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Child Phoenix Boot

19 Reviews
From:
$165.00

Go barefoot all year long! Fully-lined with lush sheepskin, this child version of our mythically cozy leather and sheepskin boot is guaranteed to raise your kids from their winter hibernation.

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

A zipper on the outside of these sheepskin snow boots for kids makes this style easy to put on and take off, and our zero-drop VibramTM sole provides excellent traction in mild to moderate winter conditions. Go ahead, don’t let cold weather stop your kids from “blazing” a trail!

  • Premium leather uppers with sheepskin.
  • 6mm VibramTM Geo sole is durable, flexible and features improved traction on snow and ice.
  • Fully lined with genuine sheepskin featuring replaceable sheepskin innersoles.
  • Roomy toebox.
  • Can be worn with or without socks.
  • Designed and handcrafted in Oregon, USA.

Phoenix boots are only made in one width. New boots should fit snugly, as the natural sheepskin will stretch, but the length of the boot should not cause your child's toes to curl against the front seam—a sign that the size is too small. 

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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

19 reviews

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Top customer reviews

  1. Only lasted 4 months

    Rating

    We had the previous version of these boots for a solid year. My child (6 years old) outgrew them and they still looked fantastic for the next child. She was obsessed with her boots so we sprung for the Phoenix ones - super expensive, but if they lasted another year we were willing to do it. After just 4 months the boots started to separate at the bottom. I took them to a cobbler and he said they couldn’t be repaired. I was super disappointed these didn’t last longer with how much they cost. I won’t be buying them again, but will continue with the other Softstar shoes.
  2. Verified Buyer

    Needs more durable sole

    Rating

    My 4 year old LOVED these boots & wore them daily from late fall until spring. Unfortunately, they wore down on the heel clear through to the leather. I wish I could share a picture. I was really hoping they would have lasted longer for the price. The sheepskin leather held up great & these boots could have gotten a lot more miles if not for the sole. Overall, I was really happy with the boots- so comfortable, warm, & easy for my son to slip on & off by himself. Just wished they would have lasted longer.
  3. Verified Buyer

    Perfect Boots

    Rating

    Our daughter loves these boots as they are warm, flexible and lightweight. Easy for her to pull on and off. We love that she can feel where she is walking when on trails or the playground!
  4. Verified Buyer

    Such quality

    Rating

    My two children have these & are already comfortably wearing them in fall weather. Lots of running, no complaints in overheating. A couple very cold days and no complaints of cold. They love them and are very comfortable. Sort star elves are very helpful in directing for a comfortable fit. They came and my daughter felt they were too small but after some rolled up socks in the toe overnight (I could tell they weren’t too short so it wasn’t a size issue) they were perfectly comfortable! So thankful to have found this quality small business.
  5. We have purchased this boots two years in a row

    Rating

    We have purchased this boots two years in a row for each of my kids (toddler, elementary school kid). They fit the toddler perfectly and are warm in the Midwest Winter. They get wet in snow, but dry well. We do not get that much snow but usually have cold and dry winters, so that works. I have to say that I am disappointed in the color selection this year. Silver and purple? Those are girl colors. Where are the boys color? Do I really have to pay 15 dollars more to get a "normal" color in brown or black? So, sorry, the one star off is for poor color selection and forcing even higher prices.
  6. Good in a CO winter

    Rating

    I bought these for my 3 year old to run around the playground in this winter and they held up quite well in the Colorado winter. She never complained about cold feet and never had wet socks when she came home. They are easy for her to get on and off herself, which is nice for me. We also get all kinds of compliments on them when we are out and about, I tell people to check out the softstar website since they make them in adult sizes.
  7. Perfect in all ways!!

    Rating

    We love these boots. Never a cold toe. We're located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They are soft and flexible which I love. The sizing was a little tricky for us, as we were just movIng into the next size up. I still ordered one size big, and while they are too big, the flexibility has made them work. Hoping to get two seasons out of these for that reason. We couldn't be happier.
  8. Verified Buyer

    Really good

    Rating

    We got these boots (size 7) for our 18 month old for the winter. She loves them! And we love them, too. They are easy to put on, stay on, are warm, and keep her feet dry from snow and light duty wet adventuring in our cold weather location. I use the Bee Natural Leathercare and it seems to work well. Highly recommend. Will buy another pair in future years.
  9. Loved this boot

    Rating

    I had this boot for my daughter last fall/winter. She was about 1.5 when we got it. They were so easy to put on her and I never worried about her feet getting wet. I also felt like she could walk well and they weren't clunky like other toddler winter boots. She wore them in the snow and rain. I have rain pants and snow pants that have stirrups to hold the pants down over the boot so I didn't worry about there suede getting wet. Loved this boot so much. Planning to buy another pair for her in the next size up.
  10. Lovely shoes

    Rating

    My child loves her golden shoes which makes her pick them every day - perfect choice for her feet I believe. Only negative thing is that they tend to be a bit wet inside after playing in wet snow.
  11. Warm - barefoot and beatiful

    Rating

    For my daughter (3,5y) are de boots to wide. She has very narrow feet. So they are falling out. But they are really warm, flexible and beautiful.
  12. Verified Buyer

    Perfect boots!

    Rating

    5 year old is very sensitive to wearing shoes. We've tried other barefoot brands that still bothered him. I decided to give soft Softstar a try and am happy to report that he loves them! These boots are cute! And so far have kept him warm and dry!
  13. Verified Buyer

    Just what I've been looking for!

    Rating

    These boots are everything I've been wanting for my kids. I kept putting off buying them because I was afraid they would soak through too easily. I decided to give them a try for my 2 year old. She has worn them out in the snow everyday since getting them a couple weeks ago. Her feet stay dry and warm. We've tried several other barefoot brands and these are by far our favorite! Only Soft Star from here now on for us!
  14. 2yr old loves these boots

    Rating

    My 2 year old loves that she can put these boots on herself and take them off herself. The zipper is easy enough so she can do it all. I water-proofed them with the Bee Natural Leathercare (Rain & Snow). So far, so good. Just ordered another pair for our 6 year old.
  15. Best kid boot on the market

    Rating

    This is our second purchase of the exact same model. Our son lives by it in winter time! First pair served 2 full winters. This new pair has overall thicker outsole (due to age/sizing) Sole appears to be slightly softer, providing even greater mobility. Note, we live in Canada and winter is a serious thing over here! Boot are always warm enough (combined with proper socks) -- Beware however, those are definitely not waterproof : he shoot with leather protector every 2 weeks, which provide hydrophobic protection (to an extent) don't expect to jump on the water and not get wet.
  16. Great

    Rating

    They really are a good quality boot. I was hesitant to spend so much on a child's shoes. However, my son's boots from 2 years ago are now my daughters boots...you get your money's worth.
  17. Sizing guide was spot on!

    Rating

    Sizing guide was spot on! I can't vouch for the comfort of the boots.. but they look so soft and cozy my wife wants a pair and I'm thinking about Softstar slippers. They are my child's go to now even on days that aren't cold enough to warrant such warm footwear.
  18. Fantastic cozy boots for kids

    Rating

    I agree with the previous review that these are nice lightweight flexible boots that our 1.5 year old lived in last winter, and will again this winter. Stay amazingly warm and dry for being so light. Real sheepskin makes the difference. That said, the suede panels are the one weak link that keep this boot from being perfect. Without them you could weatherproof these boots, but as is the suede will be the part that eventually soaks through. Minor complaint, I still prefer these to anything else!
  19. Lightweight flexible boot

    Rating

    This is a fantastic boot particularly for small children who are not heavy or strong enough to flex most children's boots effectively. We had a pair last winter for both a one year old and a three year old and are planning to buy another set this year for both children. The one year old was just learning to walk at the time and it was the only boot we found that was flexible enough for her to walk in. Our three year old also loved the boot and walked/ran notably better in this boot than in more typical stiff soled children's boots. He also loved the zipper that allowed him to easily put on the boot by himself. We found the boots plenty warm and water resistant enough for an hour or two of playing in the snow (we used the boots regularly in temperatures down to about 10-15 degrees). For extended play in really wet and sloppy conditions a more waterproof boot is probably a better choice.
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Customer Questions

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).

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.

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.

If your child wears a half size then we recommend ordering the larger size.
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