Ok,

Taking the 7 year old for the first time this year, the only thing that has me stumped it foot wear. I want some thing that will hold up on the portages and give him ankle support, but at the same time I don't want something that will take forever to dry.

I also don't want to shell out big$$ for a 1 year thing.

My plan is to keep him from stepping in the water, but you never know.

My kids wore rain boots. Easy to find, and they will go in the water no matter what your plan is. ;-) No, there is not ankle support. I felt like dry feet was more important. They had the rain boots and then good sandals (the kind that strap on to the foot well). With the rain boots they wore wool socks.

Our kids (6 and 4 currently) have worn keens in the summer and rain boots in the fall the last couple of years. Both combos with merino wool socks. Both combos worked well. Both kids have done several day trips into the bwca and only our oldest has done an actual over nighter.

We did recently got them Bog boots on clearance at Cabelas for $30. Much better ankle support than the above options but waterproof and tall like rain boots and at that price actually cheaper than the keens and not much more than rain boots. They are very versatile with the -20 to +70 degree comfort rating. They are being used as their winter boots and will also be used for canoeing. I like it when things have more than one use. Especially while the kids are growing like weeds :)

we also do rain boots and sandals

quote Canoearoo: "we also do rain boots and sandals"

We do hiking boots and sandals but my kids are older... we still end up with at least one wet pair of boots per trip but they still have to wear them :-)

I was wondering the same thing, as I am taking my two four-year-old boys out for their first trip (and mine!) this year. Do they wear the boots even in the summertime? I was also thinking crocs for shoes at camp, but I don't want to carry three sets of footwear. Would you recommend crocs, keen-style sandles and/or boots and why?

I have my kids bring two sets of shoes -- a wet pair and a camp pair. They know that they will portage with the wet pair and when we get to camp they can put their dry pair on. I do try and help them keep their feet as dry as possible during the day, but they understand that sometimes you have to get wet.

Two pair only here as well. We don't typically go in summer so the portaging pair is either rain or snow boots. Two of my kids will be wet no matter what and one will be dry no matter what. LOTS of socks! I tell them there is not room for boots in packs so they must wear them when we are moving even if it's warmer than we thought.

Water shoes are Keen knockoffs, or genuine water shoes (mesh top).

Xmas brought crocs all around - nice and light with toe coverage for camp. We'll see how they work this year.

Love the Crocs for summer camp shoes! Nice and light and they can clip to the outside of your pack with a carabiner to save room inside.

Two drawbacks... not as good for swimming as water shoes and the holes can be problematic with sparks and mosquitoes around the campfire so we layer up with thick socks at night. If the strap snap breaks while you are out in the wild you can refasten the strap with a zip tie or another similar fastener... don't ask me how I know this... :-)

for our daughter's trip we used Keen knockoffs and wool socks, my husband lifted her in and out of the canoe to avoid wet feet, she wore those on the portage trail and i know for sure she stepped in the water on purpose a few times. In camp light weight tennis shoes with white cotton socks. I think I have the keen knockoffs if anyone can use them. I'll see if I can dig them out.

~Kristy

quote kimmycanoe: "I was wondering the same thing, as I am taking my two four-year-old boys out for their first trip (and mine!) this year. Do they wear the boots even in the summertime? I was also thinking crocs for shoes at camp, but I don't want to carry three sets of footwear. Would you recommend crocs, keen-style sandles and/or boots and why?"

Yes rain boots in summertime. Sandals if nice and warm and rain boots the rest of the time, with wool socks.

ok, picked up some smart wool socks and rain boots.


Should work pretty good.