adidas Duramo SL Shoes Kids Review: light everyday trainers that do the job for school and sports

I picked up the adidas Duramo SL Shoes Kids in size 5.5 UK (Core Black / Ftwr White / Grey) for a pre-teen who needed something for school PE and general running around. I wasn’t looking for the perfect running shoe, just a pair that could handle three days of PE a week, after‑school club, and the usual playground abuse. So this review is very much from a practical parent point of view, not a hardcore running geek angle.

From day one, what stood out was how light they felt in hand compared to some chunkier kids’ trainers we’ve had before. At around 300 g, they don’t feel like bricks, which matters for kids who already complain that school kit is heavy. Out of the box, they looked like classic adidas: black base, white stripes, fairly simple design. No flashy colours, which is handy if the school has rules about bright shoes.

I’ve seen a lot of kids’ trainers fall apart in under a term, especially cheaper supermarket pairs or no‑name brands from discount shops. So I was curious to see how these would hold up. The reviews on Amazon (4.4/5) are pretty positive, especially about comfort and grip, but I always take that with a pinch of salt until the shoes have actually survived wet playgrounds and badly tied laces.

After a few weeks of use, I’d say these Duramo SL are pretty solid everyday trainers for kids, with a couple of small quirks. They’re not perfect, there are cheaper options, and they’re not high‑end performance runners either. But for school, PE and casual wear, they hit a decent middle ground. In the rest of the review I’ll go through design, materials, comfort, performance, durability and value, with the good and the not‑so‑good laid out clearly.

On the value for money side, the Duramo SL Kids sit in that middle zone: more expensive than supermarket or no‑name trainers, cheaper than top‑tier performance running shoes. Given the comfort, durability and brand, I’d say the price is fair. You’re basically paying for a shoe that your kid actually likes wearing, that doesn’t fall apart in a month, and that ticks the school PE box without drama.

Compared to cheaper trainers we’ve tried, the main differences you’re paying for are: better cushioning, more reliable grip, and upper materials that don’t disintegrate straight away. If your kid only does light use and grows out of shoes very fast, a cheaper option might be enough. But if they’re doing regular PE, clubs and lots of running around, the extra spend here makes sense because you’re not replacing them as quickly.

Against other big brands, these sit in a reasonable spot. You can definitely pay more for kids’ running shoes that offer fancier tech or brand hype, but for most school‑age kids, they won’t really notice the difference. Here you get a recognised brand, a shoe that looks decent, is comfortable, and has good feedback from other buyers (4.4/5 on Amazon). That’s solid, even if not mind‑blowing.

So overall, in terms of value, I’d call these Duramo SL Kids a good balance: not cheap, not overpriced, and they do the job well enough that you don’t feel like you wasted money. If you catch them on discount, they’re an even better deal. If you’re on a very tight budget, there are cheaper options, but you’ll likely compromise on comfort and lifespan.

Design‑wise, the Duramo SL Kids are pretty straightforward. Black base, white adidas stripes on the side, a bit of grey detailing, and a low‑top ankle cut. Nothing that screams for attention, which for school use is honestly a good thing. If your kid’s school has rules about bright colours or neon soles, these should slide through without any arguments from teachers. They look like normal sports trainers, not fashion sneakers trying too hard.

The shape is quite slim but not tight, with a slightly pointed toe compared to some boxier kids’ trainers. On the foot they look neat rather than bulky, which my kid liked because they don’t feel like clunky football boots. There’s a decent number of lace holes that let you adjust the fit properly over the midfoot. That matters if your child has slightly narrow or slightly wide feet – you can tweak how snug they feel instead of having the shoe either strangling the foot or sliding around.

One small but useful design detail: the front/toe area has a more solid, splash‑resistant cuff over the mesh. It’s not proper waterproofing, but it does help a bit with shallow puddles or wet grass during PE. The mesh is mainly on the upper and sides, so the shoe still breathes. The outsole pattern has reasonable tread – not as aggressive as a trail shoe, but more grip than a flat fashion trainer. For playgrounds and school halls, that’s enough.

Visually, they lean more towards sporty than lifestyle, which is good if your kid actually uses them for running and PE rather than just walking around. The branding is present but not obnoxious: classic three stripes and a small adidas logo on the tongue and heel. If your child is into big, colourful shoes, these might feel a bit boring. But if you just want something that looks clean and goes with pretty much any PE kit or jeans, the design is sensible and low‑risk.

Comfort is probably the main reason to buy these, and here the Duramo SL Kids do a pretty solid job. The LIGHTMOTION cushioning in the midsole feels soft enough underfoot without being squishy. The kid wearing them went straight into a PE lesson and playground football with no complaints about rubbing or sore spots, which is already a win. No need for a long break‑in period; they were comfortable from day one.

The fit is regular, and for us, going half a size up worked best. True to size was wearable but left very little growing room, and kids’ feet do not stay the same size for long. In the half‑size‑up pair, there was a thumb’s width at the front, but thanks to the lace setup and padded tongue, the foot still felt held in place. No sliding forward on downhill paths and no heel lift. If your child has very wide feet, these might feel a bit snug, so I’d either size up or try them on in a shop first.

Inside, the padding around the ankle and heel is decent. It’s not ultra plush, but enough to avoid blisters on the back of the heel, which is a common issue with stiffer trainers. The tongue is padded too, so the laces don’t dig into the top of the foot when you tie them tight. Breathability is good thanks to the mesh; after a full school day including PE, the shoes didn’t smell like a disaster and the socks weren’t soaked in sweat, which is always a concern with non‑leather shoes.

In everyday use – walking to school, PE, playing in the park – the feedback has been that they’re comfortable and light, not heavy or clunky. For serious long‑distance running, you could probably find something more specialised, but for a kid doing normal school sports and weekend activities, the comfort level is more than enough. The only real tip I’d insist on is: consider going half a size up and use the laces properly to lock the foot in place.

On the materials side, adidas went with a sandwich mesh upper, synthetic overlays, and a rubber outsole. The inner material is also synthetic. It’s not a leather shoe, and you can feel that straight away – it’s flexible and light rather than stiff. For a kids’ sports shoe, this makes sense: less break‑in time, more comfort from day one. The mesh areas around the forefoot and sides let air in, so feet don’t overheat during PE or running around at break time.

The outsole is full rubber, which is a plus. Some cheaper kids’ trainers use softer foam that wears down fast or gets slippery when it’s wet. Here the rubber gives better grip and feels more durable. After a few weeks of use (rough playground, indoor sports hall, and general abuse), the tread still looks in good shape. Not new, obviously, but no bald patches or weird peeling at the edges. For the price range, that’s decent.

The upper has synthetic overlays on high‑wear areas, especially around the toe and sides. That’s where kids usually destroy shoes first, either by dragging their feet or bumping into things. These overlays give a bit more structure and protect the mesh from ripping straight away. You can tell it’s not premium leather or anything fancy, but it doesn’t feel cheap or plasticky either. Just standard sports shoe synthetic that can take some knocks and is easy to wipe clean.

One more thing that’s worth noting: adidas says the shoe contains at least 20% recycled content. If you care about that, it’s a small plus. It doesn’t change how the shoe feels on the foot, but it’s better than nothing. In practice, the materials balance breathability, weight and durability fairly well. You’re not getting luxury fabrics here, but for a kids’ trainer that’s going to be scraped on tarmac and kicked against walls, the material choice is practical and makes sense.

Durability is where a lot of kids’ trainers fall apart, especially around the toe and sides. With the Duramo SL Kids, after several weeks of 3 days a week PE plus daily playground use, they’re holding up better than some cheaper brands we’ve tried. The outsole shows normal wear on the heel and forefoot, but nothing extreme. No bits of rubber peeling off, no weird flattening of the tread. For a mid‑range kids’ trainer, that’s a good sign.

The upper is usually the weak point, and that’s where I was watching closely. The mesh hasn’t ripped or frayed, which is often what happens when kids drag their toes or kneel a lot. The synthetic overlays around the toe and sides are doing their job, taking the scuffs instead of the mesh. The front still looks decent, not shredded. One Amazon review mentioned the shoes still looking good after 8 weeks of term, and that lines up with what I’m seeing: some creasing and light marks, but nothing that makes them look destroyed.

The laces and eyelets also seem solid. No eyelets tearing out, no frayed laces yet. Inside the shoe, the insole is still in place and not curling up at the edges, which is something that drove me mad with cheaper trainers before. The heel padding is slightly compressed compared to day one, but not enough to affect comfort. Stitching looks intact all around, no loose threads hanging off.

Are they indestructible? No. If your kid is really tough on shoes, they’ll eventually show it, especially if worn daily for everything. But compared to budget trainers that start dying after a month, these hold up pretty well. I’d expect them to comfortably last a school term of heavy use, and probably longer if rotated with another pair or used mainly for PE rather than all‑day wear.

Performance‑wise, I’ve seen these used mainly for school PE, playground games, and short runs rather than structured athletics training. In that context, they perform well. The rubber outsole has a tread pattern that grips fine on tarmac, pavement and the usual rough school surfaces. On wet playgrounds they’ve been stable, with no slipping incidents so far. They’re obviously not trail shoes, so don’t expect miracles on mud, but for normal school environments the grip is more than enough.

The cushioning does its job for running and jumping. LIGHTMOTION isn’t some magic tech, it’s just a reasonably light foam that absorbs impact. Kids don’t usually complain about impact protection unless it’s really bad, and there have been zero complaints here after PE lessons with sprints, shuttle runs and general chaos. Compared to cheaper supermarket trainers we’ve had before, these feel more supportive and less flat. The foot feels more stable when changing direction quickly, which is handy for football or tag.

In indoor sports halls, the outsole doesn’t leave marks and still grips well. No sliding during indoor PE, even when the floor is a bit dusty. The shoes bend enough at the forefoot for running and jumping, but the midfoot doesn’t fold like a slipper, so there is some structure. For kids who pronate heavily or have specific foot issues, you might want more specialised shoes or insoles, but for a typical active kid, the support level is fine.

Overall, for everyday performance, these Duramo SL Kids handle pretty much everything a school will throw at them: running on track, basic fitness drills, football on hard ground, and just general running around. They’re not high‑end race shoes, but that’s not what most kids need. They’re reliable, comfortable and grippy enough for the price bracket, which is really what matters here.

The adidas Duramo SL Kids are sold as low-top running shoes for kids (unisex), but in real life they sit somewhere between a running shoe and a general trainer. The model name on the box is "Duramo SL2 Kids" with code NKR86 / IH3592. They’re made in Vietnam, weigh about 300 grams, and the official colour is Core Black / Ftwr White / Grey. On the foot they look like standard black adidas trainers with white stripes, nothing flashy, which is exactly what a lot of schools want.

You get a regular lace-up closure, no velcro or elastic laces on this size, so it’s more for kids who can tie their own shoes (or parents who have the patience to do it every morning). Fit is listed as "regular" and that matches what we saw: not super narrow, not super wide. Amazon reviewers are split between true to size and going half a size up; in our case, going up half a size gave a bit of growing room without the shoe flopping around.

These are classed as running shoes with LIGHTMOTION cushioning, a rubber outsole and a sandwich mesh upper. In practice, that means they’re meant to be light, breathable and grippy. There’s no fancy air bubble or plate, just a basic cushioned midsole. They’re not waterproof, but the front has a slightly splash‑proof feel, which matches what one reviewer said about toe protection in wet conditions. Officially, they’re tagged more for autumn/winter, but we used them in mixed UK weather and they’ve been fine for most days apart from heavy rain.

Overall, the presentation is straightforward: one pair of shoes, no spare laces, no extras. It’s very much "here’s a pair of adidas kids trainers" and that’s it. If you want something with a more premium unboxing or special extras, this isn’t it. But if you just want a branded pair of trainers that your kid can wear for PE and messing around without drama, the package is simple and clear.