I have durable rubber soles, which are perfect for traipsing through the snow. I have good traction on my soles to keep your child from slipping on the ice. I have not only velcro, but also a pull tie to tighten me up to keep the snow out. V loved wearing me and making me nice and snug. When Jules took me out to photograph me, she found my right side was filled with birdseed. She is perplexed as she has no idea how that got inside of me. She dumped the birdseed out and cleaned me out, but I might still smell a bit like birdseed. Maybe V was trying to capture a bird and use me as a bird's nest? It's a mystery.