sense.

Compared to low-cost brands we’ve tried, the main differences are: better leather, softer from day one; a sole that actually bends; and a design that keeps the shoe on the foot without constant adjustments. My daughter doesn’t rush to take them off as soon as she gets home, which is usually a good sign. Also, they’re versatile: black, simple, and acceptable for school, parties, and even some more formal events. So instead of buying one pair for school and another for special occasions, this can cover both, which helps justify the price a bit.

The downside is that inside support is pretty basic. At this price, I wouldn’t have said no to a slightly more cushioned insole or a bit more arch support. For a child with foot issues or who walks a lot every day, you might end up buying an extra insole anyway, which adds to the cost. Also, the leather scuffs relatively quickly, so if you’re picky about looks and don’t want to spend time on shoe care, you might be annoyed by how fast they look “used.”

Overall, I’d rate the value as “good but not amazing.” You’re paying more than for generic flats, but you get better comfort, better build, and a shoe that works for more than one type of occasion. If your budget is tight, there are cheaper options that will do the job short-term. If you can spend a bit more and want a pair your kid can wear often without complaining, these Camper flats are a sensible choice.

Design-wise, these are pretty straightforward. The shape is that classic Camper “Right” line: slightly asymmetrical, rounded toe, and a thin, flexible sole. The black colour is plain, no patterns, which makes them easy to match with school uniforms or more formal outfits. There’s a mention of “subject character: Barbie” in the data, but on the pair I have there is absolutely nothing Barbie about them: no logo, no pink, no drawings. So if you’re expecting a character shoe, that’s not what this is. It’s just a clean, black leather flat.

The main design detail that matters in real life is the elastic strap across the top. The official description says “Ohne Verschluss” (no closure), but in practice the elastic acts as the closure. There are no buckles, no velcro, no laces to tie, which is great for younger kids. My daughter can slip her foot in, pull the elastic a bit, and she’s good to go. That strap is what keeps the shoe on during running and playground chaos. We tested it: she ran, jumped, went on swings, and the shoes stayed on without her constantly stopping to fix them.

The toe area is reasonably generous. My kid has slightly wide feet and many cheap flats squeeze her toes. With these, she didn’t complain about tightness at the front. The heel is low and flat, so no raised heel that would make her wobble or change her posture. The overall look is more “minimalist” than “cute”, so if you like bows, glitter, or flowers, you’ll probably find them a bit boring. Personally, I prefer this kind of design because it ages better and doesn’t look outdated after one season.

One small downside on design: because they’re low-cut and open on the top of the foot, they don’t offer much protection in the rain or in colder weather. Puddles and splashes will get in easily. Also, the black leather shows scuffs on the front after a few days of playground use. Nothing dramatic, but you do see the marks. A quick polish helps, but if you want shoes that always look brand new, you’ll need to maintain them a bit. Overall, the design is practical and kid-friendly, but not really “cute” in the classic kids’ shoe sense.

Comfort is where these shoes do pretty well for the type of product. My daughter wore them several full days in a row: roughly 8–9 hours including walking to school, classroom time, and break times. First day, I asked her in the evening if anything hurt: her answer was “they’re okay, better than my old ones.” No blisters at the heel, no rubbing on the sides, and no red marks from the elastic strap. That’s already a win compared to many stiff dress shoes that need a long break-in period.

The fit is “true to size” as stated. She’s a solid 13 UK in most brands, and this size worked well with regular cotton socks. There’s enough space for the toes to move, and the leather softened a bit after two or three wears. The arch is flat, so if your child needs arch support, you won’t get much from these. For my kid with neutral feet, it was fine. The EVA insole brings a bit of cushioning, but you still feel the ground more than in a trainer. She didn’t complain during class, but on a long walk back from a friend’s house (about 30–40 minutes), she said she would have preferred her sneakers.

The elastic strap is often a problem on some kids’ shoes (too tight, cutting into the foot). Here, Camper seems to have found a decent balance. It’s snug enough to keep the shoe on during running and playground play, but not so tight that it leaves a deep mark. After a day, there was a faint line on the skin, but no redness or pain. She could also take the shoes off and put them back on by herself without the strap twisting or folding awkwardly, which matters for younger kids who hate fiddly shoes.

Overall, comfort is pretty solid for a leather ballet flat: no major hot spots, no rubbing, and light weight. If you’re expecting the comfort of a sports shoe, you’ll be disappointed, but if you compare them to standard girls’ dress flats from random brands, these are clearly a step up. For school days, ceremonies, and everyday city use, they get the job done without daily complaints, which for me is the real test.

The materials are pretty clear: leather upper, rubber sole, EVA insole, and a standard lining (no warm padding). The leather is smooth, not patent, and has that typical Camper feel: soft enough out of the box, but not flimsy. When I pressed and bent the shoe in my hands, there was decent flexibility without feeling like cardboard. Compared to cheaper synthetic flats we’ve had, the leather here breathes better and doesn’t make her feet sweaty as fast, especially on warmer days at school.

The sole is rubber, quite thin, and flexible. You can bend the shoe easily with one hand, which is good for kids’ feet that still need to move naturally. Grip-wise, it’s okay. The pattern is simple, nothing aggressive like a sports shoe, but enough that she didn’t slip on the school corridor floor. We had one rainy day where the ground was wet and shiny; she walked a bit carefully but didn’t skid. I wouldn’t call them rain shoes, but for normal city use they’re fine.

Inside, the insole is EVA foam, which is pretty standard. Cushioning is listed as moderate, and that matches what you feel: there’s some softness, but it’s not a super padded sneaker. After a full school day, my daughter said her feet were “fine”, not tired, but she clearly preferred her trainers for long walks. For a ballet flat, I’d say the comfort and materials are above average, but if your child has very sensitive feet or needs strong support, you might want to add a small insole or choose a more supportive shoe.

One thing to note: the leather marks. After a week of normal use (school + playground), the front of the shoes had a few light scuffs. Not holes, not serious damage, just cosmetic marks that show up on black. A bit of leather cream fixed most of it, but if you’re the type of parent who doesn’t want to bother with care products, expect them to look “used” fairly quickly. On the other hand, the stitching and the glue between upper and sole looked solid, no gaps, no peeling edges so far. So structurally, the materials feel trustworthy, even if the surface finish needs occasional care.

Durability was one of my main questions, because Camper isn’t cheap and kids destroy shoes fast. After several weeks of use (school days + weekends + one big event), the shoes are holding up pretty well. The sole is barely worn at the heel and ball, which means the rubber is decent quality. No chunks missing, no smoothing out in a weird way. The shoe hasn’t lost its shape either: the heel cup is still firm, and the sides haven’t collapsed even though my daughter just kicks them off sometimes when she gets home.

The upper leather is where you see most of the wear. Because they’re black and smooth, every scratch from playground equipment or from tripping on pavement shows a bit. After about 10 days, the toes had a few light greyish marks. Not holes, not deep cuts, just cosmetic scuffs. For a kid’s shoe, I’d say this is normal, but if you want them to stay “perfect” for a wedding or special event, plan to keep them for that and not for daily school use. With some leather cream and a cloth, I managed to make them look much better, so maintenance clearly helps extend the life and look.

The stitching and the glue lines between the leather upper and the rubber sole look strong. I checked around the edges after a few rainy days to see if anything was starting to peel: nothing so far. No loose threads either. For a shoe made in Vietnam at this price point, the build feels trustworthy. They don’t feel like they’ll fall apart in three months, which has happened to us with cheaper supermarket or fast-fashion flats.

Realistically, kids grow so fast that the limiting factor will probably be size, not the shoe dying. I can easily see this pair lasting through a whole school year of regular use, then being passed down to a younger sibling or cousin in “used but still good” condition. If your kid is very rough on shoes (dragging toes on a scooter, constant football at recess), you’ll see more cosmetic damage on the front, but structurally they should survive. So durability is solid, with the usual caveat that black smooth leather always shows its battle scars.

In terms of performance, I looked mainly at three things: how well they stay on, how they handle different activities (walking, running, dancing), and how they survive a few weeks of real kid use. On staying on the foot, they’re good. The combination of the low-cut shape and the elastic strap works. My daughter ran in the schoolyard, did some short sprints with her friends, and even played tag. The shoes didn’t slip off or flap at the heel, which is a common issue with cheap flats. She never had to stop to fix them, which is already a relief.

For walking, they’re light and flexible, so she doesn’t drag her feet or complain about weight. We did a weekend outing where she walked around a shopping centre for a couple of hours and then to a park. No complaints during the day, but again, this isn’t a hiking shoe. If you plan to do long walks every day, I’d still go for trainers. For a mix of school, city, and occasional events, they’re perfectly fine. At a wedding, she danced for about an hour straight, and the shoes stayed in place and didn’t cause blisters, which is often the big test with dress shoes worn without much break-in.

On surfaces, the rubber sole grips reasonably well. She used them on smooth school floors, pavement, and a bit of grass. No big slips. On very smooth wet tiles (think shopping mall entrances when it’s raining), she walked carefully, but that’s the case with most flats. Water resistance is listed as “water resistant”, but I’d interpret that as “okay if you step in a small puddle, not okay as rain boots”. The leather handled light splashes fine, but if it’s really raining, water will get in from the top opening anyway.

After a few weeks, the overall structure is still good: no loose seams, no peeling sole, no deformed heel. The only visible wear is on the front of the shoe: some scuffs and scratches on the leather, which is normal with kids. A quick clean and a bit of black polish made them look decent again, not new but presentable. So in performance, I’d say they’re solid: they behave like a proper everyday shoe disguised as a dress flat. Just don’t expect miracle support or super powers in heavy rain.

Out of the box, the Camper Girls Right Lace-Up Flats look pretty simple: black leather ballerinas with an elastic strap and a very low profile. The listing calls them ballet flats and “sport / dance” style, but to me they’re more like everyday city flats that just happen to work for parties and school concerts. The shoe height is low top, ankle-level, so they don’t cover the ankle bone. They’re closed-toe, flat heel, and the shape is rounded at the front, not pointy, which helps for comfort and for slightly wider feet.

The pair I got is fully black: black smooth leather on the outside, black rubber sole, and a neutral inside. There’s no flashy logo or glitter; the only branding is the small Camper logo on the insole and sometimes discreetly on the side. If you want something that doesn’t scream “kids’ cartoon shoe”, this is good. According to the data, they’re around 9.09 inches long for this size and weigh about 2.5 ounces each, so very light compared to some clunky school shoes we’ve had before that feel like bricks.

They’re sold as one pair (obviously) with no extra accessories: no spare insoles, no shoe bag, nothing. Just the shoes and the usual Camper box. They are made in Vietnam, leather upper, rubber sole, EVA insole, and listed as “cold lining”, which basically just means there’s no warm fleece or fur inside. They’re marketed as all-season, and that matches our use: fine for spring, summer, and early autumn. In winter, you’d probably want thicker socks or another shoe, because they’re low and quite open on the top of the foot.

On the product page, they’re also tagged for weddings, special occasions, and dance. That’s fair: they look clean and formal enough for a ceremony, but still casual for school. If you expect a very dressed-up patent leather look, you might find them a bit too plain. If you prefer something neutral that goes with everything from jeans to a dress, they fit that role without trying too hard.