We wear minimalist shoes (low heal) and had a hard time finding uniform shoes for the kids that didn't have a huge chunk of sole under the heals. These ones aren't actually minimalist (there is a rise at the heal), but it is low. My son busted through is halfway through the year, but he did that to his New Balance shoes last year, so I don't think it reflects poorly on the shoes (he's 7, after all!). My 5yo daughter is a bit gentler and hers are still going strong.