Shoes

[Lineymom]

I searched and found some old threads about this but wanted to hear if there is anything new. I have been spending a lot of time shopping for shoes online for my walking anyday 11.5mo.
She is a big girl already to size 6.5/7 so alot of soft-sole shoes are out. I got her Rileyroos 12-18 month a couple months ago that I thought would be her "first walkers" but she outgrew them
I am probably going to get her more (they go up to 18-24 and run big according to reviews) because I LOVE how flexible they are and they seem to be ok for outside slightly damp etc. I disliked how the toes wore very quickly (like the first day she wore them) when she crawled. Not a problem if they were cheaper but... They were pink so thinking if I got a brown this wouldn't be such an issue. She is barefoot or in bobux while home/indoors.

I want to keep her in as soft of sole as possible while protecting her foot while outdoors when it may be wet. How do others think of Rileyroos compared to other brands. See Kai run/Pedipeds/Preschoolians seem to be the biggest names.
Thanks

[Anastasiya]

I can't remember if I bought them off mamabargains.com or babysteals.com, but I got a great deal on some Squeaky Shoes....$13 a pair.....for ds. They are super soft and flexible, have removeable squeakers, and are built to last.

His first pair he wore outside daily and did a lot of crawling in them, and they are perfect. Not even a scuff in the toes. Nothing.

The second and third pairs I got him get equal wear outside, get wet, get taken through gravel lots and mulch playgrounds, etc., and again - they are showing NO signs of wear.

Knowing that, if I can't find the deal online again, I'll happily pay full price for them.

(We have used Preschoolians, See Kai Run and Pedipeds for the other kids and they were scuffed or damaged in short order. The See Kai Run shoes actually looked DISGUSTING within a few weeks....all the leather coloring was worn off the toes.)

[Cutie Patootie]

Hmmmm...we have never had that problem with our see kai run shoes. My kids have been wearing them for years. I do agree with the squeakers. They are very flexible and cheap enough to not worry about. We also *love* Livie and Luca shoes. They hold up super well and are very flexible and amazingly cute...also pedoodles are good as well.

[lifeguard]

Ds' first shoes were Stride Rites. We were very, very happy with them. The soles are very flexible & soft & they wore very well. He wore them for 6 months & really abused them but they look almost new (he even wore them into the river & puddles several times).

[carmel23]

we have a pair of See Kai Runs that are size 9, so they do make them larger sizes....

[Lineymom]

Is the squeaky shoe brand called pipsqueakers? Are they more flexible than stride rite? I had those with my older ones but was looking for something softer.
How are the bigger SKR compared to stride rite in flexibility? I know they make a "smaller" that is soft soled but not waterproof.

[AKislandgirl]

I'm a huge fan of Soft Star Shoes. They are super flexible, come in lots of different colors and several styles. My DD loves them and chooses them over other shoes. We just bought our third pair and will be buying from them for a long time! Do use their size chart because the sizing is a bit different. I want a pair for myself actually!

[Anastasiya]

Originally Posted by Lineymom

Is the squeaky shoe brand called pipsqueakers? Are they more flexible than stride rite? I had those with my older ones but was looking for something softer.
How are the bigger SKR compared to stride rite in flexibility? I know they make a "smaller" that is soft soled but not waterproof.

They are these: http://www.squeakers.com/

SUPER flexible. I can bend them entirely in half.

[ElaynesMom]

I'll second the Soft Star Shoes suggestion. As a pp said, they are so flexible, and they have several styles, you can even design your own. The customer service is really great, and they are handmade in Oregon. And, if your lo has hard to fit feet they can usually custom make them to fit.


I've also tried See Kai Run and Pediped Flex. See Kai Run are reasonably flexible, but I also found they scuffed, and just plain looked awful after a few weeks of wear. The pediped flex was not as flexible as the SKR, and I can't speak for how they wear as we had to return them for being a touch too narrow.

[~Amy~]

DS's first shoes that he walked in (with soles, not just slippers) were Robeez Tredz (called First Stepz now, I think). They were very flexible yet enough of a sole for outdoor wear. I think his second pair were Stride Rites, which were also quite flexible. I think the Robeez ones go to size 8. I really like the look of those Soft Stars, though. I think I will get those for our next little one.

[carmel23]

I think we're going to go with soft stars, they are so expensive, though! but look like they really last, and are healthy for the feets-- and can handle a little weather.

[always hope]

I am in New Zealand so might not be that helpful but Bobux are awesome. They do soft shoes up to walkers for kids who have been walking a while. My daughter has warn them since she was just toddling around and they are great. They are available in the U.S. Here is the NZ website but there are links from their to the international one. They are also really cute www.bobux.co.nz
Also from what I have read the longer they can stay in soft shoes or bare feet the better and when you do buy make sure there is lots of room for toes.

[ElaynesMom]

Originally Posted by carmel23

I think we're going to go with soft stars, they are so expensive, though! but look like they really last, and are healthy for the feets-- and can handle a little weather.

They really do last. The pairs we have had always look great when my dd outgrows them. One pair even survived having maple syrup poured in them (and then handwashed), and they looked new still.

[AKislandgirl]

Originally Posted by carmel23

I think we're going to go with soft stars, they are so expensive, though! but look like they really last, and are healthy for the feets-- and can handle a little weather.

yep, ours have been through puddles and the ocean and are none the worse for wear! We did the classic shoe for her first shoe which I think are about $30. Then we got a pair with the wool lining when she outgrew those. That lining is awesome and she was comfortable in hot or cold. I splurged and designed a pair of classic shoes with the lining for her latest pair. Just love them!

[brennan]

Yep Soft Star lover here! Dd's still look just as good as the day we got them, and we have dirt roads here so a LOT of mud! They are AMAZING! I'm getting all of her shoes there from now on (and all of our future kid's shoes there). And really they aren't that expensive, if you don't do design your own, the classic shoe is 30$, they have partially lined boots for 54$, which is really comparable and even cheaper (at least up here) than most other brands of shoes.

[wombato]

I got some See Kai Run shoes in brown leather, and I haven't had any problems. They are a couple of months old and have been pretty abused (got soaking wet several times).

[wombato]

I tried some Soft Star Shoes - I wanted to love them - but they didn't fit my son's feet.