Choosing Shoes for Kid’s Outdoor Adventures

Several months ago, a fan of Go Explore Nature on Facebook asked for some advice on choosing shoes for little explorers:

“Would you do a post on what to look for in little ones shoes for outdoor play? Between sand, water, dirt, mud, etc. I would love some first-hand experience and any safety concerns.”

When it comes to choosing shoes for outdoor adventures for the kids in our family, it boils down to a few key considerations.

Know your needs.
Where will your kids be wearing the shoes – your backyard, the beach, the river, the trail or the park? What are the weather conditions – sunny, snowy, rainy? How much use will the shoes get – one trip to the snow or daily use in the backyard?

Know your budget.
Let’s be honest: Who wants to splurge on kid’s shoes? In most cases, your kids will grow out of them in a single season, so it can be hard to justify the expense. That said, comfortable (read: dry and warm) kids are happy kids.

We’re lucky enough to have two boys, which means that what we buy for the older can eventually be used by the younger (provided they’re not too beat up by then!). And like most parents, we try to buy shoes that can multi-task. We spend more on shoes that we know will get the most use given the season and any relevant travel plans.

Know your kids.
Do your kids have any specific fit concerns, like wide feet? Mine are sticklers for being able to put on their own shoes, so we look for shoes that are relatively easy to use. We also only choose close-toed shoes as the boys seem to be a bit more rough-and-tumble than others their age (no flip flops for them!).

What we wear
Here in Los Angeles, we have shoes for several purposes:

• Crocs for everyday use in the backyard (they’re easy for the kids to take on and off and are easy to clean and dry)
• A closed-toed sneaker for the trails (which double as everyday school shoes)
• Keen closed-toed water sandals for beach and river play
• An inexpensive pair of rain boots and/or a snow boot that can also be worn in the rain (depending on our snow trip plans for the year)

And because I think it’s always helpful to get a few more opinions, here are what some of my favorite fellow outdoor moms had to say on the matter. 

“Sturdy soles, wipeability, closed toes if there are rocks and gravel about. One shoe that does it all is best!” – Kristen from Brave Ski Mom

“For all the usual messy stuff we choose Crocs. Kids can put them on alone, they are easy to clean, easy to dump rocks out of, and they float (in case you lose one on the river).” – Jessica from Bring the Kids

“Traction is key as well as good fit. We normally want to buy them big so they last longer but that also sets them up for lots of tripping. On the wipeability thing, also good for potty trainers. Keen sandals, Crocs and such come to mind because when they pee in their shoe, you can hose it out!” – Alyssa from Kid Project.org

“Love crocs for day to day use. Love Keens for water play and hiking. And love rubber boots for pretty much everything else!” – Tanya from Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies

Your turn – what tips do you have for choosing shoes for kid’s outdoor adventures?