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"Barefoot" Footwear

Review – Soft Star Rambler

By Al Gauthier ⋅ March 17, 2010 ⋅

Review of the Soft Star Rambler

By Tina Dubois

We are very pleased to review one of Soft Star Shoes’ adult moccasin collection: the Soft Star Rambler. I can honestly say that I wear them almost every day. They are my most comfortable slip-on and walk out the door minimalist shoes. The craftsmanship is excellent and clearly done with care. The leather is comfortable and airy. The sheepskin innersole is great for warm weather and cold. The Vibram sole inspires confidence in walking with its non-slip surface. Overall, the Rambler is a very comfortable, casual moccasin that is a great addition to a minimalist footwear collection.

First Impression
When I first received the Rambler, I was a little surprised by their looks. Some people might think they look odd for a shoe but I think they look great for what they are: a minimalist moccasin. I was a little concerned at first with the inseam running down the forefoot, but after a few wears, I no longer noticed it. The Ramblers were immediately comfortable.

Comfort
The Ramblers are definitely one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I’ve tested. The leather is supple and smooth all around. The non-removable insole is covered in luxurious sheepskin. It is warm, soft, and comfortable. Soft Star says of the genuine sheepskin that it ‘is a naturally homeostatic material, wicking moisture away and keeping your foot at an even temperature in hot or cold weather’.

The shoe is held in place by an elastic band running loosely under a fold of leather around the topline. The elastic is comfortable and not too tight while allowing the shoe to feel secure on your foot.

The moccasin is not tight on the foot anywhere, so if you like tight shoes, these are probably not for you. Because they are loose, there is plenty of room for toes to wiggle and the foot to bend and move around.

Weight
One size 7A Rambler shoe weighs 5 ¼ ounces or 148 grams. The weight is definitely not noticeable while walking with them on.

Flex / Sole
The Vibram outsole used on the Rambler is 6.5 mm in thickness. It could be a little thinner for an enhanced barefoot feel, but the thickness does improve the durability of the sole. It will probably last a very long time.

The sole is quite flexible and bends in every direction.

Support / Insole
There is no arch support in this shoe. The insole is non-removable and covered in soft, warm sheepskin. The sheepskin makes a perfect material for your bare feet to rest on.

Barefoot Feel
Despite the thickness of the 6.5 mm sole, there is still quite a bit of ground transmission. I have worn these on concrete, asphalt, grass, and gravel and have felt the rocks beneath my feet. However, you cannot feel the temperature of the ground through the sole.

I remember on one walk that my heels started hurting while wearing the Ramblers. I had inadvertently reverted to heel-striking while walking. I quickly changed my gait back to midfoot striking and the pain disappeared. I think that this experience taught that these shoes indeed encourage a barefoot gait despite the apparent thickness of the sole.

Breathability
The Ramblers are designed with two portions of leather: a vamp and a quarter. The vamp and the quarter are not sewn together as with a conventional shoe. The one and a half inches of overlapping material allow for fantastic ventilation without the appearance of any separation between the vamp and quarter. My feet have never been too warm in these shoes.

Quality of Materials / Manufacturing
The leather, sheepskin, and sole used to construct these moccasins look to be great quality (I am, however, not a leather expert.) The stitching is superb. There is even an extra piece of leather glued into the seat to increase the durability and construction of the shoe. The design of the Ramblers may look simple but the manufacturing is done by hand and with obvious care.

Water Resistance
The Vibram sole is water resistant and the leather does keep out some moisture. If you were to step in a puddle that was higher than the sole, your feet would definitely get wet because of the open vents on either side of the shoe between the vamp and quarter. I have walked in dew-covered grass and, although the tops of the leather got wet, my feet did not.

Sizing
The Ramblers come in sizes 6 through 15 and can be made in either a ‘regular’ or ‘wide’ width. The size that I ordered is the usual size of shoe that I wear and fits perfectly.

The wide model that can be ordered is probably great for those barefooters whose feet have spread out from a lack of shoes and increased muscle development in the foot.

Price
The Soft Star Rambler is priced at $75.00 USD on the Soft Star website. Considering the quality of the material, hand-craftsmanship, attention to detail, and durability of these shoes, I believe this to be a reasonable price for this product.

Style
Some people may think that the Rambler looks odd for a shoe. Admittedly, they do not look like conventional shoes.

The design is standard but the color of leather can be chosen from a wide variety of leather color options on the Soft Star website.

Break-in Period
These moccasins did not require any break-in period. The leather and sheepskin were supple and comfortable right from the beginning.

Shoe care
Soft Star recommends that their smooth leather moccasins be treated with any standard leather cleaning or protective product and that they can be surface cleaned easily with these products. Although they mention that their leather shoes and moccasins look and feel best when left unwashed, when necessary, they can be hand washed in cool water and left to air dry.

Warmth
I have worn the Ramblers in temperatures ranging from 10–25C, or 50–77F, and my feet have always been comfortably warm. As these shoes are made of relatively thin leather, with big air vents on either side, they would probably not be warm enough in outdoor winter conditions, even with the sheepskin insole. However, one of the aspects of this shoe that I appreciate the most is being able to wear regular socks with them (toe socks are not required although equally as comfortable as regular socks within these shoes). Therefore, when it’s cold outside, I wear appropriate socks for the temperature with these shoes and my feet are as warm as I choose.

Uses
These shoes are great to wear for walks around the neighbourhood, errands around town, or any other casual outing (where their style would be appreciated). They are probably not appropriate for running or more stylish outings.

Summary
I was very surprised by how much I like these shoes. As mentioned earlier, I wear them almost every day. They are perfect for indoors or outdoors because of their Vibram outsole. The leather and sheepskin is incredibly comfortable against bare feet or socks. They are as warm (with socks) or as cool (without socks) as you want them to be. They may not be the most attractive of shoes but I think their comfort and functionality outweighs their looks. Great work Soft Star!

To purchase these shoes, visit the Soft Star Shoes website and click on the link for the Adult Rambler.

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Discussion

6 comments for “Review – Soft Star Rambler”

Facebook comments:

What strikes me, looking at them, is how much the toe area bends to the inside of the foot. Do you feel that when you wear them, Tina, or does it not affect you because of the shape of your foot?

Posted by Anemone | March 18, 2010, 18:06
Hi Anemone. I barely feel the material on the upper of the Rambler at all because the leather is so soft. They feel a lot like wearing slippers but with a durable Vibram sole.

Posted by Tina | March 19, 2010, 09:02
I have been wearing my new black Ramblers for 3 days and so far, so good. Wearing them with jeans at work was the best for me, as everyone who actually looked at them snickered- they are definately not very stylish l, especially for women (sexist but true!) but I am addicted to comfort, not fashion. My only issue has been that my ramblers don’t have a center seam and the leather is a bit tight over the tops of my toes, making the nail of my big toes stand out under the leather. It’s still comfortable, but it looks a little odd. Still, I love these shoes!!!

Posted by Amy | March 20, 2010, 20:02
An update to my previous comment: after wearing my Ramblers for 8 days now, I find that the leather over my toes has softened and stretched to fit, so the aforementioned tightness is completely gone. I can’t recommend these shoes highly enough- they are so comfortable!

Posted by Amy | March 26, 2010, 19:52
Are they still as comfortable now after several months of wear? How are they holding up?

Posted by David O'Bryan | June 21, 2010, 15:34
Hi David,
Yes, the Ramblers are just as comfortable now as they were when I first put them on. The fit hasn’t changed at all. The leather upper and the sole are holding up exceptionally well; there are no signs of wear anywhere on the upper and the sole is barely even scuffed. I still wear them almost every day around the yard and when I take my dogs out. Thanks for your questions.
Tina

Posted by Tina | June 23, 2010, 09:31