Water shoes?

[nkereina]

I don't recall where, but I read the recommendation to bring and wear water shoes while on the beaches in Hawaii and also for walking from the beach to the pool at Aulani, due to how hot the sand and ground gets. We'll be there in late September. Does anyone think water shoes are definitely necessary or wish they would have had them? I'm trying to limit the amount of things we need to buy, and would prefer to do without them but don't want to be kicking myself when I have to run across hot sand. Thanks!

 

[jtba]

i bought water shoes for my kids exactly because of that, even though they already had flip-flops. but the only time they wore them was to go to the turtle place at paradise cove. and honestly, it was more trouble than they were worth because DD5 and DS9 kept complaining there was sand in their shoes. finally i made them take off the shoes in the water, and only put them on when we were out.

other than that they wore their flip-flops everywhere and it was sufficient.

I don't recall where, but I read the recommendation to bring and wear water shoes while on the beaches in Hawaii and also for walking from the beach to the pool at Aulani, due to how hot the sand and ground gets. We'll be there in late September. Does anyone think water shoes are definitely necessary or wish they would have had them? I'm trying to limit the amount of things we need to buy, and would prefer to do without them but don't want to be kicking myself when I have to run across hot sand. Thanks!

 

[alohamom]

I think if you are heading into any places with coral like Hanauma Bay to snorkel it is a good idea. I prefer not to wear water shoes BUT two summers ago my son and I were body surfing the waves up in the North Shore area and I think I was stung or bitten by an urchin (not sure what they actually do) but it felt like a sliver and got quite red and painful. If I had been wearing water shoes I would have been ok. Just something to think about. I think I would not worry about them if they are only for crossing the sand, flip flops are perfectly fine for that.

 

[njmeisje]

The pool deck was i.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.y. hot when we were there in July. I wore my flip flops to the pool stairs and left them there while I swam. We used water shoes quite a bit at Shark's Cove and other snorkeling spots with rough rocky entry. I'd say, invest in a pair. Have fun!

 

[Disneybridewifemama]

The only time we used water shoes (for our DD-6) was when we went to turtle beach. it was a bit more rocky there than aulani and DD has sensitive feet. The sand at aulani did not bother her and she just wore flip flops around the pool area.

 

[rnorwo1]

We are going next week, so I don't know fro personal experience, but A friend of ours just came back, and she said that walking in the ocean at many beaches was brutal. So, she said they were very necessary. I bought half of my family some at Walmart and the other half at Academy. I think they were each around $5 is all, so well worth it if even we only use them once.

 

[North of Mouse]

We wear water shoes for safety and health reasons as much as the heat on our feet. To me, going into public restrooms (which is almost always necessary if you are there long) is 'so' unsanitary with bare feet. I cringe when I see babies/children/adults doing this - no matter where they are.

 

[ggc]

If you happen to get a cut or scrape from coral, you are likely to get an infection. Water shoes help protect and are more important for that reason.

 

[jtba]

We wear water shoes for safety and health reasons as much as the heat on our feet. To me, going into public restrooms (which is almost always necessary if you are there long) is 'so' unsanitary with bare feet. I cringe when I see babies/children/adults doing this - no matter where they are.

couldn't agree more!

 

[nkereina]

Thanks for all the replies! The alternative to water shoes for us are flip flops for walking across the sand and through public spaces, but didn't know if those were sufficient for the heat and if beaches/ocean were rocky where it would hurt with bare feet.

We are going next week, so I don't know fro personal experience, but A friend of ours just came back, and she said that walking in the ocean at many beaches was brutal. So, she said they were very necessary. I bought half of my family some at Walmart and the other half at Academy. I think they were each around $5 is all, so well worth it if even we only use them once.

Brutal as in hot on the feet or brutal as in rocky and painful?

 

[rnorwo1]

Brutal as in hot on the feet or brutal as in rocky and painful?

Rocky to the point of cutting their feet. They kept them on all the time, I think they ended up buying theirs there. They are so inexpensive, I would definitely go for it. If you're worried about space, you can always buy them (and leave them) once you get there; although, they may not be as cheap there).

 

[nkereina]

For anyone interested - Wal-Mart has a ton of water shoes in stock right now, being the beginning of the season. They are $4.98 each. I got plain black ones for DH and I got black and green ones for myself. Figured I'd bring them and toss them before we go home, since they're so cheap.

 

[rnorwo1]

Academy also has them for about the same price, depending on the style you choose.

 

[heybets30]

We stuck with to the beach at Aulani, pools at Aulani, Waikiki beach, and The Fairmont Orchid beach/pool on the Big Island. My kids (6 & 8 last Oct) brought swim shoes. They were totally unnecessary - kids never put them on. The flip flops were MUCH preferred by them. Yes, the beach gets super hot - as in I've never felt hotter sand than at Aulani! The pool decks, I definitely agree, were really hot too - enough where you HAD to have your feet covered. If we had snorkeled much anywhere else but the protected lagoons, I would've forced them to wear the swim shoes!

 

[Mazz519]

always wear my water shoes

 

[alwayssmile]

Helpful discussion! Just bought some online for everyone in the family since we'll be there in July. None of my kids will wear flip flops, so probably good to have water shoes.

 

[crystal1313]

My boys have these for summer and love them! They don't do flip flops either....I plan on using them for Aulani too.

http://www.zappos.com/nike-kids-sunray-protect-little-kid-black-white-dark-grey

 

[Tami0220]

Just got home yesterday. Sometimes it was incredibly hot others just comfortable. HOWEVER, I would recommend them for slippage issues. The rocks and walkways are INCREDIBLY SLIPPERY, I almost went down several times and that was while I was being super vigilant. I took very small steps but if you are wet, or the ground is wet it is very much a slipping hazard. And I would recommed the shoe type water shoes, not flip flops.

 

[rnorwo1]

If you are going to any other beaches with rocks (or snorkeling at other beaches), I would say they're necessary. Some areas are really unwalkable, the rocks are that sharp! The paradise cove rocks are extremely slippery, also.

 

[brimorga]

I went with flip flops only, skipped the water shoes, didn't have a problem. Drives me nuts when I see tourists with water shoes walking on the coral. That is not ok to do, it kills the coral! No water shoes will remove the temptation.

Bring a floatation device out with you in the water if you can't swim the whole time. Yes, there are maybe some spots when walking into the water that water shoes will help, but I didn't have a problem with that at Aulani or Turtle beach. Flip flops were fine walking around the pool and to the beach.

If you insist on the water shoes, please remember to be careful what you walk on.