Stiff Inflexible Sandals Are Not a Deal Even When On Sale
Written: Sep 20 '08 (Updated Sep 20 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: * All leather upper with closed toe
* Under $15 when I bought them
Cons: * Stiff leather results in unforgiving sandal
The Bottom Line: For $12.99, these were almost worth the price for 3-4 weeks' of use. However, other comparably priced shoes of better quality still beat this.
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One might think I would have given up on Stride Rite sandals after my daughter's disappointing experience with the Stride Rite Guppy sandals. I decided to give the brand a second chance when I found these Monterey sandals on clearance for only $12.99.
Both the Guppy and Monterey styles are fisherman sandals, which are great for toddlers due to the closed toe styles. This pair of sandals has the closed toe but semi-open back (just a strap around the back of the ankle, as opposed to a closed back). It closes via traditional buckles with a metal prong slipped into a hole. That was helpful when my daughter was in a "no shoes" phase and kept taking off her shoes with Velcro straps.
Yes, it does have a somewhat flexible sole, as you can bend it when using two hands. However, the leather upper is also stiff and never softens up. Thus, there isn't much give. When your child's feet are still a little small, there are no complaints, but they don't last as long as other shoes once his/her feet start growing.
My daughter was able to wear them for about 3-4 weeks. However, when her foot started growing, she refused to wear them as they pinched. Even though her other 6.5W shoes did not pose a problem, these did. In fact, we got another month out of her other 6.5W shoes, so I think that is a major drawback to this model.
I liked the white color for summer, but it did stain quickly. Fortunately, the third pair of Stride Rite First Mate sandals (which I purchased the same day as these) were also white leather fisherman sandals but were MUCH more comfortable and lasted nearly 2 months until my daughter outgrew them. Apparently, my first two attempts at trying Stride Rite shoes for my daughter were just duds as those First Mate sandals have led me to realize Stride Rite is just a little hit-or-miss.
Recommended:
No
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