Zeazoo sent these review by my oldest, who wears them basically every day. He’s always cold (never without socks) and is cursed with living in a house that barely tops 70 degrees F (21 C). So these are perfect for him.
This is the first of a set of 3 pairs of kids’ shoes Zeazoo sent to us for review. You can find the initial look at them on Instagram here, as well as looks at Yeti and Akita, and the Dingo Boots I bought for myself. I liked the fact these are Veg-Tanned leather, and he liked the look.
The look varies a lot, in fact. You can get motif versions, veg tanned, small sizes with toe protection, and adult sizes all the way to 42. My son’s version is here and the full list is here. This version has a 5 mm sole suitable for all-day wear.
You can get any Zeazoo models directly from the company and use the affiliate discount code OWBSHOES to get 5% off your order. There are other purchasing options listed at the end of this review.
The following review diverges a bit from my normal approach and includes his thoughts, as well as mine. I did my best to transcribe his words and tried not to add anything.
Technical specifications:
- Upper of vegetable-tanned calf leather
- Sole of suede with (in this case) 2 mm Vibram as the final outsole
- Optional symbol (not included – options here)
- Optional wool insole (not included, but he’d probably love it! – see here)
Appearance:
N, 11: 10/10 – really nice. I like the distinctive colors and design. It looks different from what you’d normally see here in Tennessee, and that’s a good thing. I wish the leather at the front was thicker, kind of like how this part (pointing at the collar) is thick.
Mom: I agree that this is not a very American style, but it works great. They are straight leather shoes, which I love. Nothing extra added with unnecessary bulk or manmade materials. The calf leather comes from Ecopell and the shoes can come with suede-only soles or with 2 mm flat Vibram Crepe rubber. I made an executive decision for the latter because I know he will pop outside (and has) to help carry groceries or do random kid things.
Fit:
N: They fit great and were instantly comfortable. The top part flips down sometimes.
Mom: I think the top part flips down because our whole family has high-volume feet. It doesn’t affect the fit, but can lead to some adjustments during wear. The unlined nature of the leather can give them drape-like look, but also makes them very moldable as there’s nothing extra that will get in the way of them stretching to your exact foot shape. Big plus for around-the-house comfort.
Sizing:
N: They’re a little big on me right now, which means I can grow into them.
Mom: That’s because Mom was kind of generous in sizing with that in mind, and the fact that many Zeazoo shoes run a bit big for their size. These stop at 42, but the length is more like a 43+. However, they’re not super generous in volume, so keep that in mind when sizing your shoes. If you’re high volume, consider (don’t automatically, as you also need to consider length) sizing up.
Breaking in:
There is no breaking-in period for comfort. They were instantly comfortable and remain so. However, being all-leather means they will stretch with wear so that technically means they will ‘break in’ over time, in shape and softness.
How do they feel?
N: They feel cozy and comfortable, and a bit warm. I’m always cold, so it’s hard to say how warm they are versus other slippers. The inside is soft and feels great. I’d probably like them without socks, but I always wear socks. The bottom has good traction and I’ve never slipped.
Mom: His are Size 39 and I’d, at best, be in the max size 42 (fits like 43). From what I see, though, they are really soft and lovely inside. The outside leather is smooth and a good thickness to hug your feet.
Cleaning:
So far, they’ve not gotten dirty, which is surprising. I think most things just fall off or are easily brushed off. Zeazoo has a detailed care page here, which points such as avoiding water on the shoes to prevent dye loss as well as optional waterproofing ideas. It’s very likely that a good washing would also mean the need for restoring the color.
Shipping and Returns:
Zeazoo produces most of their shoes on-demand (they say that every 3rd pair they make is actually a custom order), which can take a week or two, but also keeps plenty in stock. Whenever the shoes ship, they come via DHL which can be pricey but the Express service in incredibly fast (I’ve gotten orders in as little as 2 days from them from Bulgaria) so you won’t wait long.
Zeazoo does accept returns, though not on custom products. You can see the full policies and processes here.
Company Information:
Zeazoo has been around nearly 10 years and is based on Bulgaria. They aim to give you really good barefoot shoes with care for natural development. They use natural options with strong attention to safety. I have found them extremely competent, fast to respond, and gracious with mistakes. I accidentally ordered my 2nd choice instead of my 1st on my Dingo boots and they had no complaints, quickly adjusting the order to exactly what I wanted.
Get your own Zeazoo shoes (models vary with retailers) in several ways:
The most straight-forward and complete way to get the shoes is to order directly from Zeazoo. The OWBSHOES code applies and you can get all the customization options you could possibly desire. This is the only place you can get the Kiwi model, which is 31,50€ before any discount or shipping.
Despite Kiwi only being available directly, I’d like to point out the retailers that can help you on your Zeazoo hunt.
Outside of Zeazoo direct, the website 100 barefoot soles carries an extensive listing for the UK. Check it out for a bunch of options, though no Kiwi. Affiliate code OWBSHOES = 10% off.
Happy Little Soles is also UK-based, also has Zeazoo, and also does not have the Kiwi model.
PedTerra is US-based, with several Zeazoo models, (not Kiwi) and the same affiliate code OWBSHOES will get you a discount of 10% on your first order.
Anya’s Shop also carries Zeazoo in the US, but only Dingo boots at this point.
Final thoughts:
These are a well-made, soft, and comparatively inexpensive slipper option. I love supporting great companies and shoes, and I recommend these as a comfy choice for indoor, as well as brief outdoor, adventures.
Want more shoe reviews? Check out all of them here. And check out all the BIG lists here. Also check out the Instagram and Facebook pages for lots more barefoot shoe goodness.