I have two sons, ages 6 and 7 years old. They are active and very hard on shoes. Over the years, we've tried so many brands... Stride Rite, cheap Target shoes, other name brand running shoes, you name it, we've tried it. The brand that has outlasted them all is Skechers. They are the only brand of shoe that ever has any life left in it after the boys have outgrown them. Everything else ends up getting thrown out, because they are too torn up to give away.

This pair of lace-up Skechers is really nice. They're sturdy, and pretty well-cushioned. My 7 year old loved them from the moment he laced them up. They are well-made, and I expect them to last just as long as any other Skechers shoe we've purchased over the last few years. I've started buying their shoes a little big, so they can wear them longer, since I know the Skechers won't wear out after six months.

Another thing of note is that the shoe laces are not at all slippery, which is helpful for kids who are just getting the hang of tying their shoes. The last (non-Skechers, sadly-they were on sale and it seemed like a good idea at the time) pair of shoes my son had came with these ridiculously slippery laces that were hard for him to tie properly, and they were always coming untied. One of the first things my son said about these shoes were that the laces were "good for tying."

You won't be sorry about your purchase!