Here's a comparison chart of highly rated kids trainers from 1981 featuring Adidas TRX, Autry Mach Ill, Brooks Kid Supreme, Hyde (Saucony) Jr. Hornet, Kid Power USA Sonic Track, Osaga Marathon, Puma Little Cat, Stride Rite Super-Z and Super-Z II. Adidas busted out the velour on those TRX.
Info is below:
Manufacturers of children's running shoes have made tremendous strides in the last couple of years. These shoes are now, for the most part, small-scale images of their adult counterparts.
Children's Training Shoes
Manufacturer & Model Price Weight Special Features
Adidas TRX Kid $22.95 140.8 g
Nylon upper w/velour parts; has ankle pad, padded heel collar and rigid heel-cup counter; foamed PVC insole. Heel width: 65 mm. Net heel lift: 9 mm. Thickness under ball of foot: 12 mm. Toe-box height: 18 mm.
Autry Mach Ill $19.95 130 g
Nylon upper w/suede leather reinforce-ment; has ankle pad, padded heel collar and semi-rigid heel-cup counter; sponge rubber insole. Heel width: 62 mm. Net heel lift: 11 mm. Thickness under ball of foot: 15 mm.
Brooks Kid Supreme $21.95 149.5 g
Nylon pak cloth upper w/blue suede trim; has ankle pad, padded heel collar and rigid heel-cup counter; terry-to-foam insole. Heel width: 64 mm. Net heel lift: 9 mm. Thickness under ball of foot: 10 mm. Toe-box height: 16 mm.
Hyde (Saucony) Jr. Hornet $21.95 202.1 g
Nylon oxford cloth upper combined to foam and tricot; rigid heel-cup counter; fi-berboard insole. Heel width: 59 mm. Net heel lift: 14 mm. Thickness under ball of foot: 11 mm. Toe-box height: 15 mm.
Kid Power USA Sonic Track $23.95—Yth. $24.95—Boys' 175.5 g
Nylon mesh upper w/suede; has ankle pad, padded heel collar and rigid heel-cup counter; insole is of 2-way stretch nylon over neoprene. Heel width: 61 mm. Net heel lift: 5 mm. Thickness under ball of foot: 11 mm. Toe-box height: 17 mm.
Osaga Marathon $29.95 160.1 g
Nylon upper w/suede leather; has ankle pad, padded heel collar and rigid heel-cup counter; insole is 2-way stretch nylon over neoprene sponge. Heel width: 62 mm. Net heel lift: 16 mm. Thickness under ball of foot: 7 mm. Toe-box height: 26 mm.
Puma Little Cat $19.95 186 g
Nylon upper w/suede leather; has ankle pad, padded heel collar and rigid heel-cup counter; texon fiber insole. Heel width: 64 mm. Net heel lift: 8 mm. Thickness under ball of foot: 10 mm. Toe-box height: 17 mm.
Stride Rite Super-Z $24 166.8 g
Super-Z II $28 173.7 g
Super-Z has 420 Denier nylon upper; Super-Z II has nylon mesh upper; both have ankle pad, padded heel collar and rigid heel-cup counter; both have Texon 507 3-iron in-sole. Heel width: (Super-Z) 60 mm; (Super-Z II) 60 mm. Net heel lift: (Super-Z) 15 mm; (Super-Z II) 14 mm. Thickness under ball of foot: (Super-Z) 11 mm; (Super-Z II) 10 mm. Toe-box height: (Super-Z) 21 mm; (Super-Z II) 22 mm.