We often get asked why our step up and i-walk ranges both include sizes 20-22eu. The reason…

Not every child starts to walk at the same age or when they get to a certain foot size.

An early walker will need the benefits of an i-walk shoe at a size 20.
A later walker will need the benefits of a step up shoe up until a size 22.

Therefore having the crossover in sizes is necessary.

step up size guide            i-walk size guide

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The Bobux i-walk sole was specifically developed for confident walkers.

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natural flex  

The i-walk sole features multiple flex points and notches on the outside of the sole walls, around the ball of the foot. This ensures ongoing flexibility in the flex zone to accommodate growing feet.

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tread and grip

Tread pattern and notches allow ease of movement and provide extra grip for children on the go.

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the New Zealand sun,

sand and surf  

Your little i-walker will always carry around with them the New Zealand sun, sand and surf. All of these elements have been cleverly incorporated into the sole tread design.

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At 11.30am this morning the Bobux office held their annual Easter egg hunt. Lots of little eggs are hidden throughout the premises ready for our sweet toothed staff to hunt!   

Hot cross buns were also on the menu for our shared lunch, along with lots of other yummy Easter treats. What a good way to start the Easter weekend!

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There are lots of great family Easter activites on in Auckland this weekend to get into the Easter spirit including the Coca-Cola Easter Show and the Giant Easter hunt at Amazing Maze n Maize! Have a look in your local paper for more Easter events near you.

The Coca-Cola Easter Show
The Easter Show is a celebration of New Zealand and all the cultures and lifestyles that make up our rich culture. The Show is also a place where town meets country and the best of our livestock, agriculture, horticulture and viticulture converge, to see who is the best in their fields.

This year they have more great entertainment to add including: Looney Tunes Live Classroom Capers Show, 100% Kylie, Zirka Circus, The WotWots, Fireworks, Strongman, Turbo Boost (this carnival ride will freak you right out), The Canadian Bushwhackers and more!

The Giant Easter Egg Hunt, Amazing Maze n Maize
Open everyday over Easter weekend, the Easter Bunny will be hiding eggs every day in the maze. Fantastic Family Fun and suitable for any age. Amazing Maze is open from 10am – 5pm but Easter eggs are hidden throughout the egg hunt time of 11am – 2pm.

Easter can become an expensive time of year and it can be easy to get caught up in the hype, but it doesn’t all need to be about chocolate and gifts. This year our household are going homemade! Spending quality time together doing fun Easter activities…maybe slipping in a few sweets:)

Mini Easter garden: 

Delicate eggshells make precious pots for tiny plants such as small succulents or micro herbs.  The eggshell pots can be cracked apart later and the seedlings transplanted.

1. Hold a large egg on its side. Tap the pointed end firmly with a table knife to just break through the shell; turn it slightly and tap again to remove the “cap.” Use or discard the contents and rinse the shell.

2. Create a drainage hole by carefully pushing the point of a small knife through the bottom of the shell.

3. Gently remove about half the soil from around the roots of a small plant. Ease the roots and remaining soil into the shell; add a small amount of soil to cover the roots.

 Easter candles:

1. Follow step 1 for the Mini Easter Garden above.

2. Melt wax on a low heat, make sure this is in an old pot you don’t mind keeping as a craft pot. You can find wax at your local craft store or you can use old candles.

3. Place candle wick, I use a cotton wick attached to a flat braid, into the base of the eggshell. Carefully pour the wax into the shell and leave to set.

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Other fun ideas…

Easter cookies: Decorate homemade, or store bought, cookies with icing in bright Easter colours. For piping, place icing in a small snap lock bag and cut off the tip of one corner. I don’t think ours will turn out as pretty as these, but I’m sure they will taste good:)

Bunny cones: Create fun bunny cones to use for snacks over Easter weekend. Wrap A5 sized card around itself and stick together with a non-toxic glue or sticky tape. Cut out bunny faces and other Easter themed shapes and glue them to the back. Once the glue has dried, fill with carrots, raisins, cereal and other snacks throughout the day.

Children in the pre-walker stage usually alternate between crawling, cruising and walking. This means that the shoes they wear need to be able to accommodate all of these actions without restricting the natural movement of the foot.

Flexible soles move and flex with the natural shape and curve of a pre-walkers foot.

Stiff, hard soles limit the foot’s natural flex , this can make it harder for little feet to move naturally. 

The new season i-walk range is hitting stores now! This seasons range have a new look, improved shape and, due to popular demand, an increased size range.

The new i-walk range combines different types of high quality leather, creating styles that are hard wearing, breathable and suitable to the most active child. 

All Bobux shoes are constructed around a form called a last. Our i-walk last are designed specially to accomodate the anatomical shape of a confident walkers foot. This ensures a secure fit around the ankle and heel, with lots of wiggle room in the front.

Due to huge customer demand the Bobux i-walk size range has been extended from size 19-24eu to 20-28eu…now keeping little feet covered up to age five! The new sole also features multiple flex points around the ball of the foot. This ensures ongoing flexibilty in the flex zone to accomodate active and growing feet.

Our design department have been busy working on our patterns and fasteners to allow the shoe to be fully opened up for easy fit and increased adjustability… to benefit mum and child!

Don’t miss out…view the rest of the range in store now, or online from 23rd March 2012.

A big thank you to Natali for all of her hard work over the last 6 months. She was such a happy and friendly face to have in the office and we will all miss her! Bobux wish you a safe journey back home xo

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Coming soon…our new Bobux pre-walker range ‘step up‘, providing barefoot comfort for first walkers.

The footwear needs of a first walker are very unique and after a lot of research, customer feedback and development we have created a new pre-walker range to keep up with these special little feet.

Our new step up range is designed on shoe forms, called a last, that reflects the distinctive anatomy of a first walkers foot. This accommodates the child’s rounder foot shape and allows unrestricted growth at this key stage of development.

We have also developed a new flexible and light-weight sole that provides improved durability and protection for first walkers as they master the art of walking. Combining this mallable sole with soft leather uppers allows little feet a full range of movement without unnatural restrictions.

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.As all children develop at different rates the size range of our step up shoes has been extended to size 18eu-22eu. This is to ensure we cater for children at all stages of their development.

Keep an eye out for our new step up range, available in selected Bobux retailers by the end of February 2012!

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Unfortunately there is no international standard for footwear sizing or size conversions. In New Zealand the most common shoe sizing systems used are European (EU), United Kingdom (UK) or USA sizes.

Because there is not one system used by all shoe manufacturers it can make buying the next size up for your child very confusing.

We recommend that your child’s feet and the internal length of the shoe are measured every time new shoes are purchased. When purchasing online always look for the manufacturers size guide and follow the instructions to find the correct length. This will ensure that you are purchasing the correct size every time.

If you are shopping without your child be careful when purchasing the size up in a different brand. Different brands can also have variances in sizing, for example a Bobux size 21EU may not be exactly the same size as another brands size 21EU. This also applies to adult shoes which is why you may find you have to go up or down a size depending on the brand you are trying on.

Taking the time to show children how to look after their shoes from a young age helps teach them that everything benefits from a little love & care. When looking after natural leather products a few easy steps can not only make the leather look great, but also prolong its life.

All Bobux shoe lining and uppers are made of 100% natural leather. Leather is chosen for its softness, durability and breathability keeping little feet comfortable. As leather is a natural material, it does need to be nourished and protected, much like your own skin!

We have just launched a new page on our website “love your Bobux…“ dedicated to the care of your little ones Bobux shoes. It contains lots of handy information and tips which can not only be applied to Bobux, but all leather products… even grown up ones:)

Check it out now!….bobux.com/loveyourbobux.