Have you managed to coax your teenaged boy into sandals....or am I as ludicrous as he thinks I am?

[Elastoslax]

DS 15, is going to be spending a month in a hot climate doing a lot of travelling and walking. I suggested he get some decent sandals to alternate with his trainers and I've been laughed out of the house.

Even his Df ridiculed my suggestion. Teen DD and I are Birkenstock fans forever but I said any sandals. I wasn't trying to force him into Birkenstocks.

Is it just that sandals are uncool? DS will know no one but family where we are going, is not the most sociable anyway (so won't be looking to meet new people) so what is the problem and could it be that he just hasn't come across the right pair???

My DS 12 refused to wear sandals last year and lived in canvas shoes and trainers. Their choice!

One of mine will wear crocs

As mother of 2 sons, I think they’d laugh if I suggested sandals! They’ll wear flip flops in summer though and can walk for miles in them (I’d be crippled).

I live in a hot country in summer, I only wear flip flops at the beach. Trainers are fine. Sandals are uncomfortable walking in sandy, dry mud paths as all gets in feet. Plus ticks!

Mine took his sliders with him on holiday last year! Wore those on the beach, in the jungle (with socks, obvs) and down a cave. I did try to suggest sandals! The rest of the time he wore his trainers! Good luck with trying to persuade yours to wear anything else.

Sandals are very uncool, but they may also be impractical on long walks in hot climates. Chaffing, blisters, snakes, insects, sunburn... He's better off with a decent pair of walking boots.

I wouldn't want to be walking distances in sandals, they can rub. Also, snakes, spiders, big bitey ants, sharp seeds in the grass? I only wore trainers or boots walking in a hot country. Flip flops or something else slip on for around home/campsite/in showers etc are good.

😂No way. Sliders or flip flops by the pool but that's it.

I haven't even tried, I can't see him going for it. He wears sliders but obviously those aren't good for me walking. I'm assuming he can buy sandals there if necessary? He might change his mind when he sees what the local kids his age wear and his feet get hot.

Sliders or Crocs seem to be acceptable to teen boys.

He’ll change his tune when he gets blisters and no-one will sit next to him because his stinky feet smell so bad. Will he be able to buy himself something suitable during the month he’s there once he’s learned his lesson?

Sliders (and white socks) are summer footwear for teens here. Dreadful looking, and the socks are never white again

Might be worth asking him what he would be willing to wear - giving him a choice of canvas shoes, sliders (with or without socks), crocs, sandals, and maybe those sandals that are really open trainers (?).

Sometimes I just give my teenagers a tablet and they can research themselves what they are willing to wear (price agreed upon).

I could imagine how horrible it would be to wear something that would make me uncomfortable, like crocs and socks. I would want to hide for the whole holiday!

Oh hell no! As others have said, crocs or sliders with white sports socks are acceptable.

my dc for some weird reasons like those addidas slippers or espandrilles.

My 17 year old son it quite happy to wear sandals. It appears he may be an outlier.

He's into clothes but not street-wear. So it may depend on your teens style.

My teens would die rather than wear sandals. They'll come to it when they're 30 or so!

Definitely a no here.
vans do canvas trainers and those are apparently acceptable.

Mine will wear crocs or sliders but not sure either of them are good for walking far. Let him wear his trainers.

None of mine wore sandals after the age of about 9.

We all have a pair of these although ds wore trainers if we were walking longer distances

DS hasn't worn sandals since he was about 4. Crocs, sliders or flip flops would probably be better suggestion.

Crocs? Yes.

Sandals? Nooooo!

Mine have sliders as well as trainers - sandals would be a big No no

No way, I wouldn't even suggest it to a teen! How embarrassing. Sliders or Crocs.