Merrell Unisex-Child Bare Steps H20 Water Shoe Review
The Merrell Unisex-Child Bare Steps H20 Water Shoe in Dark Blue/Green is designed specifically for little adventurers who love water activities. With its water-friendly upper and linings, these shoes are perfect for beach days, pool trips, or even splashing around in puddles. The alternative closure system ensures that kids can easily slip them on and off, making them an excellent choice for parents looking for convenience.
Related Products
Features
- Water friendly upper and linings
- Alternative closure for easy on/off
- Extra-wide toe box and rounded edges for proper foot development
- Footbed made from 10% recycled EVA
- Outsole constructed of 20% recycled rubber
- Multi-directional flex grooves for maximum flexibility
- Flexible, non-marking outsole with extra grip
Pros
- Environmentally friendly materials
- Great traction on wet surfaces
- Encourages natural foot movement
- Easy to clean with machine wash
Cons
- May not provide enough arch support for some children
- Limited color options available
Comparison With Other Similar Products
| Feature | Merrell Bare Steps H20 | Keens Kids' Newport H2 | Teva Kids' Hurricane XLT 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Friendly | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EVA Footbed | 10% Recycled | No | No |
| Closure Type | Alternative | Hook and Loop | Hook and Loop |
| Traction Design | Multi-directional Flex Grooves | Multi-Directional Lugs | Rubber Outsole |
Detailed Review
The Merrell Unisex-Child Bare Steps H20 Water Shoe stands out in the market for children's aquatic footwear. Its design is notably focused on ensuring that young feet have the space they need to grow—thanks to the extra-wide toe box. This is crucial for parents who are concerned about their child’s foot development, as it promotes healthy growth patterns.
One particularly commendable feature is the shoe's eco-conscious approach, utilizing materials like recycled EVA for the footbed and recycled rubber for the outsole. This makes the Merrell Bare Steps H20 not only a smart choice for your child but also a step towards reducing environmental impact.
Additionally, the shoe boasts multi-directional flex grooves which allow for optimal flexibility, enabling kids to run, jump, and play without feeling restricted. This feature is especially important when children are engaging in various activities throughout their day.
On the downside, some users have pointed out that while the shoes excel in flexibility and traction, they may lack sufficient arch support for certain children. Additionally, the color variety may not be appealing to all kids, especially those seeking more vibrant or trendy styles. However, the overall comfort and functionality greatly outweigh these minor drawbacks.
Detailed Rating
| Category | Score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | 4.5/5 | Soft and flexible design suitable for active kids. |
| Durability | 4/5 | Quality materials ensure long-lasting wear. |
| Eco-Friendliness | 5/5 | Made with recycled materials, promoting sustainability. |
| Style | 3.5/5 | Simple color scheme may not please all kids. |
User Reviews
We love the Merrell brand for our toddlers. Wide toe box leaves room for growth. The sizing is definitely generous compared to other brands which is great. The sole is durable, but flexible which is great for growing feet. Mine have sweaty feet so we love these for the spring-fall and bonus, they are machine washable and clean up so well. These will be passed down for sure
I can't speak highly enough of these shoes. They are classic high quality Merrell. They are so easy to slip on and off. The soles are incredibly supportive. My daughter's feet are secure in these because of the straps across the foot and around the ankle. I love that the ankle strap and straps across her feet can adjust as she grows. The velcro is so strong too! We live pretty minimally and frugally, but I wanted a high quality supportive and versatile summer shoe and these are perfect. They are so cute, people keep commenting on how cute her shoes are. They are worth the price tag in my opinion.
I keep buying these shoes because my son loves them and they are super comfortable. We don't even use them only as water shoes because we live in warm climates so we use them for hikes, bike riding, running around, and pretty much everything and they never fall apart nor make my son's feet feel sweaty or stinky. I will buy thousands more 😄😍
My daughter has had wide feet from the get-go and we have not been able to find shoes for her that fit properly for months. These were the best find for a solution for her. Straps are very easily adjustable with the Velcro. Shoe is leather in the straps and a nice footbed with a nice width. Overall a great value for the price/quality. They have held their quality and held up to high activity and lots of running. I will definitely be buying these in more colors & sizes as she grows out of them.
These are super comfy and cute for our toddler boy. Love that they are Velcro at the back and really easy to adjust to growing feet!
These fit well, my daughter is able to walk in them easily. They are not too bulky. I chose this shoe because it is a “barefoot” shoe, so much better for development. She goes into water with them (sprinkler not fully submerged) and they’ve held up well all summer. I’d recommend!
These check all the boxes for me, flexible soles and wide toe box (both very important for foot health), durable soles, comfy straps, velcro for easy on and off, and they’re cute! My only complaint and why I docked a star, the inner sole material wore down extremely quickly, like less than a month of having them and they look much, much older.
We love love love these shoes. They are the most flexible shoes we have. Great quality, light weight, with great traction, breathable… the list goes on. We have ordered our 3rd pair and sad that we are going to be growing out of the available sizes very soon. Please make these in every size