The Best Summer Shoes for Kids – Get Them Ready for Summer Camp!
Have you been looking to keep your kids’ feet and legs healthy during the summer? Did you know that certain summer shoes provide better comfort, support, and protection to your kids’ feet? Summertime is approaching and it’s time to find good summer shoes for your children to be able to run and play comfortably. Parents tend to choose durable summer shoes so their kids can wear them for the whole season, and the shoes should also dry fast, and offer good support. I am going to show you a list of the best summer shoes for kids based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
Did you know that during the summer is when children tend to develop most foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns? All of these issues are directly related to the sandals that they wear and how they fit. I know exactly which summer shoes are better than others from having fitted them myself.
If you’re pressed for time, you can jump directly to the selection of the best summer shoes for kids.
Sandals for the Summer – Popular Brands
Summer is knocking at the door and if you are looking for the best type of summer shoes for your kids, I will describe the most durable, supportive, and best-fitting ones shortly. Please keep in mind that these styles are going to fit the shape of a child with narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
When choosing sandals for your little ones you must avoid low-quality materials such as plastic. Plastic shoes or sandals don’t allow feet to breathe and can worsen sweating in the feet and create blisters. Remember that your children are going to wear these sandals for the entire day and participate in extensive outdoor activities during summer camp.
Certain sandals come with hard and inflexible soles which pose a threat to growing children. Some parents see shoes as a pretty basic thing, and don’t feel like they need to devote much time finding shoes that properly fit their kids’ feet. Providing your child with the correct pair of shoes will actually end up saving you a lot of time and money in the future.
Summer is one of the most fun and exciting times of the year for children and we sure want to make it special for them.
The 2 most popular summer shoe brands for children who go to summer camp are:
1️⃣ Keen
2️⃣ Merrell
The Best Summer Shoes for Kids: Keen Sandals
You probably have heard about Keen sandals before. They are the #1 choice of summer footwear for children. However, certain styles are more durable and supportive than others.
Keen is one of the leading shoe brands for children and their sandals have received some of the best reviews from parents over the last 10 years. Keen sandals are definitely one of the best summer shoe choices for children. Parents love to provide children with Keen sandals because they are practically indestructible and they provide great support and stability.
Keen sandals come with a thick rubber outsole and a rubber toe-box specifically designed to protect your kids’ toes. They also come with a velcro closure with a toggle shoe lace ensuring that children can put them on and take them off easily.
Let’s take a look at some of the features that Keen sandals provide:
1️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: This feature is going to minimize the impact that your kids’ feet and legs take when they come in contact with the ground.
2️⃣ Traction: This feature minimizes the chances of your child slipping and falling.
3️⃣ Toggle shoelace and velcro strap: This feature makes it easy for children to put the sandals on and easy adjusting as well:
Parents love how versatile these sandals are. They will protect your kids’ feet everywhere they go for their summer adventures, be it rock climbing, wading through streams or stomping in mud.
These sandals are available in toddlers’ sizes up to teenage years with new colors and styles for every season. So if you are looking for the perfect pair of summer shoes for your child to wear to summer camp, you have found them here, they’re called Keen sandals.
The more popular Keen sandals styles are the Newport, the Seacamp. the Uneek, and the Moxie style. All of these styles will fit a child with wide feet, but they won’t fit a child with extra wide feet.
Below you can find a selection of the best Keen sandals styles 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 Kids
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Shoe style Newport H2 by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Newport H2 by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Knotch River by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Open-toe with support and protection underfoot
- Built with lateral support to help stabilize the ankle and heel
- Machine washable
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Knotch River by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Open-toe with support and protection underfoot
- Machine washable
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Seacamp II CNX by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lightweight midsole allows little feet to move naturally
- Integrated, contoured arch and metatarsal ridge provide underfoot support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Seacamp II CNX by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Two points of adjustability for a custom fit
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Knotch Creek by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Lightweight midsole allows little feet to move naturally
- Integrated, contoured arch and metatarsal ridge provide underfoot support
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Seacamp II CNX by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Two points of adjustability for a custom fit
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style Seacamp 2 CNX by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Metatomical EVA footbed provides excellent arch support and cradles the natural contours of the foot
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap with bungee closure for a secure fit
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Seacamp 2 CNX by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Metatomical EVA footbed provides excellent arch support and cradles the natural contours of the foot
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap with bungee closure for a secure fit
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Elle Backstrap by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Built with lateral support to help stabilize the ankle and heel
- Machine washable
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Newport H2 by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Verano Open by Keen
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Metatomical EVA footbed provides excellent arch support and cradles the natural contours of the foot
- Machine washable
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Newport H2 by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Metatomical EVA footbed provides excellent arch support and cradles the natural contours of the foot
- Machine washable
- Eco Anti-Odor for natural odor control
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Moxie Sandal by Keen
- Fits narrow and medium
- Metatomical EVA footbed provides excellent arch support and cradles the natural contours of the foot
- Adjustable hook-and-loop strap with bungee closure for a secure fit
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Newport H2 by Keen
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- EVA insole with arch support for all-day comfort
- Machine washable
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
The Best Summer Shoes for Kids: Merrell
Merrell is known for creating premium summer sandals, providing safety during your kid’s adventures, whilst ensuring durability and coziness.
Their designs are simple but versatile. Parents particularly adore this brand because the shoes are very easily washable.
These sandals stay on the feet easily, provide sufficient room for the toes to spread out in the front, and come with extra padding around the heel area to prevent blisters. The cushy footbed makes it comfortable to walk and run around while the extensive traction in the rubber outsole minimizes the chances of your child slipping and falling.
The Best Merrell Sandals for Kids
Below you can find a selection of the best Merrell sandals for kids. These sandals can fit children with medium (M) or wide (W) feet, so please choose the shoe width accordingly.
Boys
- Shoe style Bare Steps H20 by Merrell
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% Leather
- 2 adjustable velcro straps for easy on and off
- Outsole with rounded edges to follow the natural shape of a child’s foot
- Flexible grooves on the outsole for a barefoot feel
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Bare Steps H2o by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Extra wide toe box gives wiggle room to growing toes
- Convenient alternative closure for a snug fit and easy on/off
- M Select GRIP for flexible, non-marking traction
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Hydro 2 by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Convenient alternative closure for a snug fit and easy on/off
- Excellent grip
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Hydro Creek by Merrell
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 3 adjustable velcro straps for easy on and off
- Excellent grip
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Girls
- Shoe style Bare Steps by Merrell
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% Leather
- 2 adjustable velcro straps for easy on and off
- Outsole with rounded edges to follow the natural shape of a child’s foot
- Flexible grooves on the outsole for a barefoot feel
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Bare Steps H2o by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Extra wide toe box gives wiggle room to growing toes
- Convenient alternative closure for a snug fit and easy on/off
- M Select GRIP for flexible, non-marking traction
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Kahuna by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Water friendly upper for quick dry
- 2 adjustable velcro straps for easy on and off
- Soft EVA molded footbed for all day cushioning and comfort
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Hydro Creek by Merrell
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 3 adjustable velcro straps for easy on and off
- Excellent grip
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Kahuna Web 2.0 by Merrell
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 3 adjustable velcro straps for easy on and off
- Lightly padded footbed
- Order this sandal a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Are You Sure of Your Child’s Foot Size? – Let’s Find Out
I always recommend parents take their children to their local children’s shoe store that they trust, the issue is that most stores have been closing down and parents need to end up buying their kids’ shoes online. There is nothing wrong with this, but you must know your child’s exact foot size to know what size to order.
I created a resource that showcases the best-fitting children’s shoe stores by state.
If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to identify a shoe store in your area, then proceed to take a look at an article I created that describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home.
If you are providing your child with shoes that are too short, too long, too narrow, or too wide for your kids’ growing feet, you may cause several foot problems such as blisters, calluses, corns, ingrown toenails, just to name a few. Your kids’ shoes must fit just right!
The main reason why I recommend these three shoe brands is that they all provide great durability, support, stability, and comfort.
Do Kids Also Need a Pair of Sneakers for Summer Camp?
Most children do need to take a pair of sneakers to wear at summer camp. Children play and get involved in all sorts of different activities like pick-up soccer games, volleyball, tennis. Sneakers will support and protect their feet during all of these activities.
Did you know that a child’s foot sweats about 2 to 3 times more than the average adult foot? This is one of the main reasons why kids’ shoes wear down faster than those of adults. However, sweat is not only a concern for the durability of the shoes but also for the health of children’s feet. Sweaty feet are vulnerable to feet fungus, rashes and infections. This is why you must provide your children with breathable shoes, which will allow the moisture and heat to escape from your children’s feet, letting cool air in.
The feet of children are known to withstand three times more stress than adult feet. This is because of the children’s high level of activity, especially during experiences like summer camp. Because children’s feet endure high stress, children must wear shoes with good shock absorption, a well-made footbed, and durable outsoles. Flexibility should also be imperative for your children’s shoes because it helps kids strengthen the muscles of the feet on their own.
Do You Also Need a Pair of Durable and Comfortable Everyday Sneakers?
There is an article I wrote where I describe the best sneakers for children that are lightweight, supportive, and breathable.
Being a parent is hard. Ensuring the best for your child is even harder. But we all know, our children deserve the best. I provided you with a selection of the best summer shoes for kids so you can keep their feet and legs healthy during the summer.
Are Any Other Shoe 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. My email address is: [email protected]
What type of summer sandals do you typically provide for your child? Is there a particular sandal you can recommend for summer camp? Please share your thoughts and experiences below so other parents can benefit from them.
