The outsole met our needs on the east Atlantic coast very well - our 2 year old was able to run and play without worrying about sharp shells or dirt. The soles are thick enough to give her enough protection, yet still flexible and flexible - she was able to point and flex her toes/feet with no problems. It's probably not the best choice for rockier lake shores or off-road hikes - we hung our beach towels on the top of the gravel road, and it went over the larger pebbly cliffs with some…