Which are better for children, closed walking shoes or open hiking sandals? I do not think that there is a clear and defined answer for this question. Either option has its own disadvantages and will be better in certain scenarios.

Take the closed walking shoes for example, these provide more protection for your children’s feet and are more sturdy then open hiking sandals, which is obvious! The closed hiking shoes are perfect for a winter hike when wanting to keep your children’s feet dry and warm and to protect your children’s feet against the elements. However, closed walking shoes are traditionally very heavy and can be a pain to walk around in. Although you want protection, you also want your children’s feet to feel comfortable and free.

On the other hand, open hiking sandals such as Keen Sandals also have their own benefits. Open hiking sandals are much lighter than closed walking shoes, which mean that they are easier to walk in. In addition to this, they are also a lot more breathable than tradition closed walking shoes. This means that your children’s feet stay a lot cooler and sweaty feet can be avoided, which is never a nice thing! Arguably, open hiking sandals also provide much more support than closed walking shoes do around the heel. The major disadvantage is the protection from the elements that they provide, which is minimal in comparison to closed walking shoes.

In conclusion, I do not think either option is definitely better or worse. I believe that it all comes down to where you are hiking and what type of terrain you will be facing. You also have to take into consideration the time of year it is and the weather on that particular day. Sometimes, under some conditions, closed walking shoes will be better, especially in winter. However, especially in the summer, open hiking sandals will be better. It is all up to the individual and how they want their feet to feel during the hike.