I bought these for my 3 year old. They just felt plastic and cheap and thin. The bottoms are VERY slippery, too. I didn't think to look for "rubber soles". I will be returning these. Pretty bummed, b/c they are a nice looking shoe at a low price. Perhaps if you scuff them up, they won't be as slippery. My son is in a size 10 toddler, and I bought 11's just b/c he's been in a 10 for a while now, and I wanted him to get use out of them. But the 11's were HUGE. Which is really why I'm returning them.