[Shanana]

I saw kids wearing these last year and thought they looked cute, comfortable and rugged. They're kind of like tennis / hiking shoes, but with parts "cut out" to make them cooler, like sandals. I'm sure some MDC mamas out there know what I'm talking about

. It's time to get summer shoes for dd1, and I thought I'd get something like this.

TIA!

 

[kirstenb3]

Are you thinking of Keen shoes? http://www.keenfootwear.com/

 

[Shanana]

Yep, that's them! Thanks! Any idea how flexible they are?

 

[mamaduck]

We got similar shoes at Lands End.

 

[alexsam]

Not really "flexible", but they can hold up to just about anything. But they are wide, and sometimes the sizing is strange, so I'd try them on first (and then buy them on the net if you want).

 

[Shanana]

Thanks, we went today and tried them on. DD1 didn't like them - too stiff. She's just a soft-soled kid, lol. I ordered an Eleven sandal instead

.

 

[newmainer]

i got some of those keen's for my dd and she didn't like them either- but then i got her some of their tennis/hiking hybrid shoes and she LOVED them. I think its' worth trying their other styles at other times. They're expensive, but the hold up well.

 

[alexsam]

My son likes them ok, but he is so brutal on shoes that many of the "softer" shoes don't hold up. Each summer we get a keens sandal, crocs, birkenstocks and flip flops (I'm a total sale hunter, so I usually can get all these for about $50 for all of them!). By the end of the summer, he has destroyed all of them because he is outside playing tough all day... The keens can take it when many other sandals can't. But I could totally see why some kids wouldn't like them so much.

 

[mommajb]

Hanna Andersson also had some cute ones - Primigi for littler ones and Vincent for the larger kids. They had even more options but those are the ones I remember.

That said my kiddos have crocs, keens, land's end, and a bring pink pair from stride rite for the 3 yo girl. Having 5 kiddos means I get to try one of each.

 

[eepster]

DS and I were shoe shopping the other day, and we saw those all over the place.

 

[annethcz]

One thing to keep in mind is that they are HORRIBLE for playing in the sand. I wore my Keen sandals to the playground with my kids this weekend, and it was so uncomfortable to have sand inside my shoes. And unlike regular sandals, you can't just point your foot down and shake the sand out of the shoe without taking the shoe off, because the closed toe keeps the sand inside.

I do love the shoes, and some of my kids wear them also. But not great for sandlots.

 

[velochic]

We like ours. Dd's on her 2nd pair because she outgrew the first, but mine are 4 years old and going strong. The shoe is really rugged and well-built. And I've had mine in every kind of weather, including sharp lava beaches. Dd says hers are really comfortable, but in the heat of the summer, she prefers Teva sandals.

 

[425lisamarie]

Just have to say, I just bought both my kids these kind of shoes from STride Rite and I have never been more excited about a pair of shoes!! I've had them in stride rite and echos, both have high insteps and very very hard to fit. They also have really tender feet and everything makes them "owie."

These are new for Stride rite this year because last year they didn't have anything like these. They are a sneaker bottom, with neoprene on the sides, and an extra thing for the toe so they don't get stubbed. They run pretty true to size, maybe very very slightly long, and the great thing is they come in wide widths which I bought because my kids prefer them to not be tight on the tops of their feet. They have already worn them with socks like a sneaker, and in water like a sandal. Oh and they have removable foot beds to take out if they get wet/sweaty.

BTW: my kids are DS 5 and DD 3

 

[RockStarMom]

Teva has a style like that called Toachi(I think) and we LOVE them!

 

[Caneel]

We are on our second pair of the half sneaker/half sandal StrideRights and I am really pleased with them.

 

[klt]

I love Stride Rite.......are you ladies talking about this model?

kt

 

[mommajb]

I like those but my dd has pink ones with two velcro straps. We got them at an outlet store so they may not be this year's model...

 

[velochic]

Wanted to add that mine are a 4 year old, faded and beat up, but durable Newport H2 model and I don't think they make my exact style any more. The arch support of the older ones are not as good as the newer ones.

Dd has the Newport H2, too, but they make her feet sweat a lot during the summer unless she wears socks with them.

And they get stinky during the summer (but wash easily).

I think they are best for spring and fall.