"For 99 percent of the time we've been on Earth, we were hunters and gatherers, our lives dependent on knowing the fine, small details of our world. Deep inside, we still have a longing to be reconnected with the nature that shaped our imagination, our language, our song and dance, our sense of the divine." - Janine M. Benyus What can...

On a chilly Oregon morning last week, moments after we opened up the shop, we received an urgent phone call. A long-awaited delivery truck had just arrived at the new workshop location and several hands were needed immediately to unload its contents. All non-essential elves rose to the challenge, left their sewing machines and hopped in carpools to nearby Philomath. The truck was...

A New Study From Harvard and PolyU Reveals Minimalist Shoes Make Your Legs and Feet Stronger, Decrease Chance of Injury The public debate over minimalist shoes has been on a roller coaster for several years now, but perhaps not for much longer. Although minimalist shoes for kids have been popular for several decades (we've made a business of it since 1985), the idea that...

Switching to minimal shoes can be very liberating... if you do it safely. Although people may still debate over the benefits of minimal shoes and barefoot running, we remain strong advocates for both. So many customers have told us their foot pain disappeared and their cushy orthotics became unnecessary after switching to our barefoot-like shoes, and it's hard to ignore that kind of response. We...

Have you noticed that your feet and ankles tend to swell more often as the years go by? If so, then you're not alone. While anybody can develop a swollen foot or two, regardless of age, it tends to happen more frequently with older adults. Causes So what's going on when feet swell? Technically speaking, swelling happens when fluid in the blood escapes...

We're happy to announce that construction on the new Soft Star workshop is right on schedule! Last weekend, owners Tricia and Larkin hosted the first annual Soft Star staff picnic at Mary's River Park, located only a couple blocks from the new shop in Philomath, Oregon (about 6 miles west of our current Corvallis, workshop). Although we're leaving our scenic...

If you're an outdoor enthusiast, like many of our shoemaking elves, then western Oregon is a giant playground. We consider ourselves very fortunate to be within easy reach of mountains, oceans, rivers and moss-ridden forests that look like they belong in Middle Earth. Our location offers us a wealth of outdoor activities, including skiing, snowboarding, surfing, rock climbing, kayaking, camping, hang gliding...