Why can’t I find comfy summer sandals for my DC?

[AllMyGreggsInOneBasket]

I’ve got 2 DC, 6 and 3. And every single summer they’ve been bought sandals.....which have been removed after minutes for being uncomfortable. We’ve had StartRite, Clarks, supermarket ones, all kinds and styles, and they just don’t seem to ever seem to want to wear them. I see other DC happily wearing them in summer while mine are always in trainers, and then they complain their feet are hot. Am I missing something? Where do people buy them from?

Next are good. They have a lot with softer straps and velcro fastenings rather than buckles do easier to get the tightness just right.

We always buy Mountain warehouse shandals. They are soft, and fairly enclosing, so comfortable and not too different to their trainers.

Would canvas shoes be a good compromise if they’re sensitive to textures?

I live in my birkenstocks over the summer months, they do children sizes too might be worth trying those?

I have got my dd’s sandals from next this year, we went for the leather ones as they tend to be more comfortable. 2 different pairs that she has been wearing for the last 6 weeks and no issues so far.

Do they wear socks with them? My DD will not wear sandals without socks.

Saltwater sandals are expensive but comfy. We have hand me downs that are great.

I only buy one type of sandal for Ds now and it is this one particular one from Clarks:

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Rocco-Wave-Kid/p/26149063

Padded around the ankle and toes and really soft. So many other sandals cut up his feet. I’ve bought them every year for something like the last nine years. They go from a kids size 10 or so up to about an adult size 5.

What type are you buying? Do the Clarks doodles rub? We’ve tried loads and they are the only ones all three DC will wear

Crocs. Not pretend ones. Real ones.

Thanks for the replies!

At the moment DD has some leather StartRite ones (she removed them this morning saying the ankle strap was rubbing), and DS has some H&M ones. Both have fairly standard feet, no extreme widths or anything. Last year DS had some random ones from Sports Direct which he said were fine when we tried them on, but then when he put them on at home he said they were hurting his toe. They have light canvas shoes but still complain their feet are hot, especially DS.

I’ll check out some of those ideas, thanks! Bet by the time I buy some the weather will be heading towards autumn haha

Saltwater sandals are fab. Soft leather, can be worn in water. Spongy soles etc. They’re fab.

Real Crocs as someone already suggested.
They are not the nicest looking footwear, although you can get some fun colours and designs for kids.
They are so comfy and practical, easy to clean and if they get wet they dry really quickly.

Next sandals are the only ones I can get my fussy daughter to wear.
Shes really funny about pressure on certain areas of her feet and has to be able to wiggle her toes in them.

The designs are quite stylish too.

Real crocs and Bobux here. Bobux are expensive but wonderfully comfortable. And importantly they do a closed toe sandal for the little one

We have bought DS the same sandals for the last 4 years as he wears them and keeps them on, never complained they hurt or rub and can wear them in the water too.

these ones

My DS wont wear sandals, but wears normal leather Clark's shoes all year around. Or this year he's taken to real crocs, but with socks ! That was interesting at the beach ha ha. Leather shoes should be more breathable than synthetic trainers. I must admit I'd forgotten about canvas Clark's oops.

Which next one are people buying - assume those are girls ones?

We either get leather ones from Next as they are lovely and soft with a flexible sole or from mountain warehouse which are hideous walking sandals but very comfy for DS.

Got last years from Clarke's and we're very disappointed. The leather was hard and rubbed DS's feet and the soles were solid so he kept tripping over.

We like the cheapo decathlon ones. Wash and dry easily too. Mine wear them everywhere

@gobananasgo we have these two. The pink ones are the comfiest of the two, the good ones needed breaking in across the front, my daughter only has slim feet.

Sorry gold ones, should have proofread!

I always used to buy the clarks doodles for my dc which they found to be really comfortable and I found to be practical.

Ds1 is now a teenager and refuses to contemplate sandals let alone wear them. Ds2 was finally too big for doodles last year and we bought him some from decathlon instead which he wore constantly.

Thanks to not going out for lockdown so far this year, I haven’t needed to get new ones - crocs and trainers have been fine for playing in the garden! But my plan was to get another pair of decathlon sandals. He likes to have waterproof ones that can get wet and it not matter

My oldest has had these for the past 3 summers. My youngest I've given up buying sandals for. He has trainers (and shorts) all year round.

@gobananasgo

www.next.co.uk/g241608s4/705308#705308

www.next.co.uk/g241492s3/931076#931076

www.next.co.uk/g241490s9/291381#291381

www.next.co.uk/style/st437435/402225#402225

www.next.co.uk/style/st437431/145251#145251

These are the ones I have for DD, plus a pair of their silver jelly shoes which are fantastic for the garden/beach.