Choosing kids’ shoes can feel a bit harder than it should, can’t it?

You want something comfy, easy to put on, and good for their growing feet. But then you start looking around and suddenly every shoe is claiming to be supportive, flexible, durable, “best for development”, and all the rest of it. It gets noisy very quickly.

So when two paediatric physical therapists shared video reviews of Rafferty’s Shoes, we were genuinely so excited. Not in a polished “as seen on” kind of way. More in a “oh, they noticed the things we actually cared about” kind of way.

These reviews were unpaid and unscripted. We sent the shoes, they tried them, and they shared what stood out to them.

Watch the reviews

Dr Anastasia Bach

Paediatric physical therapist and mum, Dr Anastasia Bach shared her thoughts on Rafferty’s and pointed out the wide toe box, adjustable strap, zero-drop sole and built-in fit guide.

Dr JT Doscher

Dr JT Doscher also shared an unpaid review of Rafferty’s Shoes and noticed the wide toe box, heel cup, strap, fit insert and overall make of the shoe.

What made us happiest was that they picked up on the same little details we built into the shoe from the start: the wide toe box, flexible sole, zero-drop design, adjustable strap, secure heel feel, and the fit guide inside the insole.

They noticed the wide toe box

One of the first things both paediatric PTs noticed was the wide toe box.

This is the front part of the shoe where your child’s toes sit. It sounds like a small thing, but it really does matter. Little toes need space to spread, grip and move naturally, especially when kids are running, climbing, crouching, jumping off things they probably should not be jumping off, and generally moving like they have unlimited battery life.

A lot of kids’ shoes are narrow at the front, even when the length looks right. Rafferty’s Shoes are made with a wider, foot-shaped front so their toes have more room to sit naturally.

The shoe should still feel secure, of course. It is not meant to be loose or oversized. It simply gives space where little feet actually need it.

They noticed the strap

The adjustable strap was another detail that came up, which honestly made us smile because it is such a real-life parent feature.

Laces are fine for older kids who can tie them properly. But for toddlers and younger children, laces usually become your job. And somehow that job always appears when you are already late, someone needs a wee, and the drink bottle has vanished.

The strap keeps things simple. It helps secure the foot, but still makes the shoe easy to get on and off. It is not fancy. It just works, which is exactly what you want from a kids’ shoe most mornings.

For more on what makes a shoe practical for rushed mornings, we also wrote about toddler daycare shoes and what actually matters once they start going through sandpit, water play, lunch and pickup.

They noticed the zero-drop sole

The zero-drop sole was also picked up.

That just means the heel and the front of the foot sit at the same level, instead of the heel being raised. It sounds more technical than it needs to, but the idea is simple: bare feet naturally sit flat on the ground, so we wanted Rafferty’s to feel flat and flexible too.

Kids are constantly moving in all sorts of ways, so we did not want a stiff, chunky sole that gets in the way. We wanted something that lets the foot move more naturally, while still being practical for everyday wear.

If you are new to all of this and want the simple version, our Why Barefoot page explains the main features without making it feel like homework.

They noticed the fit guide inside the shoe

One of our favourite details is the fit guide inside the insole, and this was noticed too.

Kids’ shoe sizing can be such a guessing game. One minute the shoes fit perfectly, and the next minute your child is telling you their toes hurt, but only after you have already left the house.

The fit guide helps you check whether your child still has enough growing room, or whether it might be time to size up. It is a small detail, but it makes the whole thing feel a little easier.

And if you are ordering online and not quite sure where to start, our size guide walks you through measuring and choosing the closest size.

They noticed the everyday practicality

The reviews also picked up on the overall make of the shoe, including the heel cup, the strap, the insert, and the way the shoes feel put together.

One thing we loved was that the shoes were seen as practical enough for running around outside, but still nice enough to wear out to dinner. That really sums up what we wanted Rafferty’s Barefoot 1 to be.

A shoe your child can wear to daycare, the park, kinder, the shops, lunch with the grandparents, or wherever the day ends up taking you. Something that supports natural movement, but still looks good with normal kids’ clothes.

Practical, but not boring. Cute, but not at the expense of comfort.

Why these reviews meant so much

We know parents are careful with what they buy for their kids, especially when it comes to shoes. You want to feel like you are making a good choice, but you also do not want to be talked down to, scared into buying something, or buried in confusing foot-health language.

That is why these reviews felt so reassuring. Two paediatric PTs looked at Rafferty’s and noticed the same things we care about most. Not because we paid them to say it, and not because we handed them a script. They simply tried the shoes and shared what stood out to them.

No shoe will be perfect for every child, and fit will always matter. But if you are looking for kids’ barefoot shoes with a wide toe box, flexible sole, zero-drop design, easy strap and a simple way to check growth room, those are exactly the details Rafferty’s was made with.

At the end of the day, kids’ shoes should make sense. They should be comfortable, practical, easy to wear, and made with growing feet in mind.

That is all we were trying to do. And it was really lovely to see two experts notice.

Explore our kids barefoot shoes and see the details they picked up on.