My husband and I are each HUGE New Balance fans but this is the first time we've splurged and bought some for our kids.  My son LOVES these shoes. He says they make him really fast at PE, which is, obviously, very important for first graders. I think they are such a hit because, while they are a sturdy and supportive athletic shoe, they are amazingly light.  He hates wearing shoes all day, usually the first thing he does when he gets home is strip off his sweaty socks and shoes. But lately I've been catching him wearing these shoes around the house for hours after he comes home. They are so comfortable, and cool, for his naturally sweaty feet that he forgets he's wearing them. The colors are fun, too- we chose the blue/black with yellow laces.

I should also note that he has wide feet and the wide sizes are a life-saver for us. They are truly wide, in the right places around the arch and ball of the foot, not like some shoe makers just make them wide all over. I'll be ordering up some in the next few sizes up so we can have these on hand when he grows next.