Comfort is the most important factor when traveling and that applies to footwear as well, especially for kids. So kids travel shoes should be comfortable and the right fit to make sure they can run and walk and enjoy the vacations. So we decided to list recommendations of the best travel shoes for kids for all occasions and seasons based on our experiences.
We have a boy and a girl, so we will be sharing our choices of footwear that work best for boys and girls. For sure there will be more fancy stuff for girls, but for this post, we would leave the party sandals.
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Best Travel Shoes for Kids
The market is full of a wide variety of footwear for children and it’s a challenge to find the best quality shoes for kids that are also pocket-friendly. But caution, don’t try to save a dollar at the cost of comfort.
It is even more tricky picking up good shoes for toddlers who can’t tell much.
Things to Take Care of Before Buying Kids Shoes:
- The shoes/sandals need to be lightweight. Truly it makes a lot of difference in not having ached feet.
- Try to have a rubber sole and avoid a very thin sole.
- The shoes should be a good fit to feet, a tight fit would cause sores. Make sure the kid tries the footwear for the right size.
- The kid’s shoes should have some room, about 1-2 inches for the growth.
Travel Shoes for Boys
Read our recommendations for Boys’ shoes for travel for various seasons and activities.
Best Summer Shoes for Kids
To beat the hot summer weather, the footwear needs to be breathable. We always prefer comfortable sandals that the kids can walk in during the summer.
When there is a lot of walking and running, the best are closed-toed sandals so that the feet don’t slide out. There are many options available in the market suiting all budgets. Here are a few that we like and recommend:
For casual day trips, open-toed sandals also work well. Most of the sandals have two Velcro straps to adjust the grip.
Note: Make sure the top strap over the toes is well adjusted to avoid the foot slipping out. My son fell off while running once as he had left the strap loose.
Best Water Shoes for Kids
Are you going on a beach vacation or plan to visit a water park?
Then water shoes are a must to save your children’s feet. These are even great for experiencing water sports. These kids’ water shoes dry quickly.
We swear by Crocs for all the seasons.
Our kids have been using Crocs since they were toddlers and have worn them every single day. The quality and durability can be vouched for.
Insider Tip: There are some cheap imitations available in the market as well and we fell into that trap once. But the pair broke in just a month, so our belief in Crocs became stronger.
Some of our favorite picks for Crocs for Boys are:
Best Sneakers for Boys
Sneakers are the best in terms of comfort and keeping the kid’s feet intact. They are best when you need to walk a lot. So for those walking tours or for hiking the trails of the National parks, you need a good lightweight, and comfortable pair of sneakers.
Skechers and Nike kids shoes have some great lightweight sneakers ideal for small kids. Here are some of our recommendations for the best boys’ sneakers:
Travel Shoes for Girls
I must admit it is tougher to choose footwear for girls with the variety of styles and designs available in the market. So try and find the best fit for the girls.
In fact, this is tough for women too. So do read our recommendations on the Best Travel Shoes for women.
Best Summer Shoes for Girls
With every season, girls have a wide variety of footwear options available for them. We will be focusing on travel, so will do away with the fancy party-wear footwear.
So open and breathable sandals work well for girls. For the girls who love to walk and run, here are our recommendations for closed-toe sandals for toddlers to big girls.
I remember when my daughter was an infant we got her first pair of sandals from Clark’s. They were super lightweight and very comfortable. She loved enjoying her newfound freedom in those pairs. Check out our recommendations for closed-toe sandals for girls in summer:
For your daily wear or casual day trips, open-toed sandals also work well in summer. Just make sure there is a back strap that holds the feet well and is flat-soled.
Saltwater leather sandals are very comfortable but they need some care to last them long.
Best Water Shoes for Girls
Do you love visiting the beach or waterparks in summer? Our kids love it and wait for the summer to have a splash in the water.
So grab a good pair of water shoes or socks that can be kept worn when the kids are in the water. They are quick to dry.
And how can I not mention Crocs that my daughter and son have been wearing since they were small and loving it? They are so comfortable and can be worn the day in and out at all places. They are great at beaches and parks and everywhere.
My 6-year-old daughter has been using the regular clogs and even the Crocs ballet flats almost daily since the age of 2 years and has traveled extensively with these. These have been the most comfortable pairs. So look at our recommendations on the Best Crocs for girls –
Best Sneakers for Girls
We make sure our kids wear sneakers when there is a lot of walking. So for our trips to London, New York, or Washington DC, they have worn their lightweight sneakers. Our trips to National parks, and hiking trails all have been possible with the kids as they could walk comfortably.
Here are some of our recommendations for the best sneakers for girls.
Hope our recommendations for the best travel shoes for kids help you find your perfect pair.
Do let us know which is your favorite footwear for your kids. Do you have any brand or pair that you swear by? Share your tips or suggestions for buying shoes for kids.
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