Best Barefoot Hiking and Adventure Sandals for Kids

If you’ve ever bought your kid a pair of traditional sport sandals for camp or hiking, you’ve probably noticed the same thing I have: thick soles, rigid construction, narrow toe boxes, and a whole lot of bulk.

They’re marketed as “supportive” and “protective.” And yes, they protect from sharp rocks. But they also limit toe splay, reduce ground feedback, and restrict natural movement.

That tradeoff has just been normalized.

For years, kids’ adventure sandals have followed the same formula: more cushion, more structure, more stiffness — under the assumption that kids’ feet need help. But healthy feet aren’t meant to be propped up and cradled in cushion all summer. They’re meant to move, adapt, and get stronger through use.

When I look for barefoot hiking and adventure sandals for kids, I prioritize function:

• A wide, anatomical toe box
• Zero-drop sole
• Full flexibility (they should bend and twist easily)
• Secure, adjustable straps
• Durable traction for real trails (we’re not just at the playground)

Kids don’t hike in straight lines. They find every log and rock to crawl over, every little stream to explore, sand to bury their feet in. Their footwear should help them do that, not block them off from feeling all of it.

In this post, I’m sharing the best barefoot hiking and adventure sandals for kids. Barefoot styles that can handle mud, water, rocky terrain, and everyday outdoor play without interfering with natural foot development. These are all shoes we’ve tried and would recommend to a friend.

I’ve divided them into two categories: open-toe and closed-toe styles, since each serves a different purpose depending on your child and environment. And if sandals simply won’t be enough, read our picks for the best barefoot hiking shoes for kids.

Open-Toe Barefoot Hiking and Running Sandals for Kids

This first section is for simple, open-toe sandals. If you’re trying to replace a Chaco, Teva or flip flop, these are much more foot-friendly options. They’re perfect for everyday in the summer, the pool, the beach, and light hiking.

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Xero Shoes Z-Trail Sandals (Our top pick)

These sandals aren’t perfect, but the fact that my son is on his fourth summer with these (in different sizes of course) is a pretty resounding endorsement. Like a lot of kids, he doesn’t love straps between his toes, and these Xero Shoes Z-Trails are comfortable, practical, and have held up to a lot of use. My biggest grip is that the footbed on these get a bit slippery when wet, so keep that in mind.

Xero Shoes dubs its Z-Trail sandals as the “ultimate trail-friendly” sandal. The sole has some smaller lugs for more grip, and it’s zero-drop and flexible. At 10mm, it has enough substance to protect from rocky trails and a little bit of foam to make it soft. The heel cup keeps little rocks from sliding underneath the foot.  

The velcro straps on the Z-Trail are thick but soft and easy to adjust. The sandals easy to put on and take off, but stay securely put. Mine are still holding up after several years, and we’ll be passing these on to our younger son as he grows into them.

Earth Runners Kid’s Sandals 

Start at Child Size 12  | Retail: $53 | Code KELLY10 for 10% off | Shop Earth Runners 

Code KELLY10 for 10% off

The huarache is a popular style for barefoot hiking sandals, and as long as your kids don’t mind that toe strap, then they’re great. I personally love my Earth Runers! Earth Runners is one of the most popular barefoot sandal brands making huaraches, and they make them starting in children’s size 12. This style is so popular as a barefoot sandal because it has an in-between-the-toe-strap that doesn’t put any force on pushing the toe inwards. But, they still attached securely to the foot (unlike flip flops). 

Earth Runners use 8 or 9mm Vibram soles and offer the option of adding a hemp footbed. I like this feature, but if your child is more sensitive to texture on their feet, then you may want to opt for the 8mm sole without the hemp footbed. 

Earth Runners are grounding sandals. They have a copper plug on the bottom to serve as a connection to the earth, but they’re great sandals whether you’re interested in grounding or not.  

Shamma Sandals Kid’s Cruzer Sandals 

Starts at size Kid’s US 1 | Retail: $60 | Code BAREFOOTSHOEGUIDE for 10% off | Shop Shamma Sandals 

Code BAREFOOTSHOEGUIDE for 10% off

Shamma Sandals makes barefoot running sandals for kids and adults using Vibram soles in their workshop in Santa Cruz, California. They offer a few different sole options, and several of them come in kid’s sizes. The Cruzers are simple but durable sandals that will take your kid through plenty of summer adventures. The straps on Shamma’s sandals have two different spots to adjust to get a good fit.  Shamma makes some of my favorite sandals, and I wish they’d make some of their other styles in kid’s sizes (like the TrailStars).

Luna Sandals Lunacitos 

Start at Kids Size 12 | Retail: $60 | Shop  Luna Sandals 

Luna Sandals is another popular brand for huarache style adventure and running sandals. The kid’s version, the Lunacito, comes with an extra tech strap over the top to make it a little easier to adjust and get a secure fit (seen in blue here). 

These minimalist kids sandals are made with Vibram moreflex soles that are meant to hold up to a lot of hiking, climbing and outdoor adventures. They’re a little bit thicker than some barefoot sandals, but still have decent flex. 

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Closed-Toe Barefoot Hiking and Adventure Sandals for Kids

This next section is for closed toe sandals, for kids who adventure hard and need more protection over their toes. If. you’re trying to replace a pair of KEEN Newports, these are excellent options with much more flexibility and zero-drop soles.

Saguaro Breeze I Shoes

For a breathable sandal with a similar design to KEENs, with all the durability and comfort your kids need, check out the Saguaro Breeze sandals. With the 15% off coupon KELLY15, they come down to a more affordable price point of $54. These sandals feature an adjustable Velcro back strap and elastic laces on top, allowing for a fully customizable fit. Extra padding around the ankle helps prevent rubbing and blisters, while the flexible rubber sole is both grippy and protective, extending over the toes for added coverage.

Price: $63 | Use code KELLY15 for 15% off

Sizes: Toddler US9.4/EU26 through Big Kids US4/EU36

Freet Zennor Sandals 

Start at Kid’s US11.5/EU30  | Retail: $65 | Code KELLY for 10% off | Shop Freet 

Code KELLY for 10% off

Before I learned about barefoot shoes, I used to think the KEEN Newport sandals were the ultimate kid’s adventure sandals. They’re rugged with a protective toe bumper, they never slipped off, and I felt like they were good for just about any situation with water or warm weather. But the soles are incredibly thick and stiff. I want sandals there to protect my kid’s feet when they need them, but not at the expense of natural movement. 

The Freet Zennor sandals have all of the things I look for in a rugged adventure sandal, and they have a flat and flexible sole. The sole comes up over the toe for a tough bumper. I also like that the tops can be tightened with an elastic pull, and there is a velcro strap around the back to adjust around the ankle. 

For more barefoot water sandals that are similar to KEEN sandals, check out this post.

Reima Valoa Barefoot Sandals

Little Kid US11 through Big Kid US7.5  | Retail: $75 | BAREFOOT20 for 20% off | Shop Reima

Reima is a Finnish kidswear brand known for quality and durability, all in service of their mission to help kids spend more time outdoors. While they’ve been making clothing and footwear for over 80 years, they only recently entered the barefoot shoe space, and continue to expand their offerings each year.

The Valoa barefoot sandals are ultra-breathable thanks to their lightweight knit uppers, with synthetic overlays added for extra durability. They feature a wide toe box, zero-drop sole, and flexible construction that supports natural foot development. Sizing and fit are consistent with the rest of Reima’s barefoot line, so if you’ve tried their shoes before, you’ll have a good sense of what to expect. The Valoa sandals are available in green, black and pink.

The Rantaan Mesh sandals are also another great barefoot closed-toe sandal from Reima.

Vivobarefoot Ultra Bloom summer shoes

Toddler US Size 9 – Kid’s US6 | Retail: $68-80 | Code BSGVIVO15 for 15% off |  Shop Vivobarefoot 

Code BSGVIVO15 for 15% off

These remind me a lot of crocs, but a healthier, barefoot version. While Crocs are bulky, thick and let the foot slide around, the Vivobarefoot Ultra Bloom summer shoes are thin, flexible and securely attach to the foot. This makes them so much better for exploring the outdoors. They’re especially the beach or wet areas where the water can drain out, and these are easily rinsed off. The uppers are made from a special Bloom foam (it’s partially made with algae, how cool is that!) that is really lightweight and dries quickly.  

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Final Thoughts

The goal isn’t to find the most rugged-looking sandal. It’s to find the one that interferes the least.

A good barefoot adventure sandal for kids should protect from sharp terrain, stay secure during movement and play, and otherwise get out of the way. Kids’ feet are naturally strong and adaptable, and find the right pair of barefoot shoes for them helps them continue on that path of foot health.