Baby Rambler

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From $65.00

Need moccasin-like comfort that stands up to the elements of earth, wind, fire, water and... childhood? Step into the Rambler and step out into the world, without fear of muddy mires or rocky roads!

Size Guide
$65.00
Free Shipping Options
Easy Returns within 45 Days
3mm Child Shoe Sole
  • Learn about XWIDE

    XWIDE can only be made in child sizes 4–12 and is not available in baby sizes 2 or 3. The XWIDE option will only appear in the width dropdown menu above if an eligible shoe size is selected.

    Many parents struggle to find shoes wide enough for their children. For the majority of these cases, our standard wide width will be enough, as it is already wider than most other shoes. However, a small percentage of our customers have children who experience a toddler growth phase with extra chunky feet. We call them "potato feet" in our workshop, and they usually even out after a few years. In addition to being wide, these children's feet often have unusually high insteps that make it difficult to even get their feet inside most shoes. Our XWIDE width option was designed specifically for this situation.

    If you are unsure whether or not your child's feed are wide enough for XWIDE shoes, then we encourage you to contact our customer service team. They will ask you to provide specific measurements to determine which width will be the best fit for your child.

    We can only make XWIDE shoes in certain styles. Due to the extra labor and materials involved in making an XWIDE shoe, selecting this width incurs a $10 surcharge. Sorry, but XWIDE is not available for customized shoes at this time.

    softstar-shoe-width-comparison

    softstar-shoe-width-comparison

Need a larger size? Check out our Child Rambler.

Softstar is a sustainable company that strives to “walk lightly upon the Earth,” and we know our customers do too! However, low in impact is one thing... light of foot is another. Our First Steps Baby Moccasin Rambler is perfect for babies who are ready to start exploring the big bad world on their own two feet. Elastic concealed in the ankle seam secures the shoe to the foot while enabling the wearer to slip it on and off with ease. Made with our suede innersole, and genuine sheepskin innersole inserts can be added for moisture-wicking temperature regulation from summer to winter. Ramble on, comfort-lovers, ramble on!

  • Zero-drop 3mm VibramTM Pyramid sole.
  • Suede innersoles (sheepskin innersole inserts can be added separately)
  • Indoor/outdoor shoe
  • Elastic ankle closure - Easy on, secure it, easy off!
  • Designed and handcrafted in Oregon, USA

green-parent-magazine

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 shoe sizing guide 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) is a "naked" leather 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 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 Nikwas 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.

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.

Which Shoe Style is Best for Your Child?

Use our handy chart below to compare our child shoe styles and find the best fit for your needs. Remember that all Softstar shoes are made from soft, eco-friendly leather and lightweight, flexible soles for healthy foot development. For children in particular, this is important as the bones in their feet are still forming and not fully ossified until ages 9-11. We believe shoes should provide protection from the elements while doing their best to mimic barefoot conditions.

If you cannot see the entire table, swipe left/right or use the scrollbar at the bottom to expand your view.

Kids' Style Comparison
  Roo Moccasin Rambler Classic Laguna Sandal
Summary

Kids Roo Moccasin

A soft and flexible slip-on moccasin with sheepskin insoles. Ideal for indoor and light outdoor use.

Kids Rambler Easy to slip-on with a rubber sole for increased durability on the playground. Kids Classic A classy fitted style for all occasions. "Closed" design keeps out water, debris and snow. Kids Laguna SandalEasy Velcro strap and open toes and heels keep feet cool on warm summer days.
Features

Our signature moccasin, and suitable for all ages from 0-99!

Roos feature lush sheepskin insoles, suede outersoles and natural leather uppers to allow our most unrestricted barefoot-like movement. Cozy to wear around the house and preferred by schools that require soft-soled classroom shoes. Also recommended for encouraging healthy foot development in early walkers.

A slip-on style similar to our moccasins, but made with a rubber outersole for enhanced durability. Still a good first walker shoe and great for rough outdoor play. Also acceptable for schools that require soft classroom shoes.

The first shoe made by Softstar in 1985, and still a family favorite!

Upper is made from a single piece of leather stretched around the shoe for a classy fitted design. Features a Velcro closure for easy on/off. Great for outdoor play, but can also work for formal occasions with the right colors.

Keeps kids cool on hot days! Open toe and heel not only provide ventilation, but also give a little more growing room before your kids need to size up. Features a Velcro closure for easy on/off.

Leather

Smooth full grain Sublime leather (a slightly softer, more flexible version of our Nova leather).

Smooth Nova leather.

Smooth Nova leather.

Smooth Nova leather.

Closure

Elastic (slip-on).

Elastic (slip-on).

Velcro strap.

Velcro strap.

Innersole

Sheepskin only. Our genuine sheepskin fleece naturally wicks moisture and helps keep feet dry.

Suede only. Removable sheepskin insoles can be purchased separately.

Suede only. Removable sheepskin insoles can be purchased separately.

Suede only.

Outersole

Suede leather sole; will become smooth and shiny with wear.

6mm rubber Pyramid sole.

Extra durable 8.5mm Rugged soles also available for sizes 6+ (recommended for kids who play rough and wear through shoes quickly).

6mm rubber Pyramid sole.

6mm rubber Pyramid sole.

Wide?

YES! Wide width options are available, and this flexible shoe stretches well to adapt to big feet. Elastic can also be adjusted after shoe is made if more ankle room is needed.

We can also make this style in XWIDE width upon special request for kids with exceptionally large feet. Visit this page for more info.

YES! Wide width options are available, and this flexible shoe stretches well to adapt to big feet. Elastic can also be adjusted after shoe is made if more ankle room is needed.

We can also make this style in XWIDE width upon special request for kids with exceptionally large feet. Visit this page for more info.

Wide widths are available, but fitted design is not as accommodating to extra wide feet as our other styles.

Works well for most wide feet... better than the Classic, but not as roomy as a wide Roo or Rambler.

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Customer Questions
How do I know if I ordered the right shoe size for my child?

Finding the right size shoe for your children can be challenging, especially because you never know when an unexpected growth spurt will come along. Fortunately, we have a lot of experience helping parents find the right size for their little ones, and we've gone through it with our own kids, too.

As a general rule of thumb (literally), have your child try on the shoe and make sure the heel is pushed all the way back. We recommend having a thumb's width of space between your child's toes and the front seam of the shoe. We have found this to be a good amount of space to allow for growing room without being too big.

Following these guidelines, parents buying new shoes during back-to-school season can usually expect the size to last most, if not all of the new school year (but again, growth spurts can be unpredictable).

What is Softstar's return policy?

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. 

Does Softstar guarantee their handcrafted shoes?

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.

Does Softstar customize shoes?

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.

How do XWIDE shoes fit?

XWIDE can only be made in child sizes 4–12 and is not available in baby sizes 2 or 3. The XWIDE option will only appear in the width dropdown menu above if an eligible shoe size is selected.

Many parents struggle to find shoes wide enough for their children. For the majority of these cases, our standard wide width will be enough, as it is already wider than most other shoes. However, a small percentage of our customers have children who experience a toddler growth phase with extra chunky feet. We call them "potato feet" in our workshop, and they usually even out after a few years. In addition to being wide, these children's feet often have unusually high insteps that make it difficult to even get their feet inside most shoes. Our XWIDE width option was designed specifically for this situation.

If you are unsure whether or not your child's feed are wide enough for XWIDE shoes, then we encourage you to contact our customer service team. They will ask you to provide specific measurements to determine which width will be the best fit for your child.

We can only make XWIDE shoes in certain styles. Due to the extra labor and materials involved in making an XWIDE shoe, selecting this width incurs a $10 surcharge. Sorry, but XWIDE is not available for customized shoes at this time.

softstar-shoe-width-comparison

softstar-shoe-width-comparison

What shoe size should I order if my child wears a half size?
If your child wears a half size then we recommend ordering the larger size.
Where are Softstar shoes made?

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.