ADILETTE SANDAL 2 KIDS Review: simple, comfy adidas slides for rough kid use

I got these adidas Adilette Sandal 2 for kids in size 4 UK, black on black with the white logo, for one simple reason: my kid destroys summer shoes. Velcro dies, soles peel, toes rub raw… you name it. I wanted something he could wear to the park, around the house, and on quick trips without me having to think about it every day.

We’ve used them for a couple of weeks now: school run, playground, a bit of water play in the garden, and just general messing around. So this isn’t a lab test, it’s just real life with a kid who drags his feet, kicks walls, and never undoes straps properly. In that context, these sandals are holding up better than most cheap supermarket sandals we’ve tried.

The first thing I noticed is how light they are. When I opened the box I honestly thought they’d feel flimsy, because the whole thing is EVA and synthetic rubber, but once on the foot they actually feel pretty solid. My son didn’t complain about rubbing or blisters the first day, which is rare – usually new shoes mean at least a bit of moaning after an hour.

Overall, these are not some fancy high-tech kids’ shoes; they’re just straightforward sports-style sandals that seem built to take a beating. They’re not perfect – the lack of real water resistance is a bit silly for a sandal, and the sizing is slightly generous – but for day‑to‑day wear, they get the job done without drama.

In terms of value, these sit in that middle zone: more expensive than supermarket or no‑name sandals, cheaper than some fancy kids’ sports sandals. For what you get – a known brand, a simple but solid design, and decent durability – I’d say the price is fair. You’re partly paying for the adidas logo, yes, but you’re also getting better build quality than the ultra‑cheap stuff that falls apart mid‑summer.

Compared to basic flip-flops or very cheap Velcro sandals we’ve tried, these hold up better and are more comfortable. My kid actually keeps them on, which for me is already worth paying a bit more. We’ve had £10–£12 sandals where the Velcro died in three weeks or the sole peeled off after a couple of puddles. With these, after a couple of weeks of heavy use, they still look ready for the rest of the season. That means I’m not rebuying halfway through summer, which in the end often works out cheaper.

If your child only needs sandals for a holiday week and the odd beach day, you might not need to spend this much – a cheaper pair could be enough. But if, like us, your kid lives in sandals from May to September, investing in something that doesn’t instantly break makes sense. Plus, the neutral colour and simple design mean you can pass them down to a sibling or cousin, boy or girl, without arguments about style.

Overall, I’d rate value for money as good, not mind-blowing. You’re not getting luxury, but you’re getting a practical, kid‑proof sandal from a big brand that should easily last a full season. For me, that balance of price vs. fewer headaches is worth it.

The design is very straightforward: it’s a slide‑style sandal with a back strap, made to stay on during running and rough play. The front strap is wide, which is good because it holds the forefoot in place without cutting into the skin. The heel strap wraps around the back and connects with Velcro on the side, so you can loosen or tighten it depending on your kid’s foot. My son has slightly wide feet and we still had enough room, so that’s a plus.

Visually, it’s very plain: all black with the white adidas branding. No crazy patterns, no bright colours. Personally, I like that – it hides dirt pretty well and doesn’t clash with clothes. For parents, the big advantage is that the shoes don’t look “baby-ish”, so older kids (7–10) are more likely to accept them without complaining they look childish. My kid is at the age where he suddenly cares about “cool” stuff, and these passed the test.

From a practical design side, the open toe area is generous, so there’s less chance of toenails getting squashed, but it also means more chances to stub toes on concrete. If your kid is always kicking things, you’ll still see the occasional scraped toe. Also, the sole is slightly thicker than cheap flip-flops, which gives a bit of cushion and height. It’s flat – no arch support – so if your child needs orthotics or support, this is not the right shoe for long walks.

One thing I noticed: the Velcro straps are long enough that you can get a decent adjustment range. My kid started with them fairly tight, and after a week I loosened them a bit as he preferred more space. The downside is that if the Velcro gets full of fluff or sand, it loses grip and you have to clean it out. But overall, the design is simple, easy to understand for a kid, and focused on quick use, which is exactly what I want for everyday summer wear.

Comfort-wise, these sandals are pretty solid for everyday use. The EVA sole has enough cushioning that my kid can run around for hours without complaining about sore feet. Compared to the cheap flat flip-flops we had last year, he clearly prefers these – he actually reaches for them on his own, which is usually a good sign. The footbed has a slight shape to it, not full arch support but a bit of contour, so the foot doesn’t feel like it’s sliding everywhere.

The straps are the main comfort factor. The front band strap is wide and padded, and the textile lining keeps it from rubbing too much on bare skin. No blisters on the first few days, which for us is rare. The heel strap is also padded enough, and because of the hook-and-loop closure, you can fine-tune the tightness. I had to adjust it a few times to find the sweet spot – too tight and my son complained about the back digging in, too loose and the sandal started flopping – but once we found the right setting, he wore them for half a day without issues.

Where comfort drops a bit is on longer walks. We did about a 40‑minute walk to the park and back, mostly pavement, and by the end he said his feet were "a bit tired". I’m not shocked – there’s no real arch support and it’s still basically a foam slide with straps. For big days out or city trips, I’d still go with proper trainers. But for playground runs, garden, quick shops, and casual wear, they do the job well.

In terms of temperature, they breathe fine because they’re open sandals. No sweaty sock situation. The textile sockliner doesn’t feel sticky, even when his feet were a bit wet from water play. Overall, they’re comfortable enough that a kid forgets they’re wearing them, but they’re not some orthopedic miracle. Good for daily casual use, not ideal for serious walking or hiking.

Materials are 100% synthetic: synthetic upper, synthetic rubber sole, EVA midsole, and a textile sockliner. In practice, that means two things: they’re very light, and they’re very easy to wash. After a muddy day in the park, I literally rinsed them under the tap, rubbed the footbed with a bit of soap, and they looked almost new. No leather to stain, no fabric to soak for ages. For kids’ sandals, that’s a big win.

The EVA sole is a single piece, which makes it feel solid but also a bit "foam‑like". If you’re expecting a firm, grippy rubber like proper sports shoes, this isn’t that. It’s closer to a cushioned pool slide. The upside is comfort; the downside is that on very smooth wet tiles (like around a pool), it can feel a bit slippery. On concrete, tarmac, and playground surfaces though, my kid had no slipping issues at all.

The straps are synthetic with a textile lining. They’re soft enough out of the box – my son didn’t get any red marks or blisters, which we’ve had before with rougher materials. After a couple of weeks, the inside of the straps looks fine, no peeling or fraying yet. I can’t say how they’ll look after a full summer, but compared to supermarket brands we’ve tried, the stitching and glue lines look cleaner here. You can see it’s not the cheapest construction.

One thing to keep in mind: despite being a sandal, the listing says "not water resistant". Realistically, they can get wet – we used them around a paddling pool and they dried fast – but I wouldn’t leave them soaking in water for hours or expect the Velcro and textile lining to love that. So materials are practical and kid-friendly, but they’re not built like hardcore water shoes. For normal summer use, though, they feel like a good balance between durability and easy cleaning.

Durability is always the big question with kids’ shoes. After roughly two weeks of pretty regular use (almost every day for a few hours), these adidas Adilette Sandal 2 KIDS are holding up well. The sole hasn’t flattened, and there are no chunks missing despite my kid dragging his feet on concrete. With cheaper no‑name sandals, I usually see the heel area wearing down very quickly – here, the wear is minimal so far.

The straps and Velcro are often the first things to fail on kids’ sandals. On this pair, the stitching looks solid and nothing is coming loose yet. The Velcro still has a strong grip, even with a bit of dust and sand stuck in it. I did give it a quick clean once to pull out some fluff, just to keep it working properly. The synthetic upper hasn’t cracked or peeled, which I’ve seen happen with bargain sandals after getting wet a few times.

We’ve used them in slightly wet conditions – garden hose, paddling pool splash, light rain – and they’ve dried quickly without any smell or damage. I wouldn’t leave them soaking in a bucket for hours; the textile lining and Velcro might not enjoy that. But for normal kid use, including occasional water, they seem fine. The listing says "washable", and that checks out: I just rinsed them under the tap and left them to air dry, and they looked decent again.

Realistically, I expect these to last at least one summer season, probably longer if your kid doesn’t destroy shoes like mine. They feel clearly sturdier than the cheap supermarket or random Amazon sandals, but they’re still made of EVA and synthetic rubber, so don’t expect them to survive multiple years of daily heavy use for multiple kids in a row. For the price and the adidas label, the durability feels fair – not bulletproof, but definitely better than the low-end stuff.

In day‑to‑day use, performance mainly comes down to how well they stay on, how much grip they have, and whether they survive rough play. On all three, these sandals are decent. My son has sprinted, climbed playground equipment, kicked balls, and dragged his feet along the pavement, and the sandals haven’t flown off once thanks to the back strap. Compared to classic slides without a heel strap, this is a big upgrade – no more chasing shoes across the park.

Grip-wise, the synthetic rubber sole has a simple pattern that does the job on normal ground. On dry pavement, grass, and playground surfaces, there were no slip issues. On wet tiles in the bathroom, I noticed he was a bit more cautious; he didn’t slide, but you can tell the sole isn’t designed as a hardcore anti-slip water shoe. For casual use around the pool or garden, it’s fine, just don’t treat it like a professional water sandal.

Fit holds up well over time. The Velcro still sticks firmly after multiple on/off cycles per day, which is good because kids never undo straps properly. I did have to show him how to open the heel strap fully to get his foot in, otherwise he tried to force it and twisted the strap a bit. So if you’ve got a younger kid, expect to spend a minute teaching them how to put them on correctly. Once they get it, it’s easy.

After a couple of weeks, no major signs of wear: the sole pattern is still visible, no peeling, and the straps haven’t stretched. For a kid who usually kills cheap sandals in a month, that’s a good sign. I wouldn’t use these as school PE shoes or for proper sports – they’re still sandals – but for summer daily life, they handle running, jumping, and general chaos without drama.

Out of the box, the adidas Adilette Sandal 2 KIDS are pretty basic: one pair of sandals, a bit of paper stuffing, and that’s it. No fancy extras, no bag, nothing. Honestly, for kids’ sandals, that’s fine. The first impression is that they look like mini versions of adult sports slides, but with a back strap so they don’t fly off every five seconds. My kid immediately recognized the adidas logo, which helped with the whole "please wear these" negotiation.

The colour I have is "Core Black Core Black Ftwr White" – in normal language, that’s a fully black sandal with a white adidas logo on the strap. It’s very neutral. If you’re tired of neon dinosaurs and cartoon prints, this is a relief. They look more like something you’d wear to the pool or gym, not a toy. That also means they work with pretty much any outfit: shorts, joggers, even jeans. For school holiday clubs or nursery, that’s one less thing to think about.

In terms of structure, the sandal is basically one piece of EVA for the sole and midsole, with a synthetic upper and a textile sockliner on top. There’s a front bandage strap and a heel strap, both with hook‑and‑loop (Velcro) closure. The straps have a bit of padding but not tons. It’s clearly designed for quick on/off rather than super precise fit like a hiking sandal.

Overall, the presentation matches the price and the adidas name: no nonsense, sports‑style look, and everything focused on practicality. If you’re expecting something cute or fancy for special occasions, this isn’t it. If you want something that looks like a scaled‑down adult sandal from a known brand, that’s exactly what you’re getting here.