Healthy foot development is at the core of each Soft Star Shoe!  Our shoes are designed specifically for natural movement- with flexible, wide, soft soles and breathable, natural materials.   

Soft Star Shoes are loved by adults and children alike for their bare-foot like, comfortable feel.  Adults enjoy Soft Star shoes at home, work and on the trails.  Children have worn our shoes for over 25 years to ensure healthy bone development and balance.  Caring for a child's feet will benefit their health, mobility and well-being throughout their entire lives.  According to the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, the 26 bones in our feet are not fully hardened until age 18. In fact, children's feet are composed of relatively soft and flexible cartilage which gradually converts to bone with age. While children's feet are developing, the soft cartilage centers are fusing together.  As such, the foot is at risk from injury and deformity due to ill-fitting footwear.  Any postural foot abnormality can have an effect further up the body, permanently altering posture and walking style.


To see our selection of Soft Star Shoes, click here.


Healthy Footwear Tips:

·          Barefoot is best for healthy foot development.  In countries where footwear is not used, studies show an almost total absence of adult foot problems.  For further reading on this topic, you can check out medical research (Click Here) at the unshod website.   Obviously it is not always practical to be barefoot - which is where good shoe design comes in for warmth and protection while simulating barefoot conditions as much as possible for natural foot development.

·          Allow plenty of room for toes to wiggle and spread.  This means not only your shoes, but care should also be taken to make sure that socks are loose and sleep suits do not cram the toes.  (Yes, that goes for adults who sleep with "footies", too!)

·          When buying for children - find shoes from reputable companies designed specifically for toddlers and young children.  A young child's foot is a different shape from that of an adult or teenager, requiring a correspondingly much bigger toe area than the shape of an adult shoe.  Many shoe manufacturers children's shoes are simply scaled down versions of adult shoes.

·          Soling material for outdoor shoes on hard surfaces such as sidewalks should be slip resistant, shock absorbing and flexible.  (Click "Here" to see photos of Soft Star Soles.) The best soles are protective while simulating barefoot conditions, meaning no heels, arch supports or other "molding" features.

·          Upper materials should be made of breathable material such as leather or cloth.  Children's feet sweat more than adults, up to 1 cup of moisture per day. Avoid synthetic nylons or plastic materials. Our sheepskin lining in our moccasins and boots is an ideal material as it wicks moisture away from the foot.