Both the Spring and Fall seasons bring with them beautiful weather just beckoning you to get out and play. We’ve been getting our daughter outside to enjoy the beautiful weather every chance we get, and she always chooses her Soft Star Shoes Child Classics to cover her little feet.
Going barefoot would be the preferred choice, but since we live in a neighborhood with new construction (i.e. nails everywhere) and synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, shoes are a MUST!
I still use my shoes every day for running, lifting, and casual wear, but apparently, kids do this thing called growing (way too fast!) to where her feet no longer fit those cute pink shoes. No worries, Soft Star happily agreed to send Avery a new pair of their Child Classics to keep her feet growing happy and healthy.
Avery immediately fell in love with her bright yellow Classics with a pink star. So much so that keeping still as I tried to get a picture of her wearing them for the first time was a lost cause.
The velcro straps make it easy to get the shoes on and off without a fuss, even when Avery does it herself. This is very important when we are eager to get out in the wonderful weather to play or ride her WOOM 1 Balance Bike!
We considered the adorable Soft Star sandals, but for our adventuresome tot, she needs the closed toes to keep all of the dirt and rock from finding their way in her feet. What’s great about the Classics is that they are still light enough for summer, but protective enough for cold weather too. As an added bonus, they double as brakes when riding her bike!
Good thing the flexible soles are durable enough to hold up to the task of braking on her bike and everything else a toddler full of energy manages to get into. The naturally water-resistant shoes have already held up to plenty of playtime abuse while giving her little toes room to move around and spread out as if she were barefoot.
I’ve noticed that since the Classics allow for natural foot movement, Avery’s tendency to trip over uneven (or sometimes completely flat) surfaces doesn’t happen as often compared to other shoes she wears. This makes them perfect workout shoes too!
We love how all of Soft Star Shoes contain no toxic chemicals, dyes, or pollutants. Even better, every single one of them is handmade by “Elves” who put care into what they do best. The quality is apparent just by how long both mine and Avery’s shoes have held up over time. Coupled with Soft Star being one one of the most environmentally and socially sustainable companies, what’s not to love?
Beats me, Dad, I love everything about them. Can we go outside now? I’m not smiling until we do!
Along with the already great selection of Child Classics or other kids and adult shoes, they have a Design Your Own feature that allows for complete customization. It’s fun to use, and perfect for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, a new grad, or, just because custom handmade shoes are awesome.
Great big THANK YOU to Soft Star Shoes for providing these wonderful Child Classics free of charge in exchange for my honest review. All words are my own and I was not compensated in any other way. Get yourself and your kids in a handmade pair of Soft Star Shoes and see why their minimal footwear will make your entire family’s feet happy and healthy!
Mary Janes are classic shoes that originated in the early 1900’s from a character of the same name in a popular comic strip Buster Brown. Buster, and his little sister, Mary Jane, both wore the same shoe that became know as the Mary Jane with the help of an obviously successful ad campaign.
Typically made of leather with a strap that goes over the foot and is secured by a buckle, Mary Janes are often considered a formal/semi-formal shoe. In kid terms, this means uncomfortable and not meant for the playground. Determined to turn this classic style into a shoe that’s fun for kids and parents will adore, the elves at Soft Star Shoes created a more comfortable, versatile design of the Mary Janes.
Soft Star sent Avery a pair of their Child Merry Janes giving her the mission to test them out before their release on August 16th. As a seasoned Soft Star fanatic, she readily and happily accepted.
It’s always important to know what kind of tread you’re dealing with, and the Vibram rubber sole checked out for us.
Durability is essential for an active kid, as well as flexibility. Two qualities the Soft Star Merry Jane, like all of their shoes, has.
With a little help from Dad to get them on, I snuck a quick pic of her new test subjects before she could jump up in constant state of motion. You know, a toddler.
Avery kept seated long enough for a side shot of her new kicks.
Then it was time to begin the mission of putting the Merry Janes to the toddler test. After a little begging and playground persuasion, she agreed to 10 seconds of standing still for me to take a picture.
You’d think I would get better at taking her picture by now, but I completely cut off the top half of her body! No worries, the flexible elastic band connecting the buckle to the shoe and grippy Vibram rubber sole made for an easy transition from standing to squatting!
The Merry Janes passed the squat test, an extremely important test, without a hitch. They’re also perfect for practicing much needed balancing skills.
Next, we took them outside for a spin walk/run around the neighborhood to break them in. Alternating from a slow walk to a fast run, Avery had no issues with the shoes slipping off or weighing her down. She had zero complaints on our walk and said she loved her new “Yellow Soft Star rocket shoes!” Not by my request, she decided to test out their puddle jumping abilities.
We haven’t had much rain in Texas lately, but kids have a keen eye for puddles. The passed. But what about their performance in the wild on the playground, where kids can be found roaming free?
Avery quickly confirmed they perform well in a kids’ natural territory by running all over a local playground. It’s hard to get a detailed description from a toddler on how they feel, so I look for visual cues to get a good idea.
Soft Star calls their version of the classics “Merry” since they make feet happy, and judging by the look on Avery’s face, who can argue? Do kids even know how to fake smile?
The testing phase is never really over when it comes to kids and parenting, but the new Soft Star Shoes Merry Janes have quickly become a new favorite for our little girl. Having a buckle instead of just elastic or velcro takes a little longer, but it’s not as bad as I first expected. Avery is able to get the shoes on herself and then have Mommy or Daddy secure the buckle. That elastic band attaching the buckle makes the process much easier!
Parents will love seeing their kids in stylish shoes they’ll wear without putting up a fight, and kids will love cheerfully playing in their new shoes. Although they are geared mostly towards girls, Soft Star’s Custom Child Merry Jane gives you the option to make a good looking, functional shoe for any boy or girl.
Keep both eyes on the calendar for when August 16th rolls around to order your kid a new pair of Soft Star Child Merry Janes. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to keep up to date on all of their latest news too.
Soft Star Shoes provided their Child Merry Janes free of charge in exchange for my honest review. All words are my own and I was not compensated in any other way. Get yourself and your kids in a handmade pair of Soft Star Shoes and see why their minimal footwear will make your entire family’s feet happy and healthy!
Ever since I graced my feet with the Soft Star RunAmoc Moc3’s (read my review here), I’ve been a Soft Star convert. I can’t think of any other shoe I need besides just more Soft Star Shoes. Thanks to those wonderful, hard-working “Elves” in Oregon, more Soft Star Shoes is exactly what I got!
Begging to be worn to work and to workout!
They actually sent two different pairs of their Dash RunAmoc model. One with their 5mm Vibram™ rubber trail sole and another with their bullhide leather sole to review.
Similar to the Moc3’s, the Dash RunAmoc is perfect for everything from lifting to chasing your kids to just lounging around. Actually, I’d say they’re even better with the front lacing system providing a more secure fit. Don’t get me wrong, I still wear my Moc3’s for walking and casual use, but the Dash’s are my go to shoes for running, lifting, hiking, or anything that requires a snug fit and good traction.
A caveat to the good traction is the bullhide leather sole. They are extremely comfortable and a minimal shoe lover’s dream when running in dry conditions, but when the ground is wet, things get very slippery. So, I’d advise against wearing them at places like a splash pad like someone I know…..
Yeah, I’m smart. But, running in them to the splash pad was nothing short of liberating, especially when I was in the grass. Nothing beats feeling the ground as you run, and with the bullhide, you can reap the meditative effects of earthing/grounding.
You can choose between a Vibram™ rubber sole (5mm Trail sole or 2mm Street sole) or a tough bullhide leather sole. Both are zero drop between toe and heel. And their comparison.
Spacious toe box allows feet to stretch comfortably.
Regular, narrow, or wide width options are available.
Can be worn with or without socks.
Highly resistant to odors.
5.0–9.5 oz, depending on size, leather type and sole.
Made in USA: designed and handcrafted in Oregon using US-sourced materials.
One key point Soft Star left out on their site is how doubling up on their shoes means double the performance and fun. Like, for instance, the kid’s Ramblers combined with RunAmoc’s.
Looks
The first thing I noticed about these shoes is how they would fit in at the office along with khakis and a button up shirt. Perfect for those who want/need to get out of their work clothes and into workout clothes to exercise during lunch or right after work. No extra pair of shoes needed, they’ll work for both!
While I’m not going to the office any time soon as an at-home dad, they’re accepted by my wife when we go out to some place a little nice. And getting her to accept my chosen apparel when going places is a big “feet”!
I ran a 4th of July 5k in the bullhide RunAmoc’s (which I placed in my age group, thank you), and received many questions about my “dressy” shoes from fellow runners. Not sure why they stuck out so much though. I thought black and brown go together, no?
I proudly filled the runners’ ears about the greatness of American made Soft Star Shoes and they were eager to check out their site.
Fit and Feel
Wonderful and great. There, that’s all you need to know. The fit is about a half size down from what your normal shoe size is, at least that’s how it is for me. I normally wear 10 1/2, but the 10’s fit perfect with no foot slippage inside. I have the regular width shoes which work great for me, but if needed, you can choose narrow or wide as well.
I’ve worn them with and without socks, but prefer to wear socks most of the time. No real reason why, just habit I guess, and it’s obviously the stylish thing to do. But, Avery begs to differ.
Unless your feet are covered in baby powder, they’ll sweat, especially with the full grain leather. Once wet from sweat or any other water, the shoe’s color will bleed and stain socks if you wear them. I’m fine with this because, well, they’re socks. Plus, Soft Star gives fair warning on their site.
Die-hard barefoot shoe advocates would probably want to stray from the 5mm trail sole as it does reduce ground-feel. That said, I have no problem with the extra rubber and find there’s still a good amount of feedback between the ground and my feet.
The bullhide leather obviously offers more connectivity, and yes, it simply feels wonderful walking on any surface and connecting with the earth. Now excuse me as I look for my peace sign necklace and tie-dye shirt….
Performance and Durability
As long as you’re on a dry surface, the Dash RunAmoc’s offer the minimal athlete an outstanding shoe to run, jump, lift, and wonder trails with confidence. While in Colorado, I hiked and ran on trails in my 5mm trail sole almost without issue.
I say “almost” because the wide toe box, while awesome for giving toes freedom to spread out, seemed to catch on a lot of rocks when I was walking. Oddly, whene running, I didn’t have this problem, but when hiking, I stumbled several times with my wife there to point and laugh.
Stumbling aside, they provide plenty of feedback when running and lifting. Also, the wide toe box does enable my toes the freedom to spread out as they naturally would if running sans shoes. Something that the New Balance or Merrell minimalist shoes don’t offer with their narrower design.
I love having a shoe that performs well in the gym and on the road, and these fit the bill. Since the bullhide leather is extremely limited in traction, I stick to the rubber soles which work great in my garage gym. And since good form is vital when doing lifts like squats and dead lifts, the zero drop is a welcome feature.
I’ve kicked enough objects and scraped the shoes on many things with minimal wear and tear. From the abuse I’ve put them through, it’s easy to see how well Soft Star’s “Elves” constructed the Dash RunAmoc. My only concern is that the upper is glued to the sole instead of stitched, but they’ve been holding together with no sign of separation for the five months I’ve owned them.
Despite their high strength construction, the Dash RunAmoc’s are very lightweight starting at 5.0 oz which makes for another wonderful aspect when running/walking. They are also highly flexible which lends to natural foot movement and offers that “barefoot experience” without worrying about sharp debris on the road. I’ve run across many surfaces, all with plenty of protection from potential hazards on the ground.
Summary
I could go on about all of the Soft Star Shoes and how I want more, but I suggest you go check them out for yourself. They have shoes for the whole family to enjoy, and the Design-Your-Own option allows you to own a high quality and comfortable shoe that’s truly your own. They make a great gift too! We’ve obviously become huge fans since that’s all we packed for our vacation.
No other shoe, that I’m aware of, is at home in the office just as much (if not more-so) on the trail, pavement, or under a barbell. Their superior quality in form and function is what has me lacing up my Soft Star Dash RunAmoc shoes every day. I know I can count on them to get me through whatever’s in store for the day while keeping my feet happy. That is, unless Avery hides them from me.
From true barefoot feel allowing for natural foot movement, to high quality materials for construction, I know these shoes will last me several years under most conditions.
Pros
Water resistant and great for cold weather running as they keep your feet warm. Unless you get the perforated version.
High quality materials used for durable shoe build
Highly flexible with excellent ground feel and comfort
Looks like a dress shoe, but built to perform under all conditions
Zero drop between toe and heel
Cons
Wide toe box can cause you to trip if you’re not careful like me.
Leather will bleed onto your socks when your feet sweat.
The bullhide sole is very slippery on wet surfaces.
Looks like a dress shoe. I don’t mind this, but many seem to think it’s weird
Thank you, Soft Star Shoes, for making such an excellent line of shoes and providing earth-friendly footwear for the entire family!
Disclosure: Soft Star Shoes provided their Dash RunAmoc’s to me free of charge in exchange for review. I was not compensated for this post in any other way and all opinions are my own.
An at-home dad on a mission to keep it real when it comes to food, fun, and raising a healthy, happy family.
