That title is a mouthful, but these rubber barefoot boots are straight-up loved by my 4-year-old. They were gifted to us for review in the fall of 2020 by the website PedTerra (formerly Young Sole Shoes) but all thoughts are from me, or a very opinionated boy.
Rain boots are one of the most hotly-debated, sought-after areas of minimalist footwear. You have your barefoot shoes, and you love them, but what about when it rains? Adults still have to ‘make do’ in many ways, or even ‘do without’, but kids have some great options, including these lined boots from Bundgaard.
Technical specifications:
- Upper: 100% natural rubber
- Sole: 100% natural rubber
- Lining: 40% wool, 60% Dacron
- Heat-reflecting insole
- 100% zero drop with NO toe spring
- Sizes: 20-32 (stock varies by retailer)
Company Information:
Bundgaard is over 100 years old and was established in Denmark in 1904. They are still designed in Denmark, and produced mostly in Portugal, where many great barefoot shoes are made. The short boots, in particular, are produced in “the East” (which I’d assume means China) but they say that every factory they work with lives “up to EU REACH standards.” Read their full story here. While they are not a strictly barefoot company, they are a strong part of the barefoot shoes movement and continuing to add more zero drop and flexible options with each season.
Appearance:
I normally do appearance here, with outfits, but kids are much more about RUN than STAND STILL so I let him go, go, go. Mom thoughts here are that they have a very clean look, at least in these black. You can now get them in sparkly glitter models too (black and red on PedTerra), but these are a very straight-forward black and white, which he’s worn with everything from shorts and pajamas (kids 🤷♀️😅) to a snow-bib, when they really showed their usefulness.
The only signs of wear on the boots have been that the stamped numbers on the bottom are rubbing off, and one of the labels is coming off the back of the boot. Otherwise, they look new even after months of wear.
Fit:
These shoes have a narrow presentation along the back half of the foot, but a nice toebox. We sized up for socks and due to the lining, but went a little extra (oops) so my high-volume kiddo has been fine in them, and wears them any chance he gets. I would say in his correct size, though, they would be snug over the top of his feet, due to the overall volume of his thick feet, and probably not wide enough at the back. Think bread feet, though, when you think of my kids. If your kids are more narrow-footed, they’ll fit great in the normal size.
Sizing:
Always check size charts, even if someone (me included) tells you that something runs true to size. Sizing does not always scale, and brands can vary by several millimeters (or more!) in the length they allot to any given size.
We consulted the size chart, went up a size for the wool, and then went up again thinking he might grow before winter ended. Honestly, don’t double stack your size ups like that. It’s working for us because my thick-foot kids are used to being sized up to have enough space over the instep. Even barefoot shoes don’t serve that foot type as well as I’d like. But for most kids, and especially those with lower volume / more narrow feet, you’ll want to only size up a little for issues such as the lining or desire to wear thick socks.
I have measured our 31s with a Plus12 and they come in short against the chart by about 1/2 a cm, which is typical when there is a wool lining. I’m fairly certain that most companies base their length measurements on a component of the shoe, rather than measurements of the final shoes, and the extra space taken up by linings is often not accounted for.
You may also find that your desired size shows a length longer than you typically see in other brands in the same size. That’s why it’s most important to know your kids’ feet and how much they need (at least 12 mm extra room) more than finding a particular size.
Flexibility:
There are two answers to the question of flexibility in these boots and they are determined by whether you have the insole in or out. Taking the insole out does reduce the cold protection, especially coming up from the ground, but doesn’t leave your kid bare as the boots are completely lined in the wool/Dacron mixture.
With the insole in (which is how we’ve worn them):
With the insole out:
You definitely get more flexibility with the insole out and it’s up to you to balance cold protection against the improved flexibility. For us, we haven’t had cause to remove it yet, though we might in the spring. He wears these to muddy parks and in the snow, and wears more flexible options the rest of the time.
Seriously, though, they still flex with the insole in. Just a bit less.
Wet and Winter Wear:
These boots are completely rubber, and have not shown any cracks of stress at this point, so the waterproofing has been perfect.
As far as warmth goes, these are short boots and have a generous ankle opening, so you’re going to want to pay attention to that for either getting the pants legs over the opening (which we do with the snow bib – elasticized lining goes in the boots, over-layer goes on top of the boots) or getting some tall, thick socks to protect against snow getting in there.
If you’re just dealing with cool rain or mud, not snow, then it’s less of a concern, but since they are short some major splashing is going to result in water inside. In that case, you might want to check out a taller option.
Weight:
The only real downside to these is the weight. They are heavier than many of my barefoot shoes in size 43. I assume that if I had wool-lined, thick, natural-rubber boots in my size they’d be even heavier, but since barefoot rainboots in my size are non-existent, I can’t compare. Know that they are weighty.
Cleaning and Care:
Virtually no shoes should be machine washed, these included. The exterior is easy to clean – just wipe off any stains. The interior requires a softer touch. Remove any debris by hand and wipe with something lightly moistened to avoid soaking the interior and increasing dry time. Dry without any direct heat (don’t stress that outer layer!) fully before wearing again.
Purchasing, Shipping, and Returns:
If you’re in Europe, you will have many more options to get these. In the US, PedTerra is the place! They are $69.99, but if it’s your first time ordering with them you can save 10% with the code OWBSHOES. You always get free shipping and returns at PedTerra, and you can email the owner to discuss sizing advice before you buy.
Final thoughts:
There is no bad weather, only bad clothes, is really true for kids. Equip them with the clothes and shoes they need to take on cold, wet, and muddy conditions and they can enjoy any weather in full without parents worrying quite so much about the mess. That’s where boots like this shine. My littlest son (I have 3) can slide these on in an instant and be out chasing his brothers, enjoying the snow, or stomping through the puddles. You have the choice for the kids to wear them with the insole or to take it out. Either way, they can be just what your little one needs with the peace of mind that any mess will easily clean up later. He wears these happily!
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