Keen Shoes: The Everything Shoes

Walking Shoes - By Kerri Vernon on Thursday, June 24, 2010 - 23:38

You know that daydream where you just won the lottery or some heretofore unknown rich uncle left you a zillion dollars? You imagine the places you could go and the stuff you would buy (why yes, I would like to purchase that tropical island with the cute cabana boys, thank you). Sometimes I think about the shoes I would buy. Never again would I have to hem and haw or pinch pennies. I would throw open the doors of my new room-sized shoe closet and staring back at me would be every pair of shoes, sandals, and boots that Keen makes (in every color, of course). I would be set for life. Because Keen is smart, I would have shoes for every active day, work day, play day, and party night. Because Keen is practical, my feet would be dry, comfortable, and happy. Because Keen has good designers, my footwear would always be the envy of all who gazed upon them. And because Keen is a good citizen of the Earth, they use recycled and repurposed materials and support social and environmental organizations.

How can one shoe brand be all these things? Here’s the proof and technical stuff to back it up.

They offer a very full line: sandals, boots, shoes, sneakers (including sandal sneakers and mary jane sneakers), mary janes, clogs, lace-ups, and slip-ons. They even make socks and bags, but that’s another closet.

They use cork in their footbeds, which is kind to your feet and the environment. They also have a waterproof, breathable membrane, which lets your feet breathe by allowing vapor to leave without letting water enter. But if your feet do get a little ripe, the Aegis Microbe Shield controls the bacteria and fungi that cause odors, stains, and shoe/boot deterioration – and Aegis technology contains no environmentally harmful substances. Comfort is high on the list with their S3 system (shock, suspension, and stability) so shock is dissipated on impact and the risk for twisting an ankle is reduced. The inside of their shoes are a blend of recycled PU, cork, and memory foam that contours to your feet and adjusts to give you the cushioning you need throughout your day. And your toes are protected because they wrap the shoe outsoles up and over the toes.

Their cold weather shoes and boots are a blessing for those of us with four seasons. They utilize a charcoal bamboo which is a lightweight, anti-microbial insulation that provides warmth where you need it most. The three-layer thermal heat shield footbed keeps feet warm, comfortable, and dry. The outside is wooly and soft, the middle is cushioned, and the inside has a thermal foil barrier to hold in radiant heat. And you’ll stay upright with the dual climate rubber outsole because it hardens in cold weather to give you the ultimate traction in snow and on ice.

Now, back to that daydream…