<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-08-05</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000094887</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STRIDE RITE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SRR</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199914</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VAN SAUN BRUCE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE STRIDE RITE CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>191 SPRING STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LEXINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02421</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Option to Buy</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>8.32</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-08-05</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1600</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>8.32</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2004-04-10</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-04-10</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock, $.25 par value</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1600</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>21600</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Option to Buy</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>8.32</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-08-05</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1700</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>8.32</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2005-04-10</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-04-10</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock, $.25 par value</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1700</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>23300</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Option to Buy</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>8.32</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-08-05</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1700</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>8.32</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2006-04-10</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-04-10</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock, $.25 par value</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1700</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>25000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Closing price of the Company's Common Stock on April 10, 2003</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Charles W. Redepenning by power of attorney</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-08-05
0
0000094887
STRIDE RITE CORP
SRR
0001199914
VAN SAUN BRUCE
C/O THE STRIDE RITE CORP.
191 SPRING STREET
LEXINGTON
MA
02421
1
0
0
0
Option to Buy
8.32
2003-08-05
4
A
0
1600
8.32
A
2004-04-10
2013-04-10
Common Stock, $.25 par value
1600
21600
D
Option to Buy
8.32
2003-08-05
4
A
0
1700
8.32
A
2005-04-10
2013-04-10
Common Stock, $.25 par value
1700
23300
D
Option to Buy
8.32
2003-08-05
4
A
0
1700
8.32
A
2006-04-10
2013-04-10
Common Stock, $.25 par value
1700
25000
D
Closing price of the Company's Common Stock on April 10, 2003
Charles W. Redepenning by power of attorney
2003-08-06