Does your toddler prefer to be barefoot? One of my little guys puts up a fight when it is time to put shoes on, and obviously a lot of other parents out there have this same dilemma…which is why Merrell partnered with Hike It Baby to make a slip on, barefoot feel shoe for our smallest hikers. Merrell’s Hike It Baby Little Kid’s Bare Steps Hut Moc is a unique toddler shoe, with a lot of great features, yet a major shortcoming. Read on to get my take!
Why I Love Merrell’s Bare Steps Collection…
One of my favorite footwear brands, Merrell, has an amazing collection of toddler shoes called the Bare Steps Collection. In fact, Hiking Toddler and I have reviewed both the Merrell Bare Steps H2O and the Merrell Bare Steps Sneaker. Both of these shoes have two key features that made us fall in love with them: 1) Easy on/off, 2) high traction soles.
How the Merrell Hike It Baby Hut Moc Falls Short
There are a lot of things to love about the Hike It Baby Hut Moc that other Merrell Bare Steps shoes have, such as the the extra wide toebox, flexible grooves on the outsole for a barefoot feel, and eco-friendly recycled materials. However, unlike the other shoes in Merrell’s Bare Steps collection, the Hike It Baby Hut Moc just doesn’t stretch enough for easy on/off. Unlike the other Merrell Bare Steps shoes with a separate tongue (see pictures to understand), the Hike It Baby Hut Moc has a “stretchy” mesh piece that is super stiff.
Update: The Wide Width Hut Moc…
After seeing this review above, Merrell got in touch with me and sent over a pair of the Wide width version of the Hut Moc for us to try. The shoes are definitely a bit wider, but unfortunately not enough for me to change my recommendation of these shoes! In the first picture below, you’ll see Hiking Toddler unable to get his foot into the wide width Hut Mocs. Then we tried sockless… no luck there either! Finally I cut slits in the mesh and we were able to squeeze his foot in.
So, if your kiddos’ feet are narrow and can slip right in, then go for it. You’ll probably love the Bare Steps Hut Moc. Otherwise, if you ever struggle with getting your toddler’s shoes on and off, then skip the Merrell Hut Moc and go for the Bare Steps Sneaker or for a summertime shoe the Merrell Bare Steps H2O.
Specs of Merrell’s Hike It Baby Hut Moc Shoe:
- Where to Buy: Amazon.com or Merrell.com
- Size Range: 4-10 toddler, Medium and Wide widths
- Price: $50.00
Happy trails!