Keen Sandals for Children – The Best Summer Sandal

Have you been looking for a pair of comfortable, supportive, lightweight, and flexible sandals that dry quickly and provide good traction? Keen sandals are the #1 choice for parents who want to provide their kids with a pair of supportive and durable sandals. They are the most versatile types of sandals since children can wear them for longer periods of time and for different types of activities such as going to the beach, wearing them to summer camp, or going hiking. I have put together a list of the best Keen sandals for children based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.

Summertime is approaching and children are ready to head out and play. It is important to provide your children with supportive sandals that they can safely and comfortably play and run around with. Parents love how Keen sandals are practically indestructible, provide great support —especially for children with food conditions— and have great traction, which means children can wear them for different activities.

Among Keen sandals, certain styles are better than others in terms of comfort, fit, and support. The good news is that I know exactly which styles are better than others since I have fitted them all before.

Pro Tip: If you’re pressed for time, you can go straight to the selection of Keen sandals for children.

Keen Sandals: The Perfect Combination of Fashion and Function

Keen shoes have been the subject of much fashion debate. They may not be the prettiest shoes you will provide for your child, but they are unquestionably the perfect summer shoe for outdoor activities such as boating, hiking, going to the beach, or riding a bicycle. The newest styles in 2023 are actually quite fashionable.

There are certain parts of the world where people experience 7 or 8 months of summer. In the US, summer in Texas is really long and the sandal season is literally 7 to 8 months. Wouldn’t it be great if children could wear a sandal that provides them with support and stability to run around for most of the day? 

Before I provide you with a selection of the best keen sandals for children, let me first show you what makes Keen sandals so special.

Keen Sandals for Children – The 5 Most Important Features!

Let me show you the 5 most important features that these sandals provide:

1️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: Keen sandals provide excellent support since they come with a substantial outsole. This outsole provides shock absorption and minimizes the impact that your kids’ feet and legs take every time they come in contact with the ground.

2️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible: While we want the sandals to be supportive, we still want them to be lightweight and flexible to prevent your kids’ feet and legs from easily getting tired. Your kids’ sandals need to be flexible but not too flexible otherwise they won’t provide enough support. Notice how Keen sandals bend at the ball of the foot but not any further:

3️⃣ Durability: Keen sandals feature a rubber toe-box which makes them practically indestructible. It doesn’t matter if your child likes to drag his/her feet when walking, the rubber toe-box is going to prevent the sandal from wearing down. I have heard from several parents that these sandals are the only shoes that their children outgrow before they wear them down.

4️⃣ Machine Washable: This is an awesome feature that Keen implemented in 2022 with all of their sandals. Most parents used to complain about the terrible smell that Keen sandals used to develop after being worn a couple of times.

5️⃣ Secure Closure: All Keen sandals come with a velcro strap so your children can control how tight or loose they want them. Keen sandals also come with a particular type of closure called lock laces, which means that your child only needs to push a button to make the sandals tighter, and push on it again to make the sandals looser.

Why Are Keen Sandals so Popular? – Unbeatable Versatility!

There are 3 main reasons for their popularity:

1️⃣ Fit: Keen sandals are extremely comfortable and fit children with narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet —depending on the style that you choose.

2️⃣ Support: Keen sandals provide shock absorption, which helps keep children’s feet and legs healthy by minimizing the impact that their feet take every time they come in contact with the ground.

3️⃣ Durability: Keen sandals are practically indestructible since they come with a durable outsole and a reinforced rubber toe-box.

Keen sandals are the most well-made functional and all-terrain sandal that I have ever fitted. The footbed on Keen sandals is wonderfully molded and cushioned; they fit the foot with ease.

These sandals are a must when it comes to everyday summer wear. There is no sandal out there that can replace them in terms of versatility, support, and sturdiness.

How Much Do Keen Sandals Cost?

Most Keen kids’ sandals range from US$ 40.00 to US$ 55.00 depending on the style that you choose. You might find them cheaper if you purchase an older style. I believe this is a great price, considering that if fitted properly, your child will wear them for the whole season and more, if you live in a place with predominant summer weather.

I always recommend parents take their kids to be properly fitted for shoes at their local children’s shoe store. If you don’t have a children’s shoe store in your area, you should consider traveling to your closest one! Seriously, parents travel 30 to 45 minutes to come to our shoe store. It is true that we are one of the best children’s shoe stores in the country and we do specialize in children that have foot problems.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best Keen sandals for children. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.

The Best Keen Sandals for Children

Take a look at the description below each sandal to find out if that specific style can fit your child’s foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide). Many of the sandals featured below come in several color options, so if your child likes a specific model, please make sure to click through and see if they have the desired color.

What Sandals Size Should You Order?

Keen sandals are not available in half sizes; they are available in whole sizes only. This factor will also play a key role in which size you will end up ordering for your child.

To allow for growing room, I highly recommend that parents order these sandals half a size larger than their child’s current foot size. This translates to 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the sandals. If your child is in between sizes always sized them up so they can wear them for the whole summer.

There you have it, the perfect all-around kid’s summer sandal!

Some parents have told me that they are not happy with how Keen sandals look, but they got them anyways since their pure function is perfect for children who live active lifestyles.

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape Online

If you want to be sure about what shoe size to order online, I suggest that you follow the instructions in the another post.

How Do Keen Sandals Fit? – Let’s Find Out!

Keen sandals are available in whole sizes only. This means that if your children measure a foot size 10 1/2, then you will have to provide them with a shoe size 11 to allow for growing room. If your child measures a foot size 10, then you will need to get the shoe size 11 —since the sandals are not available in half sizes— You should always round up.

➡️ If your children have narrow feet, you will need to provide them with the Moxie or the Seacamp style.

➡️ If your children have wide or extra wide feet, you will need to provide them with the Newport style.

If you want to learn more about how each Keen sandal style fits, please go to another article on Keen sandals fit.

Are Your Kids’ Keen Sandals Starting to Smell? – Proven Solution

I have heard several parents comment about how bad Keen sandals start to smell after their children wore them for a couple of months. Imagine your child wearing them most of the day throughout the summer, there is a high chance that the sandal might develop a smell.

Important Update: All 2022 Keen sandals are machine washable! If you happen to have a previous style, keep on reading to find out how to get rid of the smell.

Some parents raised a concern that it is really hard to get rid of the smell. Unfortunately, there are no products in the market right now that can help get rid of the smell, so don’t waste any money on products thinking that they will help.

I will tell you the proven method to remove the smell from these sandals.  It’s a home-based product secret: Use baking soda and vinegar and the smell will be gone! Please make sure you rub it throughout the sandal, especially in the neoprene part.

This is the most effective solution to get rid of the smell. I have spoken with several parents who have tried my home-based secret, and they said it worked perfectly. Try it and let me know how it worked out for you in the comments section below.

Is Your Child Flat-Footed and Overpronating? – Arch Support!

If your child has feet issues such as overpronation, flat feet, or low muscle tone, then this is the type of sandal that will provide them with the most support.

Several parents that have children who wear orthotics always ask me what type of shoes they can wear over the summer. They have invested time and money in orthotics and they want to make sure that during the summer, their children can run and play in a sandal that will keep their feet and legs healthy.

If you look closely at how Keen sandals are made, you will realize that they have the structure of a sneaker. They are the most supportive sandals in the market right now. This does not mean that children can wear them all day during the summer; since they still must alternate with their sneakers.

I created an article where I describe the best Keen sandal styles for children with foot issues.

Keen Sandals for Women – Get Them for Half of the Price!

Did you know that Keen sandals come in men’s and women’s sizes as well? They are perfect for adults who need a great supportive sandal and love hiking, camping, zip lining, city touring, running around, etc. If you are on your feet all day, this is the sandal for you. It will provide you with excellent support, comfort, and stability.

I have fitted several moms that bring their kids to the shoe store in Keen sandals, and they love them.

If you wear a women’s shoe size 8 (or smaller) you can get the kid’s version of the Keen sandals in a size 6 and you will pay half of the price. I am talking about the same quality, structure and support, but for half of the price.

Pretty awesome, right? I wrote a post in where I explain how this shoe size conversion between women and kids works in more detail in another article.

Do you happen to need a pair of Keen sandals for yourself? There is a different website that describes the best summer sandals for women.

Are Any Other Sandal Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my email if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child.

Does your child already own a pair of Keen sandals? What is your favorite style? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.