Elf Martin

We were thrilled this week to come across a recent podcast by Freakonomics that pretty much nailed our philosophy on footwear. The episode explores the history of shoes and how they evolved into modern foot casings with heavy padding, tight toe boxes and motion control technology. It also asks how these modern features affect the […]

After decades of walking, I recently learned my form was not very good. I hadn’t yet learned how to walk in barefoot shoes.

Summer is finally here! And that means we have visions of gorgeous hikes, bountiful farmers markets, breezy beach days, relaxing vacations and warm strolls dancing in our heads. Whatever sunny adventures lie ahead for you this year, one thing is for certain: you’ll need some comfortable summer shoes to take you where you want to […]

The Softstar shoemaking elves are always on the lookout for opportunities to get involved with local community projects. We occasionally close the shop for part of a day to allow our staff to volunteer for causes they support. When we learned that the nearby town of Albany, Oregon needed help moving animals for their newly […]

Summer officially starts this week, and what better way to kick it off than with a grand adventure giveaway! We want to help you have a memorable and active summer. That’s why we’re giving one lucky winner the ultimate outdoor gear prize package: Win a $500 gift card for Patagonia, plus a $500 gift card for Softstar Shoes! […]

Every time April 22 rolls around, we are encouraged to remember just how precious and amazing the Earth is. From taking a hike with a friend to tending to your garden, there are SO many ways to appreciate our planet… [click title to read more]

Thanks to everyone who contributed baby name ideas to Elf Tesla earlier this year. We’re happy to say she gave birth to a healthy baby girl on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17! Mother and child are both doing well, and they were finally able to visit the workshop this week to show off the newcomer.