Havaianas Kids Flores Review: cute summer flip-flops that kids actually want to wear

I bought these Havaianas Kids Flores flip-flops in Pink Confeti for my daughter to use as her “summer everywhere shoes”: garden, pool, beach, quick runs to the shop. I wasn’t looking for anything fancy, just something she would actually wear without complaining and that wouldn’t fall apart in a month. So this is very much a real‑life, sand‑and‑paddling‑pool test, not a catwalk review.

We’ve used them for a few weeks now: school runs, playground, water play in the garden, plus a day at the beach. She’s the type who normally kicks off shoes every chance she gets, so I paid attention to how often she slipped these off, if they rubbed, and if I had to keep adjusting them. I also checked how they handled getting soaked, drying time, and whether the sole started to smooth out or peel.

From the start, the main thing I noticed is that they feel like classic Havaianas: light, grippy rubber sole, simple thong strap, no weird gimmicks. The floral print is more for the kids than for the parents, but it does help when you’re trying to convince a child to actually put shoes on. She liked the metallic straps straight away, which helped a lot.

Overall, my first impression is pretty positive: they do exactly what you expect from kids’ flip-flops and feel a bit better made than supermarket pairs. They’re not perfect – the price is a bit high for something that’s basically rubber and PVC, and they’re still flip-flops so not ideal for long walks – but for casual summer use, they’ve been reliable and easy to live with so far.

Price-wise, these Havaianas sit clearly above the bargain-bin flip-flops you find in supermarkets, but below fancy kids’ sandals with multiple straps and cushioning. So the real question is: are you paying just for the logo, or is there an actual difference? After using them for a while, I’d say there is a real quality gap compared to the ultra‑cheap pairs, but you do need to accept that you’re paying a brand premium too.

Compared to the £3–£5 no‑name flip-flops we’ve bought before, the differences are pretty clear: the rubber is denser and doesn’t collapse after a week, the straps don’t dig into the skin, and the non-slip sole actually grips. Those cheap ones usually last half a summer at best, then the strap pulls through, the sole rips, or the kid refuses to wear them because they hurt. With these Havaianas, my daughter actually reaches for them voluntarily, which for me is a big part of the value – a shoe is useless if your kid hates it.

On the other hand, if your child grows super fast or only wears flip-flops three times a year on holiday, you might not see the point of spending extra. They’re still just rubber flip-flops with PVC straps, not some advanced shoe with support and protection. If you expect them to replace proper sandals or trainers, you’ll be disappointed. They’re a good-quality, simple summer option, nothing more.

So in terms of value for money, I’d call them good but not mind-blowing. If your kid basically lives in flip-flops all summer – beach, pool, garden – paying more for a pair that’s comfortable and doesn’t fall apart quickly makes sense. If they’ll only wear them a few times, you might be fine with a cheaper pair and accept that they won’t last as long or feel as nice.

The design is exactly what you think of when you picture Havaianas: flat rubber sole, thong strap, open toe, nothing complicated. For kids, that’s not a bad thing. There are no buckles to fiddle with, no Velcro that fills up with sand and loses its grip. My daughter can slip them on and off by herself in two seconds, which is handy when you’re trying to get out the door quickly.

The Pink Confeti colour is pretty girly: floral print on the sole and metallic straps that catch the light a bit. It’s not over the top, but it’s clearly aimed at kids who like pink and “princess” type things. The flowers are printed well – after several uses in water and on rough ground, the print is slightly dulled in the heel area but not peeling or flaking. If your kid drags their feet, expect the print to fade faster there, but that’s cosmetic more than anything.

From a practical design point of view, the sole is not too thick, not too thin. There’s enough rubber to feel like there’s a barrier between the ground and the foot, but they’re still very flexible. My daughter can bend them a bit in her hands, and when she walks, the sole moves naturally with her foot rather than staying stiff and slapping the ground. The straps are slightly wider than cheap flip-flops, which helps spread the pressure over the top of the foot and reduces rubbing.

If I had to criticise the design, I’d say this: they’re still flip-flops, so no heel strap and no side protection. For running, climbing or scooters, I’d rather she wore sandals with a back strap. Also, if your child isn’t used to thong‑style shoes, the bit between the toes might bother them at first. But if your kid already wears flip-flops, this design is simple, clean and works well for casual summer use.

Comfort-wise, I’ll be clear: these are comfortable for what they are – kids’ flip-flops – but they’re not meant for full‑day walking marathons. My daughter slipped them on and walked around the house and garden without complaining, which is already a good sign because she usually moans about anything between her toes. After a couple of days, she stopped noticing them and just used them like normal shoes for short trips outside.

The footbed has that slightly textured Havaianas pattern, which helps keep the foot from sliding when they’re wet. It’s not cushioned like a sneaker, but there’s a bit of give in the rubber so the step doesn’t feel completely hard. She’s worn them for a few hours at a time – beach, ice cream run, playground – and didn’t ask to take them off. No red marks on the sides of her feet or between the toes, which is usually where cheaper flip-flops cause issues.

That said, I wouldn’t use these for long walks or days where you know your child will be on their feet non-stop. There’s no arch support, no heel support, and no side protection. After a while, kids might start to drag their feet or trip a bit, especially if they’re very active. For us, the rule has been simple: flip-flops for short, casual use; proper trainers or sandals with straps for longer outings or rougher play.

From a parent’s point of view, the biggest comfort win is that she doesn’t fight me about wearing them. They’re easy to slide on, they don’t rub, and they’re light enough that she forgets she has them on. So, they’re not miracle shoes, but for summer, they get the comfort job done as long as you use them for what they’re made for.

These are made in Brazil with a rubber sole and PVC straps, so nothing fancy, but that’s normal for Havaianas. The rubber feels dense but still soft enough to flex easily. It’s not that cheap, shiny foam you get on budget flip-flops that compresses after a few days. After a few weeks of daily on‑and‑off use, I can still see the original texture on the footbed, and it hasn’t flattened into a smooth, slippery surface.

The straps are PVC and have a metallic finish. They’re slightly softer than I expected, which is a good thing for kids. I checked the underside where the strap meets the sole to see if there were any sharp edges or hard seams – nothing that looked like it would cut or rub the skin. My daughter hasn’t had any red marks on the top of her feet, even after wearing them several hours in warm weather, which suggests the material is decent quality for this type of shoe.

One good point: they handle water well. We’ve used them around a paddling pool and at the beach. The rubber doesn’t soak up water, and the straps don’t feel slimy once wet. They dry fairly quickly – not instantly, but within a short while in the shade. I followed the brand’s advice and didn’t leave them baking in direct sun for hours; I just let them dry in a ventilated spot. So far, no warping, no shrinking, and the straps haven’t loosened.

On the downside, you’re still dealing with rubber and PVC, so if you’re looking for eco materials, this isn’t the product. The brand talks about sustainability in general, but these flip-flops themselves are standard synthetic materials. For the price, I think the materials are pretty solid and feel reliable, but they’re not some high-end tech thing – just well-made basic components that seem built to survive a normal kid’s summer.

Durability was a big point for me because kids absolutely destroy summer shoes. So far, after several weeks of on‑and‑off daily use, these Havaianas Kids Flores are holding up better than cheaper alternatives we’ve tried. The rubber sole hasn’t thinned out in the heel, and there are no cracks or splits. The tread is still clearly visible, even though she wears them on rough pavement and gravel paths quite a bit.

The print on the footbed is the first thing to show wear, which is pretty normal. Under the heel and the ball of the foot, the floral pattern is slightly faded, but not gone. No peeling edges or bits flaking off, which is what I’ve seen on some low-cost flip-flops after just a few days at the beach. The strap anchors (where the straps plug into the sole) feel solid; I’ve tugged at them a few times to check, and there’s no sign of loosening.

We’ve also tested them in less‑than‑ideal storage conditions: left in the car on a warm day, tossed in a damp beach bag, hosed off in the garden. The rubber has not warped, and the straps haven’t stretched out. I do follow the basic care advice: quick rinse after the beach, then let them dry in the shade instead of baking in direct sun. With that minimal care, they still look pretty close to new apart from some normal scuff marks.

Of course, I can’t say yet how they’ll look after a full summer or if they’ll survive being passed down to a younger sibling, but based on what I see now, I’d rate the durability as better than average for kids’ flip-flops. There are sturdier closed sandals out there, but for this style of shoe, they seem built to last at least one active season without falling apart.

In daily use, I mainly looked at grip, stability, and how they handled different surfaces. The sole has a basic but effective tread. On dry pavement and around the house, no slipping issues at all. On wet tiles near the pool and in the bathroom, she walked carefully but didn’t slide, which is better than some totally smooth cheap flip-flops we’ve had before. I still wouldn’t let her run on wet tiles, but for normal walking they’ve been fine.

On sand and grass, they behave like any other flip-flop: sand gets on the footbed, but it rinses off easily. The non-slip sole does help a bit on slightly muddy grass; she had more grip than when she’s barefoot, but these are obviously not hiking shoes. The thong strap holds her foot in place well enough that she doesn’t lose the flip-flops with every step, which used to happen with a cheaper pair she had last year.

One thing I paid attention to is how secure they feel when she’s going up and down stairs or getting in and out of the car. Because the straps are slightly wider and the rubber has a bit of weight to it, they stay on better than ultra-light foam flip-flops. She doesn’t have to curl her toes constantly to keep them on, which makes walking look more natural. Still, if she starts running fast or playing chase, they can flip off, which is just the nature of this style of shoe.

Overall, in terms of performance, I’d say they are reliable for normal summer activities: walking around town, beach, garden, poolside. They’re not suitable for sports or intense playground sessions, but that’s not what they’re sold for. As long as you keep that in mind, they perform well and feel a step up from no‑name budget flip-flops in both grip and general stability.

Out of the package, these Havaianas Kids Flores are very straightforward. No fancy box, no extra bits – just the pair of flip-flops with a simple hanger. Packaging is minimal, which I actually like for kids’ shoes. Less cardboard and plastic to throw away, and it fits the whole beach‑shoe vibe. If you’re expecting some premium unboxing moment, this isn’t it, but for sandals that will end up full of sand and mud, I don’t really care.

I ordered the UK 12/13 child size in the Pink Confeti colour. In real life, the colour is a bit more muted than the photos but still clearly pink and playful. The floral print covers the whole insole, and the metallic straps have a light sheen without looking too flashy. My daughter spotted them on the table and immediately asked, “Are these mine?” so from a kid appeal point of view, they did their job.

Fit-wise, they match the usual Havaianas sizing: they run true to size, with a bit of extra room at the heel and toe, which is good for growing feet. If your child is between sizes, I’d still go with their normal size rather than sizing up massively, because the thong strap needs to sit properly between the toes to keep them stable. First try-on, she walked around the living room without dragging her feet or tripping, which is usually when I see if flip-flops will be a problem.

So in terms of presentation, my take is simple: nothing fancy, but it feels like a proper branded product, not a flimsy market pair. You see the Havaianas logo on the strap, the print is clean, and there are no glue blobs or weird smells out of the bag. It’s not a premium experience, but it’s clean, simple and gets straight to the point – which is exactly what I expect from kids’ beach shoes.