Back-to-Preschool Shoe-tacular Review and Giveaway: Eleven Shoes

Have you been reading the reviews for See Kai Run and Smaller and felt sad because your little one is just not little enough to be able to experience the wonderfulness that is See Kai Run? Well, dry those tears because you don't have to miss out. Eleven Shoes is the sister company to See Kai Run and they make shoes for kids from sizes 9-1 which is roughly ages 3-7. They've got you covered until your kids feet are in the second grade!

Eleven shoes are designed with the same quality and craftsmanship that you expect from See Kai Run, only with a little more attention being paid to the things that matter when you're shopping for your preschooler. They are made with premium materials and extra durable leather which will stand up to whatever your little daredevil can dish out at the playground. The soles are flexible, while still being sturdy and provide great traction. All the shoes are designed to be easy to put on and take off which means no complicated buckles and NO LACES! I know, eventually Nadia will have to learn to tie her shoes, but the longer I can save myself the hassle of tying laces, the better!

I'm all about comfort when it comes to buying shoes for myself. I try my hardest to ensure comfort for my children's feet as well. It's harder with Nadia because she's not much of a complainer, I typically have to wait for evidence in the form of a blister or really red toes before I know that a shoe is not fitting her correctly. Eleven Shoes have the same cushioned collar which I find to be such a thoughtful feature in the See Kai Run brand as well. You'll also notice a super-cushy insole which will provide extra comfort for you little speedster as well.

As for style, again, Eleven Shoes offers several timeless, but not ordinary and boring styles. The colors are vibrant without being obnoxious, and the styles are still meant for kids without being too babyish. Exactly what you're looking for in shoes for your preschooler and early elementary youngsters. We have the Sofia version from Eleven's new fall line and I think they are gorgeous. Nadia will look hip without looking too grown-up. Some of my other favorites from the new fall line are the orange and black Eleanors and the green and black Iggys. I'm also a huge fan of their classic orange and red "trainer" as well.

Now for the official review (based on a four-star scale)

Design and Ease of Use ***1/2 - These shoes are designed first and foremost to be comfortable for you children. The fact that they are stylish as well makes them even better. No laces means no tears in our house, although, I guess eventually we'll have to consider a pair with laces. For now, no laces is a huge plus in my book. The boots feature zippers which means they are easy to get on as well.

Materials and Durability ***1/2 - The soles are somewhat flexible while still being durable enough to stand up to tough playground use. I appreciate the great traction that they offer as well. Nadia is tough, but the less she slips and falls, obviously the happier we'll all be. Graceful she is not, so the more help we can get, the better.

Cost -
$ under $20
$$ $20-$30
$$$ $30-$40
$$$$ over $40

$$$$ - Honestly, I haven't started pricing a lot of bigger kid shoes; so, I don't know where this falls in the average, but considering that both See Kai Run and Smaller shoes seem to run about average in cost, I'm guessing that this is what I can expect to pay for shoes in the future.

Eleven Shoes are made currently available in sizes from 9-1 which fit children who are roughly ages 3-7. The new fall collection will offer shoes up to size 3 or roughly 8 years.

Overall Rating ***1/2 - I predict many pairs of Eleven shoes in our future. They are comfortable and durable without being outrageously expensive, and I think their fun style will be appealing to Nadia as she gets a little older.

I just received word that the new fall collection should be available online sometime around the middle of September. You won't want to miss the sales that will be offered with the relaunch of the site. Definitely remember to check it out!

Do you want to win a pair of Eleven shoes for your preschooler? Visit the Eleven Shoes website and choose your favorite style, not including any styles mentioned in this post. Come back here and tell us which one you like best and you will be entered in our contest to win a pair of Eleven Shoes in your choice of style and size. All entries must be received by midnight on Wednesday, September 17th. Please only one entry per household and you must be 18 or older to win. We will choose one winner using random.org. Feel free to leave your email so that we can contact you when you win, but also know that we will be submitting winner info to Prizey Winners. Thanks for reading and Good Luck!