Soft soled (rubber) shoes? Good shoe brands?

[Anumaria]

Are there any brands of solf soled shoes for older toddlers sold there? (I mean something with rubber soles, so something like See Kai Run, Preschoolians, etc. in the US.)

What are the brands that are considered good? The more thin and flexible the bottoms, the better!

TIA!

[rzberrymom]

I never found anything with a soft sole larger than a size 23. Once my DD grew out of size 23, I turned to Crocs (the only thing I could find that was somewhat flexible).

[Anumaria]

Thanks for the reply! I live in Northern Europe but have been buying our daughter's shoes from North America. I was hoping to find something within Europe, at least... I think I may need to start making these.. hah!

[SuzymomofLaura]

These (http://www.zootjes.com/kleurenmaat.php) come in bigger sizes as well (I don't fancy them that much though)
These (http://www.ohelene.net/blog/?p=58) are pretty easy to make, if you sew... There must be more, I'll edit this post later today :)



I would check these out:
http://www.pomdapi.fr/
http://www.naturino.com/perchenaturino.asp

[Anumaria]

Thanks for the links! The problem is that I need something with rubber soles for walking outside in cold/wet weather.

Is anyone familiar with Bardossa shoes? I can't find a company website anywhere, but some Dutch shops seem to sell these.

[LilWin]

I think if you go to a good children's shoes specialty store, they will have several soft soled shoes for toddlers. I've seen them in different shapes, materials and sizes. I think they're usually called "first shoes". The only brand I know we really like is Naturino, but we switched from soft soled to "real" shoes fairly quickly after Lily could walk. I did get her a pair that had flexible soles from Difrax, but she hardly wore them. I found they still make lots of them: http://www.difrax.nl/categorien/producten?func=viewCategory&mainCategory=Kleding%20en%20Schoenen&subCategory=Zachte%20zool%20schoenen

PS: Both my kids wear the Zootjes (from the link Suzy posted) and we do like them, but just to wear around the house.

[sarahmck]

We recently bought a pair just as you've described, but I can't check the brand right now because we've just moved and the shoes in question are still in a box somewhere. But we store some toys in the box that they came in and that has a sticker on the side that says "JETY-FLEX-T." Don't know if that helps any, but I will update this once I dig out the shoes.

[edlyn]

Bobux (from New-Zealand) sells in the Netherlands as well, see www.bobux.nl, you find them for example at PiuPiu on the Overtoom in Amsterdam. I would imagine they sell elsewhere in Europe too.
Note, we had bought a pair for our then 3-year old hoping to find an equivalent to our loved Canadian-made Robeez, however we found that this pair was too tight around the ankle. Could have been my son's feet, or just some odd pair, who knows......

[maschav]

We're very happy with Shoesme (Walkproof, till size 24, Step and Go, till size 26). First dd had Bardossa's which are very, very soft. Shoesme is still very soft and flexible, but gives better support than Bardossa.

http://www.shoesme.nl/index1.htm
http://www.shoesme.nl/page6.htm for shops

Mascha :knit dd Kaja 15/9/99 :violin dd Lina 28/12/05 :flyby1

[soulyluna]

i got a pair of Zootjes as a hand-me-down and am dying to find a store to buy them in the US. I did a search and found nothing :( How can i get another pair without traveling abroad??? anyone???

i want the Medium Navy ones in particular ;)

thanks!

[SuzymomofLaura]

Have you tried to contact them through their website (http://www.zootjes.com/)?