Start-rite
Sprint First Walking Shoes
7.4/10 overallFrom £36.00
Start-rite's firmer, more structured first walking shoe for confident outdoor walkers, sitting alongside its softer Baby Bubble range.
The verdict
Start-rite's Sprint First Walking Shoes are a firmer, more structured shoe for children walking confidently outdoors, priced from £36 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. The clearest reason to consider an alternative: the Sprint tends to run slightly narrower on average than Clarks' widest fittings.
Where Start-rite's Baby Bubble targets the earliest cruising stage, the Sprint 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 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.
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; the Sprint tends to run slightly narrower on average than Clarks' widest fittings.
Is the Sprint First Walking Shoes worth it?
- In-store fitting available, similar to Clarks
- More structure and grip for confident outdoor walkers
- Established UK brand with a long fitting heritage
What are the downsides of the Sprint First Walking Shoes?
- Narrower average fit than Clarks' widest options
- Firmer than barefoot-style alternatives like Term or the brand's own Baby Bubble
Specs
- Sole
- Flexible, with more grip and structure than pure barefoot styles
- Closure
- Riptape or lace
- Fitting
- In-store measuring available at Start-rite stockists
- Width fittings
- Standard to 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.
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 it compares
|  | TermFirst Shoes |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From £36.00 | From £34.00 | From £39.00 | From £32.00 |
| Overall score | 7.4/10 | 8/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.3/10 |
| Sole | Flexible, with more grip and structure than pure barefoot styles | Flexible but more structured than barefoot-style brands | Thin, highly flexible barefoot sole | Soft, flexible barefoot-style leather sole |
| Closure | Riptape or lace | Riptape or T-bar buckle | Riptape | 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.