Earth Runners Children’s Minimalist Sandals

Detailed Review

The Children’s Minimalist Sandals is a lightweight, versatile, and durable adventure sandal suitable for almost any activity. With a pair weighing between 7 and 7.8oz for a Children’s size 3, kids and even adults alike will delight in this sandal. Featuring minimalist Vibram® soles, a grounded conductive lacing system, and an Earth Grip footbed, Earth Runners are the ultimate barefoot hiking sandals for kids. 

Made from Vegan Materials

Earth Runners Children’s Minimalist Sandals are made from vegan materials. These barefoot running sandals were created without animal-derived materials, a feature that has been praised the most by those who adhere to the vegan lifestyle and the barefoot movement.

Although the sole is not made of 100% natural rubber, it is RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant. The footbed is dyed in Los Angeles, California, using GOTS certified organic dyes. Despite fabric not being certified organic, farmers in India who grow cotton (used in these minimalist running sandals) use traditional farming practices that have been in place for more than 100 years—long before non-organic fertilizers became available.

Solvent-free thermal adhesive is then used to attach the Earth-Grip footbed to the Vibram® sole.

Weight-wise, the Children’s Minimalist Sandals only weigh between 3.5 to 3.9oz per sandal for size 3.

Durability & Protection

Earth Runners continues to receive recognition for how durable their minimalist sandals are. These Children’s Minimalist Sandals have several sole options—Elemental, Circadian, and Alpha. For the most part, they vary in terms of thickness and protection level. 

Vibram Gumlite compound, the sole for Circadian and Elemental sandals, is engineered to be long-wearing. Vibram Morflex, the sole for Alpha sandals, is extremely soft yet ensures excellent durability. These outsoles make the Children’s Minimalist Shoes durable, as supported by a number of good reviews.

They also feature a locking nylon buckle designed to keep your feet in place. This low-profile buckle is designed to be extremely durable and hold high lace tension with zero slip or un-buckling while in action.

Design & Usage

These Children’s Minimalist Sandals feature three sole options with Vibram® Outsoles that only differ in thickness.

Elemental Sandals are the thinnest of the three, promoting a more barefoot feel. However, several reviews noted that it could be slippery when wet due to the absence of a specialized footbed other than the black rubber top.

As for the Circadian and Alpha Sandals, they come with Earth Grip footbeds, which make them slip-resistant even when wet. However, they’re more difficult to clean, and they need to air dry. Some reviews stated that they scrubbed them with a brush to keep them fresh. Several people have complained about the texture of the cotton, though others never found it to be an issue.

In terms of the look, the Children’s Minimalist Sandals look very different from other barefoot hiking sandals with their adventure-ready ergonomic lacing system. They take inspiration from the huarache running sandal of Northern Mexico, where they use a single lace to bind the feet to a sandal.

For optimum efficiency, these minimalist running sandals are designed with Grounded Conductive Lifestyle Laces™. The feet can engage in grounding or earthing with this technology, which Earth Runners believes is an important health practice. They come in four different colors to match any sole options.

Many reviews, however, found adjusting the lacing system to be quite complicated in the beginning. Some children may also have difficulty adjusting the fit on their own if they need to. Other than that, these barefoot sandals perform well on varying surfaces.

Style-wise, they’re very versatile as well. They can be worn with shorts and tanks, pants, and even dresses and skirts, according to numerous customer reviews. 

Comfort & Grip

Earth Runners take on the ancient huarache design to be the most simple, comfortable, secure, and free. The ergonomic routing of the Children’s Minimalist Sandals’ laces harnesses the least dynamic areas of the foot to avoid friction and maximize freedom. 

On the shoe’s sides, triangular anchor points hug the heel for maximum security. It keeps the wearer adventure-ready and stable across diverse terrain by reducing lateral and longitudinal heel motion.

These barefoot running sandals also maintain traction in both wet and dry conditions with their Earth Grip Footbed. The composition pulls moisture away from the foot and into the cotton canvas membrane, helping to preserve traction. However, this feature is limited with the Elemental sandals as it does not have the same specialized footbed. The latter can be a bit slippery when wet, according to some customer feedback. 

The thickest sole on the Alpha is great for intense hiking or long walks on hard ground, but it’s less flexible than the others. 

The lifestyle laces, which the Children’s Minimalist Sandals are made of, also contribute to its overall comfort. They share the same two-component design with the Performance Laces (used in the adults’ version), yet the abrasion-resistant nylon trim reinforcement is much thinner, making the lace more pliant. It’s softer and more flexible, but several customer reviews have pointed out how the straps between the toes can be uncomfortable. Other reviews also find the laces a bit rough but loosen up after a while.

Fit

The Children’s Minimalist Sandals feature a true-to-size fit as supported by most reviews. The lacing system of the shoe, however, can make it tricky for some people to find the right fit.

It comes in five sizes but can also be worn by adults with tiny feet. Many reviews loved how this version of Earth Runners fit well without looking like it is only for a child.

However, one thing parents should note is the size guide that does not feature extra growth room. Several customer reviews recommend considering this, especially if you’re expecting your child’s feet to grow in size really soon.

Several reviews also loved how these sandals work great for children with narrow feet.

Performance

Earth Runners’ Children’s Minimalist Sandals are exceptionally well made, durable, and secure on any foot type. The soles of these shoes are very thin and flexible, so your kids can run around without compromising their foot function. They easily slip on and off once they have been adjusted to the appropriate fit. Initially, the strap in between the toes can be uncomfortable, but it does loosen with use.