Keen Newport H2 Sandals - Size 8-13

I bought these for my 9 year old son for our first trip to Maui. We will be using them for a hike where it will involve rather rocky, wet and muddy terrain from what I understand. Also, I was thinking long-term for school and for the annual camping trip that my husband takes the kids to the Sequioa's on Father's Day - this involves a lengthy hike that ends in a river.

At first my son did not like the looks of this shoe because it had holes. He said he did not like sandals for hikes because of the rocks - they get in his feet. Although he has somewhat of a point (which can be relieved with socks), once he put these sandals on, he was convinced these were not so bad and "Mama, you have good taste." Personally, I was trying to aim for the cheapest I could find but at the same time I know this child of mine can burn through a pair of shoes like nobody's business in a matter of weeks.

Put it this way - we ended up getting these over Merrell's and Teva's full-coverage type of water/hiking shoes. All price points being the same. I tried to get my son to try another pair of Keen's (Newport's but not H2 - harder plastic but looks about the same in style) and he did not like them - they were not comfortable. My son ended up wearing these sandals out of the store and walked in them for about 5 hours (shopping with no complaints) and into the swimming pool when we got home. They're drying right now so that they can be ready for our trip to Maui. Did I mention they are waterproof?

Bottom line - he loves them. He says they are very very comfortable and airy. I am pretty sure he will end up wearing them to school with socks too.

These are staples for my son each summer. In fact, since he started wearing shoes, these are the ONLY shoes I get for the summer. One pair will last the entire summer, but if I can find them on sale, I buy two pair just for variety.

I wont go on about how great they are (everyone else has) but know, this is THEE only shoe your child will need this summer.

Easy on and off. Durable and tough for the outdoors. They stay looking nice. If they get dirty or even muddy, you can throw them in the wash. They dry quickly in case he/she wears them in the water. You can dress him/her up in them for a nice dinner out (polo, jeans or shorts, keens = looking great!)

Two things to note: over the years, Keen has changed where their shoes are manufactured. In some years I notice that a size 5 (for example) looks the same as a size 6. Most of the time now if I order online, I buy two sizes and return whichever doesn't fit. VERY INCONSISTENT... which is the most disappointing thing from KEEN.

Second, the 2012 Newport has a closed back!!! I'm not happy about this! Their little feet were still protected with the open back. Now these are almost like shoes, not sandals... and I'm considering ordering a second pair this summer of a different KEEN style just so my son's feet can be exposed to a bit more air.

Grrrr... KEEN. I'm sure you had your reasons. The shoe is still great. But bummer, wish they hadn't changed that. :(

My three year old (who hates wearing anything on her feet) LOVES these shoes! My daughter has a lot of sensory issues (meaning a lot of things bug her, like rough clothing). She usually ends up not wearing any shoes at all- so I was really worried that she would not like these. Not so- she absolutely loves these shoes. I catch her "admiring" herself in the car with her shoes on. And when she wants to go outside, I see her looking for her Keens! She also has something called "low muscle tone" which makes her very accident prone. Her Newports give her the stability and support without making her trip (I was worried the toe protector would cause her to trip, but it does not). It's great to finally have found a well constructed kids' shoe. It is well worth every penny. Like one reviewer said- it's well worth the extra ten bucks (some kids' rubber shoes are close to $30!) I highly recommend you get a pair for your little one (especially if they go on sale).

These shoes are the most durable pair I have ever purchased in my daughter's entire four years. They hold up to running, scraping, jumping, water, mud, EVERYTHING! Throw them in the washer and they come out looking brand new. The colors are durable and lasting. I will be purchasing a new pair of these each summer for her. They work great for playing in the yard, trips to the pool, playing in the pond, water day at school, running in the sprinklers, as well as everyday activities. They are easy for her to put on with velcro closures. They do make her feet a bit sweaty, as they are summer shoes with a rubber bottom (no soft padding or fabric bottom) and dirt does get in them resulting in dirty toenails, but that would happen with any other type of sandal as well. I highly recommend these to everyone as your go-to shoe for summer!

My 2-year-old son loves these shoes and wears them everywhere. I'm a believer in versitile, utilitarian products and these sandals fit the bill. He has worn them all summer even on our trip to Alaska where it was as low as 47 degrees. We just layered him with socks underneath. The closed toe is great and has saved his toes from many stubbings and scrapes this summer. As others mentioned, he did suffer from smelly feet despite the claims of an antimicrobial footbed. Although I ran them through the washing machine, they got stinky again pretty quickly. Our remedy was to wipe the footbed with a cotton ball and a bit of tea tree oil every couple of days and that solved the problem! Needless to say, we already have a new pair in the closet for next year (clearanced out color)!

Bought these for our granddaughter for a camping trip. The sandals she wore from home had already given her a blister. Kids' footwear in general are shoddy in construction and fit, and the makers have little or no concept of comfort for a kid. Keen puts every bit of engineering and thought into their kids' sandals as they do their adults, which is more than can be said for other shoe makers. Our 6 y.o. granddaughter loved these, and said she wanted to "sleep in them" when asked if she thought they were comfy. Not one blister, and they protected her little toes from scrapes. The best part aside from comfort and function....they are machine washable. Given the chance, she would put them on wet and gather all the campsite dust. No worry, just rinse them off and air dry.

We just bought my 3 year old her 2nd pair of keens. These shoes are undestructable and actually get better with wear. My only complaint is that the new pair is slightly different in design and is a bit difficult to get on. I'm hoping they will loosen up a bit over time. She LOVES her "running sandals". The last pair were worn every single day for months and are now packed away for the next girl in the family. Absolutely worth every penny. I paid full price and I do that very very rarely. They do get stinky so we just wash them regularly.

Just ordered our 8th & 9th pair of keens for my 2 boys. In fact, our whole family has a pair of these keens. These are the only shoes the boys do not destroy. They are well worth the extra $10 over other brands. It's the only shoe that can actually be handed down to my younger son. They are a little irritating in sand but overall excellent. Great for everyday running around or hiking on trails.

My daughter had learned to walk just a few months before getting her first pair of Keens. I have to say, they really helped with stability and mobility, and the kept her safe from stubbed toes. Plus, they're so dang cute! She wore them with EVERYTHING! Just a little too much money for the length of wear they get from a toddler.

My 3 year old son loves his Keens and wants to wear them everywhere we go. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is that his feet stink after wearing them. His feet haven't had an odor in any other shoes, but these are exceptional. I would probably buy something else if I wasn't such a Keen fan.