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Adult Phoenix Boot

128 Reviews
From:
$275.00

Go barefoot all year long! Fully-lined with lush sheepskin, these mythically cozy, Vibram sole winter boots for adults are guaranteed to raise you from your winter hibernation.

Now with roomier toe box!

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When the weather outside turns frightful, these sheepskin winter boots are SO delightful! The Phoenix boot's uppers are made of nothing but the softest leather, and these sheepskin winter boots for adults are fully-lined with sheepskin to naturally wick away moisture for warm, dry feet. These winter boots for adults also feature replaceable sheepskin innersoles for long-term comfort. 

A zipper on the outside of these sheepskin leather boots makes this style easy to wear over or under pant legs, and our zero-drop Vibram sole provides excellent traction in mild to moderate winter conditions. Go ahead, don’t let cold weather stop you from “blazing” a trail!

  • Durable, flexible, and lightweight soles
  • Zero-drop Vibram Tundra sole measures 4mm thick, plus 3mm additional midsole material (plus sheepskin fluff)
  • Fully lined with genuine sheepskin featuring replaceable Sheepskin Plus Innersoles
  • Roomy toe box featuring the Hybrid REGULAR sole shape
  • Can be worn with or without socks
  • Handcrafted in the USA from premium, responsibly-sourced leathers

Please allow 1–2 weeks lead time for this product, especially during peak boot season (November–December).

Sizing Note:
Beginning October 2023, the Phoenix boot features a wider, roomier toe box. As a result, the Adult Phoenix now fits more true to size. Those with higher volume feet may still want to size up one size.

When your new Phoenix boots arrive they should fit snugly and feel a little tight since the natural sheepskin will stretch with wear, but the length of the boot should not cause your toes to curl against the front seam—a sign that the size is too small. Sorry, but half sizes, wide or narrow widths, are not available at this time.

You can measure your feet or your child's feet at home using a book, a ruler and a wall. You can then see where the measurement fits on our unisex shoe size chart to find the recommended shoe size.


Measure Your Feet...

sizing-feet-steps
Place bare foot with heel barely touching the wall and longest toe barely touching the flat spine of a book. Step away carefully and measure the distance from the wall to the book.

... and Find Your Size

Once you have the measurement, look for it on the charts below to find the recommended Softstar shoe size. Contact us if you have questions.

Note: we do not recommend tracing feet because doing so usually gives a larger measurement.

Softstar Adult
Shoe Size
US Shoe Size Foot Length Foot Width
5 Unisex 4.5 - 5 Mens
5.5 - 6 Womens
22.2 - 23.0 cm Regular: 8.1 - 9.8 cm
Wide: 9.9+ cm
6 Unisex 5.5 - 6 Mens
6.5 - 7 Womens
23.0 - 23.9 cm Regular: 8.4 - 10.1 cm
Wide: 10.2+ cm
7 Unisex 6.5 - 7 Mens
7.5 - 8 Womens
23.9 - 24.7 cm Regular: 8.7 - 10.4 cm
Wide: 10.5+ cm
8 Unisex 7.5 - 8 Mens
8.5 - 9 Womens
24.7 - 25.6 cm Regular: 9.1 - 10.8 cm
Wide: 10.9+ cm
9 Unisex 8.5 - 9 Mens
9.5 - 10 Womens
25.6 - 26.4 cm Regular: 9.3 - 11.0 cm
Wide: 11.1+ cm
10 Unisex 9.5 - 10 Mens
10.5 - 11 Womens
26.4 - 27.3 cm Regular: 9.6 - 11.3 cm
Wide: 11.4+ cm
11 Unisex 10.5 - 11 Mens
11.5 - 12 Womens
27.3 - 28.1 cm Regular: 9.9 - 11.6 cm
Wide: 11.7+ cm
12 Unisex 11.5 - 12 Mens
12.5 - 13 Womens
28.1 - 28.9 cm Regular: 10.2 - 11.9 cm
Wide: 12.0+ cm
13 Unisex 12.5 - 13 Mens 28.9 - 29.8 cm Regular: 10.5 - 12.2 cm
Wide: 12.3+ cm
14 Unisex 13.5 - 14 Mens 29.8 - 30.5 cm Regular: 10.9 - 12.6 cm
Wide: 12.7+ cm
15 Unisex 14.5 - 15 Mens 30.5 - 31.4 cm Regular: 11.2 - 12.9 cm
Wide: 13.0+ cm
  1. This chart accounts for growing room.
  2. Many of our youth sizes end at size 4Y. In these cases, you can find the next size up in our adult category starting with size 5U (adult unisex). Note that measurements differ slightly for sizes that overlap on both our youth and adult sizing charts because the youth chart accounts for growing room and the adult chart does not.
Softstar Youth
Shoe Size
Approx Age Range Foot Length Regular Width
1Y 4 - 6 Years 18.5 - 19.4 cm 6.4 - 8.0 cm
2Y 5 - 8 Years 19.4 - 20.2 cm 6.7 - 8.3 cm
3Y 5 - 8 Years 20.2 - 21.0 cm 7.3 - 8.9 cm
4Y 6 - 10 Years 21.0 - 21.9 cm 7.5 - 9.1 cm
5Y/5U 6 - 10 Years 21.9 - 22.7 cm 8.1 - 9.8 cm
6Y/6U 8 - 10 Years 22.7 - 23.6 cm 8.4 - 10.1 cm
  1. This chart accounts for growing room.
Child Size Approx Age Range Foot Length Regular Width
2 0 - 6 months ≤ 10.2 cm 4.3 - 5.9 cm
3 6 - 12 months 10.2 - 11.1 cm 4.6 - 6.2 cm
4 12 - 18 months 11.1 - 11.9 cm 5.0 - 6.6 cm
5 18 months 11.9 - 12.8 cm 5.3 - 6.9 cm
6 18 - 24 months 12.8 - 13.6 cm 5.6 - 7.2 cm
7 2 years 13.6 - 14.5 cm 5.7 - 7.3 cm
8 2 - 3 years 14.5 - 15.3 cm 6.0 - 7.6 cm
9 3 years 15.3 - 16.2 cm 6.4 - 8.0 cm
10 3 - 4 years 16.2 - 17.0 cm 6.7 - 8.3 cm
11 4 - 6 years 17.0 - 17.9 cm 7.1 - 8.7 cm
12 4 - 6 years 17.9 - 18.7 cm 7.5 - 9.1 cm

Want Sizing Detail by Style?

OR: Try Our Printable Stand-On Sizing Guides

Our printable shoe size charts provide another way to help you find the best fit for your feet. These are especially useful for small children who don't like to sit still. Just print the guide for the appropriate age group below and follow the instructions on the page.

Before you print these guides, make sure your printer settings will not shrink or scale the page. Uncheck any boxes labeled "Fit to Printable Area" and/or set scaling options to "None."

Shoe Care

We want you to get the most out of your Softstar shoes. Follow the guide below for tips on keeping your shoes clean and maintained.

Click these links to jump to tips for specific materials:

 



Care Tips for Full Grain (smooth) Leather Shoes

Includes Sublime, Nova, Dublin, Highline, Torino, Shiny, LITE, Plonge, Aged, and Vegetable-Tanned Leathers

WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVE:

Softstar Shoes are made from eco-friendly leathers tanned in the USA. Leather is a natural product and some variation in texture and hide markings is to be expected. Because we use leather colored with non-toxic food grade dyes, there will likely be some initial color transfer to your socks or skin if your shoes become damp. This will decrease with use, but we don't recommend wearing your new Softstars with your favorite white socks the first time you take them for a spin.

If your shoes are a little snug at first in the toe box area, you can gently stretch them by stuffing the toe box with a dry cloth. Push the cloth tightly into the front of the shoe and let sit stuffed overnight to stretch. Do not use a damp cloth as the water can stain the leather or innersole of some leather types, rendering it non-returnable.

MAINTENANCE:

Most full grain leather we use is naturally water resistant, but our special vegetable-tanned leather (available only by custom selection on some of our design-your-own shoes) and Colorado leather are "naked" leathers and will stain from water alone. You can clean shoes as needed with water dampened cloth and let air dry, but please note if you do this on vegetable-tanned or Colorado leather then you will need to wet/stain the entire shoe to avoid water marks. Condition the leather as often as desired with any quality leather dressing, but be careful to keep it away from the edges of your rubber soles. Do not use mink oil on your shoes, as it can degrade the adhesion on bonded soles and cause the sole to separate from your shoe over time. We highly recommend Bee Natural Amore for general conditioning or Rain & Snow or Nikwax Full Grain Waterproofing on smooth leather for enhanced water resistance. The color on shiny metallic shoes will eventually patina with use into an antique wear look, which can be accelerated with repeated use to water and high wear (e.g. scuffing toes).

WASHING:

We do not recommend frequent washing of any leather product as it strips the leather of it's natural oils and tends to dry stiffer. For all of our leathers (except vegetable-tanned) you can clean by hand with a damp cloth, or if needed you can hand wash your leather shoes using a gentle shampoo and cool water. Let them air dry. Do not attempt to dry your shoes by exposing them to high heat, such as a clothes dryer, a hair dryer or by leaving them on a radiator or next to a fire. Doing so may damage leather or rubber soles.

We are often asked if our shoes can be washed in a washing machine. While not recommended as a normal course of action, when in dire straits the Elves have been known to toss a pair of shoes in the machine and generally have had good results. Just don't mix them with any other item because of color bleeding. Shoes with sheepskin can take 3-4 days to air dry if fully submerged in water, but you can speed up the drying by stuffing with old newspapers and replacing the paper twice a day.

 



Care Tips for Suede and Nubuck Shoes

WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVE:

Softstar Shoes are made from eco-friendly, tanned in USA leathers. Leather is a natural product and some variation in texture and markings is to be expected. Because we use natural food grade dyes in our leather, there will likely be some initial color transference to your socks or skin if your shoes become damp. This will decrease with use, but please do not wear your new Soft Stars with your favorite white socks the first time you take them for a spin!

If your shoes are a little snug at first across the top of the toes, you can gently stretch them by stuffing the toe box with a slightly damp rag. Push the cloth tightly into the front of the shoe (don't worry, you won't hurt it). Let the stuffing sit in the shoes overnight to stretch the leather.

MAINTENANCE:

Use a suede brush to remove dirt. You can also choose to use a suede/nubuck leather care product to protect against stains and water absorption (we recommend Nikwax Nubuck & Suede Proof). While not necessary, it will help keep your shoes looking new over time. Do not use generic leather care products on suede, but only those specifically formulated for suede. Products for full grain or smooth leather will be too oily and may permanently darken and mat suede fibers. Please do not use mink oil on any Softstar shoes as it will mat the fibers of our natural leather and will break down the adhesive soling on styles that have bonded soles.

Over time, suede outsoles naturally develop a smoother surface with wear If you’d like to refresh the texture and add some extra grip back, a quick touch-up with a suede brush can easily restore the nap.

WASHING:

We do not recommend frequent washing of any leather product because it will strip the leather of it's natural oils and cause it to dry stiffer. When a suede brush is not enough, you can use a damp cloth or hand wash your suede shoes with a gentle shampoo and cool water, then let them air dry. Do not attempt to dry your shoes by exposing them to high heat, such as a clothes dryer, a hair dryer or by leaving them on a radiator or next to a fire. Doing so may damage leather or rubber soles.

We are often asked if our shoes can be washed in a washing machine. While not recommended as a normal course of action, when in dire straits the Elves have been known to toss a pair of shoes in the machine and generally have had good results—just don't mix them with any other item because of color bleeding. Be sure to give your wet shoes ample time to air dry. Shoes with sheepskin can take 3-4 days to air dry if fully submerged in water, but you can speed up the drying process by stuffing them with old newspapers and replacing the paper twice a day.

 



Care Tips for Sheepskin Boots

Softstar Phoenix boots are made from genuine, high quality sheepskin.

While genuine sheepskin is incredibly cozy and beautiful, it is also delicate and will stretch under strain. When wearing your Phoenix boots, use care to avoid stepping off the back or sides of your heels while you walk as doing so repeatedly can affect the shape of the boots and alter the way they fit. The best way to prevent this is by insuring you purchase the correct size. For adults, we recommend selecting a boot size that fits very snugly at first, as they will stretch over time. For children, growing room is important, so a little extra space is recommended. If possible, have your kids wear their boots the first few times on dryer days to give them time to form to their feet.

The boot uppers are made from eco-friendly leathers that are tanned in the USA. Our leather hides are natural products and some variation in texture and markings is to be expected. If you need to clean your boots, wash gently by hand with a damp cloth and let them air dry.

Condition the leather as often as desired with any quality leather care product, but take care not to get any oils on the edges of the rubber soles. Mink oil, specifically, will degrade the sole adhesion and can lead to separation of soling over time—we do not recommend the use of mink oil anywhere on our boots, as it can eventually seep down to the sole. For general conditioning we recommend Bee Natural Amore, For enhanced moisture protection we recommend Bee Natural Rain and Snow or Nikwax Full Grain Waterproofing. Be careful to use these products only on the smooth leather portion of the shoes and not on the suede cuffs (leather care products designed for the full grain leather uppers may permanently darken suede). It is not necessary to apply a suede protectant or waterproofing to the cuffs, but doing so may help keep that portion of the boot looking clean. If you do choose to add extra protection to the suede, be careful to use a product specifically made for suede leather.

Sheepskin boots can take 3-4 days to air dry if fully soaked with water. You can speed up the drying process by stuffing the boots with old newspapers and replacing the paper twice a day. If they become this wet, be very careful to avoid wearing them again until fully dry because the leather will be more susceptible to stretching and the fit may alter. Do not attempt to dry your shoes by exposing them to high heat, such as a clothes dryer, a hair dryer or by leaving them on a radiator or next to a fire. Doing so may damage leather or rubber soles.

Customer Reviews

4.5

128 reviews

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Top customer reviews

  1. Lauren

    Every day of the winter

    Rating

    I had my eye on these boots for years before buying on sale-- now I can't believe I muddled through Utah winters in tennis shoes for so long. When I first put them on, my narrow heels slipped on the sheepskin and I was worried I'd have to return, but just sticking heel insert on top of the fur helped train the boot to mold to my feet. The heel inserts have long since fallen off but the boots now fit perfectly. Love the vibram sole which feels secure on the pedals when riding a bike.
  2. Ron

    Verified Buyer

    Have Four Pairs of Switchbacks Now Altered the insert thingie

    Rating

    Love 'em! Have purchased 3 pair so far. Love the freedom for my foot fingers. Actually, I've bought 6 pair so far. Three for me and three for gifts. Only chores have been stretching the toe box a bit for my wide foot and trimming a bit of the fleece that's near the zipper, so it doesn't jam the zipper. Love feeling barefoot at work. Widest toe box is no good if you're wearing constrictive sox.
  3. Coldjoe

    Customer

    Rating

    I purchased the furry boots, the lining is fine but the sole is a cheap rubber and my feet were starting to slide off to the side after about three times wearing them and now water is getting in between the sole and the side. Major improvements are needed to these boots and I will buy American next time.

    Response from store

    Note from the Elves: Hello Joseph - I just read your review on your new sheepskin boots and wanted to reach out. First I was concerned that you said you will buy American next time that there might be some mixup? I wanted to assure you our boots are designed, cut, sewn, soled and shipped from our workshop in Oregon. I'm also concerned about your foot sliding around in them, worried that perhaps they were too big, causing you to slide inside them. They should have felt very, very snug when they arrived, as the sheepskin will pack down and the boot feel bigger after a few hours. Finally, I wanted to assure you that sole we use is a Vibram sole designed for good grip, but very light and flexible to facilitate the shoe moving with you. If you like more of a rugged boot sole, our Switchback boots are designed with the Megagrip soles and might be more to your taste. In the meantime, can I suggest treating the black leather (NOT the sheepskin) with some mink oil leather care, specifically around the seam edges to keep your feet dry? Although they are not rated as a rubber boot and will not withstand puddles, your Phoenix boots should keep you snug and dry in normal snow conditions.
  4. T

    Verified Buyer

    So lush, but I wish it had a primal toe box

    Rating

    These are heaven on earth, and would make running outdoors for fun super duper easy. That said, the new toe box was fine for volume, except I would prefer the primal sole for the big toe to splay outward. So I am going to wait for that. If you do not need so much splay room, they are amazing! So so soft inside. If you need toe volume room, request maximum seam allowance in the comment section before you place your order.
  5. Nan

    Verified Buyer

    Love My New Boots!

    Rating

    These boots are awesome. I just love them. They are so warm and toasty and very comfortable. At first they were a bit snug but they have molded to my feet nicely. I highly recommend these boots. My other Softstar shoes are Primal wide so I thought they might be too narrow, however these boots are wide enough for me.
  6. Wisco Wide

    Verified Buyer

    Small Sizing & Drafty Up Top

    Rating

    I live in WI and walk and bike as my primary means of getting around, including in the winter. I've wanted shearling boots for a while and was really excited to see these offered by softstar. I ordered a size 11 hoping to size up for thick socks as I own and wear several pairs of Hawthorne Chukkas (10 Wide) and Roo Moccasins (10 Wide) - which all feel a bit large for me in length already. I was surprised by how short the size 11 fit me and while I expected them to loosen up significantly, my toes were pressing on the front of the boot very strongly. The width felt fine even though there wasn't a wide option. I probably would have exchanged them for a size 12 (or 13?) if the design were better for cold weather. Unfortunately, the boots are very large at the top even for my very large calves. This makes it a very impractical boot to weather in cold weather. It's especially disappointing since the design includes a zipper. The loose top is needed for a boot without a zipper, but with the zipper these could fit really great around the leg. Given the thick shearling a more fitted design would close the air gap and still accommodate a wide range of calf sizes. I'd buy this boot in a heartbeat (in a size that fits) if the upper were redesigned to provide better performance in cold temperatures.

    Response from store

    Note from the Elves: Dear Wisco Wide - Thank you so much for your feedback! Please note the Phoenix should feel quite snug when you first get them when wearing normal socks. This is because the shearling will compress and the shoes will start to feel much bigger afterwards. I will pass your feedback along to our design team about the 11U calf- thanks again!.
  7. Becky

    Verified Buyer

    Ms

    Rating

    I've been wearing these a lot lately with temperatures in the single digits here in Wisconsin. I pair them with a light weight pair of alpaca socks and they keep my feet toasty. I have shared your company's name with several of my friends.
  8. Mark Warren

    Verified Buyer

    Adult Phoenix Boot

    Rating

    I went one size up as I have Adult Duck feet, and they were a perfect fit. Love them as I had him try them on too. He had recommended Softstar shoes to me. Both the boots and both pair of shoes have been wonderful. I'm looking for a petroleum free product to protect them.
  9. Sal

    Amazing

    Rating

    I ordered these a few months ago and have waited to review until we had some seriously cold weather here in the upper Midwest. Spent two full days outdoors at a class, temperature in the low teens and I was warm and cozy in my boots. My feet never got cold (snow on the ground) and I am impressed! I have been walking around outside for a few weeks now in the snow and rain and have had no issues with water in these boots. You’ll likely be as thrilled as I am with them!
  10. Tim

    Verified Buyer

    Great Boot/Outside Slipper

    Rating

    Overall, these boots are fantastic. I'm between sizes and sized down per the recommendation, and they are breaking in nicely (though they did feel tight at first). They are extremely comfortable. Some areas I think could be improved in a future version: - Make the leg of the boot skinnier. This may be a personal problem with my thin legs, but the top feels very loose to the point that I doubt it'll provide much leg warmth. In addition, layering these underneath pants looks pretty goofy (unless you're wearing very loose pants) - Replace the suede with leather. The suede is less functional and I'm not big on the style. It also makes the boots slightly harder to maintain.
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Customer Questions

The full grain leather used to make Softstar Phoenix boots is naturally a little water resistant and will do well to keep feet dry in light rain. Water may seep in during heavy rain, walking through snow or stomping through puddles. For those situations we recommend adding a waterproofing leathercare product to the boots. Any product designed for full grain leather should work, but we sell two on our website: Nikwax Full Grain Leather Waterproofing and Bee Natural Rain and Snow. Keep in mind that most waterproofing leathercare products actually increase water resistance and are not likely to make your shoes 100% waterproof, but they can still make a significant difference to keep feet dry. Also, they may need to be reapplied regularly depending on how much wear and tear the shoes experience. Follow the product's directions and guidelines for best results.

If you are applying leathercare to our Phoenix boots then keep in mind that the sheepskin cuffs of those boots are suede, not full grain leather. The cuffs are high enough that in most cases waterproofing them is unnecessary for keeping feet dry, but if you would like to do so then it is recommended to use a suede leathercare since full grain leathercare may permanently stain suede.

All Softstar shoes, including Phoenix boots, can be worn with our without socks. In most cases, socks will not make a significant difference in your recommended shoe size. An exception would be if you planned to wear thick wool socks with your Phoenix boots. In that case you may want to order one size larger, especially if your foot is already close to fitting the next size up.

Keep in mind that Phoenix boots should feel snug when new. The leather will stretch over time, so if they feel roomy at first then they will likely stretch out to become too big after a few weeks of wear.

Use our Sole Shape Comparison Tool to visualize how the Regular vs. Wide widths differ between many of our adult styles including the Dash, Hawthorne, Merry Jane, Oxford, Phoenix, Solstice, Switchback, Primal Merry Jane, Primal RunAmoc, and Primal Sawyer.

Softstar shoes that are still in brand new condition may be returned for a refund for any reason within 45 days of receipt from any country in the world. This also applies to shoes that you customized with your own unique colors and motifs. We will refund the full cost of the shoes, but customers are responsible for all return shipping charges.

Visit our returns page to learn more.

There are some exceptions to this policy: shoes treated with leather care products, shoes purchased from our biannual clearance sales and shoes made with advanced requests are non-returnable.

Your refund will be applied after the shoes arrive at our shop. If you would like to exchange your shoes for a different size/color/style then you can simply place a new order at your convenience.

Please let us know if you need help with a return. Softstar also has a Happy Feet Guarantee which outlines replacements/returns for workmanship, fit or durability concerns. 

We 100% guarantee we will repair or replace any defects in leather, sheepskin or workmanship free of charge within 30 days of receiving your shoes. This does not cover wear and tear or misuse on behalf of the consumer. Wear and tear is damage that naturally and inevitably occurs as a result of normal use.

We stand by our product and will send you a return shipping label and either repair or replace your shoes if they fail for durability as described below:

  • Peeling of leather finish or print within the first 6 weeks, excluding our shiny leathers which naturally scuff and/or develop patina appearance with normal wear.
  • Stitching defects within first 3 months.
  • Heel support detachment within 3 months.
  • Innersole bunching, coming loose or developing bald spot within 3 months.
  • Sole delamination within 3 months.
  • Leather inlays coming loose within 6 months.
  • Non-functional closures (VelcroTM, buckles, elastic failures, zippers) within 12 months.

Click here for more details about our guarantee.

It depends on what you mean...

If you want one of our existing shoe styles made with your own unique color combinations and motifs, then YES! You can choose these custom options for any style that shows the swirly "CUSTOMIZABLE" rainbow icon in the upper right corner. When you are selecting colors for these shoes you will see a "Customize Your Colors" button below our collection color options.

This is part of our everyday fun to see what creations you design as we handcraft each pair for you here in our Oregon workshop. These custom shoes are also fully returnable according to the terms of our return policy.

If you are looking for customization beyond the shoe shoe designs, colors, or sizes available on our website then we do offer limited services for special requests. Special requests such as longer straps, special motif colors, split sizes or single pairs can often be done. Click here for more details.

All Softstar shoes are 100% designed and handcrafted at our workshop in Philomath, Oregon, USA. We don't outsource any of our manufacturing processes, but instead do it all under one roof. All of our order fulfillment and shipping happens directly from our workshop, too. For more information and to see how our shoes are made, visit this page.

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