Oh me oh my- Umi shoes!

My son has a bad habit. OK, more than one bad habit, but one in particular that drives me really crazy. When he rides his bike around the neighborhood he uses his shoes as a braking mechanism, dragging the tops of the on the ground. He's also a little too fast for his own good, sliding forward as he goes down.

As such, I tend to look for shoes with a reinforced toe area. Since I have no little girls to dress up I also find great pleasure in picking out shoes for my little men with some flair. Where do you find shoes with style that can hold up to a three year old boy's momentum? Right in my backyard: Umi Shoes! Umi's Headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but don't let that fool you - Umi is inspired by European style and their shoes are handcrafted by artisans in Brazil and selected regions of Asia.

The handcrafting is evident in Umi's shoes but there are other details they take care to incorporate into their designs. The uppers are made of leather, canvas, or a mesh material to allow the foot to breathe and help to control perspiration. The outersoles are made to provide traction, cushioning, and flexibility.

Umi sent my three year old a pair of boys boots- the Jet (pictured above). I haven't tried them on myself but I wish I could. They are flexible yet sturdy and the colors totally suit my son who loves to wear orange. Most importantly they have a flap of leather that covers the top of the toes. He likes them, and if you ever read my blog you will know the boy has VERY STRONG OPINIONS so this is a serious endorsement.

We also selected the Umi Lumen for my baby boy. He can't tell me yet if he likes them but I think they are fabulous. These shoes have the same high level of quality as the other models but I can't get past the fact that they are SO EXTREMELY ADORABLE. I chose them because they seemed like the perfect fit for a pre-walker; they are sturdy but soft. With winter approaching, the leather seemed like a good choice to keep those little toes warm. Also, ADORABLE. Yes, infants grow out of these shoes very quickly but these are going to make excellent hand me downs, definitely strong enough for more than one go around.

Umi's are available for boys and girls (it pains me not to have a girl when I see shoes like these). You can order online or click here to find participating Umi retailers in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

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This review was brought to you by Amy of Binkytown who blogs about managing work, children and whatever else pops up. For more, visit her here.