2024 Back to School FAQs

Shoes FAQs

Need a few back-to-school tips for buying sneakers? Check out our sneaker-buying guide below.

What are the best shoes for gym class?

The best back-to-school shoes for gym class are those that offer excellent comfort and support — plus a splash of style.

For example, you can opt for casual shoes that offer great midsole support, like the adidas Originals NMD 360 or the adidas Cloudfoam Pure SPW. Nike also offers great options that combine comfort and support, like the Air Max 270 and the Flex Runner 2.

If your little one is extremely active in gym class, consider choosing a pair of kids’ basketball shoes that offer a bit more traction on the gym floor.

What are the best basketball shoes for kids?

With so many basketball shoes to choose from, it’s hard to determine what the best options are. You can never go wrong with Jordan shoes – some of the top trending sneakers include the Jordan 6 Rings basketball shoes and the Jordan Jumpman MVP sneakers.

Other popular options include the Nike LeBron Kids 21 SE and the Nike Air More Uptempo basketball shoes.

What are the best sandals/slides for kids?

Here’s the simple answer: It’s always a good bet to grab a pair that your child finds comfortable.

Crocs has some great options that are comfy, durable, and stylish. Check out the color and pattern options on the little kids’ classic clog shoes and the warm, fuzzy Crocs with interior lining for big kids. You can even get a pair of the Crocs Echo slide sandals or the All-Terrain Black Panther clogs.

Other options include the Birkenstock Essentials Arizona EVA sandals and the little kids’ adidas Adilette slide sandals.

Clothing FAQs

Ready to re-stock your kids’ closet with some high-quality, name-brand clothes for the new school year? Here are our answers to some of the most common clothing-related questions.

What size are my kids?

As a parent, you can probably just eyeball a pair of pants or a shirt and know if it will fit your kid. But that doesn’t work when shopping online, and each brand sizes its products differently.

The easiest way to ensure you’re getting the perfect size is to pull out that measuring tape and take notes on your child’s chest, waist, hip, and inseam measurements. Then select any clothing product on Finish Line and click on the “Size Chart” link.

This will open a pop-up box with the brand’s size chart. Just make sure you click on the “Kids'” tab at the top so you don’t accidentally use the adult’s sizing.

What brands are best?

The answer to this question depends on what you’re looking for and what your kids are into! Some of the most popular brands at Finish Line are Nike, adidas, and The North Face. Whether you need a new pair of shorts for your kids or a winter jacket, you can find some high-quality options with these brands.

But these aren’t the only brands available. You can also find top-notch back-to-school clothing products from Supply & Demand, Sonneti, and Timberland that will ensure your kids are some of the best-dressed students at school.

What’s in style?

Speaking of popular brands, Jordan products are hot right now. From Jordan Jumpman air mesh shorts to a pair of high-waisted girls’ bike shorts, Jordan products are in.

Another trending style is matching sets — both monochrome jogger sets and T-shirt and shorts sets. Take, for example, the girls’ Nike Swoosh Love Tricot track jacket and jogger pants set or the boy’s Supply & Demand Graffiti T-shirt and shorts outfit. You can also find a Jordan HBR muscle tank and shorts set or an adidas Originals set for your little kids.

And not only are these sets in style, but they also make your shopping experience a bit easier since you don’t have to look for pants that go with the shirts your kids picked out and try to plan outfits for them.

Accessories FAQs

Shoes? Check. Clothing? Check. Now the only thing that’s left is accessories.

What backpack is best for little kids?

For your little “mini-me,” you’ll need to look for a mini backpack.

There are plenty of options, like the Air Jordan mini backpack or the Nike Brasilia JDI mini backpack (and they come in several colors). Or you can go with The North Face Berkeley mini backpack.

If you just need something small and simple for your kids’ first year in school, try the Air Jordan lunch bag and backpack combo.

What’s the best backpack for big kids?

When looking for a back-to-school backpack for your growing students, make sure to look for one that offers enough space for all their books and binders — and their water bottles, gym clothes, and forgotten papers stuffed at the bottom.

Some popular options are the kids’ Nike Air backpack

or the Nike Brasilia 9.5 training backpack. If you need something with even more space, check out the Jordan Air Patrol Allover logo large backpack.

What about gym bags?

Your kid might think that a backpack for school doubles as a gym bag, but let’s be honest — you don’t want the smell of gym and sports clothes on everything. So check out a few utilitarian-focused bags like the adidas Originals utility 4.0 backpack or the Jordan Monogram Logo duffel bag.

Keep in mind that you may need to look in the adult sections for gym bags big enough to carry all of your kid’s sports gear — like the women’s Nike gym club duffel bag.

Where can I get socks for my kids?

Simple answer: right here at Finish Line! 

When you shop for some new kicks, just put a 6-pack of little kids’ Nike Dri-FIT ankle socks in your cart, and you’re good to go. You can also grab a pack of kids’ Jordan Legend socks or even some brightly colored mix-match Nike crew socks.

Get All Your Back-to-school Shopping Done at Finish Line

Back-to-school clothing and shoe shopping don’t have to be a hassle. Whether you need to shop for little kid clothing or big kid shoes (or both!), you can find everything you need right here in Finish Line’s back-to-school collection.