If there is one constant truth about raising a child, it is that high-quality footwear always makes life easier. When Zackary first learned to walk, I learned very quickly that children are hard on their shoes. The older he got, the more demanding he was to his footwear. Children may outgrow shoes quickly, but in the short time the shoes are used they are expected to withstand more abuse than adult footwear sees in years.

Finding high quality shoes in a department store is no easy task. In fact, it can sometimes be downright impossible. Thankfully, Eleven is there to offer the best possible footwear for a growing child in a convenient online store that lets parents pick and choose the perfect shoes and have them shipped right to the front door. I was recently lucky enough to be able to review a fabulous pair of sandals from Eleven’s new Spring/Summer Collection.

I received the boys’ Rolando sandals in brown to review. These sandals are a delicious dark chocolate shade of leather with white accent stitching and a creamy off-white interior color. Zackary had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of his fancy new footwear, and was ecstatic when I let him sit down and pull them out of the package. “My nice, new sandals, Mom!” he cried as he grabbed them out of the box.

Of course, he had to try them on right away. I loved the nice long length of the Velcro closures. Instead of just using a small square, Eleven put a two-inch strip of Velcro on the strap of the sandal to offer an extra degree of customizable fit that I haven’t seen in children’s footwear before. As soon as I had the sandals on Zackary’s feet, he started marching around the house to test them out.

One of the things that makes Eleven footwear so unique is that it doesn’t require a wear-in period. Watching Zackary, it was obvious to see that he found the sandals extremely comfortable. He happily wore them on every possible occasion for the next two weeks, and even figured out how to open and close the Velcro closure himself so that he could put them on without waiting for me!

The sturdy and flexible rubber sole of these sandals make them the perfect choice for high-energy activities. Zackary loved to wear them to the park because of their superior comfort and great grip. He immediately takes off every other pair of shoes he owns the moment we reach the park, but he never took off his Eleven sandals. The great grip makes them perfect for the always-popular childhood game of walking up the slide!

When southern Saskatchewan suddenly faced almost two weeks of snow, rain and freezing temperatures in early May I had to put a temporary stop to Zackary wearing his sandals outside, but he had become so fond of them that he occasionally put them on indoors just for fun! He also used them as his indoor shoes at playschool. The class has a large smooth floor that they use for gym-time, and the great grip of the Rolando sandals was once again a fabulous asset. Zackary never had to worry about skidding on the slick floor when the class was playing tag.

The Spring/Summer Collection also features trendy dress shoes, trainers and even boots for both boys and girls. The adorable and fashionable styles are no small part of the appeal of Eleven’s footwear. Of course, all of the Eleven shoes offer the same high quality and promise of instant comfort that has made Eleven a household name among discriminating parents and children alike.

Seeing how much Zackary loves his sandals has definitely convinced me that Eleven knows what children’s footwear is all about. If I had to, I would choose comfort over fashion every time. But with Eleven’s wonderful collection of shoes, I will never have to make that sacrifice. I love knowing that Zackary’s gorgeous sandals are also the best possible choice for his feet. And I can’t help but smile about how proud he is of his new footwear. Beautiful, functional, durable and comfortable…there’s no doubt that Eleven footwear has it all!

Buy It: Eleven is very generously offering Mommy Kat and Kids readers 20% off their entire purchase! Enter the case sensitive coupon code MommyKat20 at checkout. Code expires June 7, 2010

Win It: One lucky reader is going to win their choice of any one pair of shoes from Eleven

To Enter (mandatory): Visit Eleven and tell me what pair of shoes you would choose if you won

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Giveaway ends 11:59 pm CST on June 7, 2010. Open to US and Canada

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