Actually, I bought him some yesterday -- Alex's first pair of non-slipper shoes. We went to both Nordstrom's (which sells Stride-Rites) and Target, and came to the conclusion that the Target sandals seemed about as soft as the Stride-Rites, and were about 30 bucks cheaper. When we tried them on him in the store, he was sleeping. When we got them on him at home, he was...pissed! He really hated them at first. He was clunky and fell several times. I felt like a mean mommy for even trying to make him wear them.
Today was better. He didn't scream when they went on, and he was able to walk pretty well in them by the end of the day. I think we are going to try to keep him barefoot or in Robeez as much as possible this summer (he has outgrown his last pair of Robeez and needs the next size up!) but at least now we have the shoes for out doors so that his bare feet/socks/slippers won't get gooped up with cicada guts or other vagaries of summer. Walking really is a whole new world!