Flexible Shoes These Days? What's Great??

[Past_VNE]

Okay, I have to start by admitting I'm for shoes. Kid shoes, adult shoes, whatever! But, I can't find stuff I LOVE for DD, a size 6.

I have See Kai Runs, they're the cutest things around. But, they aren't durable enough and are too wide for DD.

Pediped Originals are outgrown, Pediped Flex series, well, it doesn't. The grip and go series seems promising, but there are only a few styles.

We have Soft Stars. But, I'm also looking for stylish stuff.

I had Livie and Luca for DS. One pair was GREAT! (Paulo) and the other pair (Emilio) had a big pillow stitched in under the arch area which looked awful. Both, they were well made and very flexible. Don't know how they are now, five years later.

I loved Moss Feet for DS, but they're gone now. I have Wiggees, but they're gone, too. Carozoo (ebay) is alright, but not really my style. And, mostly I need a rubber sole for dirty farm life.

What brands should I look up? It's probably best to know that I don't do any pink/lilac, or other princessy-girly colors.

[~Amy~]

I really like the Robeez ones with the rubber sole. They were very flexible, but still protective enough for outside. The biggest size they come in is a 7, I believe, so DS can't wear them anymore, but they've been my favourites so far.

[belltree]

We also like the Softstarshoes. Has anyone used them here in rainy weather?

We also have a pair of robeez still, but they do get very slippery in the rain.

[redvlagrl]

We like our SKRs but DD has wide feet. I noticed that the Robeez Tredz or whatever they are called had nice flexible soles (unlike Pedipeds "Flex"). They are certainly narrower than SKRs because DD's foot wouldn't go into them!

[Past_VNE]

I hear you. I LOVED the SKRs for DS, despite them scuffing so badly. And, their girl styles are gorgeous and so many non-pink, not cutesy choices. I dearly wish they fit her.

I will check out the Robeez Tredz. I liked the Robeez with the VERY thin rubber sole, but it stops at size 5. Unfortunately, Robeez has that very cutesy look that I try to avoid.

I've used Soft Stars in rain and snow. Our brown boots, with a good coat of leather cream and a coat of waterproofer over that, kept DS's socks dry in snow. In rain, they're fine, so long as they're not puddle stomping, because of the split side. We also have a pair of playtime shoes in purple. The purple bleeds badly if they're soaked, but if they're just damp on the surface, they're fine.

I also know about Preschoolians, but have never used them. They just look so poorly shaped, I haven't gotten past it. I saw a pair in a consignment shop recently several sizes up from DD and would have gotten them, but they only came with the wide insert and looked like they had been formed VERY wide by the last foot they adorned. Oh well. Would have been a great way to try them for cheap.

[Biscuits & Gravy]

I got some Robeez for DS that are called 1st Stepz. They are really flexible, but have a rubber sole. We had a pair of mini shoez, but they only go up to size 5. The 1st Stepz go up to size 8 I think.

To avoid the cutesy factor, have you considered getting "boy" shoes for her? I know one of my friends has done that and no one would ever guess her DD was wearing boy shoes. I'd have to do that if I had a girl because it seems like everything is pink. I'm not a fan of pink.

[mama2soren]

Umi's are flexible and cute! So are Tsukihoshi's. The Tsukihoshi's are super lightweight and machine washable, too!

[Past_VNE]

I have two pairs of Umis and have seen many others. That really don't seem flexible at all to me. ?
DS has had Tsukihoshis. I love them! They're all sneakers though and we are usually more dressed up than that. Though, they're great for playtime!!

Most of DD's shoes are boys', so it's funny you mention that, Biscuits and Gravy. But, I wish to find some feminine, stylish stuff. (totally drooling over the non-pink SKRs for this season!!!!)

[confustication]

I like the robeez tredz as well- but mostly, I'm chiming in to say that I was the same way with pink/purple when DD was small. It backfired, and now those are her first choices for EVERYTHING! Oh well- it was a valiant effort.

Not much help sadly, as I'm on a quest for little boy shoes here.

[MelW]

I also looooved the more gender-neutral SKRs for my oldest daughter but can't re-use them for my narrow footed younger daughter.

She's on her second pair/size of Robeez tredz, which I love the fit and feel of. We're sticking with the boy styles, since their girly versions are either very pink or mary-jane style that just get dirt and gravel in them, or very wet.

The tredz are holding up pretty well to daily rough playground play and lots of wet days. My biggest complaint is how much the dye bleeds on to legs or socks when they get wet- at this point we're just dealing with her blue ankles

[Aufilia]

I know I'm terribly non-trendy, but we love Stride Rite shoes. Their toddler pre-walker/early walker/walker shoes are very flexible and extremely durable, we've never had a problem with them wearing out before they were outgrown (and DD has tiny, slow-growing feet, so she wears them a loooong time).

[Past_VNE]

I've often wondered what colors DD will choose as she gets more of an opinion. I hope she steers clear, but who knows. Sorry your daughter went to the dark side, confustication.

I love Stride Rites for their construction quality. They hold up SOO well, you're so right, Aufilia. But, only the smallest sizes are super flexible. Even their toddler lines are board stiff. DD does have a couple pairs of them that I picked up cheap and I use them only because she spends SOOO much time barefoot that I figure a little time in stiff shoes won't destroy her feet.

Stride Rite just bought Robeez. The Tredz line is gone and it's now "1st Stepz." I checked out a few pairs at a Stride Rite store the other night. They were of moderate flexibility. More flex than the average Stride Rite shoe, but nothing like SKRs. They were about like the stiffer Pedipeds Flex models. (Some of the Flex series is fairly flexible. Some is NOT. The series' soles are not at all consistent.) Anyway, I was disappointed to see the Robeez was bought out, since Stride Rite obviously is not into concerns of flexibility for any more than marketing trends.

[Past_VNE]

Oh! If you do plastic (non-leather) shoes, Stride Rite does have a couple of REALLY flexible models in now. One is a hot pink mary jane, one is a brown girls' boot and a navy boys' shoe. They have the hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle on them and, as character shoes go, they're heads and tails better than most. I am actually considering the boots...but barely. $40 for pleather boots? Hmmm.

http://www.zappos.com/eric-carle

I've been listing all my SKRs for sale. I'm so sad to see them go, but they just aren't going to work for DD. And, with DS, I always picked stuff that wasn't 100% boyish, so I could hand them down to a potential daughter. So much for that working out. LOL