Kickers Unisex Kids Kick Lo Shoes Review: tough school shoes that actually survive the year

I got these Kickers Unisex Kids Kick Lo shoes in size 5 UK for school use, basically to see if they really last longer than the usual supermarket or Clarks-style school shoes. I’m not a collector, just a parent who’s tired of buying new shoes every term because they split, peel or look wrecked after a few weeks. These are marketed as school shoes but also listed for skateboarding and roller skating, which already tells you they’re built on the tougher side.

In day-to-day use, the main thing that stands out is how sturdy they feel compared to standard school shoes. They’re heavier, more like a casual leather shoe than a light dress shoe. That might bother some kids at first, but it also explains why they don’t look destroyed after months of walking, kicking stuff and messing about in the playground. They don’t feel fragile in the slightest.

Over a few weeks of normal school use (walking to school, running around at break, the usual kicking walls and dragging feet), the shoes barely picked up more than a few creases in the leather. No peeling at the toe, no sole starting to come away, no seams opening. That’s already better than a lot of cheaper pairs I’ve tried where the front starts to scuff badly after the first rainy week.

Overall, if you’re looking for glossy fashion shoes, these aren’t that. They’re more like a workhorse school shoe: simple, solid, and clearly built to survive a full school year, maybe more, as long as the kid doesn’t outgrow them too fast. Not perfect, but definitely on the durable side.

Let’s talk money. These shoes usually sit in the mid-to-high price range for school shoes. You can definitely find cheaper pairs in supermarkets or budget brands, and sometimes even some Clarks models on sale. But those cheaper ones, in my experience, and from a lot of the reviews, often don’t last the full school year. They crack, peel, or the sole starts to come off. With these Kickers, you’re paying more upfront for something that actually has a chance to make it to the end of the year (and sometimes into the next, if feet don’t grow too fast).

Several Amazon reviewers basically say the same thing: they seem pricey, but they last longer than other brands they tried. One even said they’d have happily paid the full £65 retail because the shoes outlasted Clarks pairs by a big margin. If you spread the cost over a full year or two of use, the price per month actually looks pretty reasonable. You’re buying durability and less hassle, not just a logo.

Where the value takes a small hit is the lack of water resistance and the basic cushioning. For the price, it would be nice to have at least some basic waterproofing or a slightly softer insole. But if you look at the overall package – real leather, tough sole, eco-conscious materials, and proven track record with lots of reviews – it still comes out as good value for a kid who is hard on shoes.

If your child is gentle with shoes and grows fast, you might not fully benefit from the durability, and a cheaper pair could be fine. But if you’re constantly replacing worn-out shoes, these Kickers make sense financially over time, even though the initial bill stings a bit more.

Design-wise, these are pretty straightforward: closed toe, flat heel, low ankle height, black leather upper and a thick rubber sole. The style name is Kick Lo, and it sits just below the ankle, so no high-top feel. The overall vibe is a bit chunky, which a lot of teens like right now. It’s not sleek or slim like some Clarks styles; it’s more like a sturdier, old-school shoe with attitude.

The shoe has triple stitching around the upper and the sole area, which you can see clearly. It’s not just for the look either; it gives the impression that the shoe is reinforced where it usually starts to fail. There are some contrast stitching and logos, but they’re still black-on-black enough to keep things low-key. The Kickers logo tabs and branding are there, so kids who care about what their friends are wearing will recognise them straight away. Based on the reviews and what I’ve seen at schools, these are quite common, especially among girls in secondary.

The toe is rounded and closed, so it fits nicely into most uniform rules. They don’t have any flashy metal bits or bright colours, which is handy if your school is strict. The only thing that stands out visually is that chunky sole. It’s not cartoon-level thick, but it’s definitely more solid than a basic dress shoe. For some kids, that’s a plus because it looks more like a casual everyday shoe instead of something “formal and boring”.

Overall, I’d say the design is practical and school-safe, with just enough style so kids don’t feel like they’re wearing cheap uniform shoes. If you want something super thin and light, these won’t be it. If you want something that looks like what “all the girls at school wear”, as one review mentioned, these are pretty much that type of shoe.

Comfort-wise, these are not slippers out of the box. They’re leather with a medium level of cushioning and a fairly stiff sole at first, so the first few days can feel a bit rigid, especially around the front and sides. That said, once the leather softens and creases a bit, they become much more comfortable. Several parents in the reviews mentioned that their daughters find them very comfortable once they’ve been worn in, and I’d agree with that.

The insole cushioning is described as “basic” with a medium overall cushioning level. That’s pretty accurate. You’re not getting trainer-level padding, but there’s enough underfoot that walking to and from school doesn’t feel harsh. The arch is flat, so if your child needs strong arch support, you might want to add an insole. For a kid with normal feet, the flat arch is fine and feels similar to many standard school shoes.

Fit seems to be mostly true to size, but a few reviews say they come up slightly big, maybe about half a size. On my side, I’d say they don’t run small, which is good because school shoes that crush toes are a pain. If you’re between sizes, you might be able to get away with the smaller one, especially if you plan to use thicker socks. Once laced, the shoe holds the foot well and doesn’t flap around at the heel.

The only real downside on comfort is that initial stiffness. If your kid is picky about shoes or complains a lot when breaking in new pairs, I’d plan a few short wears before sending them off for a full school day. After that, they behave more like normal comfy school shoes. For standing and walking around school all day, they’re totally fine once they’ve softened up.

The upper is full leather, and you can feel it as soon as you touch the shoe. It’s not flimsy or plasticky like some “coated leather” school shoes. It has that proper leather stiffness when new, which means there is a bit of break-in time. The insole is also leather, which helps with sweat and smell over time, especially if your kid wears them all day in class. The lining is described as a “cold lining”, so don’t expect anything fluffy or insulated; it’s more of a standard, no-frills interior.

The sole is rubber and feels thick and solid. According to the product info, the black rubber sole uses about 20% recycled material. In practice, it just feels like a grippy, slightly chunky sole that can handle wet pavements and playground surfaces. It’s not particularly flexible out of the box, but it does bend more after a few days of wear. This stiff start is pretty normal for proper leather shoes with a solid sole.

The laces are standard BCI cotton laces with plastic ends. They’re not super soft, but they do the job and don’t fray quickly. Eyelets are metal-reinforced, so you’re not likely to rip them out with rough tying. Stitching is triple-stitched in key areas, which is good for durability but also adds to the stiff feel at the beginning. All the leather is from Leather Working Group certified tanneries, so at least you know the material sourcing is a bit more controlled than random cheap shoes.

In short, the materials are clearly chosen for durability, not lightness. If you’re after ultra-light shoes for a kid who hates any weight on their feet, these might feel heavy. But if you want a solid leather shoe that won’t peel or disintegrate after one term, the material choices make sense and they feel built to handle a lot of abuse.

This is the main reason to buy these Kickers: they last. Compared to cheaper school shoes that start peeling or splitting after a couple of months, these hold up noticeably better. The leather is thick and doesn’t start flaking at the toe like a lot of budget pairs. After several weeks of use, only normal creasing shows up, nothing dramatic. One Amazon review even mentioned three daughters each getting a full year out of them, which lines up with the general reputation of this model.

The triple stitching and chunky rubber sole clearly help. The sole doesn’t start separating at the front or sides like you often see on glued-only shoes. The stitching around the upper and sole still looks tight after a lot of bending and walking. The only cosmetic complaint I’d agree with is that creases are quite visible, especially on the shinier versions. So they don’t stay “box fresh” for long, but they still look presentable and not wrecked.

Compared to Clarks, several parents in the reviews said these lasted longer, especially in secondary where kids are rougher on their shoes. One user said the previous pair lasted two years before finally falling apart, which is honestly pretty good for school shoes worn almost daily. The weight and stiffness that some might see as a downside are also what give them that longer lifespan.

If your main goal is to avoid buying two or three pairs per school year, these are pretty solid value over time. Yes, the upfront price can feel a bit high, but if they survive a full year or more, you’re effectively spending less than constantly replacing cheaper shoes that disintegrate. They’re not indestructible, but for normal school abuse, they’re one of the tougher options out there.

In day-to-day use, these shoes handle typical school life very well. Walking to school, running for the bus, standing in corridors, messing around at break – they cope with all of it without feeling like they’re about to fall apart. The rubber sole grips well on wet pavements and playground surfaces, and I didn’t notice any slipping issues. They’re listed as suitable for skateboarding and roller skating, which basically just means the sole is tough enough to handle abrasion and rough ground.

They’re not sports shoes, though. For PE or proper running, they’re too heavy and not flexible enough compared to trainers. So they’re good for general movement and casual play, but I wouldn’t rely on them for sports lessons. Think of them as everyday work shoes for kids: reliable, solid, and comfortable enough for long days, but not made for sprinting or serious physical activity.

Breathability is decent for a leather shoe with a leather insole. Feet don’t feel overly sweaty after a full day, but if your child tends to have hot feet, you’ll still want decent socks and maybe to air the shoes overnight. They’re not water resistant, which is important to know. In light rain and wet pavements they’re fine, but in heavy rain or deep puddles they will soak through, and the leather will need a bit of care afterwards.

Overall, performance is solid for the main job: being school shoes that survive daily abuse. They don’t do anything fancy, but they stay comfortable enough for long days, grip well, and don’t look battered after a term. Just don’t treat them like trainers for sports or like waterproof boots, because that’s not what they are.

On paper, the Kickers Kick Lo are leather school shoes with a rubber sole, lace-up closure and a low-top Oxford style. In reality, they feel like a cross between a smart shoe and a chunky casual trainer. They’re unisex, but in most schools you’ll probably see more girls wearing them, especially in secondary. The pair I handled was black size 5 UK, which is pretty standard for teens.

The brand pushes a few eco points: leather from Leather Working Group certified tanneries, black rubber soles using about 20% recycled material, shoebox made from mostly recycled cardboard with soya ink, recycled mesh lining on lined models, and BCI cotton laces. Honestly, day to day you don’t really feel any of that, but it’s good to know they’re not the worst choice from an environmental angle. The box is basic but sturdy, and it survived being thrown around a bit without collapsing.

In terms of specs, platform height is about 1.5 inches, which gives a bit of lift but nothing crazy. Weight-wise, they’re on the heavier side: the listing says around 1.5 kg for the item, and you do feel that when you pick them up. They’re not clunky like work boots, but they’re definitely not featherlight ballet pumps either. The closure is standard eyelet lacing with plastic lace ends, nothing fancy, but they stay tied if you double-knot them.

When you first unbox them, they just look like classic black school shoes with a slightly chunky sole and the Kickers logos and contrast stitching that make them recognizable. No bells and whistles, no lights, no weird patterns. If your kid’s school has a strict uniform policy and only allows plain black shoes, these will usually pass without any argument.