Today, I’m hosting Jessica Freson from PedTerra (formerly Young Sole Shoes). Jessica knows kids’ minimalist shoes inside and out and has a lot of great expertise to offer you all. This all-boy mom just doesn’t get to explore this segment, and it’s great we have such an expert on our side!
Note: A couple of months after this posted, I became an affiliate of PedTerra/Young Sole Shoes. With the code OWBSHOES you can get 10% off any order there and her lines are continuously expanding.
There seems to be a lot of people wondering where all the big kid shoes are. There are plenty of minimalist shoe companies that make great toddler and little kid shoes, but what options do big kids have?
When I say big kids, I am talking about shoe sizes between a US 1 (EU 32) and a US 5 (EU 36). My seven year old, maybe a big kid(?!), wears a women’s size 6, so the hunt is on for good options for her. I started Young Sole Shoes with the hopes to bring great minimalist brands from overseas here to the US, making shipping and returns a little easier for everyone. I have had an opportunity to personally check out some great big kid minimalist shoes and am happy to share that knowledge with anyone looking for great barefoot kids shoes.
I have created a guide below with my top picks for big kid barefoot shoes. These are the categories that I think are important. Obviously, I have my own opinions on shoes but I am just trying to share facts with you. Some of these companies can overlap in multiple categories and all the shoes mentioned here adhere to the minimalist standards that include:
- Zero Drop / No Heel Rise
- Wide Toe Box
- Flexible Soles
- Little or No Toe Spring
Let’s jump right in!
Most Durable
I think this category is important for kids that play hard and can be rough on their shoes. There are several companies that fall into this category including: Vivobarefoot, Sole Runner, and Froddo Barefoot. All those brands have flexible soles but are more rugged than companies that use thinner soles, which does lead to slightly less ground feel. I am going to focus on Froddo’s Barefoot because my daughter loves them. This is a new line from an old company. Froddo Barefoot shoes come in size US 10-4 (EU 27-35) and they are incredibly well made and durable. We have tested these through a ton of conditions and playtime and they are still in great shape 4 months later! I will definitely be able to pass these Froddo Barefoot leather shoes down to the next kid in line. I am impressed with the amount of flexibility the sole gained with some wear. Out of the box they seemed a little stiff and the leather was daunting for play shoes, but now I learned there is nothing to be worried about. Leather is naturally breathable, so she can wear the shoes with or without socks and be happy this summer without feet that get too hot and sweaty. Young Sole Shoes will soon stock a canvas verison of the Froddo Barefoot’s, as well.
Most Affordable
I think this category goes to Splay Athletics. They are a newer US company and make shoes that are flexible, flat, and wide and come in a variety of colors. They are all around a great option for minimalist footwear for your kids (or you!). They range from toddler size 8 to a youth size 7! Some good quality about these shoes is the easy on and off velcro strap and their cotton canvas uppers that can be cleaned fairly easily. Splay shoes are only $48 and they offer free returns & exchanges. Get Splay Shoes here (affiliate link) and 10% off with code OWBSHOES
Most Fashionable
Hands down this one goes to PaperKrane from Australia. I LOVE these shoes and their entire business concept. They do small releases of some seriously cool shoes and are always surprising their customers with new styles and designs. My kids are really excited to rock their bright-colored Skittle boots as soon as the weather gets a bit cooler here. My kids all have wide feet and they have not complained to me that they are too tight, which is good news! Recently PaperKrane has expanded to include some adult shoes up to a US 10 Women’s! Not all their shoes go into bigger kid sizes, but more and more are being released. Young Sole Shoes has some good options and there are more to come.
Most Minimalist
ZeaZoo! 6mm Vibram Super Flex soles is how this company rolls. All the way from Bulgaria, this company is awesome and makes very minimalist shoes for babies, toddlers, kids, big kids, women, and men! Their soles are so flexible that with little effort they can be rolled up in a ball. Having such minimalist soles provides for much more ground feel than something like Vivobarefoot, but still protects feet from dangers that might lurk on the ground. There are many many styles on their website and they can customize shoes. Young Sole Shoes has some great sandals, mary janes, moccasins and Yeti winter boots available in kid sizes up to EU 34 (US 3). We will be getting more in stock this fall to include even larger sizes and style options.
Most “Normal” Looking
So I really am not quite sure how to answer this because I love the unique look of different minimalist brands. My husband has called my shoes clown shoes before, but that didn’t really phase me because he is just jealous his feet don’t feel as good as mine. But I can see how this could be important to preteens or teenagers. While they are no Vans, I think that Vivobarefoot and Xero shoes offer the most traditional looking athletic shoe with a healthy minimalist kick. Xero has come out with a kid version of their Prio, which is offered in sizes US 12-4 for big kids. They are flexible, wide and zero drop athletic shoes that have a few color options.
Best Cold Weather Options
What happens when fall rolls around and it is starting to get chilly out? I would usually grab a nice pair of fall boots, perhaps something with warm lining and can get wet. But what about the big kids?! Problem Solved: Sole Runner from Germany makes some great naturally water resistant shoes and ankle boots with warm fleece lining. The Pan and Portia styles are our go to when the weather starts turning cold. Sole Runner is a very well respected company that makes amazing high quality footwear. Sole Runner does make adults shoes, but their kid styles go up to a size US 5 big kids! They really are nice looking shoes too, that I wish came in a women’s size 8.
So there you have it. I hope that you have found this information to be helpful. Remember you can always contact us at Young Sole Shoes and on Instagram if you have any questions or need some sizing help.