Sandals for 9 year old boy

[ItsCalledAConversation]

My 9 year old boy isn’t particularly style conscious but knows what he likes - joggers, T-shirts and hoodies with a graffiti/ gaming theme (🙄), trainers, the ubiquitous adidas sliders.

We’re going on a fairly active holiday in the summer and I want him to have sandals. Trainers are too hot/smelly and you can’t play footie/hike/cycle etc in sliders.

Any suggestions? Merrell type shoes-with-vents, action sandals of any kind have been declared “NO”.

I would let him wear trainers if he’d prefer. Why enforce the sandals thing. I can’t think of any boy of that age that would want to wear sandals.

My son loves his Nike sunrays

Can he not wear the material type trainers instead of leather ones?

Mine wore trainers for active things on holiday and then crocs for pool, beach etc.

Id let him wear trainers. I wouldn't want to play football or hike on rough ground in sandals. He then has his sliders for pool, relaxing etc.

Mine used to wear Timberland sandals.

Me too.

Ours loved Timberland sandals too at that age. Walked miles in them very comfortably but not really for football.

Mine too!

My 12 year old wears Birkenstock style sandals (he kept stealing my Birkies so I bought him some copycat ones), and Tevas if he needs something that’s more secure on the feet. He was a bit resistant to the Tevas at first till he realised how comfy they are.

I don't think you can really play footie, hike or cycle in sandals either! I do active holidays and wear trainers for activities and flip flops / sliders around the resort and smarter sandals for dinner in an evening. Also, in trainers it's one less thing to have to put suncream on!!

Trainers are fine I still wear them in hot countries if it’s an active holiday. Maybe crocs if he likes them maybe not so suitable for some of the activities though. I don’t know any boys that age that would wear sandals.

My DS refused sandals from about 5. Pick your battles!

I'd stick with trainers for cycling, walking any distance. My ds lives in crocs in the summer but even those would rub his feet over long distances. Otherwise decathlon normally have everything covered.

Buy Decathlon ones. Make sure you sign up aa a member before you buy so you benefit from 365 day returns.

Keep all the packaging and tags on. Take them with you like that, all wrapped up to protect them. If he gets hot sticky feet in trainers he may decide he wants the sandals after all. If not, you can return the sandals after the holiday.

(obviously it doesn’t have to be decathlon but they do have a particularly generous returns policy).