Tough shoes. Bought supermarket shoes or big shoe shop ones but none lasted. I now buy these when on special & have the next 3 sizes up stored away. There are many positives but I agree the insole going black is a bit off putting. In defence though my sons feet have never developed any problems and I won't let him dance in puddles with them. The breathability thing must have some positive aspects when they are indoors etc.
For the 6 hours a day he's in school they are the best shoes he's had. An example of there durability. I bought him some Astro turf shoes to play football in, football club 1 hour a week. They have big grip also. They play on tarmac, it's not Astro turf nevertheless, these Astro turf shoes were bald in 2 months. These geox are 7 months in and look the wear of a supermarket shoes second week.
The shoe will fail somewhere. One child's daily wear at school for 8 months is well within their capacity in my experience. Wearing them all day every day and then handing them down to another is a bit too much to expect.

Super chuffed with these- got mine for £20 and they are definitely converse and just what you'd expect from these classic shoes- I won't be wearing anything else all spring!