We don’t buy dress shoes in our house. We rarely have something “dressy” to attend, and none of us like to put our feet into tight, uncomfortable dress shoes. There are occasions, however, when something more than huaraches or minimalist running shoes is necessary. These situations (though few and far between) find us scrambling for something to wear. The VIVOBAREFOOT Rooty is a nice compromise between casual and dressy. Made of all leather, it has a classic, sleek design. This makes it perfect to match with a pair of khakis and button up shirt for a child’s music recital, concert, church, or any other dressy occasion.
The Feelmax Vasko can be best described as a winterized version of the Osma 3. The outsole, the insole/sockliner, and the last are the same on both models; all that is really different is the uppers. The uppers are a tightly woven, water resistant synthetic fabric, lined with micro-fleece/microfiber for warmth. The more substantial upper means that the Vasko is less flexible, and not as breathable as the Osma 3; but that is the price you pay for a cold-weather shoe. That being said, if you like the ground feel of the Osma, you will like the ground feel of the Vasko just as much.
When I first encountered Soft Star Shoes, I was smitten. Based in Corvallis, Oregon (near my childhood hometown), Soft Star has been hand making shoes for over 20 years. They use only USA sourced leather and kid friendly food grade dye. Who doesn’t love a local (for those in the United States), handmade shoe? A shoe intentionally made specifically for the customer. If you are in the area, you can even make a stop and see how it is all done.
Five winters ago we started reading adventure stories together as a family. Damien wanted to focus our family adventure reading on modern day, non-fiction outdoor adventures, preferably human-powered hiking and backpacking trail stories. No Shackleton or Hillary these stories are about adventurers like McKittrick and Miller. Aren't familiar with these modern day adventurers? After reading the following book list you will be.
Our children's editor Charity Johnson and her daughter tag-team on this review of the ZemGEAR TerraMISU - a Mary Jane style shoe that is available in both women and girls versions.
