The elastic laces are a game changer for my 8-year-old who still struggles with tying. We've done a few creek hikes and his socks stayed completely dry thanks to the waterproofing. He says they feel light enough to run in, which is saying something.
My kid actually puts these on without a fight, which says a lot, since the elastic laces mean no tying. Waterproofing held up fine in wet grass, though the sizing runs a touch small so consider going up half a size.