I buy these shoes for my son every spring. Years later I started searching for certain things. First, there is a velcro strap on the back of the shoe. It was harder for him to put the shoes on if the back didn't open. Those velcro straps on the back are perfect. They look good and will last for several months. Since we've been on the road, a few people have asked me about the brand. At the very beginning he had a piece of Velcro that sort of moved away and didn't allow the boot to be properly fastened. I trimmed it with scissors and we haven't had any problems since. I will definitely take them again.