Start-rite
Tread First Walking Shoes
7.4/10 overallFrom £46.00
Start-rite's structured, trainer-style first walking shoe with a reinforced toe bumper for confident outdoor walkers, sitting alongside its softer Baby Bubble range.
The verdict
Start-rite's Tread First Walking Shoes are a firmer, more structured shoe with a reinforced toe bumper for children walking confidently outdoors, priced from £46 with in-store fitting available at Start-rite stockists. Best as a step up once a toddler has moved past their very first, most tentative steps.
Where Start-rite's Baby Bubble targets the earliest cruising stage, the Tread range is aimed at children who are walking confidently outdoors and need a bit more structure and grip than a pure barefoot-style shoe offers, while still keeping a flexible sole by traditional shoe standards. It replaces the Sprint style previously reviewed here, which Start-rite has since discontinued.
It plays a similar role to Clarks' first walking shoes — a step up in structure once a toddler has moved past their very first, most tentative steps — and shares the same UK width-fitting heritage, with in-store fitting available at Start-rite stockists. The Tread adds a reinforced toe bumper, useful for the stumbles that come with confident outdoor walking.
Choosing between this and the Clarks option mostly comes down to fit preference and stockist availability locally, since both occupy a similar structured-but-flexible position in the category.
Is the Tread First Walking Shoes worth it?
- In-store fitting available, similar to Clarks
- Reinforced toe bumper adds durability for confident outdoor walkers
- Established UK brand with a long fitting heritage
What are the downsides of the Tread First Walking Shoes?
- Firmer than barefoot-style alternatives like Term or the brand's own Baby Bubble
- Fewer width options than Clarks' widest fittings
Specs
- Sole
- Flexible, with more grip and structure than pure barefoot styles
- Closure
- Rip-tape
- Fitting
- In-store measuring available at Start-rite stockists
- Toe protection
- Reinforced toe bumper
- Width fittings
- Standard (F), varies by style
How we scored it
Foot Development
Sole flexibility and room for natural toe splay, per UK podiatry guidance for first walkers.
Reasonably flexible for a structured shoe, though firmer than barefoot-style options.
Fit & Sizing
Range of width fittings and how securely the shoe stays on a new walker's foot.
In-store fitting available; slightly narrower average fit than Clarks.
Durability & Value
How well the shoe holds up against how fast feet grow at this age, including hand-me-down life.
Good durability for confident outdoor walking at a mid-range price.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How this review was done
We haven't used the Tread First Walking Shoes ourselves yet. This review is built from Start-rite'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 £46.00 | About £45 (often discounted to around £30) | From £34.00 | From £39.00 |
| Overall score | 7.4/10 | 6.8/10 | 8/10 | 7.6/10 |
| Sole | Flexible, with more grip and structure than pure barefoot styles | Thin, flexible rubber outsole, barefoot-style flex | Flexible but more structured than barefoot-style brands | Thin, highly flexible barefoot sole |
| Closure | Rip-tape | Single riptape strap, T-bar cage-sandal cut | Riptape or T-bar buckle | Riptape |
| Fitting | In-store measuring available at Start-rite stockists | — | In-store measuring service available at Clarks stores | — |
Frequently asked questions
How does Start-rite Sprint differ from Start-rite's Baby Bubble?+
Where Baby Bubble targets the earliest cruising stage, the Sprint range is aimed at children walking confidently outdoors and needs a bit more structure and grip than a pure barefoot-style shoe, though it still keeps a flexible sole by traditional shoe standards.
Can I get my child's feet measured for Start-rite Sprint shoes?+
Yes — in-store fitting is available at Start-rite stockists, similar to Clarks.
How does the fit compare to Clarks?+
Both occupy a similar structured-but-flexible position, but the Sprint tends to run slightly narrower on average than Clarks' widest fittings.
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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.