We are never disappointed with PediPed shoes. My son loves this shoe, along with the Jake sneaker. The collar and heel are nicely padded, the sole is very flexible, and the uppers are sewn tightly. This style has a great combo of the suede and leather-- perfect for winter wear. My very active 4 y/o son plays hard, but he always outgrows his PediPeds before breaking them down... even while using them daily as tricycle brakes!