Clarks
First Walking Shoes
8/10 overallFrom £34.00
The best-known UK first-shoe brand, with in-store fittings across a wide range of width fittings.
The verdict
Clarks First Walking Shoes are the default UK first-shoe brand, offering an in-store fitting service across width fittings from narrow F to extra-wide H, priced from £34. Best for a genuinely first pair where getting the size right in person matters more than for any shoe that follows. The clearest reason to consider an alternative: the sole is firmer than barefoot-style brands like Bobux or Term, and it sits at a mid-to-higher price point.
Clarks has been the default UK first-shoe brand for generations, largely because of its in-store fitting service — a proper measure of length and width before you buy, across a genuinely wide range of width fittings (from narrow F to extra-wide H in many styles), which matters a lot for a foot shape that changes month to month at this age.
Compared to barefoot-style brands like Bobux or Term, Clarks' first walking shoes tend to have a slightly firmer sole and more structure, which some parents and podiatrists prefer for outdoor first steps on pavements, while others argue a more flexible, barefoot-style sole better supports natural foot development.
Price sits in the middle of this category, and the in-store fitting (rather than ordering blind online) is arguably the strongest reason to choose Clarks over a barefoot-brand equivalent, especially for a genuinely first pair where getting the size right matters more than for any shoe that follows.
Is the First Walking Shoes worth it?
- Proper in-store fitting service across a wide range of widths
- Most widely available brand for trying on before buying
- Durable enough to last through a growth spurt
What are the downsides of the First Walking Shoes?
- Firmer sole than barefoot-style alternatives
- Mid-to-higher price point for a shoe worn for a few months
Specs
- Sole
- Flexible but more structured than barefoot-style brands
- Closure
- Riptape or T-bar buckle
- Fitting
- In-store measuring service available at Clarks stores
- Width fittings
- F (narrow) to H (extra wide), varies by style
How we scored it
Foot Development
Sole flexibility and room for natural toe splay, per UK podiatry guidance for first walkers.
Flexible for a structured shoe, but firmer than barefoot-style alternatives.
Fit & Sizing
Range of width fittings and how securely the shoe stays on a new walker's foot.
Wide range of width fittings plus an in-store measuring service.
Durability & Value
How well the shoe holds up against how fast feet grow at this age, including hand-me-down life.
Holds up well; mid-to-higher price for the wear you get.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How this review was done
We haven't used the First Walking Shoes ourselves yet. This review is built from Clarks's published specifications and product information, and scored the same way as everything else on the site. We'll update it, and the badge above, once we've tested it hands-on.
How it compares
|  | TermFirst Shoes |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From £34.00 | About £45 (often discounted to around £30) | From £39.00 | From £32.00 |
| Overall score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.3/10 |
| Sole | Flexible but more structured than barefoot-style brands | Thin, flexible rubber outsole, barefoot-style flex | Thin, highly flexible barefoot sole | Soft, flexible barefoot-style leather sole |
| Closure | Riptape or T-bar buckle | Single riptape strap, T-bar cage-sandal cut | Riptape | Riptape |
| Width fittings | F (narrow) to H (extra wide), varies by style | Standard fit only, no wide option | Wide, foot-shaped last (no tapering at the toes) | Standard and wide available on most styles |
Frequently asked questions
Why do parents choose Clarks for first walking shoes?+
Mainly the in-store fitting service — a proper measure of length and width before you buy, across a genuinely wide range of width fittings (narrow F to extra-wide H in many styles), which matters for a foot shape that changes month to month at this age.
Are Clarks first walking shoes barefoot-style?+
No — compared to barefoot-style brands like Bobux or Term, Clarks' shoes have a slightly firmer sole and more structure, which some parents and podiatrists prefer for outdoor first steps on pavements, while others favour a more flexible sole for natural foot development.
How much do Clarks first walking shoes cost?+
Prices start from £34, sitting in the middle of this category's price range.
Reviewed by
Sepehr
Software engineer, soon-to-be dad, uncle to four — the tech-obsessed half of the two of us testing this stuff. Currently building this site with my wife, ahead of our own baby arriving.