Three Kids, Three Very Different Sneakers: We Put ALLSWIFIT Shoes to the Back-to-School Test

There are three things I know about buying shoes for my kids.

First, they are not going to agree on what makes a good sneaker.

Second, they all seem to think their shoes need to be capable of doing things I never intended them to do.

And third, if I buy a pair of sneakers that actually makes it through the school year, I consider that a parenting win.

With back-to-school shopping here, I decided to put three pairs of ALLSWIFIT sneakers to the ultimate test. I gave one pair to each of my kids, my 10th-grade daughter, my 9th-grade son and my 7th grader, and let them tell me what they thought.

And let me tell you, they each had very different priorities.

What Makes a Good Back-to-School Sneaker?

My teenage daughter probably has the highest standards of the three. For her, style comes first. The shoes have to be cute. Period.

But once we’ve established that she actually likes the way they look, they also need to be comfortable enough to survive a full day at school. Because there is nothing worse than getting halfway through the school day and realizing your feet are already over it.

My 9th-grade son is much more practical, or at least that’s what I’d like to believe.

Comfort is his number-one requirement, but he also appreciates a shoe that gives him a little extra height. He’s on the shorter side compared with some of the boys his age, so apparently every inch counts.

Then there’s durability.

My son loves sports, and despite my repeated reminders that his school sneakers are not soccer shoes, he has a habit of getting off the bus and immediately running around and kicking a soccer ball.

So, yes, his shoes need to survive that.

My 7th grader has her own checklist. Comfort comes first, but style still matters. She loved the colors of her sneakers, and because she has wider feet, finding a shoe that gives her enough room without sacrificing comfort is important.

Basically, I wasn’t looking for three pairs of shoes that checked the exact same boxes. I wanted to see whether each pair could stand up to the very different demands of my kids’ everyday lives.

My 10th Grader: Stylish Enough to Become an Everyday Shoe

My daughter tested the ALLSWIFITS MoveSlide Women’s Slip-On Lightweight Walking Sneakers in a size 7.

These sneakers are designed as a lightweight everyday walking and running shoe. They feature a breathable mesh upper, a mesh-covered EVA insole, a bouncy EVA midsole and a rubber outsole. They’re also slip-ons, which means no dealing with laces when you’re trying to get out the door in the morning.

My daughter wore them to school, and her first reaction was simple: they’re really comfortable.

She noticed right away that they were lightweight and easy to walk in. For a shoe that’s going to spend an entire school day on her feet, that was a big plus.

Then there was the style.

She thought the sneakers were cute and liked the material and overall feel of the shoe. She also noticed that the shoe provided good support, particularly around the arch.

One of the more interesting things she pointed out was that the shape of the shoe made it easy for her to gain speed when walking. That might not be something every parent would put on a sneaker checklist, but apparently it matters when you’re trying to get across a high school campus between classes.

And then came the ultimate teenage-girl endorsement.

She didn’t just say she’d wear them again.

She declared that these are going to be her everyday shoes.

Honestly, I don’t know if there’s a better review than that.

The MoveSlide is currently listed at $64.99 on the ALLSWIFIT website and comes in several color options.

My 9th Grader: Please Make Them Comfortable and Durable

My son tested the ALLSWIFITS ActiveSolid Men’s Slip-On Running Shoes in a size 8.5.

These are the black sneakers, which worked well with his preference for something stylish but not overly flashy. The shoe has a breathable mesh and vegan leather upper, a high-density foam insole, a bouncy EVA midsole and a non-slip rubber outsole.

My son starts with one requirement: the shoes have to be comfortable.

But his sneakers have to do a lot more than just get him from first period to last period.

He likes shoes that give him a little extra height, but durability and traction are especially important for him.

Why?

Because apparently walking home from the bus isn’t enough exercise.

He’ll get off the bus, start running around and inevitably find a soccer ball, or something that can apparently substitute for one. So while I would prefer that he keep his school shoes looking like school shoes, I’ve accepted that his sneakers need to be ready for whatever happens after the final bell.

He liked the black ALLSWIFITS sneakers because they combined the things he cared about most: comfort, durability, style and good traction.

The non-slip rubber outsole is especially well suited to his need for a shoe that can handle more than just walking around a school hallway.

For him, that’s the sweet spot. They look good enough for school, but they don’t feel like delicate shoes that need to be protected from actual teenage-boy behavior.

The ActiveSolid Men’s Slip-On Running Shoes are currently listed at $59.99 on the ALLSWIFIT website.

And honestly, if they can survive a teenage boy who turns his school shoes into soccer shoes, I’m impressed.

 

My 7th Grader: Comfort, Colors and Room for Wider Feet

My 7th grader tested the ALLSWIFITS ActiveFloat Wide Fit Supportive Sneakers in a size 7.5W.

This was probably the most obvious pairing of the three because she has wider feet, so having a sneaker specifically designed with a wider fit made sense.

The ActiveFloat features a high-bounce EVA midsole, a durable rubber outsole and a reinforced upper. The wide-fit design is intended to give the foot more room, while the cushioned construction is designed to provide support and comfort.

My 7th grader has one very clear priority when it comes to sneakers: they need to be comfortable.

But that doesn’t mean she’s willing to give up style.

She loved the colors of her sneakers, which immediately earned them points. She also liked that she could wear them for just about anything.

Running? Check.

Walking around school? Check.

Playing soccer? Apparently.

Kicking a completely random rock down the sidewalk? Also check.

Honestly, I appreciated this part of her review because it perfectly sums up what kids actually do in their shoes. They aren’t necessarily changing sneakers every time their activity changes. They need something that can keep up.

And then there was the fit.

Because she has wider feet, she really appreciated having the extra room. She found them comfortable without feeling too tight or restrictive.

For her, the combination of comfort, style, durability and versatility made these sneakers an easy everyday choice.

The ActiveFloat Wide Fit Supportive Sneakers are currently listed at $61.99 on the ALLSWIFIT website.

What We Liked About the ALLSWIFIT Designs

One thing that stood out across all three pairs was the focus on everyday comfort.

All three shoes use EVA cushioning in the midsole, although the specific construction varies by model. The shoes also use breathable materials, which makes sense for sneakers that are going to spend long days on kids’ feet.

The slip-on designs were another practical feature. My kids are old enough to manage their own shoes, but that doesn’t mean they always want to take the extra 30 seconds to tie them.

And the three shoes gave us some useful variety.

The MoveSlide felt like a lightweight everyday option for my 10th grader.

The ActiveSolid made sense for my son because of its cushioning, traction and durable construction.

And the ActiveFloat Wide Fit gave my 7th grader the extra room she wanted along with cushioning, support and a style she liked.

Three Kids. Three Opinions. One Back-to-School Win.

What surprised me most about testing these sneakers wasn’t that all three kids liked them. It was that they liked them for completely different reasons.

My daughter wanted something stylish enough to wear every day but comfortable enough for a full school day. She ended up declaring her pair her new everyday shoe.

My son wanted comfort, traction and durability, plus a little extra height. He also apparently needed a sneaker capable of surviving his unofficial after-school soccer career.

My 7th grader wanted comfort, fun colors, room for her wider feet and enough versatility to handle whatever she decided to do that day.

All three ended up loving their shoes.

And that’s what makes a back-to-school sneaker a winner in my house. It’s not enough for a shoe to look good in the box. It needs to survive the school day, keep kids comfortable, work with their everyday activities and, perhaps most importantly, be a shoe they actually want to put on tomorrow morning.

For these three kids, the ALLSWIFITS sneakers passed that test.

And I’ll take that as a back-to-school win.