How much do you spend on summer sandals? (aka, am I just cheap?) - Page 3

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by luv my 2 sweeties 

I feel your pain, sister!    My ds is almost 9, but he has big feet and has just recently passed through that void between youth sizes and mens (sizes 5 and 6) which no one seems to make shoes for!  I think he'll be on the other side of that this year.  But sports -- ack!  Football cleats, basketball shoes, etc., each of which will only fit for one season -- at men's shoe prices??

Yes, we just emerged from the no man's land (literally!) of size 6. Even size 7 are hard to find. I figure in another 6 months he'll be up to an 8 and shoes will be easy to find again, if expensive. I'm just hoping he tops out at a 13 or 14 so that we can find shoes in normal stores. Dh is a 13, I'm a women's 11 (10 before I had kids). The saving grace is that they don't have wide feet. Ds is a narrow actually. (My mom wears a 10 AAA. Try finding shoes in that size!)

[~Amy~]

I'll skimp on a lot of things, but never shoes (especially for DS).  I bought him Crocs for the summer for $35.  I'm contemplating getting a pair of Keens too, but last summer he pretty much wore Crocs exclusively so I'm not sure if they'd be worth the $60 I'd spend on them.  His everyday shoes are Elevens (preschooler sizes made by See Kai Run) and they cost around $60, IIRC.

[Mulvah]

I've spent decent money on shoes, though I'm a huge bargain shopper, so I'll buy quality for less.  Those of you mentioning Keen should check out 6PM.com.  They do have a sale going on right now on several brands, but Keen sandals are at a decent price.  As with all sales, sizes/colors are limited. 

[loraxc]

I am cheap, so we often buy cheap shoes. However, I am starting to realize that this is frankly kind of stupid. Payless and Target shoes simply do not last a season on my active kiddo. (We live where it is very hot, too, so sandals are in season about 7-8 months of the year.) I also do not put her in flip-flops or flimsy strappy things with little heels. She needs to run.

I like Lands' End overstocks, and they are often pretty reasonable. Couldn't find anything this year that we liked. So we looked and looked, and settled on this brand:

http://www.zappos.com/salt-water-sandal-by-hoy-shoes

They really seem awesome so far. The sole is NOT going to come apart--I can tell. She can wear them in and out of the water. The only issue so far is that we got white, and they show the dirt. They wipe off, though.

[LynnS6]

OK, OK, I'm cheap! I'll skimp somewhere else. Actually the Mary Janes we got from Lands End will work well for her bike riding, and we just now need to get a good pair of sandals. I think I may need to buy them locally, and wait a month or so, as I want to get decent quality that fits. She's up to a size 3, and putting on a little weight, so I have a feeling a growth spurt is imminent. Sigh.

Edited by LynnS6 - 4/7/11 at 1:43pm

[redvlagrl]

I also likwe See Kai Runs and they are about $50. Apart from 'specialty' shoes like rain boots, DD only has one pair of shoes at a time so I feel this is justifiable. We just threw out last year's pair. If I had another girl they would have been fine for play shoes but weren't in good enough condition to donate or sell. They do wear really well and I lvoe the flexible sole. Plus both DD and myself have extremely wide feet. My mantra for shoes for me is: if they fit, buy them. Because I don't often find any that fit. Our feet are the shape of birkenstocks.

[LynnS6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulvah 

I've spent decent money on shoes, though I'm a huge bargain shopper, so I'll buy quality for less.  Those of you mentioning Keen should check out 6PM.com.  They do have a sale going on right now on several brands, but Keen sandals are at a decent price.  As with all sales, sizes/colors are limited. 

Several people on this thread have suggested 6pm.com and I thank you! I just got a great pair of Nike water sandals for dd for $14!

Originally Posted by redvlagrl 

I also likwe See Kai Runs and they are about $50. Apart from 'specialty' shoes like rain boots, DD only has one pair of shoes at a time so I feel this is justifiable. We just threw out last year's pair. If I had another girl they would have been fine for play shoes but weren't in good enough condition to donate or sell. They do wear really well and I lvoe the flexible sole. Plus both DD and myself have extremely wide feet. My mantra for shoes for me is: if they fit, buy them. Because I don't often find any that fit. Our feet are the shape of birkenstocks.

Interesting, because I cannot wear Birkenstocks or Crocs. We have long, narrow feet, with the second toe distinctly longer than the first. Birkenstocks don't give that 2nd toe enough room, and they're too wide.

I didn't realize that See Kai Run made shoes past toddler sizes. Too bad. Unfortunately, dd is in their last size and they don't have a lot of variety in their older kids' shoes.

[MeepyCat]

I haven't read the other replies, but I don't think you're being cheap.  I'm willing to spend a fair bit on sandals for myself, which I'll wear year after year until I wear them out, but sandals that will be outgrown just aren't that kind of investment.

[sapphire_chan]

For mamas with sons, don't forget to catch the point when their feet are the same size as yours and buy some nice hiking boots and such for you, I mean "them".

[Owen'nZoe]

Originally Posted by redvlagrl 

I also likwe See Kai Runs and they are about $50. Apart from 'specialty' shoes like rain boots, DD only has one pair of shoes at a time so I feel this is justifiable. We just threw out last year's pair. If I had another girl they would have been fine for play shoes but weren't in good enough condition to donate or sell. They do wear really well and I lvoe the flexible sole. Plus both DD and myself have extremely wide feet. My mantra for shoes for me is: if they fit, buy them. Because I don't often find any that fit. Our feet are the shape of birkenstocks.

You've described my husband's and son's foot shape perfectly!!! My husband wears an 11 EEE, and son wears a 3.5 XW - I'm sure he is destined to have at least an EEE width when his foot is fully grown. Do the See Kai Runs fit your daughter? Maybe they are worth a try for us, too. When we looked for sandals this year, we had exactly 1 option that we could find in his size.

[Ruthie's momma]

I try to never skimp on shoes.  That being said, DD never has more than two pairs per season. 

DD has worn these sandals for the past two summers.  I just ordered her third pair for this summer.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/hoy-shoe-salt-water-sandals-baby-walker-toddler-little-kid/3097385?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=169 

[Ruthie's momma]

I try not to skimp on shoes.  That being said, DD rarely has more than two pairs of shoes per season.

DD has worn these shoes for the past two summers.  I just orderd her third pair for this summer.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/hoy-shoe-salt-water-sandals-baby-walker-toddler-little-kid/3097385?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=169 

[redvlagrl]

They fit really well with a wide, square toe box. i've only had her in teh mary jane style ones but they fit like a dream, even this year when I put her in them before i realized they were too short (i.e. they were too short but still wide enough for her wide feet).

My mum calls Birkenstock clogs Troll Shoes, LOL. If I could wear Birks all year round here I would (I used to).
 

Originally Posted by Owen'nZoe 

You've described my husband's and son's foot shape perfectly!!! My husband wears an 11 EEE, and son wears a 3.5 XW - I'm sure he is destined to have at least an EEE width when his foot is fully grown. Do the See Kai Runs fit your daughter? Maybe they are worth a try for us, too. When we looked for sandals this year, we had exactly 1 option that we could find in his size.

[Lula's Mom]

I think I'm going to buy ds2 some squeaky sandals from AngelCovers this summer.  It's a charity, so even better!  I have never ordered the sandals, but he is currently wearing these squeaky shoes from them, and they are hand-me-downs from ds1.  So the quality is good, especially considering the price, and they have held up.  The soles on the shoes are super-flexible; I can bend them in half.  The only complaint I have is that they only come in itty bitty sizes, so they only work for kids up to about age 2.  But I thought someboy might be interested in them. 

ps- Both of my boys LOVED these shoes, but if it turns out the squeaking bothers you or your child, you can pull the squeaker out of the sole.  We took out just one so the squeaking was less.

[Skippy918]

We bought DS keens last summer and he has a new pair for this year.  The old ones held up really well so his sister should be able to wear them eventually.

[purslaine]

Another 15-20er.  

While flip flops tend to die quickly, sandals at 15-20$ do not.  They easily last the season without sore feet in my household.

[mamazee]

I'm not worried about open or closed toes, but I do get nice footwear, including sandals. I don't personally skimp in that area because once I did and there were blisters. I haven't had that problem with nicer shoes or sandals where someone helps me with sizing, so I'm sticking with that.

[SweetPotato]

When dd was little, I would splurge on See Kai Runs (or squeaky shoes- which tend to be nicely flexible and a good deal).   We've had good luck with the Speedo brand sandlas and water shoes sold in a back aisle at Target (with the seasonal swim and pool stuff-- not in the shoe dept)-- they're only $15 or so, and pretty fleixble and washable.